It’s been five years since the release of the first instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man – and their seventh came out this year in the form of Iron Man 3. Marvel have done an incredible job of producing big-hit action hero films in a way that no company has ever managed. Although the third of the Iron Man series didn’t have any of the great music which made up the first two, from the obvious Black Sabbath and subtly placed Ghostface Killah track in Iron Man, to the perfectly timed Robot Rock by Daft Punk in Iron Man 2, it still filled all the requirements of an Iron Man film: namely Tony Stark being a funny jerk, and his armored alter-ego battling the bad guys.
Thor: The Dark World is due to be released late in 2013, and will hopefully be a little more fantastical than the first instalment. While watching Thor’s completely over-the-top enthusiasm for a world he’s lost in was really fun to watch, it should be interesting to see the roles reversed as he goes back to his element in Asgard and brings the now less-certain Jane with him.
More of the lore of his world should be revealed in this film though, giving you a chance to know more about the characters of Norse mythology than previous cinematic outings. We’ve only really seen him as a villain so far, but now Thor must team up with his adopted brother Loki to save the world from the epically named Malekith the Accursed, played by the wonderful Brit Christopher Eccleston. Early images show Malekith with his minions, The Dark Elves – they look like a cross between Doctor Who villains and creatures from a Guillermo del Toro movie. While fighting off this threat, Thor must also use his diplomatic abilities to prevent a rebellion in Asgard and look after the bewildered Jane.
The legend of Thor has wormed its way in to popular culture and inspired not just films and comics; from the sublime to the ridiculous, high culture and low culture – Thor is everywhere and has even inspired a new online slots game Thunderstruck 2.
Another stylistically impressive film (as it looks now) will be the next Captain America, due out in 2014 in which he battles the Winter Soldier, a resurrected (or revived) Bucky, who was Cap’s best friend back in the day. In the comic book world, Bucky was dead for decades; long known as the only sidekick who had ever stayed dead, he was eventually brought back in 2005. He was introduced in the first Captain America film but ended up falling from an icy train, presumably to his death. But Bucky’s back to haunt poor Cap who has no home to go back to after the events of The Avengers and seems to be at a bit of a loose end. Don’t worry Steve, winter is coming.
Originally published June 13, 2013. Updated April 11, 2018.
