Spoiler Free Plot Synopsis
Thor returns to the big screen post-Avengers to face Malekith and his army of dark elves. Thor’s conflict with Malekith forces him to team up with Loki in order to save the nine realms and Jane Foster.
Kick Ass Moments:
Source: Trailer Addict
My Take:
Let me start off by saying that I used to think Thor was boring as hell. I always felt his books were too slow and his rogues were subpar, with the exception of Loki of course. Marvel has done a great job in not only making Thor relevant in the cinematic universe, but also showcasing great cinematography and solid storytelling. Kenneth Branagh‘s interpretation of Thor was solid from start to finish and set the tone for what we could expect not only from Hemsworth but from his stellar supporting cast. Thor: The Dark World kept the basic foundation of the first film but carved out its own niche’ that not only added depth to Thor but also to Loki and the other Asgardians.
Christopher Eccleston (Malekith) & Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Algrim/Kurse) did a great job in their roles but the star of Thor: The Dark World once again continues to be Tom Hiddleston, whose portrayal of Loki was not only leaps and bounds ahead of his costars but also showcased more of Loki’s personality and his animosity towards his brother. Natalie Portman seemed more comfortable as Jane Foster this time around and I think we can attribute that to the break she took from acting. Portman not only made Jane Foster a solid presence throughout the film but also did not go the “damsel in distress” route which was a solid touch.
The special effects in Thor: The Dark World were extremely well done with the Aether and the Kurse transformation sticking out to me the most. The Mjolnir effects were also not too over the top and seemed more subdued that the first film.
A lot of my fellow comic fans felt this film could have been better, but I honestly felt it was an extremely enjoyable film loaded with action, great dialogue and some genuinely amusing moments (most of which came from Loki). The Marvel cinematic universe will always have its detractors and not every film will be as amazing as the last one but the stories continue to be enjoyable in their own unique ways.
I cannot stress enough for you to sit through all the credits. One scene in particular will shed some light on where Marvel is taking things.
Thanks Marvel for making me give a damn about Thor.
I’ll close out by saying “One down, five to go.”
Recommendation:
Thor: The Dark World is an effects-laden thrill ride that has it’s fare share of great storytelling coupled with some very impressive action sequences that definitely needs to be seen on the big screen to truly be appreciated. I definitely recommend it.
