THE UPS & DOWNS OF THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Note: I’m a fan of the movie but I’ll try my best to be objective with this review. Just don’t show me a picture of the lovebirds. ;p

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As much as I adore the movie, I’m finding it difficult to push past my laziness to write a very detailed review of it. However, I still would like to do the film justice so I’m doing an 'Ups & Downs' review. I do hope it will still cover everything that I want and need to say about the movie.

Let’s start with the positive.

UPs

The threat is more believable and felt.

·        IMO with the first Thor, the Destroyer’s attack in the town did not pose enough danger. I didn’t really feel the intensity of it; it felt isolated perhaps because it was in a single town, and a small one at that. Hence, that was one thing I was hoping to be addressed in the second movie considering that teasers and interviews have mentioned that all the realms will become involved. More realms, bigger threat.

Well, I get what I hoped for in this movie. There is more threat presented with the nine realms being in danger of extinction because of the awakening of the Aether and Malekith and his army’s reclamation of power. The attack of Malekith’s huge spaceship in London is a great manifestation of the threat .

The grandiosity of Asgard is well-displayed.     

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We were introduced to the magnificence and beauty of Asgard in Thor and the sequel does not fail to take us in a tour of the realm’s beauty. This the film does in the most interesting way. It is interesting because we see more of Asgard during Malekith’s attack and Thor’s escape.

There is much more humor.

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This movie does not fail to provide much more humor. Taking after its prequel, I did expect such from the film but it incorporates the element more than I thought possible.

There are two highlights for me. First is the exchange of the brothers during their escape from Asgard which stars with Loki’s perception of himself as Thor’s wingman at the grand hall until Thor pushes him out of the ship. The second is a quick one – the moment when Thor & Jane go to her place and he hangs his hammer on the coat rack. I know it doesn't cause the audience to burst into laughter but it is a funny scene knowing that as heavy and powerful as the hammer is, the coat rack should have given.

Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) appearance has improved.

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Thor as embodied by Chris is an undeniable eye candy. (Grins) However, I know I’m not the only one who can say that he looks better in the sequel. There is just an air of raw elegance and humanity in him. Perhaps, it is the product of not having to use an entire wig for your hair. Even Chris mentioned in an interview that one thing he loves about the movie is that his hair is mostly his this time unlike in Thor and The Avengers. Another reason for such improvement is perhaps because the arrogant and ill-tempered god has been replaced by a humble and wise one. As they say, the inside beauty exudes to the outside.

Frigga (Rene Russo) is given justice.

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I pitied Rene Russo in the prequel because her acting prowess was not displayed. Most of her scenes were cut. So it is refreshing that she has more scenes and lines in this one. However, I pity her because she has to die at the first part of the movie. Unfortunately, it is necessary to add to the conflict of the story. Nonetheless, I like that Frigga is given the chance to display her fighting skills before her demise.

I also liked that she displays her motherly affection toward Loki throughout her time.

Odin (Sir Anthony Hopkins) is shown to be a stern but fragile being.     

   

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Seen as the stern and disciplinarian king, it is nice to see Odin become fragile. Well, what would you expect of a man who lost his wife? He is somehow lost after Frigga dies as evident on his decision after the Dark Elves’ attack. As powerful as Gungnir and Mjolnir are along with the strength of what remains of Asgard’s military, deciding to stand ground and wait for the next attack is not really a wise decision. Since the defenses of the realm have been challenged and evidently defeated, waiting for the enemy’s return and taking the fight into Asgard will only risk the lives of its inhabitants further.

Loki’s (Tom Hiddleston) moment of grief is believable.

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Same as Odin, Loki is never shown to be fragile because of another’s trial/demise until Frigga’s death. It is the first time you actually feel for him, knowing he lost his mother. Loki could not have done anything about it since he is in jail and the thought of his mother’s death escapes him as his hatred of Odin and Thor consumes him.

The new relationship of the brothers Thor & Loki is presented well.

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This is something I didn't expect would develop in the film. Since they were first introduced to us, they are more contrasting now than they ever were that a believable team-up has been dimmed impossible. However, as circumstances demand it, Thor needs Loki’s help to save Jane and the nine realms. With this, their alliance has a reasonable premise and is not forced and awkward.

Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) plays a vital role.

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Because of her curiosity, she comes across the Aether which possesses her. Then this is how the conflict starts to take shape. Yes, she’s still the typical ‘damsel in distress’ but she also does her part in saving Earth by inventing a device to help Thor fight Malekith in the end.

