Thor: The Dark World 3D Review

Rated PG-13 (Sequences of Intense Sci-Fi Action and Violence, and Some Suggestive Content)

Running Time: 1 Hour & 52 Minutes

Cast-

Chris Hemsworth-Thor

Natalie Portman-Jane Foster

Tom Hiddleston-Loki

Christopher Eccleston-Malekith the Accursed

Anthony Hopkins-Odin

Rene Russo-Frigga

Jaimie Alexander-Sif

Idris Elba-Heimdall

Ray Stevenson-Volstagg

Zachary Levi-Fandral

Tadanobu Asano-Hogun

Kat Dennings-Darcy Lewis

Stellan Skarsgård-Dr. Erik Selvig

Jonathan Howard-Ian Boothby

Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje-Algrim the Strong/Kurse

Alice Krige-Eir

Clive Russell-Tyr

Chris O'Dowd-Richard

Tony Curran-Bor

Directed by Alan Taylor

"Do I look heroic enough?"

Note: Screened on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at AMC Empire 25.

When Bryan Singer's "X-Men" was released back in 2000 and reignited Hollywood's interest in comic book superheroes, the idea of a film featuring 'Earth's Mightiest Heroes' was just a pipe dream that largely existed in the minds of fan-boys (like me) but Marvel sought to turn this dream into a reality and knew that only they themselves could accomplish such a daunting task. Thirteen years later, we've entered into a renewed comic book film renaissance led almost exclusively by Marvel Studios. Grossing over $1.5 billion at the worldwide box office, 2012's "The Avengers" ended 'Phase One' with a bang but Marvel wasn't about to become complacent and rest on their laurels as the studio moved full steam ahead into 'Phase Two' with Shane Black's "Iron Man 3." That film kicked off summer 2013 on a high note and defied expectations by overcoming the box office decline that plagues most three-quels, putting another $1.2 billion into the House of Ideas' coffers. Phase Two continues unabated with "Thor: The Dark World," the first of Marvel's films outside of Iron Man to receive a sequel. It's occasionally silly and derivative, and there's an inescapable feeling that the film is little more than a hole-filler for 2015's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" but "Thor: The Dark World" remains another rousing entry in Marvel's résumé thanks to its charismatic performances, witty humor, and thrilling action scenes.

Following the destruction of the Bifröst (in 2011's "Thor") and Loki's subsequent invasion of New York (in 2012's "The Avengers"), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) battles to restore peace across the Nine Realms alongside his comrades, Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), Fandral (Zachary Levi), and Hogun (Tadanobu Asano). For his actions against Midgard, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is sentenced to imprisonment in the dungeons by his adoptive father Odin (Anthony Hopkins). In the two years since Thor returned to Asgard, astrophysicist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) struggles to move on but when she accidentally uncovers a cataclysmic force known as the Aether, a contingent of Dark Elves led by Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston) are awakened from suspended animation onboard their ship. Eons ago, Malekith sought to use the Aether to plunge the universe into an eternal darkness. However, an army of Asgardians led by Odin's father Bor (Tony Curran) drove the Dark Elves back on Svartalfheim and contained the Aether within a stone column. Jane's discovery of the Aether allows it to physically bind with her, forcing Thor to abandon his responsibilities and return to Earth via the newly-repaired Bifröst. He whisks her away to Asgard for protection but this proves to be a costly mistake as Malekith soon arrives, determined to retrieve the Aether at all costs and fulfill his apocalyptic plans. As a celestial event called 'The Convergence' draws closer, Thor defies his father and turns to his imprisoned brother Loki for help in spite of his strong chance of betrayal.

Kenneth Branagh's "Thor" was something of a minor miracle when it was released in 2011. With his crimson cape and magical hammer, the Norse god was seen as the least likely to successfully translate to the big screen without coming across as ridiculous. Fortunately, the strength of the Marvel brand allowed the film to overcome its inherent silliness, with Branagh even bringing a touch of Shakespeare to Thor and Loki's famous sibling rivalry. Critical reception was largely positive (77% on Rotten Tomatoes) and its worldwide gross was a solid if unremarkable $449.3 million, at least when compared to more popular Marvel characters like Spider-Man, X-Men, and Iron Man. Although he was enthusiastic about a sequel, Branagh opted not to return due to the long-term commitment it required. Switching directors is almost never a good idea for a burgeoning film series but Marvel has always had a knack for choosing the right creative minds to shepherd their characters to the big screen. Right away, it's apparent that "Thor: The Dark World" is a different sort of bilgesnipe in comparison to its predecessor and it's all because of director Alan Taylor. A veteran on HBO's wildly popular "Game of Thrones," Taylor sets the sequel on a noticeably bigger scale and the gorgeous production design from Charles Wood reflects this. If Branagh's "Thor" was a fish-out-of-water tale by way of Shakespeare, than Taylor's "The Dark World" is a war film that draws inspiration from "The Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" with its blend of fantasy, sci-fi, and even period aesthetics. The Dark Elves travel in a spaceship that vaguely resembles Sauron's tower Barad-dûr if it were constructed by the Borg while Asgard has been given a more weathered, lived-in appearance. Not only does this flesh out the Nine Realms but it enhances the authenticity of "The Dark World" by giving each area its own unique feel.

