Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK..L to R: Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston).Ph: Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2017
Thor Ragnarok: Shockingly Entertaining but…
This is one of those reviews where I struggle to “rate” a film. While I think that Thor Ragnarok was an incredibly entertaining film to watch with a plethora of humor and special effects, I left the theater feeling disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, everything in the film SHOULD click, but something is missing. The something that is missing is the genuine joy of seeing a superhero movie that fills you with wonder and delight and holds you until the next big superhero film that should be six months or a year from now. As I said, should be. The next superhero film, Justice League, is set for exactly two weeks after this release. I think what we are seeing is a superhero film fatigue. There are a few of the films that stand out from the crowd and make a splash such as Wonder Woman and the first Guardians of the Galaxy, but they are few and far between. Thor Ragnarok is unfortunately not one of those films. This was disappointing for me since it was one of my most anticipated films of the rest of the year.
Thor Ragnarok tells the story of Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the return of his sister Hella (Cate Blanchett), who takes over Asgard. Thor needs to work with Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and Valkyrie to escape a planet where they are trapped and to save Asgard from her destructive path. Thor has to get Banner back from Hulk form to help him escape while Loki cozies up to the ruler of the planet, Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is reluctant to help considering the sordid past she has with Hella but agrees to join the mission. As Hella is wreaking havoc on Asgard, Heimdall (Idris Elba) is working to save the people of Asgard from her destruction.
Marvel Studios’ THOR: RAGNAROK..L to R: Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston).Ph: Teaser Film Frame..©Marvel Studios 2017
I will give credit to director Taika Waititi because the film has a very distinct and cohesive visual style. The colors are fantastic, and the costume design is beautifully done. The film seems to be a love child between the newer Tron film and Guardians of the Galaxy. It has a real distinctive 80s feel to it. The special effects in the film are the top-notch effects we have come to expect from Marvel and Disney. They can’t be denied. What also worked well in the film was the humor and the chemistry between the characters. They all bounce well off of each other, and it creates a great dynamic. Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster is Jeff Goldblum in all his Goldblum-y ridiculousness. He looks like he had a lot of fun with the role and steals every scene he has.
The problem with Thor Ragnarok is that nothing stands out in the sea of superhero films. Nothing is truly memorable. While watching the film, I was entertained and having fun, but upon leaving the theater, the memories of the film faded, and there was no lasting impact for me. There were also a few cringe-worthy line deliveries from Chris Hemsworth where the acting was so bad; I can’t believe they used it in the final cut of the film.
In all honesty, Thor Ragnarok is entertaining and a lot of fun while watching. If it didn’t have so many other superhero films to compete with, it would probably be much more memorable as a film. If you want to see it, don’t let my review stop you. It is indeed a lot of fun so, turn off your brain and enjoy the show!
