Thor: Ragnarok

2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, directed by Taika Waititi.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

What is it about?

In the third edition of Thor, after Thor (Chris Hemsworth) vanquishes yet another foe, he returns home to find things in his native Asgard are under attack by his newly discovered sister, Hena (Cate Blanchett). More powerful than Thor and his adopted brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) combined, Thor is bested and ends up on the junk planet of Sakaar. Run by a Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) who entertains his citizens through gladiator matches, Thor is captured by a bounty hunter (Tessa Thompson), and forced to fight against other competitors. Will Thor be able to survive this brutal planet and return to Asgard to best Blanchett, and save his people?

Why is it worth seeing?

Thor: Ragnarok is the 5th film in the Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Disney's corporate take over of comic book multiverses as we know it. Director Taika Waititi injects more of the wacky comical sensibilities that he brought in spades for 2014’s What we do in the Shadows and 2016’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople into the latest Thor, and it has a lightness and irreverence to it that is instantly welcome. The first 2 Thor's were mostly downbeat and sombre affairs- and they paled in comparison to his fellow Avengers' solo efforts. Here, Waititi borrows from the Guardians of the Galaxy template, with the wacky dialogue and classic rock infused scenes, to create something fun and playful.

Being a Marvel movie, there are responsibilities towards keeping things on a tried and true track. While the sensibilities Waititi brings are unique, the plot is not. Blanchett is a superior villain in comparison to other CGI eyesores in the MCU and DC worlds, but not even as fun as her adopted brother, highlighting a common problem in the respective comic book universes. Her attack on the Asgard defenders, as well as multiple battle scenes, are a blur, devoid of real consequence or drama. And Asgard has never been much of a place.

Waititi keeps the action going and the jokes flowing, and there’s even a flashback sequence that is quite poetic and lovely- it made me wish the epic battle scenes felt that way. But as always in the MCU, the strength of the movie is when the punches stop getting thrown, and the characters work through their issues. While there’s definitely some growth, to say that family counselling would come in handy here is a bit of an understatement.

As the MCU universe comes to a gloriously marketed head with the upcoming Avengers: Infinity Wars, it’s best to remember that it’s all fun and games- until someone loses an eye.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.