After the amazing success of “Thor and The Avengers,” I was a little worried that “Thor: The Dark World” would be a disappointment, simply because I wanted it to be amazing.

I was not disappointed: Marvel knocked it out of the park again.  Chris Hemsworth portrays a deep and complex thunder god surrounded by an amazing cast of supporting characters (if anyone can call Oden a supporting character). The plot was immediately engaging and maintained the balance between classic tropes and new twists, keeping people immersed and entertained. The graphics were as epic as any movie about a family of gods fighting the end of the universe requires. And the film was filled with all the self-aware comedy and nerdy references we have come to expect, and even demand, of this newest generation of marvel movies.

There are, of course, places where “The Dark World” could be improved. The mental degeneration of the lackluster main villain, Malekith (Erik Selvig), was only partially explained. But these were all writing choices, and all executed beautifully, perhaps with deep plot explanations that simply haven’t appeared yet.

The writers also more than made up for it with Tom Hiddleston and a Loki that is, finally, a believable and sympathetic character. The Loki from “Avengers” and “Thor” is petty, shortsighted and needlessly cruel. Worst of all, he isn’t very competent, by only successfully pulling the rug over someone’s eyes perhaps twice in the two movies together. In “The Dark World,” Loki is the consummate trickster and manipulator that he deserves to be, with motivations that can be understood and perhaps even agreed with if your brain resembles a bag of cats.

“Thor: The Dark World” is an amazing movie and anyone who enjoyed the first “Thor” or its sister, “The Avengers”, will love it. It is a shining example of wonderful screen art that has been lacking in recent movies. The only shadow cast by this “Dark World” is this: How long can Marvel keep it up?