As the Marvel movie juggernaut thunders on, we’re beginning to realize how carefully they’ve thought all this out. Kevin Feige and Co. have built their franchise for the long haul, which means pausing to take a breath every now and then instead of constantly trying to top the previous entries (and eventually crashing to the earth as a result). Captain America: The Winter Soldier shows us how that equation can expand this universe in unexpected directions, but the process also creates its share of placeholders: solid movies that nonetheless do little more than entertain us while their creators ramp up for the next mindblower. Case in point: Thor: The Dark World. Hit the jump for my full Thor: The Dark World Blu-ray review.

For cinephiles, the behind-the-scenes drama on the revisionist western Jane Got a Gun will overshadow the film until at least the first trailer.  Natalie Portman stars as a woman who must call on an ex-lover to help defend her farm and injured outlaw husband from the husband’s gang.  Michael Fassbender was going to play the ex-lover and Joel Edgerton was to play the gang leader.  Then Fassbender left because of a scheduling conflict, Edgerton moved to the ex-lover role, and Jude Law signed on to play the villain.  Then matters got crazier when director Lynne Ramsay (We Need to Talk about Kevin) unexpectedly dropped out on the first day of shooting, and the production scrambled for a replacement.  They got Gavin O’Connor (Warrior), but then Law left because he wanted to work with Ramsay.  Bradley Cooper came on to play the villain, then he left, and finally the production landed on Ewan McGregor.

It’s impressive that the production survived all of this hullaballoo, and The Wrap reports the movie will be released on August 29, 2014.  The light competition is the horror film Jessabelle, and the thriller The Loft, which has been on the shelf for well over a year.

Although I hate to naysay, I’ve gone on record several times with my lack of excitement for the upcoming RoboCop remake (here’s one example although I’m sure there are more). This past week MGM and Sony released the new trailer for the film and while I think the cast has the potential to be great, in general the movie just keeps digging itself into a bigger hole with every bit of new footage that I see. Whereas Paul Verhoeven‘s original was laced with social critique that was often ahead of its time if not at least skillfully deployed, this latest trailer goes out of its way to show that it too has something to say about social issues with on the nose references to the idea of using American resources to promote peace abroad rather than at home and the invasive nature of corporate marketing/branding. You keep up with current affairs, we get it. Speaking of marketing, probably my biggest beef with this latest cut comes in its final seconds when it shows RoboCop making a grandiose landing that essentially says “You guys liked the Iron Man movies, right?! You should definitely check this out then because it has a guy in a futuristic suit too!”. Thanks but no thanks, MGM and Sony.

Now that I’ve levied more criticism on a 2:30 trailer than is likely fair, let’s move on to something more positive. This week’s Top 5 features Thor: The Dark World interviews with Tom Hiddleston and more, Dallas Buyers Club interviews with the likes of Jared Leto, the news that Marvel will bring live-action series to Netflix featuring Daredevil and others, a recap of Steve’s 47 Ronin set visit, and a farewell to the once massive video rental chain, Blockbuster Video. If I haven’t lost you yet, a brief recap and link to each of the above can be found after the jump.

The biggest hurdle of 2011’s Thor wasn’t getting audiences to believe that a Norse god/space alien was just as convincing as a wealthy inventor with technologically advanced armor or a guy whose body turns big and green when he gets angry.  The challenge was leaving Earth and taking us to a new world, and while Kenneth Branagh’s film didn’t hold up for me on repeat viewings, I was still taken with his vision of Thor’s homeworld of Asgard.  Thor: The Dark World is a case of being careful what you wish for and being grateful for what you have.  Alan Taylor’s sequel becomes far too enamored with the design of otherworldly realms and the supernatural machinations of the villain than with its eponymous hero.  But when the story finally turns its attention to the God of Thunder and his scene-stealing adopted brother, then The Dark World hits with the force of Mjolnir.

Last weekend I checked out director Kimberly Peirce‘s Carrie remake and found it to be a perfectly solid retelling of Brian De Palma‘s 1976 classic. With a solid lead performance from Chloë Grace Moretz and a downright terrifying turn by Julianne Moore, I found more than a few things to like about the pic. I also thought the opening scene was terrific and was surprised to hear Judy Greer tell Steve that it wasn’t in the original script. Although I knew how the story would play out, I found myself wanting so badly for Carrie’s prom night to go smoothly which I think is a credit to Peirce’s direction and the time she takes setting up the obstacle-laden road Carrie traverses on the way to her first date. Ultimately, is there anything extraordinarily fresh and/or updated about the remake? Not really. Nevertheless, it’s a solid movie that proves Stephen King‘s tale is just as relevant and effective today as it was nearly four decades ago.

With my paragraph review of Carrie in the bag, this week’s Top 5 highlights the first trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Adam’s Divergent set visit, Steve’s Thor: The Dark World video interviews with Chris Hemsworth and more, two new trailers for Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, and Evan’s look at superhero movie casting decisions that nearly came to fruition. Much like in the past, a brief recap and link to each of the above is waiting after the jump.

With director Alan Taylor’s Thor: The Dark World opening around the world next week and in North America on November 8th, I was able to interview the cast and filmmakers in London this past weekend.  As most of you know, Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor, who reluctantly teams up with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to fight off the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  The film also stars Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.

