Thor: Ragnarok. Well I didn’t enjoy that as much as I did the first time around. Right now I’m waffling on the score so hopefully this review will help me decide where I’m going to land. And I apologize in advance for everyone geeking out over Avengers: Infinity War and this (sure to be) long review will be plopped right in the middle of it. While I still think this film is the best Thor film, the second viewing has highlighted a lot of problems with the overall structure of the film that I was able to gloss over in the first viewing.
This is really two films. Unfortunately one is so superior to the other that whenever it cuts over to the inferior story you just wish you would go back to the more enjoyable one. The tonal shifts between the two stories is also a little disconcerting. Whereas one story is a fun, action-packed, buddy comedy, the other story is a dark tale of mass murder and revenge and I’m not even sure how to describe it as I write this.
The film gets off to a bit of a rocky start. While I liked the opening interrogation scene, we then get Doctor Strange shoe-horned into the film as its build-up to Infinity War. Whereas Ant-Man in Captain America: Civil War came off better in his follow-up, the bits with Strange just seem wholly unnecessary. The plot then gives you a whole film’s worth of material in about 15 minutes. The scene with Odin, Thor and Loki is a touching one filled with both gravitas and melancholy. Unfortunately we barely get any time to digest what we saw before we’re introduced to Hela and the inferior storyline takes off in full force. We have nary a moment to mourn Odin before Mjolnir, the Warriors Three and a significant portion of Asgard are laid waste in quick succession. Now while this many have been intended to show the true threatening and destructive nature of Hela, it’s done so coldly and dispassionately it feels like the screenwriters wanted to shake things up and just said “Let’s burn it all to the ground”. There is loads of potential there and it’s wasted in what is essentially a B plot.
Over on Sakaar, things look a lot brighter both literally and figuratively. These sequences are filled with imaginative set design, bright colors and a retro 80s sheen. It’s hard to believe this is the same film. Presiding over it all is Jeff Goldblum as the Grandmaster, easily the MVP of film and someone I hope we see again soon. He steals every scene he is in and during the first viewing I laughed at everything he said. There was a moment where I was the only one in the theatre laughing and I totally didn’t care. I did not laugh as much this time around but the film pops in every scene he’s in.
Sakaar also gives us a great supporting cast including Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie. Jane who? Hemsworth and Thompson crackle with sparks and this film gives a chance for their relationship to grow without giving us a heavy handed “see my abs, now love me” plot. I look forward to her returning in Infinity War but am saddened at the prospect that we may not get another Thor film to give their relationship a chance to blossom. Another special shoutout to director Taika Waititi as Korg who’s soft-spoken demeanor juxtaposed with his seemingly menacing form is a pure delight. Over in the B plot, Cate Blanchett does what she can with the material and does give an imposing performance going toe to toe with Hemsworth, but the role is just not fleshed out enough for it to break from the pack of lackluster villains.
Obviously the most significant portion of this film is Thor vs. Hulk. I thought this was a great action scene and easily makes the final battle seem tame by comparison. Filled with humor, brutal action and great chemistry between Hemsworth and Ruffalo, this is where the film truly hits in peak. Sadly it’s with another hour to go in the runtime. Hemsworth and Ruffalo seem to be having a blast and it shows that RDJ is not the only one who can have an enjoyable bromance with Hulk 2.0. My only caveat is that the Hulk is going through an existential crisis that is seemingly glossed over for laughs. Again, great dramatic material that is used just enough to move the story along.
When the two halves collide in the finale, it does allow the film to finish strong. “Asgard is not a place, but a people” seems like a theme that should have been peppered throughout the trilogy instead of seemingly thrown in with a half hour to go. But I did really like the idea of turning Ragnarok on its head. Marvel could have done a straightforward film about the destruction of Asgard as I mentioned above. It would have been filled with great dramatic moments, dark elements and could have been a rich story. Does pairing it with Planet Hulk work overall? I’m still on the fence about that. The film is certainly worth seeing but I worry it won’t hold up under multiple viewings. Time will tell.
Last but certainly not least, I want to touch on the best element that has been in all these Thor films (and The Avengers): the ever evolving relationship between Thor and Loki. Hemsworth and Hiddleston work so well together. And given the improvisational nature of the performances, they come off even better in this film than before. Hiddleston still plays the part with a touch of menace but the bond between these two brothers is so strong, you feel a little disappointed on Thor’s behalf when Loki falls short again and again. The touching “I’m here” moment is both heartwarming and brings a depth of feeling that is sometimes missing in these films.
I’m going to be generous and give Thor: Ragnarok a 7/10. I can see this dropping to a 6 in the future because it’s still new enough that it plays better when you don’t have the entire plot down pat. But for right now, I think the creative way they depicted Ragnarok along with the great performances and the brotherly love story all elevate this film an extra point. I hope we do get a Thor 4 because it’s finally in an interesting enough place that you want to see what comes next but we may just have to settle for the next two Avengers films. For Asgard!
Current rankings:
1) Captain America: The Winter Soldier
2) Iron Man
3) The Avengers
4) Captain America: Civil War
5) Spider-Man: Homecoming
6) Guardians of the Galaxy
7) Thor: Ragnarok
8) The Incredible Hulk
9) Black Panther
10) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
11) Avengers: Age of Ultron
12) Iron Man 3
13) Captain America: The First Avenger
14) Doctor Strange
15) Ant-Man
16) Thor: The Dark World
17) Thor
18) Iron Man 2
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