Beautiful photography

Rating: 9/10 (15 March 2014)

Since the first film was based mostly on Earth, we never got to explore Asgard. Well, we get to do that here, and Asgard is breathtakingly beautiful. Looking in part like an ancient city, you get lost in the imagery especially during the battle scenes. The photography is done so beautifully you do not feel jarred seeing futuristic fighters amidst ancient-looking buildings and longboats that fly and shoot lasers. And the various panoramic scenes of a spaceship in the middle of London were well-done too.
The fight scenes could have been choreographed better though - at times, I wondered why a technologically advanced race was still fighting with swords and shields while wearing non-functional capes when their defence systems shoot lasers and put up force fields. Asgard is supposed to be the ruling realm but its soldiers fight with swords and shields against laser guns and mini black holes? I'm also surprised its fortress is so easily overpowered - you'd have expected even stone walls and columns in Asgard to have a greater degree of resilience. If the fight scenes were better choreographed, I'd most likely be awed enough to enjoy them rather than think about them.
I'm glad to see Heimdall having an expanded role in this film. I did not read the comics, so I was intrigued by the power and responsibility wielded by him, being supposedly able to even deny the King of Asgard entry into his realm. It's great to see him doing much more in this film other than guarding the Bifrost like in the last movie.
Loki's banter is delightfully enjoyable as usual. And I especially enjoyed the short scene where he was changing his and Thor's forms so as to be "less conspicuous".
Apart from the visuals, the story was engaging enough. The plot moves fast, keeping one engaged and interested till the end of the film. Some cheesy lines at the end of the film, but they were to be expected. All in all, a very pretty picture-story backed by a credible plot.