5. A Huge Cast
While the first Thor did an admirable job of introducing us to Asgard and many of its key players, the featured Asgardians' roles were by-and-large limited to standing cross-handed in corners delivering exposition. Anthony Hopkins' Odin got a bit more to do than most, but even he was quickly rendered unconscious for the bulk of the narrative. Although Heimdall's significant role expansion can be put down to Idris Elba's almost-overnight leap in popularity, it's fair to say that The Dark World's returning cast each get a fair bit more to do this time round. Thor, Sif, Volstaag Fandrall, Hogun, Odin, Frigga, Heimdall, Jane Foster, Darcy, Erik Selvig, Ian the intern. And that's just those that fit into the protagonist category. Given that Game of Thrones is said to have the largest number of speaking roles in television history, Alan Taylor is unsurprisingly adept at juggling the expansive, almost ensemble nature of the Marvel sequel's cast. Frigga gets to kick some ass, Sif's aforementioned sub-plot is, while junked part-way through, still a great deal more than she was offered the first time around and even the warriors three each get to enjoy some time apart from one another, which, when you consider Volstaag's probable personal hygiene, can't be all that bad.