Thor: The Dark World [4K UHD]

The first Thor was a problematic film for me. I loved the actors, I loved the Jack-Kirby-perfect Asgard, but the film itself felt flat. Perhaps it was the rather disorganized plot, perhaps it was the way it followed the same strategy as films like Time Guardian and Galaxia, beginning in lush sci-fi locales but migrating to a small town to save money later on. Avengers further attached me to Hemsworth's Thor, and so I was really looking forward to seeing him get a grander, more developed outing. Thor: the Dark World does not disappoint. Once again, the source of troubles is another race of ancient magic aliens, this time the Dark Elves led by their king Malekith (Christopher Eccleston, still failing to buck that Doctor Who typecasting). The Dark Elves (who are more or less the Eldar from Warhammer 40,000 for all intents and purposes) are the longtime enemies of the Asgardians, but after an apocolyptic battle only a handful of them remain. Awakened by the coming alignment of all the worlds connected by Yggdrasil (they hyperspace network that connects all the worlds Thor and his pals hang out on) Malekith and his creepily masked flunkies set out to recover the Ether, a spooky living weapon that will blot out all light in the universe. Predictably conflict ensues. Through a series of accidents the Ether winds up living inside Thor's human sweetheart, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) where it will grow until it devours her. Defying Odin, Thor hatches a surprisingly cunning plan to dupe Malekith into removing the Ether from Foster so he can destroy the Elven leader and his weapon in one go. Things don't go so swimmingly, and it all comes down to a ludicrously silly, magnificently well-done battle across dimensions for the fate of the universe (with a tube ride through London in the middle). If, like me, you loved everything about Thor but just wanted it to be better, then this is the film for you. Thor and Foster's romance, forced and simplistic in the first movie, is played out well here. Asgard, before just a shiny setpiece, is now a well-built series of believable locations with an aged, lived-in feel to them. The Dark Elves, unlike the thuggish Frost Giants, have a technology and martial prowess that seems genuinely threatening. Baddie Eccleston does a decent enough job, although he lacks some of his scenery chewing prowess that we've seen in films like G.I. Joe and 28 Days Later. Even Foster's intern Darcy (Kat Dennings) is a tolerable comic presence this time around. And of course we get more Stellan Skarsgård, who is always fabulous. Real credit is due, however, to Tom Hiddleston as Loki. I felt sure that after two films as the big bad I'd be sick of him, but his turn as Thor's crafty, somewhat unwilling accomplice is meaty and exciting. You genuinely can't tell how much of his behavior is sincere and how much of it is buildup to some treachery- without giving too much away, even though Loki is on Thor's side in this film, he is by far a more dangerous force than Malekith. Just wait for it. Of course there are also some little tidbits thrown in at the end of the film to foreshadow future installments, which are now all but guaranteed to echo the Infinity Gauntlet storyline (as if seeing Thanos in Avengers wasn't a big enough clue). What this means for the next Avengers and other Marvel properties is anyone's guess, but color me excited as all get out. I can think of very few bad things to say about this film to counterbalance the good. Sif and the Warriors Three are still rather underused (but then Thor already has another super team) and Idris Elba's Heimdall is still solidly a supporting character (although he does fight a spaceship using parkour and stabbing, so that's pretty cool). There are also some effects that seem a little odd- a thrown boulder near the middle looks a little wobbly-fake, and in the climax Malekith grows to enormous proportions which is not really made clear until he starts fighting Thor. By and large, though, this is a very very good film, and the acting, writing and visuals are nearly above reproach. Pros: -Exactly like the first Thor only better -Boasts a big sense of scale and tension -Skilled cast elevates it above just a comic book movie Cons: -A few wonky effects here and there -Lacks the memorable, bombastic theme music we've seen in other Marvel films

