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argurotoxosI went to a matinee showing of Thor: The Dark World with my parents the Saturday of opening weekend. (The only other film I think I've seen opening weekend was The Avengers with my aunt.) Other than various trailers and photos from Tumblr, I'd only been spoiled about one particular plot point, so didn't know what to expect. Overall, though my parents and I all agreed that the first Thor was better, I still really liked The Dark World. I think I enjoyed it even more than Avengers as I felt The Dark World gave me more of what I really craved -- deeper looks at the characters (Loki in particular was back to being more ambiguous) and a more personal approach.
I also re-watched the first Thor with my dad this past weekend; I still love it and am impressed by it, my favourite of all the Marvel films.
I'll start with my criticisms: The Dark World has a much looser thematic structure and less character depth than Thor. It really struck me re-watching the first Thor how the emotional scenes are given room to breathe, how vulnerable characters are allowed to become (e.g., Thor after trying to lift Mjölnir, Loki's conversation with Odin in the vault), and how many relationships we see play out. Thor feels more like a fantasy coming-of-age story with complex family dynamics that just happens to be based on comics. In comparison, I feel The Dark World is more of a sci-fi action film that wears its superhero origins more obviously. (Not that The Dark World is unique in that -- I could say the same thing comparing Thor to The Avengers.)
My biggest problem with The Dark World is its inconsistent mood. While Thor wasn't lacking in humour, it blends in more smoothly and doesn't alter the overall tone. Compare to The Dark World, where the shifts between silly comedy and serious drama are sometimes hard to take. Thor goes through a great deal in this film emotionally, but unlike Thor, I didn't feel he was able to express it, which only makes the cuts to comedy more abrupt.
A secondary problem is The Dark World's antagonist, the Dark Elf Malekith, and his lack of screentime and characterisation. This didn't both me as much as it could have as I think Thor has a stellar group of supporting characters already and doesn't really need an antagonist. I quite like the design of the Dark Elves, but I wish Christopher Eccleston had been given more to do! Malekith's initial plan vaguely reminded me of the Woodsie Lord's in Thief: The Dark Project, except instead of destroying the universe to start again, the Woodsie Lord wants to to go back to a more primitive time where people feared the dark and dreamed. (Thinking of the Woodsie Lord during the film made my mindscape happy, but happy because I think the Woodsie Lord is a far more interesting character than Malekith.)
Laufey, King of Jötunheim, isn't given much screentime in the first Thor, either, but I think he is a more conflicted character: he knows first-hand the horrors of war and how his actions nearly destroyed his world, yet can't resist baiting Thor or give up the chance of restoring his world and taking revenge. Later revelations also increase his importance in the film beyond his antagonist status. (There's an excellent meta on Laufey by lostinmarveluniverse on Tumblr here [spoilers].)
The Dark World also isn't as surprising to me as Thor. The first time I watched Thor, I had no idea what Loki was doing -- where his allegiance was, what his motivations were, what his next step would be -- and it was absolutely thrilling. There are very, very few movies where I've had that experience. The Dark World does have a few twists, but it isn't the roller coaster ride for me that Thor was.
By now it probably sounds like I didn't enjoy The Dark World at all. So, what did I like?
As I said above, I like the designs in The Dark World, from the Dark Elves to Asgard to Svartalfheim. (Vanaheim, however, was nothing like my mental image.) It was wonderful to see more of the Nine Realms, although I did think it was odd some of the Nine Realms were never even named when their Convergence was a key point in the plot.
The space ships and phaser-type weapons are somewhat shocking, and one reason why I think The Dark World feels more like a sci-fi action movie, but I adjusted to them and like the look of the Dark Elves' ships.
It's good to see Odin's father, Bor, in the opening scene, and a nice callback to have Odin narrate the past war, just as in Thor. (Though I doubt it would happen, it makes me wonder what Odin narrating the mythologically canon war with the Vanir in Thor 3 would be like.)
I also like the nods to the mythology that were included: Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn; beautiful books with readable runes (although the runes read in English, which is a bit strange); a ship funeral.
I'm happy some things are tied up from previous films (e.g., Loki's punishment for his actions in The Avengers, whether or not Jötunheim was destroyed during the events in Thor), and equally happy to see other issues remain unresolved (e.g., Loki's internal conflict on how to view Odin and Frigga). It's especially wonderful to see more of Frigga!
The Warriors Three and Sif are in the film much less than I expected, but we do get to briefly see Volstagg with his children. Heimdall also has several great scenes.
Loki's characterisation pleases me more than I expected, and while he's even more of a scene-stealer now and I would be more than happy to watch a film called Thor and Loki's Excellent Adventures Across the Nine Realms in which it's just the two of them snarking, fighting, working together, loving, and hating each other for three hours, I feel Loki has just the right amount of screentime. Plus, more illusions and magic use, especially compared to The Avengers!
