Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 20, 2013 Latest ‘Thor’ picture puts action above clarity by Dennis Seuling “Thor: The Dark World” is the God of Thunder’s third appearance on the big screen, following “Thor” (2011) and “The Avengers” (2012). Chris Hemsworth, with bulging muscles and a voice so deep it could make boulders trem- ble, is back in the title role, complete with magical hammer and red cape. One wonders if this garb is necessary or just a reminder that most self-respecting superheroes wear capes. Wardrobe issues aside, Hemsworth is the perfect human incarnation of a comic book character. This time around, someone or something has unleashed the Aether, a red-hued, floating, liquid substance that looks like a combination of Twizzlers and Christmas tree bunting -- a nasty fluid that can invade the bodies of those unfor- tunate enough to come in contact with it. To make mat- ters worse, the Nine Realms are coming into alignment, a rare occurrence that will create portals from one world to another, allowing Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) and his band of Dark Elves the chance to attack Asgard, to avenge a thousands-year-old feud. Meanwhile, on Earth, scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Port- man), who has not seen Thor for two years, toils with her assistant Darcy (Kat Dennings) and eccentric head scientist Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard). That does it for the muddled premise. There are so many missteps in this movie that it is hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with the plot, such as it is. Director Alan Taylor starts off with an exposition-filled prologue that includes a lot of information -- some of it crucial, some of it not -- while the viewer eagerly awaits the first appearance of Thor. Not a terribly imaginative director, Taylor relies on plenty of action in the form of numerous battles, lots of hammer scenes, and a panoply of mayhem, making the film merely a carbon copy of many superhero films that have gone before. The uniqueness of Thor is lost. Now there are modern weapons blazing, hand grenades, and anti-aircraft guns rat-tat-tatting at low-flying aircraft. Is this a story of the Norse god or a “Star Wars” installment? Back once again with highfalutin pronouncements, usu- ally filmed from a low angle to lend him god-like stature, is Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Thor’s father. Looking pretty goofy with an eye patch and Santa Claus beard, Hopkins is hard to take seriously since his interpretation is worthy of a “Saturday Night Live” skit rather than a major motion picture. Thank goodness there is one redeeming feature in this mess of a movie, and that is Tom Hiddleston as Loki. This actor absolutely commands the screen, and he does it with a minimum of pizzazz, relying on sheer talent and a pierc- ing look to convey the enigma that is Thor’s crafty brother. Often, it appears that Hiddleston has lost his way from a far better movie. He is definitely an oasis in a desert of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in ‘Thor: The Dark World.’ mediocrity. Not your standard villain, Loki is textured. One never really knows what is going through his mind. He assesses developments as they occur and constantly shifts his plan, like a computer processing information. The film is in 3D. Predictably, Thor’s hammer and other assorted weapons come flying at the audience again and again. The 3D glasses darken the screen image, which might be appropriate for a movie subtitled “The Dark World,” but the technique is used less to enhance the storytelling than to allow theaters to add an extra $5 to the admission price. Save money and, if you must, see this in the standard 2D version. Rated PG-13 for stylized violence, “Thor: The Dark World” is a busy, noisy, muddled movie that places action above clarity and reduces its title character to a pawn in an unimaginative undertaking. Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. You’ll reach over 47,000 households. 201-652-0744 www.villadom.com