Thor the Dark World Review

Thor the Dark World (2013)

Directed by: Alan Taylor

Written by: Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFly

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, etc.

Oh boy! "Thor the Dull World", after Ironman 2 and 3, I remember people considered this the worst MCU film in the franchise......but after Captain Marvel and the more recent, Eternals.....it's STILL one of the most lackluster entries of the past 11+ years of the MCU.  I think the problem is....it's boring.....and I mean, incredibly mediocre and poorly handled story that makes Thor as a solo hero seem so.....Idk.....wasted and more appropriate alongside the Avengers.  Seriously, Chris Hemsworth seems to be mostly phoning it in during "the Dark World" and I'm not surprised given that he isn't given any real development or depth like the first film gave him with him learning how to be humble despite being a God and ascending to the throne.  Here, Thor is just....there.....and just has scenes with him mostly speaking about not wanting to be king and being noble, blah, blah, blah.  There's no genuine progress in him as well as his crew of Asgardian friends.  Lady Sif, played by Jaimie Alexander, gets virtually nothing to do besides be apparent of a barely there love triangle between her, Thor and Jane Foster.  It's such a shame when Lady Sif is suppose to be such a bad@ss warrior and one of Thor's major love interests in the comics but the most depth we get out of her is this very quick and forced glance between her and Jane in Asgard as she feels so envious of her being the center of Thor's affection......uhhhhh moving....! O_o Volstagg, Hogun and Frandral (played by Zachary Levi here instead of Josh Dallas! O_O) are just here for some quick banter and fight scenes apart of Thor's elaborate plan to take Jane out of Asgard and bring her with him to the Dark World aka one of the 9 realms to confront the main villain Malekith to stop his plan from generic villainy, blah, blah, blah.

My goodness, the world of Asgard alone is so wasted in these Thor films as well as exploring the rest of the 9 realms.  We have this vast and incredibly boundless potential with the cosmic/magical side of Thor's adventures between those realms and protecting but we barely get to see them, mostly getting quick glimpses out of nowhere but no true exploration of those realms or what Thor is protecting at least.  They are might as well be CGI creations with no point but for visual variety....which they are essentially but why even bother if they aren't really significant to the overarching story of the film??? -_-  I guess I should talk about our returning trio of human supporting characters for Thor in Darcy, Janet Foster and Erik Selvig.  Honestly, Kat Dennings' Darcy is back simply for comedic relief, especially sharing most of her screentime with some pretty boy intern character that she bosses around until becoming some punchline love interest at the end of the film.  Jane and Eric have more instrumental roles in the film, especially with both of them studying or being needed to help Thor with the impending convergence.  Basically all 9 realms, including Earth, will be interconnected for a short period of time which the main villain is taking advantage of to do evil stuff!  Natalie Portman.......honestly, I understand why she left the character and MCU after this film because what is the point to her here besides being the plot device???  In studying the convergence she happens upon the Aether aka the Reality Stone as it possess her  and awakens the dormant Dark Elves, who want to continue their plan of plugging all the realms into darkness.....because EVIL!!! O_o

She tries her best.....or rather tries to keep Jane looking as interested in what she's doing as much as possible but you can tell her character is just pointless throughout besides for more romantic tension between her and Thor since they have last seen each other.  Even when Thor brings her to Asgard.....she's just there and things are just happening around her until the third act where she actually contributes something, ANYTHING to the main plot besides being the vessel of a generic macguffin of the film. Stellan Skarsgard returns as Dr. Eric Selvig and outside some comedic bits, he helps in the final battle.  Tho I'm kind of upset that after Marvel's the Avengers, he's been left as some looney idiot rambling on about Asgard and the 9 realms before being taken into custody and put in a psyche ward.  You'd think the Avengers or S.H.E.I.L.D. would have done something to help rehabilitate him after Loki mind jacked him but I guess not.  I mean the comedy does get a bit much with him especially when he made to look like a complete incompetent idiot despite being such a prolific scientist! -_-  Yeah and I have to say once again, the comedy is becoming to rampant and repetitive hear as even the finale battle has too many comedic gags while Thor and Malekith are fighting with the fate of universe literally in the balance.  Once again, there is a time and a place for the comedy but it just seems that Kevin Feige or the directors have to make these films overly funny just to recapture what Joss did in the first Avengers film.  It just doesn't work most of the time with some jokes being genuinely funny because they are warranted and feel natural to the story progression. I mean the constant gag with Thor's hammer during the convergence......it just got tooooo much and just makes the hero start to look inadequate of saving the day.