Just as in the first Thor, I enjoy the parts on Asgard much more than the parts on Midgard. However, I happen to like Darcy and am pleased with her portrayal and role. Despite my comments about humour above, I like Darcy's intern as well. It's Erik Selvig who I feel was utilised the least and hurt the most by the comedy.
The final battle between Malekith and Thor is quite good and creative. (It's my dad's favourite part, more than any of the action scenes in Thor.)
Spoilers below.
Frigga's death was the one thing I knew beforehand and I still have mixed feelings on it. On one hand, I think it was handled well for what it was and the funeral scene is lovely. Loki's reaction to Frigga's death and Thor calling him out on his illusion is one of the movie's most understated, emotional moments. (That said, I'm surprised they didn't let Loki out of prison to attend his own mother's funeral.) On the other hand, yet one more female character killed off for the effects it has on the men around her. I love all of Frigga's scenes and am sad we won't see more of her in future films.
I couldn't believe they would actually kill off Loki at first, but doubt crept in until the soldier with the suspicious green glow. I'm getting Blood Brothers vibes from Odin!Loki, and would guess that Loki's imprisoned Odin as in that story, but I don't think future films will follow that arc to its end. I feel Loki could either be fantastic or terrible for Asgard; knowing his whims, it could change day by day. However, I do think the underlying desire Loki arrives at in Blood Brothers will stand: it won't be satisfying for Loki without Thor there and his place is by his brother's side.
Speaking of Thor, I'm jumping ahead to the end of the movie, but Thor's renunciation of the throne was the biggest surprise in the movie for me. My first thought was that it was irresponsible. Thor is a prince and he can't just give up the throne, especially as there's not another successor. (Odin is obviously growing old and tiring, Frigga is dead, Balder doesn't exist, and, as far as Thor knows, Loki is also dead, which leaves . . . ? No one, unless it passes outside the royal family.)
I still don't buy the Thor/Jane relationship, and not just because of Loki/Thor. It's been two years and Jane's still pining over Thor, and Thor over Jane, despite them not having seen each other since the three or less days they spent together in the first movie? Their relationship in Thor was more believable: Thor and Jane were both going through difficult times and the attraction, awkwardness, and tenderness of suddenly meeting and working closely together was more understandable. In The Dark World, it's just . . . not at all the reason I watch the movie.
I could go on and on, but I think I've covered all my main thoughts.
End spoilers.
One of the seven trailers that was shown was for the next Captain America movie; despite Black Widow and Nick Fury, it didn't pique my interest at all.
(Edited for tense and a few additional thoughts on 20 November 2013.)
I also re-watched the first Thor with my dad this past weekend; I still love it and am impressed by it, my favourite of all the Marvel films.
I'll start with my criticisms: The Dark World has a much looser thematic structure and less character depth than Thor. It really struck me re-watching the first Thor how the emotional scenes are given room to breathe, how vulnerable characters are allowed to become (e.g., Thor after trying to lift Mjölnir, Loki's conversation with Odin in the vault), and how many relationships we see play out. Thor feels more like a fantasy coming-of-age story with complex family dynamics that just happens to be based on comics. In comparison, I feel The Dark World is more of a sci-fi action film that wears its superhero origins more obviously. (Not that The Dark World is unique in that -- I could say the same thing comparing Thor to The Avengers.)
My biggest problem with The Dark World is its inconsistent mood. While Thor wasn't lacking in humour, it blends in more smoothly and doesn't alter the overall tone. Compare to The Dark World, where the shifts between silly comedy and serious drama are sometimes hard to take. Thor goes through a great deal in this film emotionally, but unlike Thor, I didn't feel he was able to express it, which only makes the cuts to comedy more abrupt.
A secondary problem is The Dark World's antagonist, the Dark Elf Malekith, and his lack of screentime and characterisation. This didn't both me as much as it could have as I think Thor has a stellar group of supporting characters already and doesn't really need an antagonist. I quite like the design of the Dark Elves, but I wish Christopher Eccleston had been given more to do! Malekith's initial plan vaguely reminded me of the Woodsie Lord's in Thief: The Dark Project, except instead of destroying the universe to start again, the Woodsie Lord wants to to go back to a more primitive time where people feared the dark and dreamed. (Thinking of the Woodsie Lord during the film made my mindscape happy, but happy because I think the Woodsie Lord is a far more interesting character than Malekith.)
Laufey, King of Jötunheim, isn't given much screentime in the first Thor, either, but I think he is a more conflicted character: he knows first-hand the horrors of war and how his actions nearly destroyed his world, yet can't resist baiting Thor or give up the chance of restoring his world and taking revenge. Later revelations also increase his importance in the film beyond his antagonist status. (There's an excellent meta on Laufey by lostinmarveluniverse on Tumblr here [spoilers].)
