Following 2011’s forgettable Thor, the sequel and the latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes for an action-packed blockbuster that is just a cut below The Avengers. While it contains cliché plot devices, Thor: The Dark World is a solid Friday night flick that effectively enhances the character’s mythology.  

The film, directed by Game of Thrones veteran Alan Taylor and co-written by Falling Skies creator Robert Rodat, opens as the titular protagonist seeks to restore order to the nine magic realms. As Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and his comrades travel from one dimension to the next, defeating whatever monsters await them, all seems to go rather well for the heir to the throne of Asgard. 

Yet back on Earth, things take a turn for the worse when Thor’s human love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) stumbles upon a portal which awakens an ancient force of evil. This demonic army, led by the ghostly warlord Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), spells certain doom for Thor’s home world and every other realm he must protect. 

After Asgard suffers a tumultuous attack at the hands of these opponents, leaving many dead and Thor’s father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) greatly distraught, the god of thunder is pivoted into a shaky alliance with his brother and the iconic Marvel villain Loki (Tom Hiddleston).  

While there isn’t a wealth of originality or surprises in this brainless blockbuster, it is difficult to avoid ridiculousness when you make a comic book movie about gods and inter-dimensional worlds filled with magic. Nevertheless, it is because of these elements that the film succeeds.  

Unlike Thor, which tries and fails to make the character relatable, this sequel benefits from Taylor’s emphasis on the utterly fantastical. Rather than spend an excessive amount of time on the unnecessary human drama involving Jane and her useless sidekick Darcy (Kat Dennings), the director gives fans what they want and keeps the narrative primarily contained outside Earth. Since Dennings still can’t act to save her life, Taylor and the screenwriters are wise to give her significantly less screen time than the first installment. 

From a cinematic standpoint, Taylor’s work on Game of Thrones is stylistically evident, enabling him to deliver a quality CGI experience. I personally enjoyed it in 3-D, but it certainly isn’t necessary. The battle sequences are well executed and nicely choreographed, coinciding with a number of elaborate scenery shots that are mixed with both wide-angles and close-ups. While not quite on the Peter Jackson level, Taylor effectively uses his resources to produce a visually appealing addition to the franchise. 

The script’s biggest flaw lies in making the antagonist as one-dimensional as possible. Rather than utilize Eccleston’s talent, his presence does little more than provide a Doctor Who tribute. Malekith and his minions might as well have been recycled from the villains in Guillermo del Toro’s Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, as both are pale-faced demons bent on destruction after years being exiled in another realm. Come on, they could’ve developed some kind of subplot to make it a little more compelling. 

Yet despite this aspect, the plot’s emphasis on Loki helps drive it in the right direction. Through another knockout performance by Hiddleston and some witty Joss Whedon-like dialogue, his scenes are among the better in the film. Now that the shared universe has been established, the writers are able to make a jest to another Avengers character in a humorous moment that is sure to garner a number of laughs from fans. 

Hemsworth and Portman do a nice job of reprising their respective roles, further developing the relationship between Thor and Jane and exploring how people from different worlds are able to bond. Viewers will also appreciate that Hopkins and Idris Elba are granted substantial amounts of screen time as well. 

With Taylor now signed on to helm the next Terminator film, I have no doubt we’ll continue to see him making more sci-fi and fantasy films in the future. Both well executed and in conjunction with the elements of an epic, Thor: The Dark World is a fun ride for fanboys and casual moviegoers alike.