Co-Host: Adam Hitchcock, The Streaming Circuit podcast
Cast:
Alan Taylor, Director
Christopher L. Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely; Screenplay
Brian Tyler, Music
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Natalie Portman as Jane Foster
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig
Idris Elba as Heimdall
Christopher Eccleston as Malekith
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Algrim / Kurse
Kat Dennings as Darcy Lewis
Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
Zachary Levi as Fandral
Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
Jaimie Alexander as Sif
Rene Russo as Frigga
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Budget:
$170 million
Box Office and Ranking:
#21/33 films among all MCU films
Worldwide box office: $644.8 million
Critic Scores:
RT: 67%
Metacritic: 54
Letterboxd: 2.2/5
Plot Summary: In "Thor: The Dark World," we opens with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) restoring order to the Nine Realms, but soon, an ancient evil known as the Dark Elves, led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), awakens to plunge the universe into eternal darkness.
The plot takes a Shakespearean turn when Thor's love interest, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), inadvertently becomes the vessel for a mysterious and powerful substance called the Aether. As Malekith seeks to harness the Aether's destructive force, Thor faces a moral dilemma between saving the universe and protecting the woman he loves.
In the end, "Thor: The Dark World" is a visually captivating exploration of heroism, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds of family. While it may not reach the narrative heights of its MCU counterparts, the film successfully combines cosmic spectacle with intimate character moments, making it a worthy installment in the Thor saga.
Did You Know?:
The prologue was filmed in a blend of live-action and CGI, as the Asgardian/Dark Elf costumes were too constrictive in which to fight effectively and convincingly. There are only three characters played by human actors in the entire scene, Malekith, Kurse, and Bor. All other characters are CGI.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) was originally not going to appear at all, and there was going to be a much greater focus on Malekith and the Dark Elves. Following his popularity in The Avengers (2012), the script was re-written to give him a big role.
Because of the height difference between the two, a box, and later a ramp, had to be used in some of the close-up and kissing scenes between Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth. Portman is 5' 3" (1.60 m), while Hemsworth is 6' 3" (1.91 m).
Director Alan Taylor was unhappy with how the movie turned out. Although he had received full creative freedom while the movie was shot, he stated that he was "locked out of the editing suite" and the studio turned it into a different movie during post-production; a situation he "(hoped) never to repeat, and (doesn't) wish upon anybody else."
An abandoned plotline was to have Dr. Jane Foster turned into a villain by the Aether and destroy Svartalfheim as a show of her power before going to Earth. It was dropped in favor of keeping the focus on Malekith, and not introducing a third villain before the finale.
Best Villian: Malekith (0%)
Best Love Interest: Frigga (30%)
Best Sidekick: Loki (50%)
Best Scene:
Thor Denies the Throne (0%)
Jane in Asgard
Selvig at Stonehenge
Jane and the Aether
Jane's Date
Best Action Scene:
Protecting the Realms (0%)
Convergence
Drawing out the Aether (2%)
Attack on Asgard
Escape from Asgard
Best Lines:
Loki: Look, why don't you let me take over? I'm clearly the better pilot!
Thor: Is that right? Out of the two of us, which one can ACTUALLY fly?
Loki: You lied to me! I'm impressed.
Dr. Erik Selvig: Your brother isn't coming, is he?
Thor: Loki is dead.
Dr. Erik Selvig: Thank God... I'm so sorry.
*Odin: One son who wanted the throne too much, and other who will not take it. Is this my legacy? (5%)
Odin: I know very well who you are, Jane Foster.
Jane Foster: [to Thor] You told your dad about me?
The Stan Lee Rubric:
Legacy: 3
Impact/Significance: 3.75
Novelty: 2.75
Classic-ness: 6.5
Rewatchability: 3.25
Audience Score: 7.85 (82% Google, 75% RT)
Total: 27.1
Remaining Questions:
If those sticks were meant to stabilize the convergence, why do they transport things instead?
Is a Dark Elf the best thing they could come up with for a villain that existed since before the beginning of time? Is this World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons, or the MCU?
Why did Selvig need to run around Stonehenge buck naked?
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