Directed by Taika Waititi
Country: USA
I’ve always thought that the most successful action-packed Marvel flicks were those brought up with a strong sense of humor. Thus, no one better than the New Zealander sensation Taika Waititi, director of gems like “What We Do in the Shadows” and “Hunt For the Wilderpeople”, to tackle “Thor: Ragnarok” with equal doses of energy and folly.
This fanciful parody, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney, is not suitable for kids, embracing wild action scenes inflamed with vertiginous special effects.
Whether by land or air, the battles are numerous, fantasized with plenty of variety to satisfy the action genre aficionados.
The screenplay is a product from the mind of three comic book writers/enthusiasts: Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher Yost, who besides formulating a fun story flooded with better-than-serious, vibrant characters, were also able to infuse a cutting humor that ranges from stupefying deadpan to corrosively sarcastic.
Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the god of thunder, even deprived of his precious hammer, will join forces with other mighty warriors - his longtime friend Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and his artful brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) - to save the Asgard people from the ambitious, powerful, and malevolent goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett). Eccentrically, the latter happens to be Thor’s sister, recently returned from the exile after the death of their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins).
Before the final confrontation, set ablaze by the presence of the fire demon Surfur, Thor becomes trapped in a garbage planet ruled by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), a sadistic loony that dominates everyone through a controlling chip implanted on their neck.
Waititi makes a proper use of the technology available to create an enormous visual spectacle on several scenes. The highlight is a ravaging fight between Thor and Hulk who, completely out of control, didn't recognize the Avengers teammate.
I know! By now you must be thinking you really have to watch this, right? But there's more!
There is lots of space for silliness here, yet “Thor: Ragnarok” is one of the most absorbing, even unpretentious Marvel-based films in years, and that’s because Waititi, in a bold move, did not take it too seriously. He just needed Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” fueling the furious, heroic confrontations and Cate Blanchett, who was absolutely marvelous in her evil role.
Have a ‘Thor-o-ly’ fun matinée!
