Watching Thor in glorious high definition, I think it might be even better than the theatrical screening I sat through. Is it really possible that watching at home on a Blu-ray-compatible flat screen TV could be better than my theater's antiquated reel? But I digress. It's sufficient to say that Thor remains an intimate story of two very different people, Thor of Asgard (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), as they begin a strange, cross-world courting. But watching in high definition (and 3D if you've got it) brings the action elements of Kenneth Branagh's direction into fine focus, as Thor does battle with the Frost Giants and others. Thor is in fact fun for the whole family!

This slick feature proves to be everything Marvel could've hoped for. Of course, the story of the rebellious son Thor booted from Asgard by his ruler father Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and who then crashlands in New Mexico as a mere mortal, is ripped from the comics. Fans will appreciate tie-ins, like Hawkeye's role as a government "sniper," Shield agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), or the inclusion of the name "Donald Blake." Kat Dennings brings humor as Foster's buddy, and then there are the number of times that Foster runs Thor over accidentally. Speaking of humor, the scene where the old man (Stan Lee) tries to use his truck Sword in the Stone-style to bust the hammer out of the ground gets me every time, and you've got to like J. Michael Straczynski's inclusion in that scene as well.

If you aren't in the know, Thor provides a bit of brotherly battle with his wicked stepbrother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) that is Shakespearean and biblical in its own way. Imagine if Ishmael had been allowed to hang out with Isaac and continue to try to win the favor of Abraham. Or the way that Cain just couldn't accept his brother's ability to win attention, and favor, and the deadly outcome; or the way that Joseph found favor with Jacob but the other brothers conspired against him. Better yet, consider the parable of the two sons, one who went into the vineyard after originally (and honestly) saying that he wouldn't, while the second said he would go and then actually found other things to do (Matthew 21:28-32). No matter what you're looking at, sibling rivalry dominates the actions, leading up to Thor's greatest act of hubris and the subsequent battle for control of Asgard which follows.

Visually, Thor is stunning. New Mexico is stark, while Asgard is beautiful. The actors are sufficient to their task, but they also fit the parts visually, matching the severity of their personalities and differences. Thor's transformation is particularly fantastic (as is Porter's acknowledgment of his godhead, considering what it really meant), as is the final battle between Loki and Thor. Additional features on the Blu-ray disc of the three-disc "Limited 3D edition" also provide us with sufficient background on the various featurettes, as we see how Branagh impacted the cast, what music was used, what they did to make the hammer matter, etc. There are also deleted scenes with additional commentary, a brief featurette on Tony Stark's impact in regards to Abomination, and finally, "The Road to the Avengers."

Honestly, while this is a serious movie in its own right, there is the bit that it's merely a piece of what the Avengers will be in 2012 (although a sequel to Thor is due out in 2013). Captain America, The Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye will all get in on the action, and comic geeks (like me!) will dig the way that they see a piece of the San Diego Comic-Con footage and shots of the different characters. Seriously, I can't wait. The featurette doesn't show a lot, but it does whet the appetite, for those who enjoyed the other Marvel movies, comics, and can't wait to see more of these guys in action together.