Film Review: Thor 2

Director: Alan Taylor

Another Marvel Avengers production and the second in the independent Thor series starring Chris Hemsworth in the title role. The film was released in 2013 with the reviews being generally positive but mixed in comparison to the first with critics arguing that it was a stronger/weaker film than its predecessor. Thor 2 actually follows on from Avengers Assemble with Loki being imprisoned for his actions in the film and trying to destroy Earth.

The dark elg Malkeith (Christoper Eccleston) plans to destroy the universe using a mysterious weapon called the Aether which helps make the inhabitant of the weapon incredibly strong and nearly indestructible. Thor is called on to protect Earth as well as his home planet of Asgard from this new threat all while trying to juggle his relationship with Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) on Earth and watching over his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in prison on Asgard.

Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth)

The ending set in London, without giving too much away I hope, was a complete damp squib. With big superhero films like this you really are looking for a final act to blow you away and possible make you forget about some of the duller moments in the middle act. Unfortunately here a grand finale was sadly lacking for a rather dull, trying to be too clever CGI-fest between Thor and Malkeith. The initial premise to set up the battle was intriguing, even if the background of the character Malkeith was grossly under-developed, but it flopped after much anticipation.

It's a very similar film in terms of quality to the previous film, there some good things to it with Tom Hiddleston adding a lot of the best moments as Loki, but it still didn't wholly leave me fascinated and wanting more. A third Thor film is already in the works after the huge financial success of this film at the box office but I'm wanting more than what I've seen in the first two films to be genuinely impressed by this franchise. Possibly a fresh angle on the antagonist threatening the entire universe may help rise this franchise out from the decent to mediocre range in which it currently resides.

1.5/4 Very mixed film, some good but more bad