The Major Problem: Jane Foster
Whether it's my disfavor for Natalie Portman or the annoyance of her character, I find the use of her in terms of acting and character useless. In the first Thor film, she really didn't seem that interesting or needed; it felt more like a forced love story between her and Thor, which didn't really have that big of a payoff in the end. Although absent in The Avengers (but mentioned), I was glad Thor had time to himself to build his character with his lesser teammates. But in The Dark World, Jane Foster returns to unleash utter hell. I think the only reason she was brought back was to tease her death in the trailer and have her make the stupid decision of touching the Aether and having her matter, which felt nothing but forced. And although she ends up surviving, her character ends the same way she did in Thor's first entry: unneeded, unsatisfying, and wholly unnecessary. I know this is a more personal Thor story, with him looking after his interests and going beyond any measure to make sure Jane lives, but there isn't a single moment in the film that I connected with her character. As soon as the Aether is recovered out of her, the need for her character goes right out the door. Even with Jane Foster, Thor: The Dark World stands as a fine addition to the MCU and perhaps one of the best entries yet. It pulls no punches in letting fans in on the craziness that is about to ensue, and stands to reason that Thor is one of the Avenger's most interesting and formal heroes.
What do you guys think? Are there any other reasons that hold The Dark World high up in Marvel's achievements? Were there any other nagging issues that caught your attention? Feel free to discuss in the comments below.