Chris Hemsworth returns in Thor: Ragnarok
CERT 12A, 130 MINUTES, IN CINEMAS 24 OCTOBER
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba Director: Taika Waititi
THE PLOT Concerned that Thor and Hulk were missing in action from the last big Avengers team-up, Captain America:
Civil War? Worry not! The plot here contrives to have the golden-tressed God of Thunder (minus hammer) dumped on to planet Sakaar, where he’s imprisoned and forced to fight in a gladiatorial contest – take a wild guess as to who his giant green foe turns out to be. Meanwhile, Thor’s malevolent elder sister Hela (Blanchett), aka the Goddess of Death, escapes captivity so she can live up to her name back on home planet Asgard, unleashing an evil prophecy called Ragnarok. As for Hiddleston’s Loki, who knows which side he’s on.
WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT? Despite a screenplay principally credited to Marvel journeyman Eric Pearson, Thor:
Ragnarok very much bears the authorial stamp of its director Taika Waititi, who limbered up for this job by directing winningly distinctive New Zealand comedies such as Hunt For The
Wilderpeople. Wit has always been a vital component of Marvel movies, but here Waititi delivers the most ingeniously giddy one yet, contributing a hilarious cameo himself as sweetnatured alien Korg. Tessa Thompson
(Creed) is a nice addition as the hard-drinking, swaggering Valkyrie, while Chris Hemsworth extends his reputation for great comic timing. And if you ever wondered what Thor looked like shirtless (more hard-bodied than ever, FYI), but without the heavy-metal band haircut (his locks are shorn on Sakaar), you’re in luck.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT? The plot, which takes a while to engineer the Thor-hulk team-up and leaves Thor and Hela stranded in different storylines for much of the running time. It’s a bit of a mish-mash.
VERDICT While rival comic-book universe DC finally hit its stride this year with Wonder Woman, raising expectations for next month’s Justice
League, Marvel reminds us that it has no intention of giving up its throne just yet. Hands-down one of the most enjoyably entertaining superhero films delivered so far, Thor: Ragnarok ably and amiably refreshes the Marvel brand.