“Ragnarok cannot be stopped. What makes you think you can
succeed?” ~ Surtur
“Slaves is such a harsh word. I prefer prisoners with
benefits.” ~ The Grandmaster
“I’m not a queen or a monster. I’m the god of death.” ~Hela
“Asgard is not a place, it’s a people. And its people need
your help.” ~ Odin
“Last time we saw you, you were trying to kill everyone. What
are you up to these days?” ~ Bruce Banner
“It varies from moment to moment.” ~
Loki
“Life is about growth and change. But you, my dear god of
mischief brother, just want to stay the same.” ~Thor
The Asgardian god of thunder returns to the big screen in Thor: Ragnarok, reuniting the title
character with a long absent Avenger team mate, introducing major characters
from the comics into the cinematic universe for the first time, and presenting
an apocalyptic scenario that takes up the second part of that title. In Norse mythology,
Ragnarok is the end of the world and the end of Asgard, and it’s a premise that
plays out here with formidable threats rising up as the story goes along.
Two years after the Battle of Sokovia (detailed in Avengers Age of Ultron), Thor (Chris Hemsworth)
has been busy searching for the Infinity Stones, but finds himself in a
perilous state. The fire demon Surtur, a familiar threat from mythology and the
comics, has taken him captive, and makes some dark prophecies to the Asgardian
about the future, as well as a revelation that his father Odin (Anthony
Hopkins) is no longer in Asgard. Thor’s journey includes a return to Asgard and
a reckoning with his devious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), but before either
of them know what’s happening, their secret sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) makes
her presence known, and nothing for Asgard will ever be the same again.
As of yet, Marvel’s cinematic universe has yet to stumble,
and that doesn’t happen here (if they make a Howard the Duck movie, all bets
are off). There have been two previous Thor
solo films, with the character also turning up in the two Avengers movies, so of course there was going to be more. The
screenplay is credited to three writers, Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and
Christopher Yost; the second and third of whom are comics writers who have
worked together before and have a good grasp of the genre. Their story draws on
storylines from the comics, introducing figures well known to readers of the
Marvel universe, both from Thor’s point of view, as well as bringing in a
welcome influence from another character- the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) and the
Planet Hulk storyline that played out in that character’s solo title. The
Asgardian fantasy and high drama is well mixed with the concept of the
gladiator world the characters find themselves in through the story, and the
narrative of the film keeps things flowing along.
We’ve got a new director in the mix, Taika Waititi, a New
Zealand director and actor with a Maori background who turns out to be quite
adept at maintaining a balance between characterization with his cast and the
epic sweep of the story. Waititi doubles (or triples) in the film by doing a
stop motion performance for the rock creature gladiator Korg, and the same for
Surtur (who is voiced in the right way by character actor and frequent villain
stand-by Clancy Brown). Waititi’s previous experience, mostly in film work from
his native country, might not seem the likely choice for a super hero epic, but
the Marvel cinematic universe has had success with unlikely directors at the
helm, and that maintains itself here. He also brings a rich sense of humour
into the film, which feels light at times- even when dealing with the prospect
of the end of worlds.
There’s a good deal of special effects involved, with green
screen and motion capture used in the creations of character or places, but it
all blends seamlessly with the cast. Character design matches what has come
before, with characters or places already established maintaining their
continuity- all while changing as the story goes along (a haircut for the lead,
for example). And new places and characters are well rendered. The world of
Sakaar, for instance, looks like you’d expect if you’d read the original
storyline, an alien world different from our own, and yet not that different
from the Roman empire with its emphasis on gladiatorial combat. The hordes of
Hela and the ferocious terror of Surtur are particularly vivid.
The cast are all well chosen, even with cameos. That
includes the obligatory Stan Lee cameo, as funny as always, and some unexpected
well known faces in a mirroring their own profession capacity. Tadanobu Asano,
Ray Stevenson, and Zachary Levi reprise their roles briefly as Hogun, Volstagg,
and Fandral, the Warriors Three, still maintaining the friendly demeanour of
the characters as we’ve seen before, a combination of bravery and irreverence
in the face of danger. Waititi’s take on Korg is a good one- the character
looks like a rock pinnacle come to life, and yet is soft spoken, becoming a friend
to Thor as the film goes along. There’s even a cameo by Benedict Cumberbatch,
reprising his role as Doctor Strange, providing guidance at a critical
juncture.
A character who was first established in the Thor part of
the Marvel comics appears here first in the cinematic universe, getting the
right actor cast in the role. Skurge is a character who’s straddled the line
between good and evil, and here that applies to the character as he comes into
the cinematic universe. Karl Urban (who’s spent time in The Lord Of The Rings and Star
Trek film franchises in the last few years) has the role, and his character
is torn between conscience and survival, with wavering loyalties that leads him
to be quite conflicted. Urban plays to that throughout the film, which makes
him compelling to watch.
