#REVIEW: “THOR: RAGNAROK”

Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has a formula for its movies and Thor as a Franchise thus far has been bogged-down in world-building (the first two pertained crucial infinity stones) and sone believe these films lacked the depth fun which other MCU movies had. Marvel enlists New Zealand Director Taika Waititi and Thor: Ragnarok arguably is the best Thor movie and perhaps one of the best MCU movies to date. The Film is fun, silly, entertaining, not world building, and can arguably be a standalone Thor movie.

The Movie has our hero Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in a variety of challenging situations. The first of which is he has to stop Ragnarok from occurring, an event that would wipe out Asgard from existence. While trying to stop this horrific event, he is faced with one of his greatest foes Hela (Cate Blanchett), who proves to be more work than just Thor himself can handle. As he is trying to save his world, and restore order to Asgard he finds himself world travelling where he ends up as a fighter in the intergalactic fighting championship essentially. Upon his arrival on this planet, he meets friends and foes consisting of The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), former Asgardian warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and fellow avenger The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Thor needs to win the galactic battle, escape the planet, and save his home something a little daunting for one man, even if he is the god of thunder.

What makes Thor: Ragnarok so refreshing is its hilarious script and brilliant performances. There are moments within the Movie that will have bursting with laughter, for example when Thor sees Hulk is his opponent and calls him a “friend from work”. It’s moments like these that take the tone from an intense and serious MCU movie to something more fun and lighthearted, exactly what the Thor franchise truly needed.

A great Script would be meaningless if there weren’t some truly fantastic performances to bring it to life. The usual suspects Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo are strue to form great, but it is the newcomers to the Franchise who steal the show. Cate Blanchett as the truly villainous Hela breathes a new fear into Thor that has yet to be there in the Franchise, Jeff Goldblum also is exceptional as he is always a delight with whatever he partakes in. It is Tessa Thompson however, who manages to steal the show with a fresh energy to a Franchise in need of invigorating.

Taika Waititi is a welcome addition and if Ragnarok has anything to say about the future of Marvel, maybe more Indie Directors will be given a shot. Thor: Ragnarok is a blast that brings a new level of longevity to the character, a newfound purpose, and finally a MCU movie that doesn’t revolve around the inevitable arrival of Thanos and Infinity Wars.

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada release THOR: RAGNAROK Friday, November 3, 2017.