Addison Kelly Contributing Writer
Swinging back into action with his mighty hammer, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to the big screen. Two years have passed since the first installment of the “Thor” franchise, and Thor has been very busy protecting the nine realms from war and destruction. Not to mention his brief appearance in New York to stop his evil brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), in the 2012 film “The Avengers”. In “Thor: The Dark World”, Loki is imprisoned by Odin (Anthony Hopkins), whose eyepatch seems to mysteriously change color throughout the film. Meanwhile, Thor’s mortal girlfriend, Jane (Natalie Portman), is now in London to study strange readings that her friend, Dr. Selvic (Stellan Skarsgård), has been investigating.
Thor returns to earth to reunite with Jane. Not everything is well however, as an ancient evil power is discovered- called the eather. This awakens Asgard’s oldest enemies, the dark elves. Their leader, Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), is intent on destroying, well, just about everything. The war that follows is epic and exciting, and full of twists and turns. The story was not entirely original- the universe and our world being at stake, the damsel in distress, and so on- but the film still manages to remain fresh and exciting all the way through. The film had serious and dark elements, but managed to mix them nicely with lighthearted comedy.
Loki was, by far, the funniest character in this film. Tom Hiddleston really had his chance to shine as more than just a villain. His wise-cracks and sarcasm makes every moment of his screen time interesting. Thor, as always, is a “fish out of water” on earth- creating many awkward, funny moments when he visits. Chris Hemsworth does a marvelous job at portraying a more mature and wise Thor than what we have seen before, but still carries the same god-like figure and mannerisms that we have come to know and love. Natalie Portman helps ground the film in reality with her portrayal of the scientist, Jane, in London. Her friends steal the show and provide many laughs.
Idris Elba gives a strong performance as Heimdall, the loyal and brave guardian of Asqard. Christopher Eccleston as Malekith portrays a cold, pure evil, ancient, dark elf. He was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Overall, the dark elves are creepy, especially with their white, ghostly masks and off-putting features. The special effects are beautiful and the battle scenes are spectacular. Some of the battle scenes on Asgard are reminiscent of Star Wars in their scale and effects.
In short, it was a very good film. Alan Taylor, an up and coming film director, breathes life into this entry of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his exciting new vision. It was fun, exciting, hilarious, and the story had more depth than the first film. While it may not be a masterpiece like “The Avengers”, it comes close and is definitely worth seeing at least once or twice in the theaters. For the 3D lovers, it is pretty well done, although not perfect. The effects noticeably pop out of the screen at times, but there is nothing new or particularly amazing about it. Thor: The Dark World runs 112 minutes and is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content. It is now playing in theaters worldwide in regular, 3D, RPX 3D, and IMAX 3D.