The action quotient has been increased as well, with the film's opening set against a large battle scene on Vanaheim, where Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three repel a band of marauders, who have a Kronan (the rock-like creature that our blonde-haired hero defeats in one hit) among their ranks. Taylor's penchant to position his camera in the heart of battle gives "The Dark World" a muscular grittiness and once you throw in the Dark Elves with their 'pew-pew' scepters and black hole grenades, it results in some of the best action sequences yet for a superhero film. The director may be more at home when shooting armies clashing with each other but he handles the bigger set-pieces with the same careful finesse. Malekith's attack on Asgard is thrilling and eye-popping in a way that recalls the classic "Star Wars" films, especially when the city starts bringing out automatic turrets to combat the Accursed's TIE Fighter-like ships. The final confrontation between Thor and Malekith is rather inventive as well. Instead of having the two punch each other and smashing into buildings (à la Zack Snyder's "Man of Steel"), their blows send them flying across the Nine Realms as the barriers between them grow weaker while the Convergence (a celestial alignment among the Realms) occurs. For those who felt that the action was a little too low-key in "Thor," Taylor definitely ups the ante in the sequel. Some of the green-screen effects aren't quite up to par and the 3D, while competently post-converted, is largely just window dressing but "The Dark World" remains an exciting visual feast for the eyes.

If there's one area that the film is weak in, it's the overall narrative. Actually, 'weak' is the wrong word to use. 'Average' and 'pedestrian' is more appropriate. Written by Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely (based on a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat), it doesn't break from the formula of previous Marvel Studios films and once again revolves around the retrieval of a MacGuffin (the Aether). This gives "The Dark World" a slightly derivative feel and the dialogue at times can get too caught up in its own technobabble. Malekith is also rather one-note as a villain. He talks a big game but ultimately becomes just another punching bag for Thor. Character development has been curtailed as well, with Thor's reluctance to succeed his father as king of Asgard not as interesting compared to his to path to maturity in the original film. There are still some strong emotional moments, such as when Asgard holds a mass funeral to mourn their dead after Malekith's attack. However, the story only picks up once Loki enters the picture an hour in. Finding himself backed into a corner, Thor is forced to break his treacherous sibling out in order to locate Malekith. The two immediately start bickering, with the Norse trickster taunting his brother, which leads to a hilarious cameo that I won't spoil. In fact, it's really the humor that keeps "The Dark World" consistently engaging in spite of its run-of-the-mill tale. Its fun seeing Jane Foster completely beside herself when introduced to Thor's parents but one bit that left me with a big smile is when the god of thunder casually hangs his hammer on Jane's coat rack in her apartment. Sure, the world may be in danger but Taylor and his writers never take things too seriously, and it's that playful levity that allows this sequel to overcome its weaker aspects.

In addition to finding the right people that share their creative vision, Marvel also has a knack for choosing the right actors to bring their beloved characters to life. Chris Hemsworth continues to shine as Thor and while the story may not give him much to chew on, the Australian actor lends the role power and charm, with a dash of quiet nobility. Natalie Portman's Jane Foster is more active here and her chemistry with Hemsworth is nice but nonetheless feels wasted, spending most of her time looking longingly at her co-star. Once again, Tom Hiddleston completely steals the film as Loki with his magnetic performance. After being defeated twice in a row, "The Dark World" finds the character at his lowest point when he's imprisoned in the dungeons by Odin. His actions are without a doubt despicable but it comes from his need to be loved and adored due to being a bastard son. Hiddleston mines a fair bit of dramatic potential from this fact, with the British actor bringing a smart mix of humor, charisma, menace, and moral ambiguity to the role. Some of the strongest scenes in the film are the ones he shares with Hemsworth as the two succinctly capture the siblings' pent-up rage and anger at each other. Christopher Eccleston is fine as Malekith but the story never really fleshes him out, leaving the character as a bland villain with a cool voice. Idris Elba's Heimdall enjoys an expanded role similar to Portman. However, I can't say the same for Jaimie Alexander, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, and Tadanobu Asano. Although they get their moments to shine, it seemed like Taylor missed a perfect opportunity to further develop their characters beyond being 'Thor's comrades.' Anthony Hopkins brings a sense of gravitas to Odin, while Rene Russo gets to engage in a bit of badassery herself in one scene. Finally, Stellan Skarsgård (sans pants), Kat Dennings, and newcomer Jonathan Howard provide plenty of laughs, even if their inclusion isn't all that essential to the story.

Released on November 8, 2013, "Thor: The Dark World" has received lukewarm reviews with 66% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics noted that 'it may not be the finest film to come from the Marvel Universe, but it still offers plenty of the humor and high-stakes action that fans have come to expect.' Audience reception at the advance screening was much more enthusiastic, with the entire theater erupting into applause when Loki appeared on-screen. Given the extreme good-will that "The Avengers" garnered, it's pretty obvious that "Thor: The Dark World" will be a box office success. The film has already grossed $109.4 million internationally and analysts are predicting a domestic weekend debut of $85 million. There are problems as always but "Thor: The Dark World" continues Marvel's winning streak and will leave audiences salivating at what the House of Ideas has to offer in the near future.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

"Thor, your bravery will not ease your pain. Your family, your world will be extinguished!"

P.S. DO NOT leave the theater during the end credits as there are two extra scenes, with one of them setting up a certain film with a gun-toting, talking raccoon...