Director: Taika Waititi
Cast Headliners: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, many others
Original Release Date: November 3rd, 2017
Thor has been a core staple of Marvels Cinematic Universe. From a surprising and important debut to core parts in the first Avengers film, the Norse god of thunder's given an electrifying awesome , charming, and noble part to the saga along with his slippery brother Loki . However 2013's last Thor-centric film The Dark World was a victim, perhaps the nadir, of MCU sameness ...with awkward extraneous humor and generic tropes of villians / plots . Thor: Ragnarok mostly addresses both problems for this third outing , and injects a wild dose of cosmic weird fun and ..the Hulk.
In what seems like tradition for Thor (Chris Hemsworth) at this point , the story opens with an exciting standalone action sequence in a far off realm. Thor confronts the firey demon Surtur ( Clancy Brown , adding what amounts to a stereotypical but fearsome voice ) to stop the supposed prophecy of Ragnarok . From the start the great strengths of this yarn are shown.... Great mystical backgrounds, awesome action against hordes of fire demons, and a soundtrack that jumps between Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song ( one of several smart influences of using pop music (although sparingly ) taken from Guardians Of the Galaxy along with the junky space aesthetic and dry humor ) and 1980s synth beats. Of course, this is far from the end of stopping Ragnarok or the only world that's visited.
It's a long, mostly epic , twisting tale of realms and planets and surprises. There's the golden city of Asgard with the likes of Loki ( Tom Hiddleston ) posing as the missing Odin ( Anthony Hopkins), replacement doorkeeper Skurge the Executioner ( Karl Urban) , the Warriors Three , an exiled Heimdall ( Idris Elba) . Be on the lookout for some great minor cameos here. Notably missing is Sif , and Jane and crew although Portman at least gets a mention . This is threatened by the sinister villian Hela( Cate Blanchett ), the goddess of death. Earth and Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) even show up in a short but hillarious and important way to tie the MCU together.
Primarily the main addition is the world of Sakaar in deep space , where Thor and Loki find themselves stranded. There is a former Asgardian Valkyrie ( Tessa Thompson), the incredibly unique tyrant The Grandmaster ( Jeff Goldblum) who runs an arena filled with gladiators such as Korg (Taika Waititi, also director ) and ... the Hulk / Bruce Banner ( Mark Ruffalo) . Somehow this diverse godly / alien cast works great together as a whole .
Hemsworth's Thor is similiar as usual, fierce , determined, and charismatic. Fitting with the tone of the piece he is even more funny than ever especially with peers. His arc is an expanded and mostly more nuanced version of what he's gone through before , such as with Loki. So too Hiddleston gives a similar take as ever but at this point one doesn't want much different either as he delivers moments of laughs and hate in his obviously ever-shifting allegiances. Elba's Heimdall has more of a role than ever in both importance and action . It's unfortunate that the likes of the Warriors Three are almost literally swept under the rug in their brief moments and Hopkins Odin just has a couple parts but it's a fast moving snappy piece .
It's neat that Hela is the first female primary antagonist in the MCU and one of the few in the genre around. Blanchett is...decent or so if not the highlight by any means . Her spiky headdress and ability to throw daggers is cool in concept but leads to some cheesy CGI between the good action. She is best at being snarky and vile , at times to the level of hamming but her threat is mostly felt . So too is Skurge, as Urban comes off , fitting with the character, as pathetic more than fearsome with a little built endgame twist that redeems his role right out of the comics...underused otherwise .
Sakaarians outshine their Asgardian, as they should. Thompson's Valkyrie too flits between friend and foe, and is great in both. She bring a surprising drunken, sassy take to the role that fits her intriguing arc ...funny and fierce in equal amounts . Korg and other charming aliens like Miek the bug add trademark New Zealand style bizzare humor right out of the directors other work. It's no surprise that Jeff Goldblum is perfect for the material As Grandmaster...get ready as this is Goldblum at his most Goldblum.... Weird, hilarious, dry, narcissistic, awkward etc ... A highlight if one is into his style .
