LATEST MARVEL BLOCKBUSTER DELIVERS THE LAUGHS
Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo Not the friendliest family reunion. MARVEL has made a lot of smart moves in bringing its cavalcade of comic book characters from the page to the screen but one of the wisest has been the way it has handled Thor.
Recognising that it may be difficult for the average punter to relate to a regal god of thunder with the looks and physique of Chris Hemsworth, the movies featuring Thor have gently undercut the character time and time again.
This has helped the character, who has very healthy selfesteem, to learn some valuable GEOSTORM When weather-stabilising satellites go haywire, the planet is assaulted by the stormiest weather ever in this sci-fi disaster movie. (M, Village and Reading) Of all the day you could mysteriously relive, the day you get killed would have to be the worst … unless you can solve your own murder. (M, Village and Reading) lessons about leadership and teamwork. But this semi-regular deflating of Thor’s ego has also helped endear the character to audiences.
And it doesn’t hurt that Hemsworth has really refined his sly, nimble comedic charm over the years.
Despite all this, Thor’s two solo movies haven’t really been high on the must-see list when it comes to big-screen Marvel adventures. They were pretty good, but not great.
That all changes with Thor: Ragnarok, one of the most flatout fun movies bearing the Marvel brand in years.
Directed by New Zealand national treasure Taika Waititi, the maker of Hunt for the Wilderpeople (drop this paper and watch it immediately if you’ve never seen it), this gal- HEAL THE LIVING This compassionate French drama follows the unique relationship between an organ axy-spanning epic expertly delivers all the thrills, spills and spectacle one expects from such a blockbuster.
However, it adds one vital — and delightful — element: a sense of humour that is oddball, self-deprecating and, at times, downright daggy.
That sense of humour is woven into the fabric of the film, and it’s to Waititi’s credit that he’s able to put his distinctive signature on the proceedings while crafting a real crowd-pleaser.
Credit is also due, of course, to Hemsworth, who really comes into his own with his performance here — it’s fullyrounded leading-man work that displays his confidence and capability with drama, comedy and action.
Thor was absent from the donor and recipient. (MA, Pivotonian) Reese Witherspoon’s efforts to enjoy her newly single status are complicated by her new friendship with a trio of young men. (M, Village and Reading) This incisive documentary looks at race relations in 1960s America through the eyes of great author and activist James Baldwin. (M, Pivotonian)