In Theatres: Thor Ragnarok

Thor’s Latest Adventure Will RagnaROK Your World!

Marvel’s Norse god of Thunder is back for a third go in Thor Ragnarok where the story is as explosive and as colourful and as mad as a fireworks show being lit indoors. He’s the blond-haired, hammer-wielding, boastful Thor we’ve loved from before-- but this time even MORE! In Ragnarok Thor continues its trajectory as one of the most absurd, loud and punchy superhero film franchises out there. And that? That is just glorious!!!


The opening sequence kicks off a chain of action escapades that fuel the rocket of a plot. To the battle cry soundtrack of Led Zeppelin's “The Immigrant Song” Thor and his trusty hammer, Mjolnir, pound a blazing titan into submission. Thor comes away from the tousle messy haired (don’t care!) when he’s zapped back by the Bifrost -- now manned by the wanna-be hot-for-the-ladies Skurge (Karl Urban). The inscrutable and stoic Heimdall (Idris Elba) is still in hiding after the events of The Dark World.


Returning to Asgard with the skull of his enemy may be just one check on Thor’s to-do list, but stopping the Norse prophecy of destruction-- aka Ragnarok-- well. Erm. The crisis wasn’t exactly averted with the death of the fiery foe. But back to that later. In Asgard Trickster Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is back and gleefully running Asgard shapeshifted as Odin (Anthony Hopkins) but his narcissism - think a giant Loki statue climbing skywards, and frequent shows of actors on a stage playing out Loki’s greaaaat sacrifice, as Thor (Luke Hemsworth) sobs over his body -- tips Thor off that it’s not Papa Odin after all.




The God Father, it turns out was dumped in a Senior Center in New York City by Loki. One that’s oh so conveniently being razed to the ground. Oh shiiiii. Thor barely finishes shaking his head, before Loki is yanked down a portal into the ground. Whisked out of sight, with only a card bearing an address left behind: 117A Bleecker Street.


The Sanctum Santorum. Ahhhhh! Here it is. . . one of the most magical Marvel movie elements -- the cameo!! Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) in the flesh! The unexpected here is what makes his appearance even more of a delight. If the trailers didn’t reveal right away that The Hulk was another Marvel cameo, Ragnarok as a whole would’ve been punchier, flashier and not only more surprising but more scream-worthy ! But back to the spectacular Doctor Strange who totally kills it in his brief minutes of screen time. His wizardry throws Thor for a loop, and is one of the most hilarious and visually fun scenes of the film. Strange isn’t there to exchange banter with Thor (that’s Hulk’s role in movie later on) but to give the aimless brothers a sense of direction in discerning where in the worlds is Pop Odin. 
Oh and to keep Loki from being a total dick and trying to pull another world domination act. When he sees Thor has Loki’s mischief in check, Strange uses his sling ring to conjure a portal to the fjords where Odin is staying and out the two go. Righteous Thor + Abashed Loki + Weary Odin = Heartfelt reunion? Noooot exactly. Get those pokeballs out and your throwing arm ready, because a wild comic book trope has appeared-- a secret sibling!


Yup! Odin’s first born-- and Thor and Loki’s elder sister-- Hela (Cate Blanchette) a goddess of death slayed her way across Asgard and the other realms, taking down enemies and anyone else in her path, and building up the empire more. She was Odin’s not-so-secret weapon, and with her hulking, savage wolf by her side, she soon became too powerful, too threatening and nearly unstoppable. Odin managed to dispel her from Asgard, and keep her at bay. But her powers have been growing, and her bitterness and resentment towards her banishment have only festered more. With Odin out of the picture, Asgard doesn’t stand a chance. Hela, will dominate and poison the entire realm. Oh take over the rest of the world. That too. Because-- comic book universe! Say hi to big sis, boys!











If you thought Loki’s goat horned helmet and green pleather duds were ridiculously funny, they’ve got nothing on the fierce fashion of Ragnarok’s antagonist Hela. With her witchy black robes, heavily smudged smokey eyes, and an enormous rack of black antlers shooting up from her head she’s one part vampy, two parts campy. This goddess of death’s thirst for vengeance is more sinister when she’s wearing her black locks long and loose instead of transforming them into the spidey imitation of a stag on steroids ‘rack.





Thor and Loki barely get a second to say “hell NO” to Hela before she explodes Mjolnir. Loki’s default, to GTFO (run away and live another day, peasants!) using the Bifrost ends up zapping Hela directly into Asgard, and shooting Thor and Loki out into space.





Thor crashes into a new planet: Sakaar, a rubbish dystopian wasteland surrounded by wormholes, that is distinctly techy and digitalized and plays out like a mashup of Guardians of the Galaxy and Tron. Snatched up by a hard drinking scrapper (Tessa Thompson) Thor is taken to the flamboyant, makeup wearing Grandmaster (Jeff Goldbloom). Lording over his razzle-dazzle empire, and gleefully hosting tournaments in his enormous gladiatorial arena is a wink of The Hunger Games. But Thor Ragnarok isn’t an intergalactic knock-off. It’s a technicolour dive deeper into the world and lore of Thor and a cheeky, marvelous installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.















First-time Thor director Taika Waititi doesn’t take away any of the first film’s spiritedness, cheekiness, and flashiness-- but in fact, in this threequel he cranks it up! Chris Hemsworth, who dabbled in the comedy realm in Ghostbusters is even more hilarious here. His comedic chemistry with Loki is at an all time high. That comedic chemistry also applies to Hulk and an assortment of new side characters like the duo of scissor-handed bug creature Miek and especially the crumbly rock alien, Korg, who’s also a gladiator, and a total scene-stealer. Who just happens to be played by Waititi. But don't mistake this with some glorified Stan Lee type cameo (this time he's the gladiatorial barber and the one who gleefully shears off Thor's iconic hair). Korgi is quirky and weird in a way that's lovable and endearing rather than cringey. Korg and his pal Miek really resemble Groot and Rocket from Guardians of the Galaxy - but again, in a way that isn't recycling old ideas - with the same effortless humor and camaraderie.





With his wits, stubbornness, and the fierce fists of the Hulk, Thor busts out of the fight club ring, and assembles his own team of Avengers… I mean erm Revengers. The Hulk who shifts back to his Bruce Banner form, Loki, and the grouchy day-drinking scrapper chick -- who is actually a Valkyrie from Asgard-- to escape Sakaar through an enormous and laugh-out-loud ridiculous wormhole. Cruising along the galaxy in a stolen party ship the fab foursome return to Asgard to boot the hellish Hela out and reclaim their planet. But in the fight that ensues, Thor loses more than just his hammer and long blond locks. Like, a lot more. But he walks away victor of something else and straight into the makings of the upcoming Avengers Age of Ultron follow up -- The Infinity Wars.





There’s never any question that this is pure comic book candy. Save the drama and serious storytelling for the stony faced Oscar season contenders. Because Thor Ragnarok is a hell of a sugar rush. Escapist entertainment at its finest. There are flaws, for sure, but this technicolour trip is one that's heart racing and hilarious. Some of the elements of the story aren't the most original, and some of the characters like Valkyrie are rather tropey and one-dimensional, but those can be overlooked by the sheer bombastic glee for it all. Ragnarok has a compelling plot, whip smart humor, and a giant leap forward in progressing Thor’s character development. He's not just the grandiose God this time. In Ragnarok he seems more mortal than ever before, not quite as untouchable as he did in the first film and more awake and aware of the world around him and his role in it. This along with a rad soundtrack, and an abundance of Loki means that all signs point to one thing-- Thor Ragnarok will rock your world.












All photos from IMDB