Directed by Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Hiddelston, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum

You have to admit that the last Thor movie was a bit of a bore. If anything it just felt like filler, whereas the first film had something to love in it's setting, it's fish out of water scenario and well loved villain in Loki. Even still, these films aren't so memorable compared to other MCU films, which is a darn shame - where is the love for Thor? Justice comes in the crashing swoop of director Taika Waititi, one of my favourite directors who takes Thor on a different journey in Thor Ragnarok. If you didn't like the last two films, or thought they were a bit 'meh,' then you're in luck this time around. 

With Loki (Hiddleston) in charge of Asgard, Thor (Hemsworth) returns to search his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) who has disappeared. On the search, they are faced with the goddess of death Hela (Blanchett) who aims to take over Asgard, banishing Thor and Loki to the junk world of Sakar ruled by the Grandmaster (Goldblum) where Thor is pitted against an old friend in the incredible Hulk (Ruffalo) in which he must gain his support in stopping the end of Asgard - Ragnarok.

Now, this is a good film, but there are some issues that I'm going to get out of the way now, so we can move onto the good stuff and praise it. Yes, this film does have problems, and one of them is some of the pacing. That's not throughout the film but mainly in the first act. During the search for Odin, elements are shoehorned in for no other reason at all but to connect things up and move on quickly to get to the good stuff, the relationships and moments you wish could have been there to make the film better developed are abandoned, and it doesn't feel like Waititi directed these sequences, possibly Marvel's doing. Of course, once you get into it - it gets exciting. Minus this first part you're in for a very entertaining ride as the stakes are introduced.

It's good to see Thor feel like a less annoying character than he used to be. He's become 'one of the lads' so to say, where he is so much more charismatic and enjoyable to watch as a character, and that's due to Hemsworth delivering a great and unique performance. The relationship between him and Ruffalo's Hulk is a welcome treat and new characters such as the Grandmaster and the outstanding Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie are so fun to watch and enjoy. Blanchett's Hela didn't feel like the villain I thought she'd be, her acting is fine of course but she often feels lost in the typical Marvel villain state. The same could be same for Loki, who is enjoyable to watch but often feels like he's there because... well just because it's Loki, and some of his intentions do become misguided.

The design and look of the film, especially on Sakar, is Waititi greatness. It's a vastly colourful film and from what I hear, people are convinced this is too much like Guardians of the Galaxy. It's actually very different, it's quite nice to see the look of an 80's sci-fi throughout the course of the movie, because that's really what it looks like. The score compliments this really well, probably one of Marvel's best. Whilst most people were expecting a comedy film, a staple of Waititi's filmmaking, it's apparent that he knows when to be serious, and when to have fun. It's a brilliantly funny film for sure, but the switching between tone, when needed is what makes me confident in it, it feels like the most freedom a director has had with a Marvel film, minus the first act of course but even still, something brilliant has been seen through by the director.

All in all Thor Ragnarok is a blast. The best of Thor's movies, with some amazing writing, performances and I forgot to mention, action sequences (Thor v Hulk obviously) that stand out from so many other Marvel films that we've seen in the last few years. Waititi and the cast have pulled something so special from under the rug that I can't recommend it enough. It's safe to say, I like Thor again.

8/10