Thor: the Dark World (2013)

"Thor: The Dark World" was a lot of fun, and had some great action pieces to tie it together. It is now officially the best sequel they have produced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Though the two Iron Man sequels aren't hard to beat. The chemistry between Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston is the best their characters have had in the three films they've been featured in. Natalie Portman, as Jane Foster, becomes a more dynamic character in this film, and strays from just being the typical love interest. At this rate she will have her own film in Phase three. If we're lucky. Christopher Eccleston joins the cast as the main villain, Malekith, and is a very welcome addition. His menacing demeanor and lack of overacting may possibly have made my favorite villain in the universe so far.

Every moment spent in the other realms is grand and dangerous. Director Alan Taylor, taking the reigns from Kenneth Branagh, keeps a dazzling pace in these scenes. Unfortunately, while on Earth, Taylor and his writers get stuck with Kat Dennings' character, who is a waste of screen time, and gets far too much of it. Why couldn't they have traded her for more Chris O' Dowd, or a longer prologue with the Dark Elves? They even managed to screw up Stellan Skarsgard, making him a pantsless buffoon with little to no explanation. Though, I will say, when the "comedic relief" isn't on screen (which they could have just put that title squarely on Hiddleston, who was really a major delight), it is easy to forget about them with all of the action taking place elsewhere. Not my favorite MCU film so far, but it was one hell of an achievement!

Grade: B+
3D: Not necessary
Easter Egg: 2! You get two!!!

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Director: Alan Taylor
Writer(s): Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely - Story: Don Payne, Robert Rodat - Comics: Stan Lee, Jerry Lieber, Jack Kirby
RT: 112 min
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content