Heimdall (Idris Elba) continues to be a fascinating and remarkable character.

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He may only be a supporting character but with all the realms concerned and him being the all-seeing guardian of the Bifrost Bridge that allows travel in the nine realms, Heimdall cannot just be ignored. His abilities greatly help defend Asgard from Malekith’s attack even though the Asgardians end up losing.

The love triangle between Thor, Jane, and Sif is presented just right.

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Many may say that the hype created around this subject is not justified in the movie; at first thought, I would say so too. However, thinking it over again made me see that the love triangle is presented just right. How? The scenes wherein Thor turns down Sif’s offer of a drink and Sif’s meaningful glance at Jane during their first encounter in Asgard say it all. You can sense the unrequited love Sif has and her envy of Jane. The considerably minor attention on this subject ensures that the focus is not taken away from the main conflict of the story.

SPOILER: Unexpected cameo ignites audiences.

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Captain America! Yes, he makes a special appearance in the movie in the least expected or rather unexpected way. Loki transforms into Steve Rogers in his patriotic suit while the brothers walk in the grand hall of the palace. It is a really nice surprise. I bet everyone gets shocked and amazed when he appears.

However, I already expected Capt. America to appear in the movie. Why? During interviews and as read in write-ups, people behind The Avengers were thinking how to include the other superheroes in each spin-off movie specifically Thor and Captain America. Since then, I have been wondering how this could be done and I’m amazed how they are able to think of the manner of his appearance. Bravo!

SPOILER: Odin’s condition is a cliffhanger. Thanks to Loki.

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I think this is the biggest question in people’s minds: ‘What happened to Odin?’ ‘What did Loki do to him?’ I have the same question. As some of my friends and colleagues have said, death is a possibility. Knowing Loki and his ways, it could be but Odin is still his father and I don’t think he can and will do that. We will just have to see what has happened to Allfather in the next installment of Thor.

Now, let us proceed to the negative.

DOWNs

The solution for the threat could have been written better.

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Dr. Selvig and Jane creates a set of devices that becomes a great help to end Malekith and Thor takes the devices with him to the Dark World because he is the only one who can get close to the Dark Elf. While indeed, Thor should be the one to save the Earth, the manner by which he did it was awkward. The god of thunder and those devices do not really fit together. It would have been better if Malekith died by being sucked into a ‘black hole stone’.

Or if the reason behind the inclusion of the devices is to emphasize the necessity of Jane, perhaps Thor could have jumped near Malekith as he threw the devices or stabbed him with it.

Thor is shown to lack the sense of shock & grief expected in a son upon finding his mother dead.

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This is one thing I don’t understand. Yes, it can be said that he may just be putting on a tough face since he is the eldest and is expected to be strong. However, he could have knelt beside his mother and shed a tear. Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t recall him crying.

In the prequel, I remember that he cried over the news of Odin’s death. Hence, it is only expected that he shed tears for his mother.

The Aether’s location is not suitable for the threat it poses.

The darkness of the place is appropriate but the Aether should have been enclosed in a container just like the Jotuns’ Casket of A Thousand Winters in the prequel or the Tesseract in The Avengers.

 Jane Foster’s entry to the location of the Aether and how she absorbed it is not convincing.

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Perhaps this will not be a con if the setup of the Aether’s location is different.

The scene of Algrim’s (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) transformation into Kurse could have been more threatening.

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If only Algrim and Malekith are in this scene and some shots are in silhouette and few extreme close-ups, it would far suit the mood of this part of the film.

Kurse’s entry to Asgard has no visible believable premise.

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Kurse’s entry to Asgard is off. Perhaps if he is shown landing in a realm where their spaceship is nearby and where a battle is being fought between the Warriors and some of the realm’s inhabitants, it could have made a good premise for his entry. He could have camouflaged as one of the hostile inhabitants and got arrested, landing himself in Asgard.

Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård) was a miss.

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Selvig is not utilized that much in this movie and does not have an impact in the story unlike in his two previous films. Yes, he is funny and he helps create the devices that Thor uses to aid in Malekith’s defeat but I miss the father figure that he was in the prequel.

Fandral’s (Zachary Levi) character soured.

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It is always difficult to play a role that has been initially portrayed by another actor especially if he was great in doing it. I like Zachary Levi as an actor but it was awkward watching him as Fandral. For me, Josh Dallas made his mark as Fandral in Thor; he brought the character to life. So Zachary didn't really fit quite well with the other Warriors even though I could see him do his part.