Thor: The Dark World 3D

This latest installment is a step back from Kenneth Branagh’s goofy and grand first franchise installment, Thor. While not likely to piss off superhero film fans, this sequel from director Alan Taylor is not going to blow away many minds, either. It’s a semi-efficient placeholder flick moving us towards the next Avengers movie, due out in 2015. Chris Hemsworth returns as that incredibly handsome man with long hair, a big hammer and impossibly silly dialogue. The film takes place after The Avengers, with a dark ancient force threatening the universe, and only Thor and his imprisoned brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston, stealing the movie) can save us. The movie is OK, although somewhat of a comedown considering how fun the first Thor and The Avengers were. But it has some decent action and special effects to tide us over until the next Marvel fix.