Saw Thor tonight, and finished Magnificent Ambersons.  Busy night.

Noticing certain similarities between the two:  one's about a god who becomes a man, the other about a man who thinks he's a god.  Both are striving to redeem their places as gods in their respective environments, starting their narratives as brash idiots and becoming, through trials, better, more responsible people. That's about it as far as parallels go.

Enjoyed Thor more than I thought I would.  Not a fan of the comics, but the storytelling in the movie was very well done.  Leave it to Kenneth Branagh to execute the Shakespearean drama of feuding brothers and a kingdom in peril beautifully.  Cool cameo by Hawkeye too -- watch for Jeremy Renner (hint: guy with a bow and arrow).  As usual with the Marvel movies, stay after the credits.

Second time through Magnificent Ambersons.  I can't remember if I was struck by how odd the ending was last time as I am this time, but it is odd.  Not as odd as Grapes of Wrath's ending, but odd enough in it's own way.  If you're going to read it for yourself, be warned: spoilers below.

Georgie gets hit by a car, ironically.  His final fate is left ambiguous, but it is implied that there is a reconciliation between himself, Lucy, and Eugene.  I don't think its realistic: Eugene couldn't forgive Georgie, even if his eyes are the only tangible thing left to remind him of Isabel (anyone else seeing shades of Harry?)  I'm also curious as to why the last image we are left with is Isabel's spirit being at peace, "her eyes would be wistful no more."  A strangely spiritual ending to a book concerning itself so much with material matters.  In the end, I suppose, Tarkington's point is blood and love are thicker than oil (car engine oil, that is) and that material wealth makes you cold and cruel.  Wealthy George wouldn't have cared a whit whether Eugene lived or died, and wealthy Eugene seems to have lost his human empathy which won Isabel in the first place.  When both characters were poor, however, they seemed changed people.

On to The Ginger Man now.  Go see Thor.