Thor: Ragnarok Review

Looking for that perfect comedy movie to enjoy the day? Then, look no further than the third film in the Thor series. Last Thor was seen in the MCU was in Avengers: Age of Ultron. He had seen a vision of the infinity stones and was on a quest to find them. Which leads straight to the beginning of Ragnarok. According to Norse mythology, Ragnarok is the end of times for many figures including Odin & Thor. After believing he has stopped the event, Thor returns to Asgard only to find his father missing and Loki in charge. Shortly afterwards, Odin dies causing his daughter, Hela, to be released and cause havoc. Hela incidently sends Loki & Thor to the garbage planet, Sakaar, which is ruled by the Grandmaster (played by the great Jeff Goldblum). Thor is captured by a Valkyrie (a member of an elite Asgardian group) to take part in gladiator-like battles. One of the challenges is to fight against Hulk. Thor attempts to escape with a team, consisting of Valkyrie, Hulk, and Loki, to confront Hela. While the film displays a whole lot of action it also takes comedic jab any chance it gets. It fails at boring the audience because of the great chemistry between characters, awesome visuals, and a heart-pounding soundtrack.

In my first review on Chris Hemsworth's performance on Thor, I said to give him time to grow with the character. The character was too stern and really always tried proving himself as a warrior, but by this third installment Hemsworth has taken a complete 180 with Thor. He still has some masculinity, but does not at all take himself so serious. Thor goes through a major change from his previous appearances. Stan Lee (out of all people) gives him a haircut, Thor loses his hammer, and he tries to deliver a pun every given moment. Make no mistake though, he is still not a person to mess with. He is still able to summon thunder and control it to defeat his enemy & his social skills has improved. Thor is able to recruit Valkyrie and Bruce Banner for his fight. Speaking of which, two characters I have to give a shout out to are Valkyrie & the Grandmaster. Valkyrie is not the type of hero you expect. When you think of hero you think of someone like Captain America who is loyal and has a set of principals. But when Valkyrie is first introduced she falls off her ship after having a little too much to drink. There's no doubt she knows how to fight, but she also has a dark past that affects her personality. Easily, she becomes a fan favorite. Another reason to not take this film so seriously is Jeff Goldblum's performance as the Grandmaster. He is the king of Sakaar and enjoys gladiator battles. The character comes with comedic gold that will at least give you a chuckel.

This review would be impossible to write without giving praise to Cate Blanchett's performance as the Goddess of Death Hela. Hela is daughter of Odin and sister of Thor. She is powerful enough to not just catch Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, but also destroy it with ease. Throughout the film, she is shown to walk with confidence and can sure prove it. Asgardians try to stop and defeat her, but how easily does she take down an entire army without breaking a sweat. Everything about her is sinister including her motivations, fighting skills, and outfit. Despite being the film's villain, you want to see what more she has to offer. Hopefully we haven't seen the last of her in the MCU. She is known as the Goddess of Death and, if you're an avid comic reader, Thanos has a little obsession with Death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8OtzJtp-EM

The best part about Ragnarok is it can as a standalone film but still have its connections to the MCU. Both Hulk and Dr Strange make appearances. Some elements from "Planet Hulk" storyline influence the plot. When Thor is brought to Sakaar he has to take part in gladiator battles with the Hulk as the ultimate champion. In the comics, Hulk wears the same amour, in the same location, and wins the competition to become champion. While the spotlight doesn't just shine on Hulk, his involvement does bring humor and entertainment to the storyline. Also, while on Earth in search for Odin, Thor & Loki are confronted by Dr Strange. Strange's appearance marks the first interaction with other MCU characters and showcases his powers. Besides a funny and consistent plot, the film includes a heart-bounding soundtrack that gives Guardians of the Galaxy a run for its money. From the opening fight scene, Led Zeppelin's "Immigration Song" is played while Thor fights an army. Then it comes full circle by playing it again as Thor fights Hela's henchmen. Rock and techno dominate the film's energy.

Final Score: 9/10

Even if you're not familiar with the rest of the MCU films or a fan of superhero flicks, you'll enjoy this film. It is filled with comedy, awesome action scenes, and great & inspiring characters. And if you are a fan, continue to be blown away with Marvel Studios and it's lead up to Infinity War.