Thor: Ragnarok is now playing in theaters

: Amy Lenihan, Herald Contributor|November 16, 2017

Are you a fan of the Marvel Comic Universe, but found Thor to be too predictable of a character?

 

Well, the God of Thunder himself, actor Chris Hemsworth, felt the same way before the production of the third movie in the hero’s saga. Hemsworth was growing bored after playing the role the same way for six appearances and wanted to change the character in a big way, and director Taika Waititi agreed.

 

Perhaps riding the wave of success of superhero comedies such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Deadpool” started, “Thor: Ragnarok,” which came out on Nov. 3, focused just as much on comedy as it did action.

 

The movie is a fun addition to the Marvel-verse that still manages to deliver badass fight sequences and big-budget action scenes.

 

The movie opens up with Thor held captive by Surtur, a fire demon who was originally defeated by Odin, Thor’s father. Once he escapes Surtur, Thor returns to Asgard for the first time in two years. There, he learns that his adoptive brother Loki has returned and hidden Odin on planet Earth.

 

Once they locate Odin, he informs them of a sister they never knew they had. The introduction of their older sister, Hela, the Goddess of Death, leaves Thor and Loki in a world of trouble… literally. The brothers find themselves lost on the planet Sakaar after their first encounter with Hela. There, Thor is forced to fight in a gladiator-esque battle against the Incredible Hulk, who had been stranded on the planet since he fled earth in “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Thor must find a way to convince both the Hulk and his possible new love interest, Valkyrie, to work together to help him escape the planet and get to Asgard, where Hela is wreaking havoc in what is assumed to be the prophesied “Ragnarok,” the essential apocalypse of Asgard. Once returned to Asgard, the siblings engage in an epic fight where Thor unleashes the true strength of his godly powers.

 

While different than more moral-based conflicts such as the Captain America franchise, Thor is still very much a Marvel film. The film uses post-production special effects to create beautiful and strange landscapes that could only exist in the Marvel Universe. The characters also derive a lot of their powers and characteristics from traditional lore in Norse mythology, as well as the comic book series.
 
With an opening box office of $431 million and a Rotten Tomato score of 93 percent, this new take on Thor clearly worked. He is a cocky, funny hero that can still pack a punch, and the film will have you laughing from start to end. Don’t forget to stay after the credits for the usual extra clip that is notorious in Marvel movies!