Thor: The Dark World - SPOILER ALERT

Thor: The Dark World, I am pleased to say, was a light in my world. There were some aspects of it that didn't appeal to me, but for the most part, this was a refreshing change from Iron Man 3. It was like a much needed vacation.

I will get the negatives out of the way first. Dr. Selvig's role made me uncomfortable. It wasn't until almost the end when he seemed to have a purpose. By then, I was so baffled by his earlier appearances in the movie, that I felt like his role at the end would have been more appealing from a different character.

While I enjoyed Natalie Portman's portrayal of Jane, I didn't feel the chemistry between her and Thor in this movie. Was there a love story or was there not? I'm still trying to figure that out. Thor's return and their kiss at the end seemed a bit too random to be believable. I did love Jane's relationship with Thor's mother, though. I felt their bond.

One character I really liked was the witty and perceptive Darcy Lewis. I liked her in both Thor movies. She added an element of light-hearted humor. Lines like, "How's Space?", "There you are, still muscly and all," and "Mew Mew!" (when Thor's hammer flew over her) all made me chuckle.

Tom Hiddleston once again performed well as Loki. I have such a love/hate relationship with his character. I smile every time I see him, yet I want to give him a piece of my mind. As for Chris Hemsworth, well, I can't think of anyone better suited for the role of Thor. I do question why Thor continues to put so much trust into Loki, though. I guess he just really wants to see the good in his brother, which is a testament to Thor's character.

I was fairly certain Loki did not die in the final battle, and of course this was confirmed when we learned it was him, not Odin (who was again flawlessly portrayed by the great Anthony Hopkins), who Thor was speaking with. I have to admit, in a weird and twisted way, I was glad Loki survived because I want to see more of him in future Thor/Avenger movies.

While in my world, The Dark World did not live up to the first release of Thor (sequels rarely do), I thoroughly enjoyed it. Besides the characters and mostly engaging story line, I was fascinated by the special effects, like when they were switching from realm to realm. The scenery in each realm also evoked certain emotions. For example, I was filled with despair in Svartalfheim, but elated when we were brought to Asgard and saw the repaired Bifrost for the first time. I also find the humor in the Thor movies a nice touch that always makes me smile.

I can't wait to see what's next in the MCU!