During my interview with Natalie Portman, she talked about how the sequel is very funny, when she learned her character would have so much to do and also be involved in the action, deleted scenes, what she collects, and if she’s been asked to appear in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Hit the jump to watch.

Marvel’s Thor: The Dark World opens in theaters next month, and as we’ve seen with Iron Man 3 and The Avengers, Disney’s marketing campaign is about to go into full-on saturation mode.  A pair of new clips from the pic have now landed online, teasing an action-centered sequence involving Jaimie Alexander’s Sif and the first reunion between Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and Natalie Portman’s Jane.  I’m interested to see how The Dark World fits into the larger pantheon of Marvel films post-Avengers, and the promise of exploring worlds beyond Earth and Asgard are certainly intriguing.

Hit the jump to watch the two clips.  The film also stars Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.

With my Thor: The Dark World set visit embargo lifting this morning, Marvel has sent over a number of new images from the film.  While a few of the images look like screengrabs from the trailers, there are a few new behind-the-scenes images.  Included in the new pictures are director Alan Taylor, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and more.  Hit the jump to check them out and click here for all our Thor: The Dark World set visit coverage.

Unsurprisingly, Marvel aired a new TV spot for Thor: The Dark World during last night’s premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.  In the upcoming sequel, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) reluctantly teams up with Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to fight off the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  This new spot goes heavy on the action and also gives a little more screen time to Thor’s girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman).  I don’t mean to be dismissive when I describe her as “Thor’s girlfriend”, but I’m not exactly sure how she factors into the story other than hitching a ride with the Asgardian to check out his home world.  Hopefully, her science background will make her an active character rather than a damsel in distress.

Hit the jump to check out the new TV spot.  The film also stars Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.

Disney has released a new TV spot for Thor: The Dark World.  The film finds Chris Hemsworth’s Thor squaring off against the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  Recent reshoots added more Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and I’m sure we’ll see him play a more prominent role in the marketing.  He doesn’t dominate this trailer, but it opens with him teaming up with Thor.  Sure, it’s dramatic when the hero needs to reunite with his villain, but Marvel knows Loki’s popularity, and it’s also slightly harder to sell a new baddie.  Better to go with the smiling, charming, duplicitous guy everybody loves.

Hit the jump to check out the TV spot.  The film also stars Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.

While we’ve already seen a handful of character posters from Thor: The Dark World featuring the men of the film, today the ladies get in on the action.  Marvel has unveiled separate character posters for Natalie Portman’s Jane and Jaimie Alexander’s Sif from the Alan Taylor-directed sequel, and while Portman’s one sheet is rather underwhelming, it’s nice to see Alexander in the midst of battle on her individual poster.

Hit the jump to check out the posters.  The film also stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Zachary Levi, Ray Stevenson, Stellan Skarsgård, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, and Christopher Eccleston.  Thor: The Dark World opens November 8th.

A couple of new posters for director Alan Taylor’s Marvel sequel Thor: The Dark World have landed online.  The film finds Chris Hemsworth’s Thor squaring off against the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  One of these new posters highlights Eccleston’s villainous Malekith, as we get a close up look at the antagonist who appears to be holding a rather strange mask.  The other poster shows Hemsworth’s Thor playing the “big man protector” role alongside Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster.

Hit the jump to take a look at the posters.  The film also stars Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.

Marvel has released 16 new images from Alan Taylor’s Thor: The Dark World.  The film finds Chris Hemsworth’s Thor squaring off against the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  Producer Craig Kyle tells Empire that when the film picks up, Asgard has been at war for almost a year because the cost of rebuilding the bifrost, “but during that time, when the cops were largely cut off from the rest of the universe, you had miscreants that came in from outside the Nine Realms, pillaging and destroying and causing havoc. So that’s what our guys have been doing now – trying to put all these fires out across the Nine Realms.”  While I still have my doubts about the movie, I still love the look of Asgard and the characters’ costumes.  I’m also impressed by the makeup work on Malekith unmasked (seen above), and want to see more of him in action.

Hit the jump to check out the images.  The film also stars Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.

Earlier today Natalie Portman attended D23 to show off some new footage from Thor: The Dark World.  (Here’s Dave’s recap of what was shown.)  Shortly after leaving the stage, I participated in a group video interview with her backstage.  She talked about what it means to be part of the most popular genre on the planet, working with Chris Hemsworth again, what the word family means to her, and what was it like working for Terrence Malick.  Hit the jump to watch.

Marvel has released a new trailer for director Alan Taylor’s sequel, Thor: The Dark World.  The film finds Chris Hemsworth’s Thor squaring off against the villainous dark elf Malekith the Accursed (Christopher Eccleston).  The trailer is a shorter, rearranged version of what was shown at Comic-Con, and it leaves me cold.  There’s plenty of destruction and ominous warnings, but only at the very end do you see any emphasis on the title character.  It almost seems like Marvel has given up on their hero, and realized that they should sell it on Loki (Tom Hiddleston) since he’s the more popular character.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film also stars Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Idris Elba, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Tadanobu Asano, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Thor: The Dark World opens in 3D on November 8th.