Loki is the only character who makes himself new and interesting. When he is around, Thor: The Dark World becomes a different film altogether. You wish there was more of him. The rest of it is metal clanking.

This feels like a really, really, expensive episode of Doctor Who. In a good way.

Save for Hiddleston's too-brief supporting turn, this is mighty forgettable stuff, a by-the-numbers sequel to what was already the slightest and least entertaining of the 'Avengers' components.

Sometimes it's enough to sit back and watch a superhero smash bad guys and save the day because there's nowhere else in life where we can sit back and know full well good will prevail.