Thor: The Dark World MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +2 Content: +2

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings. Action-adventure. Written by by Christopher Yost and Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Directed by Alan Taylor.

FILM SYNOPSIS: Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World continues the big-screen adventures of Thor, the Mighty Avenger, as he battles to save Earth and all the Nine Realms from a shadowy enemy that predates the universe itself. In the aftermath of Marvel’s Thor and Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor fights to restore order across the cosmos...but an ancient race led by the vengeful Malekith returns to plunge the universe back into darkness. Faced with an enemy that even Odin and Asgard cannot withstand, Thor must embark on his most perilous and personal journey yet, one that will reunite him with Jane Foster and force him to sacrifice everything to save us all.

PREVIEW REVIEW: It is what it is, a comic book legendary superhero brought to 3D life. Things and people break, quake or explode, all at a decibel-defying bombastic frequency. And in between the game boy carnage, there’s lots and lots of exposition (discourse of back story, who’s who, etc.). The story is somewhat involving (though I guess it helps if you read up on the latest Marvel comic books), the men are strong, the women good looking (and strong), there are positive messages about sacrifice and love for others, and the visual look is outstanding. Though the 3D effect continues to wear thin, the film’s CGI effects are impressive. Not as witty or smart as the first Iron Man, which remains the benchmark in comic book movies, still, if you’re a fan of Marvel’s god of thunder, you’ll most likely be satisfied. Chris Hemsworth makes a great Thor.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Paramount