THOR: THE DARK WORLD (director: Alan Taylor; screenwriters: Christopher Yost/Christopher Markus/Stephen McFeely/based on a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat, and the Marvel comic-book series; cinematographer: Kramer Morgenthau; editors: Dan Lebental/Wyatt Smith; music: Brian Tyler; cast: Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Natalie Portman (Jane Foster), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Stellan Skarsgard (Dr. Erik Selvig), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Christopher Eccleston (Malekith), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Algrim/Kurse), Kat Dennings (Darcy Lewis), Jonathan Howard (Ian Boothby),Ray Stevenson (Volstagg), Zachary Levi (Fandral), Tadanobu Asano (Hogun), Jaimie Alexander (Sif), Rene Russo (Queen Frigga), Chris O’Dowd (Richard), Anthony Hopkins (Odin); Runtime: 101; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producer: Kevin Feige; Disney; 2013)
“A familiar world in danger story that should bring yawns to all those like me who are not fans of this genre.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
TV director Alan Taylor (“Kill the Poor”) helms this disposable big-budget film. It’s based on a story by Don Payne and Robert Rodat, from the Marvel comic-book series. It is written by Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. The Thor entry offers strained comical one-liners, a dull romance, a few pleasing action set pieces, and a 3-D spectacle that feels tacky. It’s the poorer sequel to Thor (2011) and The Avengers (2012).
The hammer wielding Norse god Thor (Chris Hemsworth, Aussie actor), son of the planet Asgard’s brooding ruler Odin (Anthony Hopkins), finds it’s up to him to restore the peace across the Nine Realms (Earth being one of the realms).
It’s a juvenile comic book film, that’s all dazzle. It’s the kind of generic sci-fi pic that finds it humorous to reduce genius astrophysicist (Stellan Skarsgard) to a crackpot, who goes in public with his underwear showing because he finds that he thinks better that way. I suggest if you must see the film, wait until its DVD release and try to watch it in your skivvies.
REVIEWED ON 11/8/2013 GRADE: C
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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