Thor: The Dark World Reviewed

Does Lightning Strike Twice for the Mighty Avenger? (Spoiler Free)



The god of thunder returns in another entry in Marvel's phase two of movies. The basic premise is that the nine realms are reaching the point of perfect alignment, a time when many of the boundaries between the realms become blurred. This is the perfect opportunity for Malekith and his dark elves to harness the power of the Aether an plunge the nine realms into darkness. If Thor hopes to stop him he'll need to form an uneasy alliance with his brother Loki.

What I Liked:
LOKI. Loki steals the show every time he is on screen. Tom Hiddleston reprises his role with just as much strength, if not more, as the previous movies. The character continues to be well-developed and engaging and in some scenes you can tell that Tom Hiddleston has a lot of fun with his role. Casting has been one of Marvel's strong points when it's come to their Avengers franchise. Most notable for this movie is Chris Hemsworth's performance of Thor, which is still strong, and Anthony Hopkins who does a great job as Odin. If there was a weak link to the cast, it would most likely be Natalie Portman's role as Jane Foster who isn't given much to do that can outshine the other cast members.

The action sequences in this movie are gritty and intense. The camera work is right in the thick of the battle unlike the last Thor. Alan Taylor, who directs this installment, is known for his work as the director for Game of Thrones and thus in no stranger to the medieval style battle sequences. Because of this the action is definitely stepped up a notch from the previous Thor movie.

Maybe it's because I'm such a fan of the Thor comics, but I like the way in which they explore the mythology of Thor. There is a lot more insight into the way the way we explore the Asgardian world. I would appreciate a few cameos of other well-known Asgardians from the comics, but I was willing to settle for the inclusion of Kurse of the dark elves. A little comic book or Norse mythology background might be needed to better appreciate this, but I think it's some
of the nice details of the movie.

My last big praise for this movie is the humor. The jokes and one-liners are still fresh and add a lighthearted touch to a movie that would one of Marvel's darker and grittier Avengers installments. Kat Dennings especially shines here as well as some of Tom Hiddleston lighter moments in the movie. Even Thor's fish-out-of-water bit is still entertaining to watch. Overall, though the movie takes a darkker tone, it is one of Marvel's funniest installments.

What I Didn't Like

Some of the major plot points of the story are underdeveloped or dry. The Aether, for example, is a powerful destructive force, but it never gets truly explained and thus is just sort of their to patch the plot and keep things movie. The romance between Thor and Jane is really flat and doesn't seem to be necessary to the movie except for, once again, keeping the plot moving. Also, Thor's relationship with Lady Sif starts out with some exploration but ultimately goes nowhere. Hopefully it will be more developed as the other movies come out because, as fans of the comics know, this is a very deep and complex relationship for Thor. Ultimately the plot is oversimplified for the sake of making the movie work. I feel that if Marvel had dove a little deeper with some plot devices, the movie could have been much stronger and have more dimension. Instead, it feels like they were willing to settle for less, which is something we don't want studios getting into the habit of, especially with some many more movies slated for release.

My biggest complaint with the movie is that the main villain, Malekith the Accursed, is hugely underdeveloped. The character doesn't really seem to have any motive explored except for the fact that he's just evil. By the end of the movie, I feel like I didn't know anything about the character (aside from my knowledge of him in the comics). This especially bothers me because we know villains in these movies are often very strong. Loki is proof of what potential these villains have to be. Instead we get a villain who is hallow and ultimately just in the movie for the sake of needing an antagonist.

Closing Thoughts
The original Thor is definitely a prerequisite if you want to see this movie. As for The Avengers, it's not necessary to have seen it, but it does help. And as far as the after credit clips go (because I'm sure everyone is curious), there are two. One half-way through the credits, and one at the end of the credits. The first clip offers some insight into what Marvel will be doing in later movies, but I can almost guarantee that this clip will just come off as bizarre and confusing to all those with little to no comic book background. The last clip is just a little extra closure for those of us who want to know whether or not a couple of the main characters get a happy ending or not as well as one last gag
. Also, be on the look out for Stan Lee's cameo in this movie. It's easier to spot than some of his older cameos, but it still humorous and enjoyable.

As for the movie itself, overall, Thor: The Dark World is an enjoyable installment to the franchise, but feels weak in some of it's major plot points. This makes the movie feel two-dimensional with a lot of unexplored territory that could have brought out so much more potential. If your a fan of Thor or the other Marvel movies, or just want to see Tom Hiddleston reprise his role as Loki (who doesn't?) than I'm sure you will be entertained by this movie. Thor: The Dark World is by no means a bad movie but compared to what Marvel has done in the past with movies like the original Thor, Captain America, Iron Man 3, and the Avengers; the movie just seems a little underwhelming. I would probably recommend a matinee showing of this movie rather than full price.

Final Rating: 6.5/10

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