Thor: The Dark World directed by Alan Taylor, is the best superhero movie this year.

In the aftermath of Avengers, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has dragged his rebellious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to Asgard to face trial for his crimes. Meanwhile, the forgotten Dark Elves are beginning to awaken, and begin to enact their plan of burning creation to cinders. Now the two brothers must unite to save Asgard and Thor’s great love, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).

Opening with what is best described as Lord of the Rings meets Star Wars by way of WWE, the action rarely lets up, with even Asgard reduced to rubble. In a refreshing change of pace, there is zero action in America, with all the main set pieces being in either one of the Nine Worlds or in England. There are several story beats that are shared with Man of Steel, but the key difference here is characterisation and scripting, with moments of surprising tenderness and kindness missing from other stories, most especially when Loki finally drop his constant illusions in his grief at a terrible loss and the beautiful imagery of a Norse funeral barge floating through a mourning city. Chris Yost is a highly talented scribe of comics and screen, with an understanding of the high theatre of the Nine Realms and the mythology created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee and an excellent sense of comic timing. Unlike Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel, Alan Tayloris not afraid to let his hero smile, with a post-credits scene that feels like it should feature Hugh Grant more than a super hero clad in armour.

Throw in some brilliant cameos and some very careful lead-up to the next phase, and you have a fantastic movie that lives up to the hype Marvel has created for their cinematic universe.

Dragging the audience from the bustle of Midgard to the wonders of Asgard, to the agrarian paradise of Vanaheim, yea, even unto the vast desolation of Jotunheim ruled by the Frost Giants and the forbidden realms of Svartalfheim, where once the Dark Elves reigned, Thor: The Dark World is worthy of playing within the hallowed halls of Asgard. Chris Hemsworth plays Thor with charisma, charm and gravity, the god torn between two worlds, between the life chosen for him and the life he wants, while Anthony Hopkins rages and thunders straight from the Shakespearean stage as Odin, the father of two rebellious sons. Hiddleston, as always, brings a glee and spite to Loki, the could’ve-been-king, betraying the occasional chink in his armour. Christopher Eccleston is given little to do, but he brings a mythological fire and fury that few can match to Malekith, lord of the near-forgotten Dark Elves.

It hasn’t been a good year for superhero movies. The ‘Man of ‘Steel’ and ‘Iron Man’ stumbled, but they were no more than men. Surely a god born would offer the glory and awe deserving of a hero? Thor: The Dark Worldis exactly what we have been waiting for.

Donal O’Connor

@twhiddleston, @MARVEL, @ThorMovies, @adewale, @yost,

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