Jeff Goldblum appeared as the Grandmaster in a cameo during
the second Guardians Of The Galaxy, and
here he gets a lot more to do as the character. The character is an Elder of
the universe, one of those high and mighty enigmatic beings who feel above it
all. He rules Sakaar, is indifferent to the concerns of lower life forms, and
approaches his life with a carefree, hedonistic air, which Goldblum plays to.
The actor, gifted with a quick wit and sardonic sensibility, uses that
throughout his performance; the Grandmaster might be a vain bastard, but he’s
fun to watch.
Idris Elba returns as Heimdall, the wise and fiercely
protective guardian of Asgard’s Bifrost Bridge. Circumstances in the film have
led him from a state of self-mandated exile to rebellious leader, and Elba’s
take on the character this time out maintains the strength of will and
resourcefulness that we’ve seen before with a ferocity that comes from fighting
for the fate of his people.
Anthony Hopkins reprises his role as Odin, last seen being
impersonated by his trickster adoptive son Loki. Finding out what has become of
him, the audience might expect to feel sorry for him, and yes, we do, but the
actor also plays the moment with a certain improvisational energy as the
character makes revelations. It’s Odin, and yet it’s Odin as we’ve not seen him
before, which was a good variation on the king of Asgard.
Tessa Thompson makes her debut in the Marvel cinematic
universe as a character first referred to as Scrapper 142, a bounty hunter for
the Grandmaster who happens to have ties to Asgard- she’s a Valkyrie. Her story
takes her from one point of view- the tough and fierce drinking mercenary who
doesn’t question her boss to someone who has to come to terms with the truth of
who she is. She interacts well with both Hemsworth and Hiddleston in how her
character plays off both of their characters, and she makes the role her own. I
look forward to seeing more from her down the line.
Cate Blanchett, who can make any role interesting, gets the
villain’s role as Hela, and runs with it. The character’s background is a bit
different from the source material, where she’s a daughter of Loki and the
goddess of death with personal designs on the god of thunder; here she is the
long secret daughter of Odin, and a ferocious threat of her own accord. Long
since imprisoned and written out of Asgard’s history because of her own
ambitions, Hela is a formidable adversary, focused on getting what she wants.
Blanchett’s performance brings the character to life in an over the top way,
but one that clearly shows her to be the threat she is.
Mark Ruffalo returns once more as Bruce Banner, the
scientist whose cranky side just happens to be the gamma behemoth the Hulk, who
makes his arrival in a splashy way. Since we’ve last seen him, the Hulk hasn’t
reverted back to his Banner form, and the character has had some changes
himself in terms of vocabulary and appearance. The character is a mix of vocal
and stop motion performance when in his Hulk side (with swagger, at that), and
Ruffalo brings back his humanity as Banner. It’s fun to see the character
return (especially in a way that brings out aspects of the Planet Hulk
storyline), and to have the Hulk interact once more with Thor, that friendly
rivalry playing out in a completely different context.
At heart, the Thor films
have, among other things, been about the tense relationship between two
brothers raised together, and one of them just happens to be the devious
trickster Loki, as played by Tom Hiddleston, who’s returned now to play the
character for a fourth time, including his occasion as the primary antagonist
of the first Avengers film.
Hiddleston’s take on the character continues to be a compelling one as Loki
straddles the line between doing right and wrong, between sympathetic and
devious. He’s narcissistic and mischievous- to the point of carelessness when
his schemes unravel on him. And yet there are times when the trickster is
capable of doing right- all while the actor has fun playing him.
Chris Hemsworth has now been playing the title character
through five films- six, when you include his cameo in Doctor Strange- and the character has been through a lot, maturing
from the arrogant, thoughtless god of thunder we first met in the origin film.
His take on Thor this time out is an interesting one- imprisoned on more than
one occasion under circumstances that might break someone else, his Thor takes
things in stride and keeps moving forward. And there’s a light, humorous touch
in how the actor plays him, particularly with how he interacts with Loki or the
Hulk, but also in how he contends with villains. The actor has fun with where
he takes the character, even among the apocalyptic scenario of both villains.
Thor: Ragnarok has
a mix of influences- comic book sprawling epic, buddy comedy, gladiator drama-
and it’s a lot of fun, a thrilling roller coaster kind of film with formidable
antagonists and actors who are enjoying themselves among all of the CGI
wonders. It introduces new and compelling characters, advances the state of the
Marvel cinematic universe, and entertains in its own right.
