Marvel Fans Will Be Satisfied. Can't Say About The Rest.

Rating: Null/10 (29 March 2015)

The second trip to Asgard may not be as memorable or refreshing as the first time but it is still capable of leaving the majority of its audience sufficiently pleased for the filmmakers are well-aware of what made the first film click so well & they deliver plenty of those elements in a more refined fashion yet when it comes to pure storytelling aspects, it's only as good as the original.
A direct sequel to Thor & the eight instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Thor: The Dark World continues the story of its titular character & covers the aftermath of the events that took place in The Avengers as Loki is brought to trial in Asgard & is sentenced to life imprisonment but when an ancient enemy returns to finish an incomplete job, both brothers team up to save all the existing realms from falling into perpetual darkness.
Directed by Alan Taylor, Thor: The Dark World opens on the same note as its predecessor i.e. with a prologue that foreshadows the events about to be unfolded in the story. The screenplay smears the surface of what it wanted to explore but never really tries to dig a little deeper. Visuals & action offer a slight improvement than before, Cinematography rightly aims for a darker tone, the narrative is finely paced while Brian Tyler once again chips in with a good score.
Coming to the performances, the cast that was put together in the first film continues to play a relevant role in this one except for a new villain who isn't intimidating at all. While a few of them are given more to do with their characters, some still manage to come off as annoying and frankly, the best thing about this sequel is the chemistry between Hemsworth & Hiddleston as Thor & Loki, respectively, as both are quite charismatic in their given roles, especially Hiddleston.
On an overall scale, Thor: The Dark World half-heartedly tries to delve into a darker territory yet is filled with sequences that'll prevent its viewers from taking it seriously. Every scene featuring Tom Hiddleston only lifts the whole story up as even the wit applied in those brief moments work out brilliantly in the film's favour. I guess most Marvel fans will probably be satisfied with it but I can't say the same for newcomers because despite being an enjoyable & entertaining ride for the masses, Thor: The Dark World still feels a bit hollow from the inside.