Thor, The Dark World

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World explores the aftermath of 2012’s epic The Avengers that follows in the wake of Shane Black’s incredibly successful Iron Man 3. Marvel manages to keep the promise that each standalone film would give the franchise as a separate entity but pertinent, rather than attempting to fulfill sequel duties for everything that had come before it.

Returning from the depths of the universe with the threat of the universe hangs in the balance, the thunder God is back striking hard against his foes that threaten the sovereign of the throne in Asgard. Thor (Played by the hunk, Chris Hemsworth) returns after he singled handed destroy the only means (The ‘BiFrost’) to shuttle between universe (Think of Stargate, Marvel’s Edition and you get the picture) from the previous film and the damsel in distress, Jane Foster (Played by Natalie Portman) whose life is in peril when ancient power of darkness summons forth resurrection of the an ancient race that seek nothing but darkness and revenge to those who did harm to them.

Theatrical Poster

Eons ago, King Bor, father of Odin, led the army of Asgard to vanquish the Dark Elves led by Malekith, who seek to cast darkness across the universe, returning it to its devoid state during creation using a force called the ‘Aether’. While the Asgardian guards fighting off Malekith’s enhanced warriors, the Kursed, King Bor manages to subdue the ‘Aether’ and contain it within a stone column. He then tells to bury it far and deep, so that no one could ever get hold of it. Unbeknownst to him, Malekith, his lieutenant Algrim and others escape into suspended animation. In the present, Loki returned to Asgard, punished for his crimes and atrocity which cast to be incarcerated in the city’s dungeons while Thor, alongside warriors Fandral, Volstagg and Sif repel invaders from Vanaheim, home of their comrade Hogun as it is the final battle in a two-year war to make peace in the Nine Realms, nearing to its end.

Victory shown in the light

On Earth, Jane Foster who has not seen Thor in that time, attempts a lunch date with a man named Richard but is interrupted by her intern Darcy Lewis. She takes Foster to an abandoned factory where the laws of physics are bended in several area midair and objects disappear into thin air. Foster, after bringing her own scientific equipment to the factory, is sucked into a vortex where the stone column containing the ‘Aether’ enters her.

There goes my hair..

The Asgardians learn a rare alignment that convergences all Nine Realms called which will create spots where the Realms touch, laws of physics defied and as at the factory, small portals are created, shuttling between realms. When Heimdall tells Thor that Jane is no longer on Earth, Thor lunges to search for her on Earth. Meanwhile Jane awakened in the factory after hours in the other realm, and finds herself releasing powerful energy, repelling those that touch her. Thor sensing the force’s unearthly nature, immediately brings her to Asgard to be examined. Sadly the Asgardian physicians were not able to remove it. Odin realizes she is the Aether’s vessel and this would herald a catastrophic prophecy which spells the demise of the universe. 

She must be stopped at all cost

The dormant race of space elves, led by Malekith are awakened by the ‘Aether’, and hell bent on using the Aether to conquer Asgard and banish the Nine Realms to eternal darkness. With evil ancient race awakens, seeking to enslave the universe, Thor will have use all his might to protect those whom he holds dear but will it alone be enough to endure the perils and danger that awaits.

You’ll kneel before my reflective contact lens…

Undeniably Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal as Loki predictably steals the limelight whenever he is onscreen. Being true to the name, Loki is more mischievous than malevolent this time out, demoted to wise-cracking bystander for much of the film that Thor might lay a smack on that pretty smooth face, but remains indomitable character within the Marvel universe. 

Well, déjà vu once?

Whilst Chris Hemsworth’s sterling performance as Thor whom on several occasion during visit to Earth, still clueless as to how co-exist with the mundane life in Midgard. Occasional in film jokes to give audience a little giggle, like hanging an hammer that weighs who knows what is the measurement of such element not known on the cloth hanger, the action is pretty impressive but the storyboard goes slightly fast paced which sees some closure on the loose ends from the previous film.

The makeup is peeling off

Overall, however, Thor: The Dark World is packed with CGI rendered scenery which is almost surreal especially Asgard that equals the torrent of epic proportion from the Avengers but still lack the catalyst that retains the audience. While the additional element that involves the myriad petty squabbles in Odin’s household never quite feel as majestic as they did the last time around, the action on the whole is pretty extensive and does pose a genuine threat to more than a row of parked cars. After leaving out a few of the endings, had stayed around to check Marvel’s fan-baiting Easter eggs that is set for the following film in the Marvel universe or maybe not, along with an obligatory Stan Lee sighting, and [Spoilers!!] two end-credits sequences which we shall not elaborate on it till you check it out, as well as a brief appearance by a fellow Avenger that scores the biggest laugh of the whole film. Go figure on that. 

Hahaha.. I know right, bigger fan base than you know whom..

 

 

Director: Alan Taylor

Writers: Christopher Yost (screenplay), Christopher Markus(screenplay)

Stars: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston