It's been a good start; how long can it last though?
It’s all looking pretty rosy for Marvel’s latest phase two addition to the world of cinema Thor: The Dark World. With cutting edge special effects flowing vividly from the film’s every orifice – that’s a metaphor – the critics have been kind, but will the so-called ‘big hitters’ ruin the (at the time of writing) 80% Rotten Tomatoes score?
Chris Hemsworth and Anthony Hopkins as Thor and Odin
Thor, the Mighty Avenger, enjoyed a relatively successful translation to the big screen back in 2011, despite Roger Ebert’s best efforts.
But the mythical Marvel character is often maligned for his indelible nature; if he is, indeed, all-powerful and nigh on indestructible, how did director Alan Taylor and writers Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Don Payne make the plot interesting?
The critics, so far, seem to believe they succeeded. “This robust, impersonal visual-effects showpiece proves buoyant and unpretentious enough to offset its stew of otherwise derivative fantasy/action elements,” said Variety’s Justin Chang.
Watch the trailer for Thor: The Dark World here
“Of all of the Marvel franchises Thor always felt the most difficult to pull off (he is a virtually indestructible God after all) but here it all ties together rather well,” writes Mark Adams of Screen International, while Erick Davies of Movies.com thinks: “Thor: The Dark World is a hugely entertaining and sharply written continuation of Marvel's Phase 2, combining heart, spectacle and a shrewd lightness of touch.”
But as we wait for some of the more reputable reviewers to weigh in – Empire, The Guardian, The New York Times, etc. - the suggestion is the reviews might not be so kind, as evidenced by The Telegraph’s early review.
“It feels entirely made by committee - the definition of house style, without a personal stamp in sight,” said Tim Robey in his 2/5 review. It might be a one off, an anomalous negative review amidst other, generally positive ones, but something tells us Thor: The Dark World will be entrenched in the 60%-zone by the end of the week.
The official poster for Thor: The Dark World
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