“Thor: The Dark World is so full of top performers giving their
all ... that it almost doesn’t matter that the story doesn’t break much ground.”
The difference between Iron
Man 2 and this sequel to Thor? Tonal consistency. As insubstantial as some critics said Thor: The Dark World was, it never felt
like parts were grafted on. Instead of
attempt to pull closer to the larger franchise, this sequel takes the Norse god
of thunder in his own thematic direction, closer to the action-comedy genre like
Indiana Jones or Pirates of the Caribbean.
Fresh off The Avengers, Tom
Hiddleston is still killing it as Loki, and his upgrade from pure villain to
compelling antihero with mysterious motives is compelling enough to be its own
movie. It’s a good thing, because the
primary antagonist is a little undercooked, and Thor’s own character arc leaves
something to be desired. What the film
does have is a smashing score, an abundance of confidence, and a dexterity with fun action
sequences that advance the plot without feeling like a narrative pause for a
set-piece.
“I was always a fan of
Joe Johnston’s other superhero flick, The Rocketeer, and
Johnston channels his WWII nostalgia here, creating a perfectly retro
atmosphere without feeling less than modern.”
I will acknowledge the
possibility of rose-tinted glasses in this case; as the quotation above
attests, I grew up on The Rocketeer,
and the idea of a version of that movie starring Captain America is positively
dazzling to the child at heart. This is
such a feel-good movie, though, that it’s hard to imagine filmgoers not feeling
those pangs of nostalgia that are so intrinsic to the character. A man punching Nazis while literally clothed
in the American flag will never get old, and Chris Evans shoulders the role of
Steve Rogers perfectly, playing his patriotism in earnest. The film is littered with great supporting players
– Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell – in very memorable roles, but
what keeps this film out of the Top Five is the same complaint I’ve had about a
few of the Marvel Cinematic Universe entries:
a lack of a cohesive ending, largely because this film leads directly
into The Avengers.Come back Friday to see what tied for sixth place with Captain America as the controversial countdown continues apace!
2 comments:
Thor 2 is properly placed, I'd say. Captain America, however, I'd put higher.
My list of the bottom five is as follows:
10. Thor
8. Thor 2 and Guardians (since we can do ties, apparaently)
7. Iron Man 2
6. The Incredible Hulk
From there, it gets harder. I really, really like the other five.
Post a Comment