Thor: The Dark World - Mjölnir Kicks Asgard!

You can put the hammer down - Thor: The Dark World continues Marvel Studios’ conquest of the known universe and delivers a satisfying sequel that surpasses the original. Some fans tend to pooh-pooh poor old Thor, quick to dismiss his somewhat frothier canvas of adventures. Thor has always lived in a much more far-flung and cosmic corner of the Marvel Universe, which this sequel makes good use of. Director Alan Taylor is a veteran of HBO and AMC, with credits on everything from The Sopranos to Game of Thrones. He brings a great sensibility to Thor and marshals a look to the film that’s dark but never dreary. Thor and his pals are trying to save the nine realms from the evil Dark Elves, who would fit right in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. If Angry Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston) gets a hold of an ancient weapon known as The Aether, darkness will descend across all that is known.


Thor: The Dark World is ridiculously entertaining – far lighter and much more pure fun than either Iron Man 3 or The Wolverine. As the plot moves forward, things only get better. Tom Hiddleston steals the film as Cain to Thor’s Abel. He’s dynamite and really keeps things interesting. Of course Natalie Portman’s astrophysicist is a goofy conceit, but you can’t help but root for the mortal in love with a God of the astral plane – and that mythos gives the story freedom to creatively wreak havoc with a far-flung sense of jeopardy – Portman and Hemsworth have a nice chemistry and directory Taylor makes sure that she and all of the other minor characters from the first Thor enjoy more opportunities to shine as individuals here. Sif, Frigga and Heimdall all get their turn in the spotlight in fun and engaging ways.

The effects are pretty spectacular and we’re given a rip-roaring pulp story with plenty of laughs and a lot of heart. Thor: The Dark World is just the ticket for a satisfying pre-holiday romp through the cosmos. If you haven’t already heard, there are two extra scenes in the credits, so be sure to stay until the very end. Great stuff!

The Conjuring - maybe buy the new house...

The Conjuring is without a doubt one of the best horror films in a long while - it's also one of the most familiar. If you didn't know better, you could be excused for thinking you'd caught a remake of Poltergeist. Director James Wan (Saw, Dead Silence, Insidious) knows the genre inside and out. With The Conjuring, he's found the real-life story of paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) and delivers a period picture of the Warren's most infamous case at a Rhode Island farm house in 1971.

The great Lili Taylor and Ron Livingston are the family with five daughters (now that's scary...) who move into the farm house and quickly realize they are in way over their heads. This is the kind of horror film about a dark presence and the Warrens have had so much experience with demons and ghosts that they treat it as just a different kind of science. Until they get to this house.

The seventies mood is pulpy, but really fits and Wan does a sensational job of making you really feel for the characters - for the Warrens, for the Perron family - you're always on their side, terrified that something awful will happen to one of them.

There's a very effective and refreshing simplicity to The Conjuring, which probably helps explain why it connected so well with audiences. The cinematography by John R. Leonetti employs lots of close-quarters atmosphere and a wide range of shadows.

Wan shows no restraint when it comes to referencing predecessors. The Exorcist, The Amityville Horror, The Haunting, The Birds and Poltergeist all make telling references here. Wan turns the screws on the audience to strong effect - and he's not shy about tossing in the genre kitchen sink. The family dog, the evil doll, the creepy music box, the derelict cellar - if The Conjuring has a weakness, it's that much of it is very familiar.

That said, it's so lean and effective you're not likely to care. The freshest elements of the film are the Warrens - these two earnest and committed night stalkers hint at a rich mythology - and plenty of franchise potential. I'd love to read up on them and learn more about what they've dealt with. If you're looking for a great modern descendant to the films mentioned above, definitely make a date with The Conjuring - but not if you're moving into a new house...