THOR: RAGNAROK
US, 2017, 130 minutes, Colour.
Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Taiki Waitit, Clancy Brown, Ray Stevenson, Zachary Levi, Luke Hemsworth, Sam Neill, Matt Damon.
Directed by Taiki Waititi.
Chris Hemsworth made quite an impact as the original Thor. This is the second sequel and Thor has appeared in two Avengers movies and is about to appear on the third. Quite a lasting impression.
Hemsworth has never taken himself too seriously nor does Thor. There is always a place for irony and for a joke. And now, with New Zealand director Taiki Waitit, who charmed audiences with Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople and joked with them in What We Do in the Night, there is plenty more irony and there are plenty more jokes.
Gone is the Viking Asgard but there are still memories of Loki and his betrayals at and the downfall of Odin. Tom Hiddleston as Loki and Anthony Hopkins made such an impression as Odin that they are back again, Loki having his moments of heroism but always the trickster lurking. There is a great deal of action and it takes place among the various planets and strange communities, especially one presided over by Jeff Goldblum in a very campy manner. Crowds pack into a huge amphitheatre for gladiatorial combats where his main warrior is actually Hulk, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) imprisoned in the form of the Hulk for two years, finally coming up against Thor, with Banner re-emerging, Thor victorious. Also present is an alcoholic young Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) a mercenary who has captured for but who might be persuaded to join forces to retake Asgard.
And Ragnarok indicates an apocalypse for Asgard.
We have had a glimpse of Odin living in exile and then disappearing from his two sons (though Anthony Hopkins getting a chance for more footage to inspire Thor in his battles). And the battles?
The main villain of the piece is the hitherto unknown daughter of Odin, Hela. She wears black. Has black hair, black eye make-up, a black headpiece of horns – which indicate that her heart is deeply black as well. And, she is played by Cate Blanchett.
So, plenty of plot. Plenty of battles. Plenty of intriguing characters. Plenty of superhero activity – though Thor receives plenty of body blows as well as losing an eye, in the tradition of his father. On the heroic side there is Karl Urban as a warrior who becomes the instrument of Hela’s malice but, we guess, will have a change of heart. There is also Idris Elba, the Asgard warrior leading the remnant of scarred to safety.
And, for the fun of it, there is an early re-enactment of the betrayal of Loki which has Sam Neill acting the part of Odin, Luke Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth’s older brother, as Thor and, uncredited and pretty unrecognisable, Matt Damon as Loki.
Perhaps overseas audiences might not get the joke but Australian audiences and New Zealand audiences will delight in the character of Korg, a giant creature made of rocks, not quite the full quarry, but with very funny dialogue, a very strong Niew Ziland accent and delivery, very amusing, and played by the director himself, Taika Waititi. Actually this version of Thor is fairly Antipodean with both Thor and Hela originally coming from Melbourne, with a touch of Sam Neill, another Hemsworth, and Karl Urban and the director coming from New Zealand. And the film was made on the Gold Coast.
Perhaps some of the purists may think this is a bit too flippant, but most fans will enjoy it – and, creator Stan Lee, having a cameo in all his films, signals his imprimatur with a very amusing one here.
1. Thor as a popular character from the Marvel World? This film has the third in this series? His presence in the Avengers films? The popularity of this film, the action, the humour?
2. The Marvel universe, the range of planets, Asgard, Earth, the Viking era, the transition to the present and the future? The imagination of the characters, their interconnections, superheroes?
3. The background, the incorporation of Marvel characters, featuring Bruce Banner, Hulk? The presence of Dr Strange? A glimpse of communication from the Black Widow?
4. The Asgard background, Odin, his children, the place of Loki, Loki and betrayals? Thor and his seeing the re-enactment of the betrayal, the humour of the cast for this re-enactment? Odin, the acclaim for the play, his retiring, on the cliffs, with his two sons, the end of his life? His reappearing to Thor as an inspiration?
5. Thor, Chris Hemsworth, the flowing hair – and the later short back and sides? His presence, character, the hammer and its loss? The humorous tone, the wisecracks and the jokes? His relationship with his father, admiration for him? The clashes with Loki, and Loki featuring in daughter of Odin, wanting her rights, taking over Asgard? The confrontation with Thor and Loki? Her quest for control?
6. Thor, leaving his father, wandering, the return to Asgard, the encounter with Dr Strange?
7. The encounter with the Valkyrie, her assertiveness, warrior, capturing him, his being imprisoned on the planet? The ruler, for gladiatorial games, the arena? Having Hulk as his main warrior? Thor in prison, the encounter with Korg (and his associate, the New Zealand accent, delivery, humour, simplicity)? The personality of the ruler, camp, with the Valkyrie, with the crowds? The gladiators, the preparation for the fight, those attending, cheering, on side?
8. With Hulk, Bruce Banner trapped inside in for two years and Hulk not knowing? Hulk the gladiatorial battles, the confrontation with Thor? Thor and his skills, despite the beating? The reaction of the ruler? Of the Valkyrie? The chant of the crowd changing in favour of Thor? Bruce Banner returning, the conversations with Thor, not being able to remember? The relaxed friendship between the two?
9. The Valkyrie, her drinking, in exile, mercenary, capturing Thor, his appeal, her resistance, understanding what it happened, her willingness to help?
10. Engineering the escape, the vehicle, the ruler and his desperation? The space ship going through the violence space storm? The difficulties, steering, succeeding?
11. Hela, her appearance, completely black, power? Scourge and his presence on Asgard? Guard, mercenary, being given the job of executioner? His initial loyalty, confrontation of the enemies?
12. The people on Asgard, their escaping, the leader and his help, in the mountains? The range of troops and their attacks?
13. The arrival of Thor, Loki and the Valkyrie? Loki, his sense of betrayal, yet his comradeship, the devices to distract attention?
14. Hela, the capture of Thor, the battles with him, her defeat? Thor and his injuries, losing his eye, being like his father?
15. The space ship, hurrying the inhabitants into the space ship, the escape? The presence of Odin inspiring Thor?
16. Hela vanquished? Asgard destroyed by the creature? The fulfilment of promise? But Asgard being in the minds and hearts of its inhabitants – and the survivors?
