My “Greek cred” is well documented in our show, so I am first to admit that I get lost sometimes on the plots and subplots in some of the superhero films. It comes down to the question of whether or not these films getting “Ice Age”d, meaning have they made too many of these films and have they made the films because they know they will be cash cows? Now there are the fans who love these films and know every plot, sub-plot, twist and turn (like our two hosts), which is fine, but there are also some people who think that since it is a big budget superhero film it will be a thumbs up no matter what. So it is great our podcast has different views and review from a mainstream and Non-Greek cred moviegoer along with the die-hard fans.
“Thor: Ragnarok” is the new film directed by Taika Waititi (Boy, Super City) and not only brings back Chris Hemsworth (The Avengers, Ghostbusters), Tom Hiddleston (The Night Manager, Robot Chicken), and Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs, Beowulf), but also adds Cate Blanchett (Cinderella, Truth), Mark Ruffalo (Spotlight, Foxcatcher), Idris Elba (Zootopia, Prometheus), Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day, Jurassic Park), Tessa Thompson (Creed, Selma), Karl Urban (Dredd, Star Trek), and Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game, Sherlock). The film has a lot of returning characters from the previous Films in the series, such as Thor (Hemsworth), Loki (Hiddleston), Heimdall (Elba), and Odin (Hopkins) with some appearances from other characters in the Marvel Universe/Avengers. In this film we are introduced to Thor’s and Loki’s older sister named Hela (Blanchett), the Goddess of Death who was locked up by Odin after she turns evil. Hela escapes and wants to take over Asgard and eventually rule the universe, so Thor and Loki get stuck on a planet named Sakaar, run by “The Grandmaster” (Goldblum, where they also meet up with a mercenary named Scrapper 142 (Thompson), who has a history with Asgard. The rest of the film is Thor trying to escape from Sakaar and get back to Asgard to stop Hela.
There is a ton of CGI here, which is expected, with some incredible scenes where the CGI really blew me away. I was able to screen this film in IMAX 3-D and I truly thought the 3-D really enhances the film and is worth the extra cost, really making the sequences both on Earth and on Asgard pop. When it comes to the acting, you get what you had from the other Thor films when it comes to the staple actors like Hopkins, Hiddleston, and Hemsworth, while Blanchett does well in this role, but with her past experience in film like “The Hobbit” series, she is a good fit, and the same for Thompson, with her past sci-fi work, fits in well in her role. I have to give my shout out to Goldblum, whose role is a little different as the nerdy scientist in some other films. His demeanor and the way he plays the character’s traits more than earns a shout-out.
At about about 2 hours and 10 minutes. “Thor: Ragnarok” is actually about the right length. The plot does not become too confusing for a mainstream fan with no cred like myself with the basic plot is kind of the same from the other “Thor” films of Thor trying to save the nine realms, spends a little time on Asgard and Earth, and Loki is the backstabbing, evil, and jealous brother, etc… However, adding Hulk along with a storyline having a little something special made it a lot better. The film kept me interested and loved the use of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” at the right time really enhanced the experience. With some of the past superhero films at a point where maybe it is about time for thinking is enough really enough, this film is an exception to that role, and I hope more superhero films will be like this one. If you are a f an of Marvel and these types of films, see it full price in 3-D in the theaters. But as the objective reviewer, I am recommending it as a 3-D showing at a twilight film in the theaters.