Thor: The Dark World

I struggled quite a bit with the first phase of the MCU, and the first Thor was one of the films that held me back the most. But strangely enough, The Dark World has grown on me, and the second phase of the MCU is becoming more bearable. Perhaps it is because there was nothing overly special to explain and we could get straight to the point. Natalie Portman's charms were also finally taken advantage of and the whole thing was a lot more fun. So if this is the final shape that all those origins and the first team-up had to suffer for, then fine. But it took five years. (05/14/2015)

On paper, this movie must have looked more promising than what Alan Taylor wound up doing with it. Kenneth Branagh and his more serious note, as well as the sense of a dramatic arc of the film as a whole, are missing from the second Thor. The biggest weakness (even on paper) is the hasty ending. Nevertheless, it is still a nice chill-out movie, with some nice acting, a pretty Natalie Portman, the feel of a fantasy, epicness and some great scenes, both comic and dramatic. I don’t recommend watching this in 3D, as the colors are faded and it does not have a single scene that would justify its use. (11/09/2013)

This is the most desperate Marvel movie ever. Plenty of money, fancy special effects, kinetic cinematography, and dynamic editing drive forward an absolutely empty story, which wouldn't matter if Taylor could keep people under control. The first third of the film is a bore (the classic Marvel stuff, change the dramaturgist already), the second is also a bore (by Odin, didn't anyone tell these actors that their characters are supposed to be experiencing something?) and the final third sucks during every second. Although the finale in Greenwich is a nice change in scenery and the subway joke is divine (did the writers really not understand that Asgardian seriousness should be diluted?), if it weren't for Hiddleston enjoying every Loki second in the plot, I would have died from all the sterility. (07/14/2015)

Taylor doesn’t manage to balance the dramatic and comedy levels and so the viewer goes from the brink of tears to dumb giggling in the course of a minute. I know this because I was sitting next to a zitty nerd and I saw moments of total fascination alternate with obscene whooping. It lacks a sense of gradation because the picture gets to its peak in the middle, the beginning is a little slow and the ending is simply too cursory (after the battle in London). Otherwise, the second Thor is meant to sell the wider Marvel universe, to explain, introduce and amaze, which it does. It has no hesitation in piling on sweeping scenes where nothing less than the fate of that universe is at stake. Between its annihilation and the villain stand a bunch of incompetent scientists, a muscleman with a hammer and a pathological liar/fraudster/mass murderer. The most entertaining of those is the last named. Yes, Loki rules again (literally) and steals the scenes he appears in. Asgard is presented in its full glory at last, as well as others of the nine worlds on that tree or whatever it is. Evil elves are great baddies, with very novel firearms and effective grenades. Fights galore, even if a firmer hand and more ideas would have been great. Poor Natalie ended up with definitely the dumbest character (probably as the antithesis of God) and however much her dress suits her, that is the only upside that can be claimed. The post credits scene is linked strongly to The Collector, especially in the remarks appearing in discussions. Great things are planned and the world of the Guardians of the Galaxy looks really weird and even inviting. I’m sincerely curious. P.S.: The Capo’s cameo is one of his best. God bless Ameri... (11/12/2013)

When it comes to Thor, I was sure of my contentment before I even went to the cinema. A few weeks before I watched the movie, I went to Berlin and by chance, I happened to experience the German premiere, which was attended by Chris, Tom and Natalie. This was the first time that I experienced such a premiere and I must say that it is enough to let everything about the movie devour me completely. The atmosphere is incredible. The actors smile at everyone, they sign everything, they make small talk with everyone. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t fall in love with them in the blink of an eye. After this experience, I simply had to go see the sequel. It was a thrilling ride at the cinema. Actually, the mythology around Thor is nothing all that spectacular, but I have to say that among all of the superheroes and reboots of old trilogies, it is very nice to see. In fact, it’s a kind of high-quality filmmaking that doesn’t get taken seriously at all. Unlike other Marvel comic book heroes, this is a nice change. The action is decent, the effects are well-made, the humor is not bad, and then you can add great acting performances into the mix – especially Tom Hiddleston’s – and an inconspicuous cult that’s slowly but surely growing. I just still can’t decide whether I’m team Thor or team Loki. (11/17/2013)