The Dark World also isn't as surprising to me as Thor. The first time I watched Thor, I had no idea what Loki was doing -- where his allegiance was, what his motivations were, what his next step would be -- and it was absolutely thrilling. There are very, very few movies where I've had that experience. The Dark World does have a few twists, but it isn't the roller coaster ride for me that Thor was.
By now it probably sounds like I didn't enjoy The Dark World at all. So, what did I like?
As I said above, I like the designs in The Dark World, from the Dark Elves to Asgard to Svartalfheim. (Vanaheim, however, was nothing like my mental image.) It was wonderful to see more of the Nine Realms, although I did think it was odd some of the Nine Realms were never even named when their Convergence was a key point in the plot.
The space ships and phaser-type weapons are somewhat shocking, and one reason why I think The Dark World feels more like a sci-fi action movie, but I adjusted to them and like the look of the Dark Elves' ships.
It's good to see Odin's father, Bor, in the opening scene, and a nice callback to have Odin narrate the past war, just as in Thor. (Though I doubt it would happen, it makes me wonder what Odin narrating the mythologically canon war with the Vanir in Thor 3 would be like.)
I also like the nods to the mythology that were included: Odin's ravens, Huginn and Muninn; beautiful books with readable runes (although the runes read in English, which is a bit strange); a ship funeral.
I'm happy some things are tied up from previous films (e.g., Loki's punishment for his actions in The Avengers, whether or not Jötunheim was destroyed during the events in Thor), and equally happy to see other issues remain unresolved (e.g., Loki's internal conflict on how to view Odin and Frigga). It's especially wonderful to see more of Frigga!
The Warriors Three and Sif are in the film much less than I expected, but we do get to briefly see Volstagg with his children. Heimdall also has several great scenes.
Loki's characterisation pleases me more than I expected, and while he's even more of a scene-stealer now and I would be more than happy to watch a film called Thor and Loki's Excellent Adventures Across the Nine Realms in which it's just the two of them snarking, fighting, working together, loving, and hating each other for three hours, I feel Loki has just the right amount of screentime. Plus, more illusions and magic use, especially compared to The Avengers!
Just as in the first Thor, I enjoy the parts on Asgard much more than the parts on Midgard. However, I happen to like Darcy and am pleased with her portrayal and role. Despite my comments about humour above, I like Darcy's intern as well. It's Erik Selvig who I feel was utilised the least and hurt the most by the comedy.
The final battle between Malekith and Thor is quite good and creative. (It's my dad's favourite part, more than any of the action scenes in Thor.)
Spoilers below.
Frigga's death was the one thing I knew beforehand and I still have mixed feelings on it. On one hand, I think it was handled well for what it was and the funeral scene is lovely. Loki's reaction to Frigga's death and Thor calling him out on his illusion is one of the movie's most understated, emotional moments. (That said, I'm surprised they didn't let Loki out of prison to attend his own mother's funeral.) On the other hand, yet one more female character killed off for the effects it has on the men around her. I love all of Frigga's scenes and am sad we won't see more of her in future films.
I couldn't believe they would actually kill off Loki at first, but doubt crept in until the soldier with the suspicious green glow. I'm getting Blood Brothers vibes from Odin!Loki, and would guess that Loki's imprisoned Odin as in that story, but I don't think future films will follow that arc to its end. I feel Loki could either be fantastic or terrible for Asgard; knowing his whims, it could change day by day. However, I do think the underlying desire Loki arrives at in Blood Brothers will stand: it won't be satisfying for Loki without Thor there and his place is by his brother's side.
Speaking of Thor, I'm jumping ahead to the end of the movie, but Thor's renunciation of the throne was the biggest surprise in the movie for me. My first thought was that it was irresponsible. Thor is a prince and he can't just give up the throne, especially as there's not another successor. (Odin is obviously growing old and tiring, Frigga is dead, Balder doesn't exist, and, as far as Thor knows, Loki is also dead, which leaves . . . ? No one, unless it passes outside the royal family.)
I still don't buy the Thor/Jane relationship, and not just because of Loki/Thor. It's been two years and Jane's still pining over Thor, and Thor over Jane, despite them not having seen each other since the three or less days they spent together in the first movie? Their relationship in Thor was more believable: Thor and Jane were both going through difficult times and the attraction, awkwardness, and tenderness of suddenly meeting and working closely together was more understandable. In The Dark World, it's just . . . not at all the reason I watch the movie.
I could go on and on, but I think I've covered all my main thoughts.
End spoilers.
One of the seven trailers that was shown was for the next Captain America movie; despite Black Widow and Nick Fury, it didn't pique my interest at all.
(Edited for tense and a few additional thoughts on 20 November 2013.)
