Hundreds of years ago, when Scandinavian writers outlined the original Norse myths, they never could have predicted their stories would be featured in massive cineplexes. Yet Marvel Studios has managed to transform those epic tales into a feature film many fans will want to see.

Although Thor: The Dark World is no cinematic masterpiece, and its plot fails to deviate from the standard structure of superhero movies, the production and acting provide just the excitement an audience should expect when attending a movie of that genre.

The film’s plot is fairly standard, but then again, when Marvel is grossing millions from each of their films, why fix what isn’t broken? The movie opens on an alien planet, and explains the existence of the Aether, a powerful ancient substance that must be locked away. The hiding place the ancient civilization chooses, of course, is Earth. Picking up right where The Avengers left off, it’s up to Thor and a team of humans to save the universe from darkness as the villains race to find the substance.

Despite the unoriginal plot, the cast is able to keep the audience thoroughly entertained. Chris Hemsworth, who portrays Thor, is a very convincing superhuman figure who exudes authority and power. Alongside Hemsworth are Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, both of whose characters are just as convincing and compelling as Thor. Hiddleston in particular is brilliant; the audience never knows whether to love or hate him. His sarcasm and deviousness seem perfectly natural. A supporting cast of amusing humans and mysterious Norse gods help the stars deliver a great show.

As is common with Marvel movies, the special effects work perfectly to convey the action in the movie. These effects drive almost nonstop action from the opening credits to the closing moments. Entire city blocks of London and Asgaard are leveled, and strange light waves and gravitational fields pop up throughout the movie. Never do these effects seem out of place; on the contrary, director Alan Taylor transports the audience to the many alien locales of the movie.

As the movie develops, an interesting contrast is created between the realms of the Norse gods and Earth. Although the gods have access to magical powers and advanced technology, ideas from physicists on Earth play an important role in resolving the conflict. The mysticism of the Norse gods and the ordinariness of Earth work well together to show that neither can succeed without the other.

Make sure to keep an eye out for fun cameos by Marvel creator Stan Lee and Chris Evans as Captain America. Two interesting post-credit sequences also give clues into the content of The Avengers: Age of Ultron, which is expected to be released May 1, 2015.

Thor: The Dark World is by no means a revolution in cinema, but for a fun, entertaining weekend movie, it fills its role perfectly. Those interested in following Marvel’s Avengers saga will have to wait until Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which the studio plans to release April 4, 2014.