Nerds That Geek Movie Review – ‘Thor: The Dark World’

Written by Scott Edwards 

‘THERE IS NOTHING MORE REASSURING THAN REALIZING THAT THE WORLD IS CRAZIER THAN YOU ARE.’
– DR. ERIK SELVIG

After the Chitauri are defeated in New York City, Thor has the pleasure of returning his brother to Asgard to be housed in the dungeons for the rest of his days. Although they are family, Thor and his family now see what Loki is capable of and must keep him in restraints until all is corrected in the Nine Realms. Returning from his most recent victory off world, Thor and his warriors return home knowing that all is well in the universe before the Convergence is set to take place. With his trusted gatekeeper on watch, there is little that can go wrong for him and his family when the planets align, but there is someone else floating in depths of space that is looking to change that.

Jane Foster has moved to London to work with her friend, Dr. Erik Selvig, but is having a hard time getting ahold of him. When getting some abnormal readings, Jane heads off to research her find and discovers that the laws of physics that do not apply in an abandoned warehouse. Not knowing what is happening, or what is causing it, Jane continues to probe around the area, but gets sucked into a different realm and before she knows it, an alien force takes control of her body. Returning to her planet, Jane is surprised to see that Thor is back and although she is upset that he has been gone for so long, she can finally end her quest for love that seems to be going nowhere. But when the local police try to arrest her for trespassing at the warehouse, a large release of energy erupts from her body and Thor knows that there is nothing that can be done on her world to help or protect his mortal love.

Dark Elf leader Malekith is on the hunt for something that he has not been able to locate for many years. When the Aether has bonded with Jane, Malekith is awakened and is looking for its location so it can be returned to its rightful master, him. Being able to get through the defenses on Asgard, Malekith is able to confront the human, but there is much resistance from Thor’s mother to keep the young woman safe. Having to kill everyone in his way, Malekith is veered away after receiving a bolt of lightning to the face, but that will not stop the Dark Elf. Following the smell of the Aether, Malekith finds that it is on the Dark World and heads there to receive his just due. Not even the strength of the most powerful Asgardian can stop him at this point, as his power is within grasping distance.

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Thor is distraught after finding out that his own science cannot save Jane from whatever is running through her veins and needs to find a different method to save her. After an uprising tears the dungeons apart and an attack has left Asgard humbled, he needs to find a way to get off world once again. Knowing that Loki has a way to escape the planet, Thor has to put trust into his brother to save his one and only true love. Getting off of Asgard and onto the Dark World, Thor has a plan on how to relieve Jane of the darkness that is slowly consuming her and how to destroy it when the time comes. Fighting with his brother once again, Thor comes face to face with Malekith and finds out first-hand how powerful the Aether can be when being used by someone that has a purpose for it. 

Returning to Earth to work with Jane’s team, Thor finds that Erik Selvig is a little bit off of his rocker, but has a plan on how to utilize the Convergence and save the world. With sensors being set up all around the primary location, Erik is able to keep the realms from interacting with each other, but saving worlds and lives is the last thing on Malekith's mind as he arrives on Earth. Looking to distract the Dark Elf for long enough to let the Convergence pass, portals to the Nine Realms are utilized to protect the innocent from being enslaved, or worse yet, killed by the Dark Elf that only wants to return darkness to the universe. 

This is a strong follow up to the first Thor movie, along with The Avengers as both story lines play into this one. I love this movie and seeing everyone from the first Thor film reprise their roles. But is not just the original cast returning that makes it enjoyable, it is how everyone is having problems coping with what they have had happen to them so many years ago. Jane cannot find anyone that makes her feel the way Thor did, and vice versa for the hammer welding Asgardian. But Erik Selvig completely stole the show as he is seen without pants in several scenes in the movie and when he discovers that he is not crazy, he slowly starts to return to his old masterminded self, and what happens next to Thor, I have to say is downright epic. 

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