Kenneth Branagh's Thor may not be the best Marvel effort to date, but it's not without its strengths. Chief those among them is probably how Branagh, a theatre man known for film adaptations of plays and operas, brings a gorgeous classical touch to the look of the film. Asgard, in particular, is a feat of opulent design, a giant citadel of gold and black, bolstered by CGI but kept largely practical down at set level. In 2012, the year Thor would have been eligible for a nomination in the Production Design category at the Oscars, among the nominees were the similarly fantastical likes of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows and Hugo, two films where the design work was at least on a par with that of Bo Welch on Thor. Alas, Welch got nothing, even though audiences had been treated to one of the best-looking Marvel films yet, a comic book movie transformed into an eccentric space opera, with vikings. Speaking of which, Oscar-winning designer Alexandra Byrne and Craciunica Roberto did a similarly Oscar-worthy job with the costume designs for Asgard's inhabitants.