THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

There is just something so wildly exuberant about Thor: The Dark World.  The plot sounds more complex than it is: thousands of years ago the Dark Elves tried to send all the realms of the universe into darkness with a force called The Aether, but their evil leader Malekith barely escapes with his own life when Asgardian soldiers manage to capture The Aether, hiding it away as it cannot be destroyed.  Flash-forward to present-day Jane Foster (Natalie Portman, who is actually kind of annoying in this film), angry at Thor for not keeping in contact in two years, who ends up a host for The Aether when she accidentally discovers it, bringing Malekith back to Asgard to retrieve the strongest weapon in the universe when Thor learns of what's happened and tries to protect her.  The battle scenes and special effects are HIGHLY ramped up here, in a fun, even funny and exciting film with Hemsworth and Hiddleston now fully grown into their respective roles as Thor and Loki.  Loved it! (rated PG-13)  ****1/2

THOR: THE DARK WORLD trailer