Marvel Studios appears to have another bona fide hit on their hands in the seventh-feature film of it’s superhero franchise, and the second of Phase 2, in THOR: THE DARK WORLD. Sequels are a delicate proposition with the inevitable comparisons to the films that have come before. Fans continue to look for the next Godfather 2 or The Empire Strikes Back, and hope they don’t receive another Ghostbusters 2. Expectations (especially in this era of social media) can crush a film before it is even released - I’m looking at you Star Wars Episode VII. All that being noted, Thor: The Dark World is another fine chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Directed by Marvel-newcomer Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones), the story continues the emotional journey of the would-be Asgardian king as Thor continues to be torn between two worlds and family obligations. Chris Hemsworth once again brings the right mixture of seriousness, fun and larger-than-life persona that Thor is - not an easy trick to pull off. I would challenge this role may be even more difficult than playing the Man of Steel. The Dark World opens catching the audience up with post-Avengers consequences for Loki (Tom Hiddleston by the way is once again delightful as the Prince of Lies and Marvel should really consider giving him a solo go at it because he is that good), while also setting up the story of the dark elves and their leader, Malekith (with a strong performance by Christopher Eccleston). Besides our returning-Asgardian cast of Odin, Heimdall, Sif and The Warriors Three (although sadly they had less to do this time around), we also catch up with Jane Foster, Eric Selvig and Darcy. Avoiding all the traps of a sequel, we find our trio in new roles this time around. The best of the three is the madness in which envelopes Selvig after “having a God in his head”. It’s nice to see some real consequences to the characters from the events of the previous films, however viewers jumping in for the first time would definitely not be lost. Speaking of consequences, there are some “oh no they didn’t” moments with characters that audience members won’t see coming, especially a terrific sequence with Thor, Loki and Malekith. Fans of Walt Simonson’s seminal run on The Mighty Thor will not be disappointed, and there are quite a few easter egg moments, including an all-too brief cameo appearance by Thor’s first antagonist from the pages of Journey Into Mystery #103. The post title scene does not disappoint and sets up Guardians of the Galaxy as well as potentially Avengers 3. Most of the action takes place on Asgard and other worlds of the nine realms, with the movie’s climax coming on Earth, which once again takes center stage. However, the heart of Thor: The Dark World is Thor’s split loyalties and the ultimate decision he needs to make, and just wait until the movie’s final scene on Asgard - cue Thor 3. Thor: The Dark World should not disappoint.

If you liked the original "Thor", your not going to be disappointed with this sequel. The storyline continues 2 years later from the original,and as the predecessor, this too has awesome graphics and special effects. The rainbow bridge has been repaired and even reinforced with towers and suspensions which is really a sight to see.The movie is full of action and drama, especially with the new characters,enemies introduced. The dark elves.I don't want to go into any detail so as not to spoil it for anyone.They also tastefully tell the love story between the hero Thor and Jane, who was left waiting for Thor's return in the first movie. The movie even cleverly makes reference to Thor's return to earth in 'The Avengers', to which Jane makes us aware of and also she being a little pissed because Thor neglected to stop by or even say "hi" to her. We also learn that Loki survived his fall from the rainbow bridge, for those who did not see 'The Avengers', who our hero is forced to employ in a plan to save Jane and prevent Asgard and its inhabitants from any further harm. Part of the story is a planetary alignment is occurring during the course of events, and some of the fight scenes that occur between our hero and his new antagonist are incredible with the both of them falling and going back and forth between realms. The special effects make it so realistic and the job is seamless and spectacular. There is so much for the viewer to enjoy , and the story never gets boring. This is definitely a must see for those who have seen the original, and will most likely make viewers who missed it want to see it.

