Thor: Ragnarok

The first Thor film acted as a set up for “The Avengers” and the second film tried, and failed, to make the hero more serious. Now, get ready for Thor to Ragna-rock your world and the Marvel cinematic universe as director, Taika Waititi, finally gets it right. With the return of Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, and Mark Ruffalo and the introduction of Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, and Jeff Goldblum, Waititi masterfully directs a star studded cast to produce one of the best Marvel films I’ve seen in years.

Taking viewers on a trip through the universe, the majority of the action is split between Thor’s home world, Asgard, and a new planet, Sakaar. Thor reunites with Loki as they are faced with a new threat, Hela, the goddess of death who is hell bent on taking the Asgardian throne.

Embracing a more humorous side of Thor, Hemsworth delivers a fantastic performance that left me laughing for the majority of the film. His interactions with Hiddleston’s Loki and Ruffalo’s Hulk/Bruce Banner were high points, featuring natural banter and physical comedy.

While the men were the leads, the film boasted some strong female characters. Blanchett’s villainous Hela is a force to be reckoned with. As a goddess of Norse mythology, she has an imposing and threatening presence onscreen.

Thompson’s character, Valkyrie, has a fierce and hilarious entrance that perfectly introduces her to the Marvel universe. Not confined to the role of love interest, she is a warrior who can match Thor’s fighting ability and isn’t afraid to jest with the god of thunder.

Overall, the film felt more similar to “Guardians of the Galaxy” than the previous Thor films. With a funky soundtrack, witty characters, and thrilling action, it is an entertaining and welcome addition to the Marvel cinematic universe. Check it out in a theatre near you and remember to stick around until the end of the credits, it is a Marvel movie after all.