It’s interesting that Hollywood may finally be understanding something important. Typically, sequels don't improve on the original, but there’s a trend now where they do – X2 was better than X-Men, Spider-Man 2 surpassed its predecessor, and after seeing it tonight, I can say Thor: The Dark World is superior to Thor. I really enjoyed Kenneth Branagh’s direction of Thor when I first saw it just this spring, even rewatching it shortly afterward. So my expectations were high going into the sequel, but I wasn't disappointed. Alan Taylor directed Thor 2, and director changes usually worry me, but he deserves credit for maintaining – and even enhancing – the tone established by Branagh. He managed to balance a darker storyline with humor, which is difficult to pull off effectively. The writers also did an excellent job, inserting jokes at precisely the right moments; any misstep would have been disastrous. I found myself laughing heartily one moment and then deeply invested in the characters’ emotions the next – even when those shifts were sudden, they felt appropriate. That's what makes for good entertainment. The actors all seemed completely comfortable in their roles. Chris Hemsworth has truly embodied Thor by now; he *is* that character. The same is true of the rest of the cast, and Tom Hiddleston’s portrayal of Loki was particularly captivating. He conveyed Loki’s slyness, arrogance, and inner turmoil with just a look or a grin. It's remarkable how much you can like – even root for – someone who is clearly wicked. The special effects were exactly what one would expect from modern filmmaking; Asgard looked more beautiful than ever, and everything was convincing and well-executed. It’s hard to fully articulate why Thor: The Dark World surpasses the first film. It's mostly a feeling—I was even more entertained this time around. There was more action, excitement, and adrenaline. My only real criticism is regarding Jane Foster; her character felt underdeveloped and bland. I don't remember much about her beyond a few scenes where she slapped Thor and had strange things happening to her – she often seemed like a damsel in distress, which feels out of place considering how independent women are portrayed now. Natalie Portman didn’t always carry her scenes as strongly as one might expect from an actress of her caliber. However, that's my only significant complaint. The story was well-crafted and the pacing was excellent; two hours flew by. Thor: The Dark World is a highly entertaining film that Marvel fans should definitely see. It’s even giving X-Men some serious competition – Wolverine, watch out!

Source on TMDB