Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok is an absolutely mainstream movie that brings the child-like elements of Star Wars into Thor’s world, while its costumes and makeup make it more colorful than The Fifth Element. But I didn’t really want Thor to go in this direction, as 70% of its runtime is filled with situational, slightly infantile humor that doesn’t address any plot points. Which doesn’t mean that the masses who adore Guardians of the Galaxy are not going to have a great time. And that seems to be the whole point of the movie. (11/13/2017)

I don't have any issues saying with a clear conscience that I was thrilled by the third Thor. It's very funny, fresh, unique... And it is not the laser disco parody that it might seem from the trailers, but a regular and in many ways important chapter from the life of the God of Thunder. Absolutely all the characters are interesting, none are excessive and no one is annoying (here I'd like to highlight mainly Loki and Grandmaster performed by the great Jeff Goldblum), and Cate Blanchett’s Hela,who was enjoying herself, was a safe bet. And one more observation - the Hulk is also funny, but Bruce Banner is even funnier, which Marvel had not accomplished up to this point. Taika Waititi pleasantly surprised me, he is good at humor and imaginative action (what he shows in the introduction with Mjolnir trumps the entire previous film), it all looks beautiful and thanks to Mark Mothersbaugh's retro music, it’s got exceptional zest. (10/28/2017)

Colorful, funny and also strangely fateful. Thor has finally found his feet and he’s just the powerhouse that his solo movies needed. Waititi packed the movie full of his unreal director’s individuality which overturns genre rules on a level similar to Guardians of the Galaxy (not always better, but he isn’t afraid to take risks). The childish photos suit the videogame atmosphere and the newly built planets. Inspiration from Planet Hulk is obvious, just the heroes have swapped roles. Great one-liners, ingenious action scenes (the hammer finally has its say) and playful. Cate is real foxy in this movie and her acting is great, although she doesn’t get much room to display her skills. Incredible care is devoted to supporting characters (the theatre scene) and Korg the crusher shines whenever he is in shot. Ragnarok can’t stand alone, but at the same time it didn’t seem like the final part of a trilogy – it’s too high-spirited, but still, it’s the best movie about Thor that we’ve seen on the silver screen yet. (10/28/2017)

I didn’t have that much fun. Like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the third Thor wants to be a very family friendly film, so it crams in a bunch of characters that are completely useless, but every viewer gets a chance to pick their favourite. It mixes in humor, because is needed, and visually and musically, it references the 1980s because that was a cool era. Or something like that. Well, again, it all works only halfway. Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth, who is good at comedic acting, push the humour forward so much that the film grinds along like an adventure flick. So while there are some truly spectacular things happening on screen and the story has the potential to be epic, with scenes that send chills down the spine, overall it's more of a comic book sitcom. There's so much comedy and over-the-top characters that when it comes to the real fight for life and the fate of Asgard, it doesn't work. The banter and buddy chemistry with the Hulk are fine. But when everything else doesn't work because of it, and the fight with the goddess of death has about as much emotional impact as waiting in line at the post office, I see that as a problem. I'm not saying I didn't have fun, but I really probably won't watch it again in the years to come. Maybe I wouldn't mind if Marvel started having a bit more ambition than just making "big, successful, and pretty cool" movies. (07/27/2018)

The Thunder Emperor has a special place in my viewer's heart and his first adventure remains one of the best experiences not only within the universe but also in comic book adaptations in general. While the critical community has issues with all the parts, Thor's trilogy remains the most balanced series in the MCU for me. No matter who took it on and genre-wise, from romance to drama to fantasy, it always amazed me. And I am amazed for the third time because it moves away from the leading love story, isn't afraid to eliminate familiar characters, yet still walks regally towards the highest rating. It breathes all the ingredients of the fantasy genre, adding unquestionably the best action in the series. Not a few minutes pass without me bursting into laughter, and Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston clearly embody their characters. Something tells me that Thor: Ragnarok is the end for the classic Thor, but I'm glad the story ends so triumphantly. (10/26/2017)