Thor movie reviews mostly positive, smites competition

Marvel's "Thor" movie hammered the competition in the box-office during its opening weekend, raking in $66 million in North America, the film studio said today.

The global box-office gross of the "Thor" movie is now $242 million after it made $46 million in 60 international markets, clearly another mega-hit by Marvel Studios after "The Incredible Hulk" and the "Iron Man" movies.

Unlike the other Marvel characters adapted for the silver screen, Thor is not as widely known and recognizable. But its film debut to introduce the Norse god of thunder to the masses has proven to be a success.

Pundits and even fans were skeptical about the project even up to when the cinematic trailers were unveiled. Doubts were quashed when the film hit theaters with many "Thor" movie critics giving it high praise.

The movie currently has a rating of 78 percent in movie critic site Rotten Tomatoes which describes it as "a dazzling blockbuster that tempers its sweeping scope with wit, humor, and human drama, Thor is mighty Marvel entertainment." The huge box-office earnings is proof that the public agrees with that description of the "Thor" movie.

The film features newcomer Australian actor Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Academy Award winner Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins as Odin. Hemsworth was praised for his portrayal of the main character and said to have held his own amidst the high-profile cast.

Because of its box-office success, a "Thor" movie sequel may become a real possibility after Marvel completes its main superhero lineup for the "Marvel Cinematic Universe".

The "Thor" movie previews and incorporates some characters and back story that sets up one of the next movie offerings of Marvel - "The Avengers".