Ehhhhhhh, I guess I'll go on and talk about the villains of the film aka Malekith and his dark elves.....and I have mentioned them and need nothing else to be said about them! :)  Ok fine!  Ehhhhhh, Marvel really just couldn't make those villains work in their films during this period of the MCU.  My goodness, Malekith is the blandest, dullest and most forgettable villain.  I mean seriously, even when he gets his hands on the powerful "Aether", he remains barely a match for Thor.  Yes, even Thor mentions at one point how pathetic Malekith is even with all that power and almost brushes off his attacks.  How are we suppose to fear this guy if our hero is treating him like an inconvenience instead of a legitimate threat!???  And my goodness, how basic and boring can a villain plan be when its so generic that you're surprised the writers even bother putting in down in the script!??? O_O  A villain seeking power for power and wanting to use power to claim the universe....cause POWER! Plunge the worlds into darkness....ewwwwww....Zzzzzzzzzzzzz! Nothing about these Dark Elves are remarkable in the least, even with the grenades that can suck you into an oblivion.  Even Malekith's defeat is rather easy, with even Jane and Eric's technology able to help in Thor stopping him once and for all with not much of a struggle.  Yes, Thor had more of a struggle trying to catch his hammer for about 5-10 minutes than defeating the villain.  "The Dark World" ladies and gentlemen! -_-

I guess the only merit I can give the film is Tom Hiddleston's Loki returning by being the wanted prisoner of Asgard and forced to become the unlikely ally of Thor after the Dark Elves attack Asgard.  Kevin Feige knows Hiddleston is a major asset to the MCU; being the only villain worthy of repeated appearances and desperately needed here to bring out the best of the film's tedious meandering throughout.  By now he and Hemsworth have the best onscreen chemistry when they share scenes together and I'm thoroughly glad by the end of the film that he is continuing to stick around in a twist that only Loki could pull off.  Anthony Hopkins as Odin is as masterful as ever but not getting much to do besides being Thor's counselor about his reservations of taking over the throne of Asgard.  But when he's onscreen, the film shines...but of course, so briefly. :(  Then there's Rene Russo who returns as Thor's mother, Frigga and spends most of the time just being that supportive motherly figure to Thor and trying to get through to Loki during a nice scene in his prison cell.  Idris Alba as Heimdall, the gatekeeper of the Bifrost, does his best to be more of a badass here and even gets more action scenes but nothing more than what is needed of him. Shame he's the most interesting of Thor's assembly of Asgardians but it's like they don't know what to do with him mostly. :(

In conclusion, Thor: the Dull World is one of the MCU's greatest wasted opportunities that it's no wonder Taika Waititi needed to be brought in to do an overhaul of character by making the second sequel after have some genuine worth and quality again! O_o  Poor Christopher Eccleston as Malekith being pretty much a stand in for make up and prosthetics with zero personality while the majority of the supporting cast is used for sparingly, it makes you wonder why this wasn't just a mostly solo adventure for Thor once again.  At least it would have given him more focus in developing his character as well as his numerous powers as the God of Thunder.  Honestly, there weren't any impressive displays of Thor's powers like his first solo film and the Avengers now that I think about it.  The guy can manipulate weather like tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning storms, hurricanes, flash floods, etc. but he barely gets to showcase anything outside of throwing lightning with his hammer.  So lame, especially when the first Thor showed alone how much of a powerhouse Thor could be when he lets loose with his powers.  As a matter of fact, if he can cause that much damage as the God of Thunder like he did in both previous films, why couldn't he defeat the Dark Elves so easily???? -_-  You know what.....I'm done! Can any of these post-first Avengers films recapture that magic and excitement of that film??? Well hold on, cause it's time for next Captain America film. :)

"As the second outing for the legendary Norse God turned Marvel themed superhero, "Thor: the Dark World" is mixed at best with some elements like Loki's unpredictable, continued machinations as the God of Mischief and the progression of the Infinity Saga or completely lackluster at worst with some of the weakest villains yet for the ongoing cinematic series of interconnected films and apocalyptic showdown that feels more like a farce than a fierce battle.  Supporting characters seem either there or just for some hit or miss laughs, Jane Foster's character is pretty empty here until the final act as her and Thor's romance that was so touching and cute in the first film is so forced and nonexistent here.  At the end of the day, the 9 realms are saved but there feels like there were no major consequences or emotional punch to this film to even resonate in the slightest.  An unimpressive and disappointing exercise of just filling time between the major story threads of the Infinity Saga that feel essential on building stakes and conflict down the line. Don't bother!"

Final Film Score: D