Sight for Thor eyes
THOR: RAGNAROK (12A, 130 mins)
THREE is the magic number for Marvel Comics’ incarnation of the hammer-wielding Norse god of thunder.
Portrayed since 2011 by Chris Hemsworth with flowing golden locks, sculpted abs and laidback Antipodean charm, Thor finally gets into an otherworldly groove in this third solo outing directed to the comic hilt by Taika Waititi.
The New Zealand film-maker and a trio of screenwriters adhere to a classic three-act structure for their heady brew of rip-roaring adventure, bone-dry humour and dazzling spectacle that positions this gung-ho chapter closer to Guardians Of The Galaxy than its brawny predecessors.
In front of the camera, a gaggle of Oscar winners including Sir Anthony Hopkins and Cate Blanchett chew the multi-million-dollar scenery with fervour.
The heavenly convergence of direction, writing and performance would align perfectly if Blanchett was allowed to fully inhabit her snarling villainess, who sets in motion Ragnarok, a prophetic downfall of the kingdom of Asgard. Instead, her merciless and supposedly unstoppable goddess of death is clueless and impotent for extended periods.
Loki (Tom Hiddleston) sits undeservedly on Asgard’s throne, fashioning the kingdom in his narcissistic image, oblivious to stormclouds billowing on the horizon.
Noble sentry Heimdall (Idris Elba) no longer stands guard on the Bifrost Bridge – he has been usurped by an ambitious whelp called Skurge (Karl Urban). Meanwhile, Loki’s father Odin (Hopkins) has been ushered into early retirement, which inadvertently releases Hela (Blanchett) from her prison where she has languished for millennia.
An initial showdown between Thor (Hemsworth) and Hela culminates in victory for the vengeful goddess.
The fallen champion is cast out to Planet Sakaar, where he is captured by a mysterious merchant (Tessa Thompson). She sells him to the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), a hedonistic, gamblingmad Elder of the Universe, who presides over the Contest of Champions. Consequently, the freshly shorn thunder god is pitted against a smashing ally (Mark Ruffalo) in gladiatorial battle.
From its droll opening scene choreographed to the high-pitched howl of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, Waititi’s picture is a blast.
Hemsworth pokes merciless fun at himself, including one saucy interlude of near-the-knuckle barbs, while the director scene-steals via motioncapture performance as an 8ft rock monster.
Two additional scenes are nestled in the heaving bosom of the end credits to ensure diehard Marvel fans leave on a giddy high.
Thor: Ragnarok rocks, and rolls with the punches.