THOR: RAGNAROK Review

Movie Information

With Thor being one of Marvel Comics most popular and powerful characters, the first two films didn’t go over so well with audiences. Me being a fan myself of the property, I too was let down, not feeling those installments fully captured the true essence of the god of Thunder. So, a shift in direction was needed by filmmaker Taiki Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople, What We Do in the Shadows), and he was the perfect man for the job. Taking his sense of comedy, and integrating it seamlessly into a story with disastrous stakes was just what the doctor ordered. Plain and simple, Thor: Ragnarok is an explosion of fun with every single cast member involved giving it their all. Instead of one character stealing the show, they all did, contributing A+ quality entertainment that will stand the test of time. I got to witness the action I wanted while still laughing hysterically, and I can easily say this film is in the top five in the whole Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the best out of the 3 Thor films.

This is by far the funniest film in all the MCU. Some considered Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 1 & 2 the funniest, but it would be hard not to put Ragnarok on top as number one. There are so many jokes that you’ll miss the next one from laughing so hard at the previous. What can sometimes end in failure when trying to mix serious moments with comedy, this film had no problem combining the two elements for 95% of the movie. Other than the opening scene where the comedy fell flat on its face, the remaining jokes of comedy were spot on, and are a main portion of why this film succeeded. You wouldn’t be wrong for labeling this film as a comedy, and what’s great is the action, and adventure which are equally as good if not better.

On the pages of comics, Thor can be a monster of destruction delivering beatings left and right towards whatever foe he may face. I didn’t feel that way with Thor and Thor: The Dark World, but I’m proud to say now that this film finally delivers the juice fans always wanted to see. It comes from all directions not just for Thor, but all characters involved. It’s the detail within the fighting that makes it special. It’s clear a lot of thought went into choreographing some scenes as if they were an old school Shaw Brothers kung-fu flick. Not only did the special effects pop on screen during the action with powerups and lighting blasts galore, but some of the more subtle hand to hands fights were just good and groundbreaking, inspiring me to want to train myself. Prepare to geek out as you should, as its everything you’d want and more. The Thor vs Hulk fight scene was a highlight, and it delivered the goods as promised from the trailers. Thor and company take their powers and capabilities to the next level providing fight scenes that are a true spectacle, and would make any fan proud to be a fan of Marvel.

Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) was a great inclusion into the fold. Whoever decided to cast her needs a raise, a promotion, and a statue of themselves on the highest mountain. She was a true warrior on screen that was not only beautiful, but fierce and would knock your head off if you decided to square up. One problem with the MCU films of the past was the focus on the antagonist. With film after film, there seemed to never be any concentration on a worthy villain, with them all being paper thin and forgettable. That’s not the case here with Hella (Cate Blanchett). In my opinion, she’s the best villain out of all the MCU films, and it actually presents a valid reason for wanting to spread her reign of terror. While I still on the side of good, her frustration is fully understood which makes her respectable in the least.

Of course, all films aren’t perfect, and neither is this one here. I absolutely despised the first five minutes of the film, and it worried me initially, thinking the whole film would follow this tone. Fortunately, it was soon over, and immediately got to the good shortly after. It has too many jokes, and a horrible introduction for what was to come. Also, the last time we saw Thor and Hulk in the MCU was towards the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, and I felt the continuity between that film and Ragnarok was not fully realized, and it could’ve been explained better. Instead, you’re left assuming, asking yourself, “How in the world did these characters get here?” It was briefly explained, but from a story point of view I wanted more, and was slightly irritated.

Though, those complaints are minor, they didn’t deteriorate the film. Saying that it’s a fun is an understatement with it truly being electrifying. The soundtracks speaks volumes with a mix of orchestra which most audiences aren’t used to, and it makes the film pop unlike any other Marvel film that came before. It’s an entire blend of magnificence from the comedy, action, story, and characters that I can’t wait to add to my collection. This is what going to the movies is all about. Escaping for two hours to a world you could only imagine, and beyond that, it is even more stimulating to see what takes place in the next chapter. 

THOR: RAGNAROK Video Review:

THOR: RAGNAROK Trailer:

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