Thor: The Dark World 
Directed by Alan Taylor
Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
The superhero genre has been making a comeback in the past few years, and there’s no doubt that Marvel’s cinematic universe has played a factor in that success. Its latest movie, Thor: The Dark World, maintains the high standard Marvel is known for.
The Dark World picks up right where The Avengers left off with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) being sentenced. His imprisonment doesn’t last very long however, as his brother Thor (Chris Hemsworth) needs his help to save Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and the nine realms from Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) and his Dark Elves.
The Dark World is a definite step up from the original Thor.
Visually, the film is beautiful. It’s clear the larger budget was put to good use. The CGI used for Asgard is incredible, especially in the stunning funeral scene midway through the movie. The action is also on-point with intense fight sequences that keep the audience on the edge of its seat. The 3D doesn’t add much to the experience, so keep those extra few bucks for yourself.
The writing was good, but had the potential to be confusing for people unfamiliar with the comics. In one case, Loki’s complex relationship with his adoptive mother Frigga (Rene Russo) is barely grazed upon in either of the Thor movies, but is essential to understanding Loki’s character in The Dark World.
Additionally, there are a few plotholes. The film never really explains how the bifrost (the rainbow bridge that connects different worlds) was fixed, even though Thor destroyed it in the first film, and the implication was that fixing it was very difficult if not impossible.
Malekith’s character was also underused and his motivations and backstory were too murky to be compelling, leaving Eccleston without much material to work with. As far as villains go, he’s forgettable in the grand scheme of things.
On the other hand, the movie was bursting with funny scenes and memorable one-liners delivered mostly by Loki and Jane’s assistant, Darcy Lewis (Kat Dennings). There was no shortage of emotional moments that tugged on heartstrings either.
Acting-wise, the cast did a fantastic job all around. Portman stepped up her performance immensely compared to the first instalment, and her chemistry with Hemsworth has generally improved.
The real heart and soul of the movie, however, is Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki. Once again, Hiddleston’s multidimensional interpretation of the character made him fascinating to watch. His delivery of Loki’s sarcastic quips was spot on. Throughout the movie, Loki’s intentions left the audience second-guessing themselves and the final plot twist left them reeling.
All in all, Thor: The Dark World is a fantastic follow-up to Marvel’s previous films. It’s definitely got room to improve, but the surprise cameos and end credit scenes alone make the movie worthwhile.