Year: 2013 Rating: PG-13 Runtime: 1 HR 42 MIN Year: 2013 | Rating: PG-13 | Runtime: 1HR, 42 MIN Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1 | Video Resolution: 1080P MPEG-4 MVC Audio: Eng 7.1 DTS-HD MA, Spanish Dolby 5.1 | Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish Director: Alan Taylor Writers: Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Don Payne, Robert Rodat, Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Christopher Eccleston, Jaimie Alexander, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Stellan Skarsgård Film Rating: ★★★☆☆ Video Rating: ★★★★★ 3D Video Rating: ★★★★☆ Audio Rating: ★★★★★ Extras Rating: ★★★☆☆ Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ 2011’s Thor obviously wasn’t the first step towards the assembling of The Avengers; the groundwork for that had been laid years earlier with Iron Man and to a lesser extent The Incredible Hulk. Thor did however make the premise of The Avengers feel a lot more tangible to moviegoers. The rest, as they say, is history. Thor was followed by Captain American which was then followed by The Avengers. As we wait for The Avengers 2, the cycle repeats and we’re treated to individual superhero films again, now up… Thor: The Dark World. The “God of Thunder” Thor must stop the Dark Elves, a dangerous and ancient race from obtaining the Aether, a substance capable of destroying Asgard, Earth and the rest of the universe. With the help of Jane Foster and his treacherous brother Loki, Thor puts into action a daring plan to save the universe and banish the Elves forever. Most of the cast of the original Thor returns. The main exception being the minor role of Fandral; originally portrayed by Josh Dallas he was replaced by Chuck’s Zachary Levi. Chris Hemsworth slips back into the role that made him a household name almost effortlessly and continues to be ferocious and charming. Coming as no surprise Tom Hiddleston continues to be a scene stealer despite his character being "locked up" for most of the film. Other Thor actors, namely Idris Elba, Stellan Skarsgård, Anthony Hopkins, Jamie Alexander and Ray Stevenson put in inspired performances even with their limited screen time. Natalie Portman's performance is a little harder to diagnose; reportedly she was unhappy when original director Patty Jenkins left the project and was contractually compelled to appear in the film. Perhaps I'm reading too much into the reported dispute but I didn't feel she had as much enthusiasm for this project as the original. While those appearing in front of the camera mostly stay the same the talent behind the scenes has changed dramatically. Gone are writers Ashley Miller, Zack Stentz and Don Wayne and director Kenneth Branagh. The writing staff consists of five writers; Christopher Yost, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Don Payne, and Robert Rodat while the directing duties have fallen to Alan Taylor. Mostly known for his TV work Taylor does have experience directing features but it's his background on the small screen that sets him up for success as he shows finesse in handling the film's more personal moments. Finding the right balance between drama and humor can be a difficult tightrope to walk but for the most part Thor handles it quite well... up until the third act. Then, at the most inopportune time some issues regarding the film's balance and tone start to derail The Dark World and rob it of its sense of urgency and danger. It's not a deal breaking problem but it does hold the film back from having a truly memorable climax. Thor: The Dark World has been given two Blu-ray releases; a standard 2D release and a 3D version which also includes the 2D version on a separate disc. The 3D version also includes a digital copy. The 2D presentation is flawless. Black levels are inky, the color palette is vibrant (on Asgard especially) and flesh tones are natural and lifelike. Detail consistently wows; everything from the fine stubble of Thor’s beard to minute costume textures are clearly visible. I couldn’t find a single negative quality to nitpick about the 2D transfer, it’s simply outstanding. The 3D version of the film isn’t quite as successful as its 2D counterpart. Brightly lit scenes look fantastic; there’s little to no crosstalk, colors still pop and there’s very little drop off in terms of detail. Much of the 3D effect doesn’t always “jump” out of the screen, instead it’s used to create a greater sense of depth. That may disappoint some viewers but I prefer 3D to be used like a scalpel and not an ax. The transfer runs into some trouble during the numerous dark or dimly lit scenes. The 3D effect just doesn’t pop as much and you may find yourself struggling more to digest what you’re looking at. With that said, even at its worst The Dark World’s 3D presentation is equal to or better than that of the first Thor’s 3D Blu-ray. There should be no complaints about the well balanced and aggressive DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track. Dialogue is always crisp and intelligible, the surrounds provide plenty of ambient noise and when needed some appropriate directional effects, and Brian Tyler’s score is well balanced. This is nothing short of what you’d expect from one of Marvel’s signature cinematic properties. Special features range from the mundane to the extraordinary. The signature special feature is the Marvel One Shot: All Hail the King fourteen minute long short film starring Ben Kingsley from Iron Man 3. It's a fun little companion piece that gives a little insight to one of the most intriguing side characters of the Marvel universe. You'll also find a commentary with director Alan Taylor, cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, and actor Tom Hiddleston; the track is a bit dry but is informative. The thirty-two minute long documentary A Brother's Journey: Thor & Loki explores the casting, performances, stories and relationship between the hero and villain. Wrapping things up is a some short featurette about the Brian Tyler's score, eight minutes of deleted or extended scenes, a first look at Captain America: The Winter Soldier and a short gag reel. Most of the extras are merely okay but the All Hail the King short improves the whole package. The greatest thing that can be said about Thor: The Dark World is that it doesn't suffer from “sequelitis” like so many other sequels in recent years. By avoiding the same fate of other recent sequels like Iron Man 2 and Star Trek: Into Darkness this film sets up the Thor franchise for continued success and keeps the Marvel movie machine moving full speed ahead. The 2D & 3D transfers are top notch as is the DTS audio track, that in addition to the above average special features makes Thor: The Dark World an easy to recommend Blu-ray.

