Thor: The Dark World

The second film of the series. There is a substance. The Aether is left over from the darkness before the universe and was hidden thousands of years ago. Jane falls into a void during a piece of research in London and the substance passes into her. Thor takes her to Asgard. At the same time Malekith wakes; he wants the substance back and plans to return the universe to what it was before light. From there the film is a loss and an alliance. Asgard is attacked, someone dies, and Thor has to work with his brother. What the narrative is interested in is not an enemy but trust: the best section is the middle, where Thor and Loki escape together, and it stays unclear at what point the betrayal will come. Malekith is the weakest part. His motive is given in one sentence and the character barely speaks. The finale takes place in London around a science building. Portals between realms open and close in the middle of the fight, and that is the most inventive part of the film. The tone is darker and less comic than the previous film; the series will turn entirely the other way in the next one. The production began with a change of director. The first attached left and was replaced by someone from television. Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston and Idris Elba are in the cast. Alan Taylor directed. Who it is for: anyone completing the series. Who it is not for: anyone expecting a strong story; it is considered the least memorable film of the series.