The Dark World finally marks the establishment of Thor as a true hero, facing an imminent threat in a darker context, without leaving aside the humor

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2020)

While Iron Man 3 started the second phase of Marvel, with Tony having to deal with the consequences of the New York battle here on Earth and still having to face the scientist Aldrich Killian and the Extremis technology, it is time to see the god of Thunder having to deal with events after the first meeting of the Avengers. In this sequence, without having to worry about introducing the main characters, director Alan Taylor has the chance to go deeper and explore several aspects. The script continues to explore the relationship between the brothers Thor and Loki, since when Thor hands over Loki to become a prisoner in Asgard and especially when Thor is forced to convince Loki to ally himself to avenge his mother and save the universe from the threat of Malekith. The provocations, the anger, the rivalry, the lack of confidence and the action carried out by the brothers moves the film in several crucial moments.
Other characters have more space, specifically in the core of London, such as Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård). Another one with greater prominence is Frigga (Rene Russo), wife of Odin and mother of Thor, with a much bigger participation and with extreme importance for the unfolding of the plot, we even see its potential using a sword. Even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) also plays a major role. Natalie Portman has a fundamental role in the plot. The actress manages to do well in humorous scenes and finally reunites with Thor, whom she had been waiting for two years. Jane Foster has the chance to go to Asgard, meet the beloved's parents and be the key to a great threat to the universe. Chris Hemsworth, even more at ease in the character, concludes Thor's maturation, from inconsequential to hero (it is noted in the lines of his final scene). Meanwhile, Tom Hiddleston is flawless again in Loki's shoes.
Even more at ease, sarcastic, unpredictable and probably the biggest highlight of the feature, taking a little of the highlight including the antagonist Malekith, played by Christopher Eccleston, just correct in the character. Once again the Asgardian warriors were misused, especially Sif (Jaimie Alexander). A mention was even made of the love triangle between her, Jane and Thor, but this sub-plot was simply left out.
Other characters have more space, specifically in the core of London, such as Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård). Another one with greater prominence is Frigga (Rene Russo), wife of Odin and mother of Thor, with a much bigger participation and with extreme importance for the unfolding of the plot, we even see its potential using a sword. Even Odin (Anthony Hopkins) also plays a major role. Natalie Portman has a fundamental role in the plot.
Well-designed action scenes. All the scenes that show the convergence between the galaxies through portals are well elaborated, in addition to great action scenes, such as the invasion of the Black Elves in their spaceships in Asgard that originated great sequences with the escape of Thor, Loki, Jane and his allies, thus disobeying Odin's express order. We also have the action sequences in the Dark World and even the final scenes in London (Greenwich) when the alignment of the universes was about to occur.
On the technical side, production designer Charles Wood and photographer Kramer Morgenthau also did a great job, especially in rebuilding Asgard. Previously shown as a technological society, with a clean and futuristic design, but very artificial, being built almost entirely in computer graphics, it has modifications, especially in scenes with more closed plans. With a bigger budget in hand, the team can portray Asgard being a little more realistic, more medieval and more "dirty" in his look, giving the kingdom a more realistic look, giving the impression that people really live there. Even due to the threat presented, other kingdoms can be seen, unlike the first film. In addition to Asgard and Midgard (Earth), we see the dark world of Svartalfheim, the original home of the Black Elves, Vanaheim (home of the Hogun family, lived by Tadanobu Asano), and yet Jotunheim (home of the first giant ice giants) and others from the Nine Realms.
Thor: The Dark World finally marks the establishment of Thor as a true hero, facing an imminent threat in a darker context, within the most magical and fantastical universe of the character, without leaving aside the humor, a hallmark of Marvel's productions . And there is an important post-credit scene for future Marvel films, with a character present in the "Guardians of the Galaxy" universe, which promises to be one of the most electrifying films to come.