This was a very enjoyable entry into the Marvel Universe Mythos. The actors are very good; Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth are just fine, thank you - their chemistry works well and if not quite Bogey and McCall well at least Powell and Loy. And, oh my, Tom Hiddleston, while he didn't quite steal the show his protrayal of Loki shows why actors love playing villains - they are just so much fun. And Stan Lee's cameo was a hoot. Actually the whole durn cast was pretty right on for me. Jamie Alexander as Sif didn't get enough screen time, nor did Idris Alba as Baldur, just to mention two. To adequately praise the individual cast members would require listing the entire cast. The production is what we've come to expect of Marvel, loud and explosive with new colors being invented every scene it seems. Asgard looks a lot like the Kirby-esque goth I remember from reading the comics as a kid, yet it also seemed more functional, like a real, breathing city that you'd actually want to visit. There are aspects of the storyline that are a little outre, but hey, it's essentially a motion comic and suspension of disbelief is mandatory when you buy the ticket. As much as I did dislike some of the plot elements I didn't dislike them all that much and they were internally consistent enough to not be too annoying. But the real story is the relationship between Thor and Loki and that story is so satisfying. But then again, the story between Thor and Loki has ALWAYS been the real story, even in the original myths. And Tom Hiddleston is such a satisfying Loki. Look at me, I'm going all fanboy here. Sheesh. So, Yah, watch this. It's 112 minutes well spent.

I primarily bought this for my sound system at the house. Was impressed, but felt movies like the Avengers and Iron Man 3 had better audio. I didn't expect this to be a mind blowing film but was good enough for me to enjoy it multiple times and will probably have a Marvel Marathon eventually. Beyond that, the film was good enough to watch the following day and will watched again a 3rd time in less than week of owning it. The story was decent, sound was great, but visuals felt to dark. I understand its "Thor the dark world" but felt the film had a dark screen over it. Its still highly detailed on blu ray, just scenes that should have been brighter had a dark tinge to it. Not a defect of the bluray disk. The movie was just shot darker. Actions scenes are well done and I actually liked it a lot regardless of anything negative sounding in my review. In my opinion, better than Iron Man 3 but not as over the top as The Avengers. The story is easy to follow and there is a hidden preview when watching the credits like most Marvel films when you see the Collector getting a hold of an Infinity Gem. The acting is good as well. I only found Janes assistant (the woman, not Ian the male) as annoying. Beyond that, everyone else did a good job.

Blu-Ray DISC arrived on time...and was purchased at a great price, and it played perfectly like new. I was delighted with my purchase and would purchase from this seller again!!!...

I have one confession to make and something to get off my chest before I start my review: I LOVE THOR, nothing against Captain America or Hulk or Iron Man but I find there's a wonderful purity to this character. He's not a poster boy like Steve Rogers, not a brilliant self obsessed billionaire like Stark, he takes the world as it is and does what he can to keep the peace. Almost like a universal godly enforcer of sorts. What I need to get off my chest is that one of the things that makes Thor so much fun to watch is that you have a universe to play with and no shortage of villains/perils to be encountered then systematically overcome. The sequel to Thor has a variety of elements in play from the first film yet there is more gravity and everything feels more fleshed out. The chemistry between Thor and Jane Foster is wonderfully done yet doesn't steal the show from the seriousness of the situation. Thor's comrades are also given more freedom and plausibility. Loki for once, doesn't steal the show but you see what I've been wanting to see brought forth, a villain who challenges Loki's brilliance and savagery in a death in the family. Loki's triumph in the end is not one born of malicious trickery but rather a tempered understanding of power. As a Hemsworth fan, I have to say he has the same ability as the late Patrick Swayze to carry the most unlikely of successful films.

Great quality dvd, great package, fast shipping!

One of the best movies ever made. Deep psykology.

I wasn't keen on the slow pace of the first Thor movie but caught this on TV and decided I'd like it in my collection, particularly seeing the spectacular graphics in 3D. I'm glad I did! If you have a 3D 4K OLED TV, it's great, because you get flicker-free HD 3D, and this works really, really well. It's great when impressive and involving imagery tells a dynamic and fun story, and this was a very enjoyable watch. Highly recommended!

So this completed the best movies I saw in 2013. Thor: The Dark World was an extremely satisfying follow up to the original Thor movie and the Avengers.Thor returns back to Asgard after the events of the alien invasion of New York with the Avengers against Loki. Thor is later reacquainted with the woman he loves, Jane Foster after she is infected with a power source that Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves wants possession of. Malekith has reawoken from his slumber in accordance with the time period that he can unleash the power source in order to turn the universe back to it's original state of eternal darkness. In a attempt to defeat Malekith and the Dark Elves Thor has to trust and form an allegiance with his untrustworthy adoptive brother Loki. I loved the first Thor film, the escapism into a beautiful captivating new world of Asgard, which in a new turn most of the story takes place in. It was a great film full of great action and emotional moments. The first movie in four years that my girlfriend burst into tears at. I loved it and it is one of my favorite movies of 2013. Check out my Blog http://supercomicsmovieblog.blogspot.ie/

Bon film