Thor: The Dark World

Loki is the only character who makes himself new and interesting. When he is around, Thor: The Dark World becomes a different film altogether. You wish there was more of him. The rest of it is metal clanking.

This feels like a really, really, expensive episode of Doctor Who. In a good way.

Save for Hiddleston's too-brief supporting turn, this is mighty forgettable stuff, a by-the-numbers sequel to what was already the slightest and least entertaining of the 'Avengers' components.

When Marvel brought in Alan Taylor, the director of Game of Thrones, to invigorate the Thor franchise, many hoped for a breast-bearing, dwarf-battling, blood-spurting melodrama -- with capes and hammers. Sadly, it was not to be.

[Director Alan Taylor] is helped by Tom Hiddleston's sleekly malevolent performance as Thor's untrustworthy brother Loki, a more engaging and complex figure than Chris Hemsworth's monosyllabic Thor.

Comic-book superheroes have become so angst-ridden in recent years it's a relief to be around one who has hung on to his sense of humour.

The high-fantasy worldbuilding and story align with what the Norse mythological superhero's adventures should be – generic villain notwithstanding.

It’s by no means a great movie or anything, but it’s got a very good Tom Hiddleston performance and moves at a satisfying clip.

Dives deeper into the lore and mythology of the character more than other MCU entries, but there might be a reason other entries are more surface-level adventures.

In going full fantasy, "Thor: The Dark World" has plenty to entertain the masses, but loses a little of the coherence we enjoyed from other better Marvel films.