Thor: The Dark World (2013), PG-13, 2.5 stars

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) ready for action.

I don't really anticipate a Marvel super-hero movie in the fall season or close to the holidays. But, hey, I'll take it. The only disappointing outcome would be that any Marvel superhero movie will be that because of great expectations due to the success of The Avengers, we will see a great story. Even though, the movie has some humor and flair and great action, I thought that the result was a mixed bag.

In the opening of the movie, there is a war where Bor, the father of Odin, fights with Malkeith (Christopher Eccleston), who wants to destroy the universe with a weapon called the Aether. After defeating Malkeith and his forces, Bor keeps the Aether in safe keeping and Malkeith, Algrim (Adewale-Akinnouye-Agbaje) and a few others escape. The battle was a little unnecessary to set up because it is just too obvious and ordinary. But, they had to explain the Aether and set up the evil characters.

The film flashes forward to present-day Asgard, where Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is in prison because of his ploy to cause mayhem and wreckage in New York. Meanwhile, Thor (Chris Hemworth) goes along with his pals to fight the warriors of Vanaheim to secure the Nine Realms. This was, I thought, really a random battle just to uplift the movie from boredom. In London, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is taken by her intern, Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Ian to go to an abandoned factory where the laws of physics have been broken and Jane has teleported to another world.

Thor is aware that Jane is missing and because she is infected by the Aether, he brings her back to Asgard. Odin (Anthony Hopkins) reveals that there is no way for Jane's infection to heal. Unfortunately, Malkeith comes back to attack Asgard and after the attack, Thor teams up with Loki to take back Asgard. I wonder, how this will play off with Loki teaming up with Thor?

Tom Hiddleston as Loki.

Thor: The Dark World is better-looking than the first movie, which I thought that the first movie looked like a stage in New Mexico and I thought that Clint Eastwood would stop by. But, I thought it had the right balance between humor and action. With this movie, the action seems to be scattered and all over the place parallel to the confusing story about a weapon. I did not think that the narrative point of view was complex at all.

Chris Hemsworth is Thor and he has had a good year with this character and Rush, unlike Liam Hemsworth in that awful movie, Paranoia. (Catching Fire has not come out yet, so, he has another chance.) I thought there were too few scenes of Loki. Tom Hiddleston has the charisma to convey his character and let the audience not predict what he will do for himself. He's a tricky SOB. I wish that there is a movie about Loki and to follow him wherever he goes and what he will do for Asgard and himself. The main villain in this movie, however, is probably one of the weaker villains in the Marvel universe with Malkeith just standing there wanting a weapon to destroy the universe. It sounded like a James Bond type of plot.

The time travel paradoxes did work for me that provides high stakes of action. Now, there are hints in a few scenes where Sif (Jaimie Alexander) say a few flirtatious comments or looks at Thor. Can there be a little jealousy ensuing her? Hmmm...I don't know. I mean, the relationship between Jane and Thor was just fine for now.

This story has action, some better humor, and a few charismatic performances from Hemsworth and Hiddleston. However, the movie is just semi-entertaining. The villainous ploy hurts the movie and I would have given the movie 3 stars if they were to organize the villain's character development and his plan well. I would say rent the movie when it comes to NetFlix because the banter between Jane, Thor and Loki was fun. And note: Stay in the theater for the two post-credits in the end of the movie.

**1/2