Film Review: ‘Thor: The Dark World’ is Little More Than Marketing For ‘The Avengers 2’

Submitted by BrianTT on November 7, 2013 - 10:40am

CHICAGO – Few major films have felt less creatively inspired and more commercially conceived than Alan Taylor’s dull “Thor: The Dark World,” a wannabe blockbuster with all the personality and ingenuity of a straight-to-DVD sequel. It is a film that simply fades into the background of other films, both already produced and still-to-come. The gang from Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor” has returned but only yet-another engaging performance from the always-great Tom Hiddleston displays the slightest sign that any of them want to be there. It’s a contractual obligation for some and merely a bridge for others to get back to “The Avengers” franchise. Thor looks like he misses his friends. You will too.

Rating: 2.0/5.0

After a brief prologue to introduce the villain – Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) – we join Thor (Chris Hemsworth) proving his MVP status on the battlefield yet again. Fighting with Sif (Jaimie Alexander), Fandral (Zachary Levi), Volstagg (Ray Stevenson), and Hogun (Tadanobu Asano), the man with the giant hammer proves yet again that he’s the one who will rule the nine realms when his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) steps down from the throne. He’s certainly the more beloved brother after what Loki (Tom Hiddleston) tried to pull in “Thor” and “The Avengers.” The charismatic shape-shifter is banished to a dungeon, where he will rot for years while his brother takes the crown that Loki things should rightly be his.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Thor: The Dark World” in our reviews section.

Meanwhile, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is trying to get over the fact that she hasn’t seen her hunky beau in two years when Darcy (Kat Dennings) alerts her of an anomaly in the fabric of space and time. The odd happenings around England, including portals through which matter seems to be able to travel, have already driven poor Erik (Stellan Skarsgard) off the deep end. When Jane gets sucked into one of these portals and stumbles across the Aether, the substance that Malekith will use to bring about the darkness as the nine realms are about to converge, she becomes essential to Thor’s arc yet again and the two are reunited.

Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Thor: The Dark World” review.

“Thor: The Dark World” stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Jaimie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings, and Stellan Skarsgard. It was directed by Alan Taylor. It will be released on November 8, 2013.