Parker and Longabaugh: Thor: The Dark World

I saw Thor: The Dark World on Thursday 31st October 2013.

I love Thor, I love it love it love it. I love the Marvel Universe, so sue me if I haven't read the comic books, I LOVE IT. Okay, glad we got that out the way!

Now, I loved the first Thor, it's probably the Avengers film I watch most (my mother and I regularly have Chris-Hemsworth-Appreciation Evenings - Thor, Snow White and the Huntsman, Star Trek...) so I was pretty psyched for the sequel. Yes I just said psyched.

This film was exquisite. Funny, dramatic, astonishing, brilliant SFX, the lot. Even had me reaching for the tissues at not only one but several points - and let me tell you I do not cry easily at films. (I think that's more to do with my glasses squishing my tear ducts into oblivion, rather than a sign of a cold and stony heart).
I say funny first of all because the amount of wisecracks they squeezed into this film that supposedly a new, "darker" Thor was unbelievable! As always it is Darcy, played by the brilliant Kat Dennings, who brings the giggles, especially in the side-romance with (the imaginatively nicknamed by me) Ian the Intern - he's called Ian, and he's an intern... Look out for the car keys.

I do agree with other, much better qualified film critics that this a "darker" Thor movie, but it wasn't in the way I expected it to be. From reading write-ups I expected Thor to be kind of, moping around, Heathcliff-esque, thinking about Jane, Jane to be doing the same... Chris O'Dowd trying to cheer her up... And yes I know, there was a bit of that at the start (sympathy for Sif though - you know which bit I mean, right?) but I was surprised at how into the action Jane got! Compared to the first film, she's a lot more grounded, less in awe of Thor himself - and let's not forget she's royally p-d off that he didn't visit when he had to deal with the whole Chutari-in-New-York situation.

Thor gets a pretty decent character arc, torn between his love and his world, turning to good old Idris Elba in his hours of need, while managing banter - yes, banter! - with his most hated brother Loki!

Which brings me to Tom Hiddleston. That man. Can act. Instead of God of Mischief, Loki should be called God of Sass, because literally he just steals every scene; even if he's not on screen, you're wondering what the cheeky wotsit is up to, which I think demonstrates the power of the writing and directing as much as Tom's acting. Look out for the gasp-inducing Loki moment...

If I had to criticise something... Not a lot of baddie development. For some reason, Christopher Eccleston (virtually unrecognisable) and his ape-like cronies want everything to be dark and gloomy and terrifying, and to take over all nine realms! Why, I do not know, and I wish I did, but maybe it's a comic book thing. Maybe they want it to be dark all the time and everywhere so no-one can look at their weird creepy faces. They reminded me of the baddies in Man Of Steel - appear, attempt to destroy, speak in an outdated way, fail.

Verdict

For me, Thor: The Dark World is a wonderful dorkish delight, I left the cinema in awe and shock and waiting for the next one, with a huuuuuge grin on my face, a very happy fan.

PS. Both, both credit scenes, so worth waiting for.