The Marvel Cinematic Universe is so bloated by this point that it’s a full-time job to keep up with what’s going on. Thankfully, Thor: Ragnarok doesn’t get bogged down in what’s come before. Instead, the third installment in the Thor franchise tells a self-contained story and shifts Thor’s segment of the universe from dreary fantasy mode to action-comedy mode. From a cameo by Matt Damon that I totally missed, to a Taika-Waititi-voiced blue rock monster, to Hulk and Thor arguing over everything and anything, Ragnarok is the funniest apocalypse movie you will likely ever see (sorry, Zombieland!).
My only complaint, really, is that the plot got in the way of the fun. Every time the scene shifted to the problems Cate Blanchett’s Hela was creating in Asgard, all I wanted was to get back to the wacky trash world where Thor and Hulk had crash-landed. I guess this movie had to justify its existence by advancing the plot and having big stakes but I would have gladly spent the whole run time hanging out with my new favourite Avengers (who I am happy to report have now started their own spin-off team).
Anyone who has enjoyed Taika Waititi’s past work will not be disappointed by Thor: Ragnarok. If you haven’t enjoyed Waititi’s work, you’re probably on the wrong site, and if you haven’t seen his other stuff, then do!!! Start with Thor: Ragnarok and go from there.
As he always does, Waititi will introduce you to madcap supporting characters whose main purpose is to make you laugh, and even better, he will show us that Thor and Hulk have actual personalities. Purists may take issue as those two characters are notoriously dull, but I thought it was a fantastic improvement that should be carried forward into the next 40 or 50 Marvel movies that apparently are still to come. Comic book movies should be bright, colourful and fun, and Thor: Ragnarok is all of those things from start to finish. Go see it!
Yep I WILL go see it.
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I wouldn’t necessarily want all the future films to be as comedic but this was brilliant. Just great entertainment. Loved every minute.
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I agree – this tone wouldn’t work for an Avengers movie, but I hope they give a few more funny lines to Thor and Hulk going forward. Because it was great fun seeing them go back and forth!
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It really was. And I think it’s crucial that they give Hulk so much character. Gives them more options for him in future, he’s limited if he’s just a CGI monster that rampages around every now again (however enjoyable that is)
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Fun is definitely the most apposite description for this film. I hope it leads more people to Waititi’s other films, because they’re even better.
Hela’s scenes definitely slow things down compared to the rest. I think Blanchett probably needed to camp it up a bit more to match the rest of the movie.
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I wonder whether Blanchett camping things up would have helped. I thought she was a good villain, I just wanted more Thor and Hulk!
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So pleased you liked it, have read a couple of high faluting reviews that dissed it. Really looking forward to seeing it now 😊
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That’s surprising that some people have been down on this movie. I guess those lacking a sense of humour might be able to find fault, but I thought it was exactly what a superhero movie should be.
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Great! Thor is my favourite from the Avengers, for obvious reasons so am really looking forward to it now. Hopefully next week at the cinema.
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Yeah, the plot was similar to other movies: a world is threatened, heroes to the rescue. So it was the in-between stuff that set this one apart. I definitely like that Thor has a sense of humour now. Even though we DEFINITELY establish that he’s a god, it also makes him seem a little more human. And I like how many new characters were injected into this. The fresh blood was a big help to me, someone who is just plain tired with all these movies featuring all these same dudes.
I was glad to see some familiar Taika Waititi stuff on the screen because I love him and didn’t want Hollywood to stamp him out.
And I really liked the slightly subversive commentary on immigrants\displaced persons going on. I mean, they played the IMMIGRANT song twice to remind us that this is kind of a big deal, and created a whole planet that seems made up of people with nowhere else to go.
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New comic book fans need to go back and read “World War Hulk”,this is the mini-series that based this movie on. Hulk takes on almost literally the entire Marvel universe after he unjustly sent off the Earth. It’s a great arc.
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I’m sure we’ll be seeing this movie this weekend. Looking forward to it. But today son and I will see Killing of a Sacred Deer. Well, if he doesn’t ditch me and go with friends instead. That’s been known to happen…
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You sold me on the entire series Sean!
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I hope you mean I sold you on Waititi’s other movies and not the Thor franchise 🙂
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Yup Sean!
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Haha: I will definitely go and see it, in fact…I will be seeing it tomorrow. Really looking forward to it, pretty much everyone is pretty positive about it, so I’m not to worried that I am going to be enjoying it. Great review as always 😀
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I’m so far behind with the whole Marvel thing, so I’m glad this sorta has its own story rather than being just a part of the bigger thing… whatever that may be. I’ll definitely be catching this… and hoping that these two get their own TV show.
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It is definitely one you can go into cold, and I am totally on board for that series!
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Loved your first sentence … it’s so true!
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Scrolled to the comments section so I wouldn’t see anything vaguely spoiler-ish … going next weekend. So looking forward to it. 🙂
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I can’t wait to see this on Monday!
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Nice review! Glad you enjoyed this one. I also prefer this FUN superhero thing. So sick of the dark & dreary ones! Hemsworth was great – I love him even more now. 🙂
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Such a cheerful review! 😀
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I’ve heard lots of good things about this one.
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Nice review. This is my favorite Thor movie.
Anyone here wondered why [SPOILERS] Tony Stark’s pants were too tight yet strong enough not to get ripped off? Or [SPOILER] why did Doctor Strange did not come out when Hela entered Norway?
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YES! It is too much to keep up with all the Marvel movies and characters. Sheesh. But Thor is my favorite of them all.
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This film was pure joy from start to finish. Loved every minute!
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Thanks for the heads up. I can’t wait to see this!
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(Ahhhh I had a whole commented typed out and then hit the back button!!😡😭)
I thought the movie was quite funny as well and it was honestly great! I agree though with Heavy Metal Overload that I probably wouldn’t want that much comedy in an Avengers movie.
Matt Damon pop up was gold. The whole theater died laughing.
I really enjoyed getting to se more of Thor and the Hulk’s personalities. I also had a soft spot for the Hulk…and now it’s grown a little softer.
I didn’t ever hate Loki before, but I really didn’t love him either. After this movie….I very much so enjoy him!
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Reblogged this on .
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Really enjoyed this movie! Definetly the best Thor movie and having the Hulk in it really helped the movie overall.
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