Thor: Ragnarok Movie Review

By: Lynn Barker

In Thor: Ragnarok, Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) search for infinity stones is interrupted by news of impending ultimate destruction of his home world Asgard. While a prisoner on planet Sakaar, Thor is forced to do gladiator-style battle with the champion, his old pal Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)! Thor learns that brother Loki is alive and that they have an older sister Hela, Goddess of Death (Cate Blanchett) who will be released from her lifelong prison with plans to take over and expand her rule to far more than the nine realms. She will bring the predicted Ragnarok, the planet-wide destruction of myth. Thor will have to ultimately battle her without his beloved hammer! And you thought your family life was messed up!

Bruce Banner/Hulk, Valkyrie and Thor plan to go to save AsgardCourtesy of Marvel

News of Destruction

It’s two years after the Battle of Sokovia and Thor is still searching for the Infinity Stones but he is imprisoned by the ginormous fire demon Surtur, who reveals that Thor's father Odin is no longer on Asgard, and that the planet will soon be wrecked in Ragnarok, a long-expected myth of massive destruction once Surtur unites his crown with the Eternal Flame that burns beneath the city. Thor escapes, battles Surtur and wins, taking the huge crown and thinking this will prevent Ragnarok.

Thor and Loki find their father OdinCourtesy of Marvel

Crazy Family Revelations

Returning to Asgard, Thor finds his adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) alive and posing as Odin. With some directions from Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) on Earth , Thor and Loki find Odin in Norway. Odin says he’s dying and that his passing will release their older sis Hela Goddess of Death from a prison Odin placed her in years ago after the two of them ruthlessly conquered Nine Realms. Seems Hela wanted even more power. She arrives in Asgard, destroys the army there, appoints Skurge (Keith Urban) her right-hand man/executioner and searches for Heimdall (Idris Elba) who has taken the sword that operates the Bifrost bridge through which she plans to travel to conquer even more realms. We see that he is hiding with the remainder of Asgard’s citizens. A battle with Thor results in Hela destroying his hammer!

Heimdall (Idris Elba) tries to protect the peopleCourtesy of Marvel

Garbage Planet

Thor and Loki get caught in a worm hole and Thor crash-lands on the garbage planet Sakaar, where he is captured by a bounty hunter named Scrapper 142 (Tessa Thompson) whom he later recognizes as an Asgardian Valkyrie, a force of female warriors who were destroyed defending Asgard from Hela long ago. Thor is forced to compete in the Grandmaster's (Jeff Goldblum) Contest of Champions against his old buddy the Hulk. It’s unclear who actually wins. Afterwards Thor tries to convince Hulk and Valkyrie to help him save Asgard. Loki is also on the planet but has buddied up with the Grandmaster and is of no help. Thor and Hulk end up on Tony Stark’s Quinjet in which Hulk crashed here two years before. A voice recording of his beloved Natasha Romanoff makes Hulk turn back into Bruce Banner for the first time in two years!

Grandmaster with his female teamCourtesy of Marvel

Revolution and Ragnarok!  

Even though ordered to find the two missing champions, Valkyrie decides to help Thor, taking Loki captive. Loki provides the group with the means to steal one of the Grandmaster's ships. They then free the other gladiators who, led by rock being Korg and buddy Miek, start a revolt. Loki again betrays his brother and Thor leaves him behind. Loki is found by the gladiators. Thor, Banner, and the Valkyrie escape through a wormhole to Asgard, where Hela's forces are attacking Heimdall and Asgard's citizens. Will Hela succeed in destroying Asgard? Will Loki return to help Thor or again betray him? Can Thor actually defeat Hela without his hammer? What will become of the last citizens of Asgard?

The evil Hela (Cate Blanchett) with her right-hand-man SkurgeCourtesy of Marvel

Wrapping Up

Thor: Ragnarok looks great in 3D and we recommend seeing it that way if you can. The film could be described as an action comedy with a wild mix of death and destruction in the storyline. This makes for an uneven tone but the jokes are almost all funny enough to excuse the strange tonal mix.

Valkyrie in full battle gearCourtesy of Marvel

Banter between Thor and Bruce Banner/Hulk is especially a laugh riot. Also enjoyable is the Thor/Loki mix of brotherly bond and betrayal. The many secondary characters provide even more humor along with dramatic pathos that is satisfying. Leave it to great actress Cate Blanchett to create a creepy yet elegant villainess with some real dramatic weight. Very few actresses could be taken very seriously wearing an entire rack of black deer antlers on her head!

Rock creature Korg wants to start a gladiator rebellionCourtesy of Marvel

We won’t spoil the film with news of all the revelations that come out but will say that they are very life-changing for Thor in many ways. He learns the hard way that a place isn’t as important as the people living there.

Hulk the gladiator championCourtesy of Marvel

As you should in most Marvel films, stick around for a mid-credits scene that involves a huge spacecraft that looks a bit like Thanos and a silly post credits scene involving the Grandmaster.

Loki has joined Grandmaster's courtCourtesy of Marvel

Although a lot comes at you in the film at a frantic pace, it is visually satisfying as well as providing a massive amount of laughs. We can go four stars.

Thor: Ragnarok Movie Rating: 

Thor: Ragnarok PosterCourtesy of Marvel

See Thor: Ragnarok in theaters on Friday, November 3^rd.

Have Your Say

Have you been looking forward to this next installment in the Thor cinematic story? Which characters from the comics are you looking forward to seeing in this film? Or, are you simply not into the Marvel Universe? Start commenting below!