Well, Marvel, you have done it again. As the perfect mixture of genres, “Thor: The Dark World” never ceases to entertain. But did we ever expect anything less?

I actually entered the theater without having seen the first installment of “Thor,” but had a little bit of background on the brothers Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), two of the main characters, from the 2012 “Marvel’s The Avengers.” I was able to understand the rest of the preface to the film given the bits of dialogue at the start of the movie.

The story opens on Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), an astrophysicist who has been left on earth while her godly love interest, Thor, is fighting for peace in other worlds. Portman’s portrayal of the average woman on Earth does what it is intended to do and creates a contrast between life on Earth and life on Asgard, Thor’s home planet. However, I have a hard time believing that an astrophysicist who is studying the relationships between realms would be quite so normal.

Thor’s relationship with Jane Foster is the romantic relief of the film. It is cute, but never too gooey to distract from the action and sci-fi base. Hemsworth’s Australian accent and naturally god-like physique really play the role themselves, though I won’t argue with the addition of his golden flowing locks.

Jane Foster is transported to another dimension and becomes the host of a dark matter that has a the power to turn the world dark, as the title would suggest. Thor swoops in and literally carries her off to Asgard, a world that is a mixture of both ancient Norse mythology and a futuristic society. In Asgard, the audience is brought up to speed on Thor’s power-driven brother Loki.

In “The Avengers,” Loki tries to take over the planet Earth and is now being punished by his father, the ruler of Asgard, and has been sentenced to life in prison. Hiddleston certainly steals the show on many occasions with his witty remarks. A villainous jokester, his comedy provides his character with a softer side the audience can appreciate.

In general the mix of comedy within moments of drama, action, and intensity is a trademark of the Marvel films that makes them so enjoyable to watch. The detail of the sci-fi effects captivate the audience while the characters win over their hearts with wit and charm.

Many of this film’s strengths are in the details. The pacing of the movie is fast, though the dialogue and plot manages to maintain its complexity and specificity. The costumes, especially those found on Thor and the people of Asgard, are equally as captivating as the sci-fi effects.

The continuity between Marvel movies is really what has made the franchise so special, as a complete and consistent world, or even universe, of superheroes. Whether it is a brief appearance from a superhero the characters have previously met or the plot line consistency between the “worlds,” the movie is demonstrated by frequent dialogue about other world events.

I very much believe that the transcendent nature between film genres is what makes “Thor: The Dark World” as well as the entire Marvel franchise such a hit. “Thor: The Dark World” specifically hits on the sci-fi genre, which with the special effects alone will transport you into the world of Marvel, and make you want to stay there.

Karly Horn is an A&E Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.