This character showcases what Waititi has done so well... In making not just Thor 3, or Guardians 2.5 , but ... MCU Hulk 2. The humor in the film is great at nearly every turn. Often breaking audience expectations or tropes , aiming for the juxtaposition and the bizarre . It's a movie where Hulk talks, and smashes more than ever . His banter and fights with Thor are great , and with others. This applies whether he's a giant green barbarian or the geeky human Banner . Ruffalo shines in the late appearance , as confused and neurotic as ever . It's not perfect but nearly all jokes and pairings are almost always in the range of stellar .
Waititi is a master of directing character centric dialogue and humor, but he is able to step into the shoes of cosmic superheroics quite well. The action scenes are great , from the arena to space dogfights right out of the best of the inspirations. Some are less effective than others, but the best are so good and literally sparking it's alright . So too with the music and visuals, being colorful and retro and believeable. Some are more jarring / cheesy but they are few . That too may be a point. The synth pieces are seldom but great , with a typical string score between them.
Perhaps the only other drawback is the pacing . A great story of a strange new world is happening with Thor and friends on Sakaar, but while Asgard is eventually brought back into things the plot of Helas shenngins and conquests is less exciting and a roadbump when they appear. The finale makes right for it but any earlier appearances are slightly weaker, as mentioned.
Overall, this takes ingredients of past Thor and MCU typical fare and tosses some spice of Waititi style humor , GoTG colorful 80s weirdness, and alot of Hulk heart. It doesn't redefine the genre , but is a whole lot of silly fun. It redefines what marvel solo films can be if they need it , and they did it here . 8.65 out of 10
AND
(bonus mini-wanted to jot down quick thoughts) (Justice League: Alot of stakes went into this as it was the long-wanted debut of DC's famous team and the culmination of the DCEU to date. Its a noticeable mix / clash of the visions of the darker , typical Snyder epic material and the humor of Joss Whedon.. which on their own both would work wonders, tho at times there's a tonal and narrative dissonance. However what the film gets strongly right is the team dynamic between all the heroes and their characterization in general... Affleck's wisened Batman, his mentor role to the fast talking , youthful comic relief in The Flash, his awkwardness with the (a bit too but understanding) brooding Cyborg in Fisher, the ever great Gadot as Wonder Woman and a late-game Cavill as Superman. Momoa's Aquaman is also a highlight, both funny and fierce just like his days as the Khal. Supporters range from the great in Iron's Alfred to falling more through the cracks in Lane's Martha or Adam's Lane or Crudup's Henry Allen. The villian too has a menacing voice in Hinds but Steppenwolf is ultimately a generic , poorer CGI excuse to unite the team. The plot is simple, skimming DC references but works in the end.. something straightforward works for the cotnext. The action sequences, moreso when the team is together, are exciting and genuinely fun. There's a sense of brightness to it all that was needed. It could have been more, but the good is good..hope they're more like it . 8.05 out of 10 ))
Primarily the main addition is the world of Sakaar in deep space , where Thor and Loki find themselves stranded. There is a former Asgardian Valkyrie ( Tessa Thompson), the incredibly unique tyrant The Grandmaster ( Jeff Goldblum) who runs an arena filled with gladiators such as Korg (Taika Waititi, also director ) and ... the Hulk / Bruce Banner ( Mark Ruffalo) . Somehow this diverse godly / alien cast works great together as a whole .
Hemsworth's Thor is similiar as usual, fierce , determined, and charismatic. Fitting with the tone of the piece he is even more funny than ever especially with peers. His arc is an expanded and mostly more nuanced version of what he's gone through before , such as with Loki. So too Hiddleston gives a similar take as ever but at this point one doesn't want much different either as he delivers moments of laughs and hate in his obviously ever-shifting allegiances. Elba's Heimdall has more of a role than ever in both importance and action . It's unfortunate that the likes of the Warriors Three are almost literally swept under the rug in their brief moments and Hopkins Odin just has a couple parts but it's a fast moving snappy piece .
