Thor: The Dark World

****
Release Date: October 30th 2013

Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

Director: Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones, The Sopranos)

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander

Thor: The Dark World is everything and more to expect from a sequel. This is the second singular Marvel adventure since Marvel's Avengers Assemble, the first being Iron Man 3 (who else but Iron Man making an appearance first), so each individual story needs to come off the back of this film to keep the consistency going. This second outing does this incredibly well, coming two years from the first film. 

All is explained in an epic prologue. Many years ago, a race known as the Dark Elves attempt to destroy the nine realms with a weapon called Aether. The Asgards, along with Odin's father, Bor, stop the Dark Elves, but Malekith (Eccelston), the Dark Elves' leader, escapes. Since the Aether cannot be destroyed, Bor decides to hide it.

This brings us up to the present day. It's been two years since Jane (Portman) last saw Thor (Hemsworth). She's on a blind date, with an actor making a delightful cameo as the bloke who doesn't stand a chance in competing with the likes of Thor (also the God of Thunder I might add). Loki (Hiddleston) is sent to the dungeons of Asgard for his crimes committed in Avengers Assemble.

This sequel could have been used to showcase Loki, because let's face it, Hiddleston's character has become incredibly popular over the three appearances, mainly because of his fitting personality as a villian and dry sense of humour. It's a surprise to sat that it's no shame that Loki and Thor don't encounter each other until way past the hour mark. It's definitely worth the wait.

Thor takes a backseat this time round. There is plenty of screen time for all main characters, Hopkins is thunderous as the mighty Odin, Portman's Jane 'coincidentally' encounters Thor again because she accidentally absorbs the Aether (making her character rather loose in the fray) and Stellan Skargard's Erik Selvig is found running around Stonehenge naked because he's mentally unhinged after Loki taking over his body in Avengers Assemble.  

The Dark World keeps up the fun as the last did. There's a great level of action and comedy. Some blinding moments come at the end, making you laugh and enjoy the carnage at the same time. This film is nowhere near perfect though, as it has an opportunity to further itself with a love triangle that includes Thor, Jane and Sif (Alexander). It's lightly touched upon, but goes no further than a couple of jealous stares. There is also a lot of scientific jibberish and for anyone who knows their physics, will know that none of it makes sense.

Overview: Director Alan Taylor has done well to keep up the pace with the other two films. Thor: The Dark World is a sequel to Kenneth Branagh's effort, not AA, with the story centred on Thor and the Asgardians.