"Hulk Vs Thor" hammers one home

Okay, so it might be a little lame to review the second half of a DVD set (recently released Hulk Vs), but it needs to be said that I originally didn't review Hulk Vs Thor because I thought it was going to be so-so at best. Not judging by Hulk Vs Wolverine, of course, which was great, but based largely on my complete ambivalence for Thor as a character. I've never been much of a fan of the "all powerful" figures such as Thor, the Silver Surfer, etc.

As it turned out, Hulk Vs Thor is a real treat with a genuinely interesting story full of emotion and heart. When Hulk invades Asgard, its not nameless faces he fights with but likable and honorable characters that have just enough of an introduction to establish some sort of connection with the viewer. There are very human sides to the film as well, like with tragic hero Bruce Banner, who - even as a "sung" hero - still carries the albatross of the Hulk around his neck.

As with Hulk Vs Wolverine, the voice acting is top-shelf, with plenty of stars that have done great work on video games, audiobooks, and the like (albeit voice actors' film roles are often a little lame, but that's irrelevant).

Portraying the Hulk as a sort of Pandora's Box is an interesting take, as well, since we're used to either the Hulk that Bruce Banner has to gain control over, the crude but ultimately good-natured gray Hulk, or the rage-tormented but reclusive "Hulk smash" figure that only fights when cornered.

The combination of heroic and mischievous characters - a virtual curtain call of the figures of Norse mythology - to stop the Hulk brought forth rung after rung of diverse and interesting adversaries, though largely ineffective against the Hulk as anything but a distraction or delay.

It smacks of the actual legends of Norse mythology where the warriors on earth who prove themselves in battle go on to train and fight in heaven - the day's wounds healed by the following day - only to fight in a final battle that they well know they cannot win.

It is this sort of tragic destiny that adds character and depth to Hulk Vs Thor, making it - dare I say - the equal or better of Hulk Vs Wolverine (I'm sorry Wolvie - you're still my fav, though).