It's neat that Hela is the first female primary antagonist in the MCU and one of the few in the genre around. Blanchett is...decent or so if not the highlight by any means . Her spiky headdress and ability to throw daggers is cool in concept but leads to some cheesy CGI between the good action. She is best at being snarky and vile , at times to the level of hamming but her threat is mostly felt . So too is Skurge, as Urban comes off , fitting with the character, as pathetic more than fearsome with a little built endgame twist that redeems his role right out of the comics...underused otherwise .
Sakaarians outshine their Asgardian, as they should. Thompson's Valkyrie too flits between friend and foe, and is great in both. She bring a surprising drunken, sassy take to the role that fits her intriguing arc ...funny and fierce in equal amounts . Korg and other charming aliens like Miek the bug add trademark New Zealand style bizzare humor right out of the directors other work. It's no surprise that Jeff Goldblum is perfect for the material As Grandmaster...get ready as this is Goldblum at his most Goldblum.... Weird, hilarious, dry, narcissistic, awkward etc ... A highlight if one is into his style .
This character showcases what Waititi has done so well... In making not just Thor 3, or Guardians 2.5 , but ... MCU Hulk 2. The humor in the film is great at nearly every turn. Often breaking audience expectations or tropes , aiming for the juxtaposition and the bizarre . It's a movie where Hulk talks, and smashes more than ever . His banter and fights with Thor are great , and with others. This applies whether he's a giant green barbarian or the geeky human Banner . Ruffalo shines in the late appearance , as confused and neurotic as ever . It's not perfect but nearly all jokes and pairings are almost always in the range of stellar .
Waititi is a master of directing character centric dialogue and humor, but he is able to step into the shoes of cosmic superheroics quite well. The action scenes are great , from the arena to space dogfights right out of the best of the inspirations. Some are less effective than others, but the best are so good and literally sparking it's alright . So too with the music and visuals, being colorful and retro and believeable. Some are more jarring / cheesy but they are few . That too may be a point. The synth pieces are seldom but great , with a typical string score between them.
Perhaps the only other drawback is the pacing . A great story of a strange new world is happening with Thor and friends on Sakaar, but while Asgard is eventually brought back into things the plot of Helas shenngins and conquests is less exciting and a roadbump when they appear. The finale makes right for it but any earlier appearances are slightly weaker, as mentioned.
Overall, this takes ingredients of past Thor and MCU typical fare and tosses some spice of Waititi style humor , GoTG colorful 80s weirdness, and alot of Hulk heart. It doesn't redefine the genre , but is a whole lot of silly fun. It redefines what marvel solo films can be if they need it , and they did it here . 8.65 out of 10
AND
(bonus mini-wanted to jot down quick thoughts) (Justice League: Alot of stakes went into this as it was the long-wanted debut of DC's famous team and the culmination of the DCEU to date. Its a noticeable mix / clash of the visions of the darker , typical Snyder epic material and the humor of Joss Whedon.. which on their own both would work wonders, tho at times there's a tonal and narrative dissonance. However what the film gets strongly right is the team dynamic between all the heroes and their characterization in general... Affleck's wisened Batman, his mentor role to the fast talking , youthful comic relief in The Flash, his awkwardness with the (a bit too but understanding) brooding Cyborg in Fisher, the ever great Gadot as Wonder Woman and a late-game Cavill as Superman. Momoa's Aquaman is also a highlight, both funny and fierce just like his days as the Khal. Supporters range from the great in Iron's Alfred to falling more through the cracks in Lane's Martha or Adam's Lane or Crudup's Henry Allen. The villian too has a menacing voice in Hinds but Steppenwolf is ultimately a generic , poorer CGI excuse to unite the team. The plot is simple, skimming DC references but works in the end.. something straightforward works for the cotnext. The action sequences, moreso when the team is together, are exciting and genuinely fun. There's a sense of brightness to it all that was needed. It could have been more, but the good is good..hope they're more like it . 8.05 out of 10 ))
