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Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.

Director Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok hit theaters less than a week ago, and fans around the world loved it. From the tons of laughs to the marvelous action to the eye-popping Easter Eggs, the film might have done better than previous movies in the trilogy. In this review, we discuss the film that premiered this weekend. As the title of this article suggests there will be spoilers, so if you have not yet seen the movie, do so now and return to this article later.

thor-ragnarok-5120x2880-thor-hulk-2017-4k-9123

Plot summary

Two years after the Battle of Sokovia which took place at the end of Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor had been chasing after the Infinity Stones. After escaping the clutches of clutches of Surtur–who tells him that Asgard will soon perish during the prophesized Ragnarök–the eponymous god of thunder and his mischievous brother Loki must stop their older sister Hela from bringing out the end of their realm.

Things go awry when Thor and Loki find themselves on the planet Sakaar. While there, the two encounter a familiar face as well as a new ally.

Characters

  • Thor
    • The titular hero and prince of Asgard who has been searching for the Infinity Stones while the rest of the Avengers endured a conflict amongst one another. After losing his parent and his famous weapon of choice, he has to learn to work with what he has in the limited amount of time he is given.
  • Loki
    • The adoptive brother of Thor, Loki had secretly taken the throne of Asgard since the end of Thor: The Dark World. He must set aside his differences to save the place he once called home.
  • Valkryie
    • The last of her kind, “Scrapper 142” was once a sworn legendary protector of Asgard until her fellow warriors were killed in battle against Hela. She is now a fierce bounty hunter with a taste for alcohol.
  • Bruce Banner/ Hulk
    • A product of gamma radiation exposure, intelligent scientist Bruce Banner–who has seven PHDs–had been taken over by the Hulk for two years since the Battle of Sokovia.
  • Hela
    • Odin’s firstborn child and the goddess of death, her father’s death brought about her escape from her sealed imprisonment.
  • The Grandmaster
    • Ruler of planet Sakaar and one of the Elders of the Universe, he is also the brother of Taneleer Tivan the Collector
  • Skurge the Executioner
    • An Asgardian warrior and janitor who guards the Bifröst Bridge after Heimdall has gone missing, Skurge oscillates between good and bad.
  • Korg
    • A Kronon gladiator who befriends Thor, Korg partakes in a rebellion against the Sakaar higher-ups.

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Discussion

Thor: Ragnarok has become a well-liked Marvel Cinematic Universe film by fans and critics alike, and is a film worth watching.

While not exactly adhering to the comic book story arc Ragnarok, the film executes a good mixture of contagious laughs, badass action, and hair-raising thrills. Waititi does this film justice while redeeming Thor’s side of the MCU. Unlike the hero’s previous films, this movie takes place primarily in the cosmic world and 96.15% of the time does not involve an Earthling other than Banner. We learn that “Asgard is not a place; it is a people.”

Hela–played by the ever so gorgeous Cate Blanchett (The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)–is an excellent an example for a villain, one who will let no one person preclude her from achieving her goal, which is to take the throne that is rightfully hers.

In addition, Valkryie proves to be a promising supporting character, and hopefully, she will be able to join Thor, the Hulk, and others during the Infinity War.

For some reason, the character Korg–voiced by the director himself–reminds me of Rick and Morty, but perhaps that’s just me. I also hope to see more of the fire demon Surtur in future Marvel Cinematic Universe films.

Overall, the movie is a must-watch for adults and children alike. Thor losing his eye is a crucial event of the film, and I would love to see how this plays out in future Marvel films. Perhaps the most hilarious parts of this film were the Grandmaster’s “orgy ship” and The Devil’s Anus. A dear female friend and I give this movie an 8/10.

thorragnarok-hulk-gladiator2

Easter Eggs, References, and Trivia Facts:

  • Play –
    • During the beginning of the film, Odin (disguised as Loki) is watching a recap of Thor and Loki’s dramatic scene in Svartalfheim, home of the Dark Elves. This took place during Thor: The Dark World.
    • Sam Neill–who played alongside Jeff Goldblum in the Jurassic Park–portrays the actor playing Odin. Luke Hemsworth–brother of Thor actor Chris Hemsworth–portrays the actor playing Thor. Matt Damon portrays the actor playing Loki.
  • Throg –
    • Thor spoke of a time Loki–as a trick–turned himself into an animal Thor loved the most: a snake. During the play, Loki makes a reference to when he turned his own brother Thor into a frog. This is an allusion to when Loki did this same thing in the comics.

thor frog

  • Doctor Strange –
    • The Master of the Mystic Arts makes a short appearance in the film, and here’s to hoping he runs into the likes of Thor, Loki, or the Hulk during Avengers: Infinity War.
  • The Tables Have Turned –
    • While this may not mean much, Hela tells Loki to kneel in Norway. This is a good reflection of something Loki did in Germany during the events of The Avengers.

loki_kneel_by_stak1073-d53bumb

  • Pure Imagination –
    • This famous theme from the classic film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) plays as Thor is in restraints hallucinating while being taken to meet the Grandmaster.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2pt2-F2j2g

  • Willy Wonka’s Boat Ride (1971) –
    • Thor’s hilarious hallucination is reminiscent of a scene in the Willy Wonka film that takes place after Pure Imagination.

  • Odin’s Vault/ Trophy Room –
    • This film goes back to the Easter Egg jackpot. At this room in Asgard, Hela knocks down the Infinity Gauntlet as if it was a vase, passes by the Tesseract and The Casket of Ancient Winters, and plays with the Eternal Flame.
  • Fenris –
    • This Asgardian creature makes an appearance in the film as Hela’s loyal pet. In the comics, Fenris Wolf is one of Loki’s offspring. Speaking of which…
  • Hulk (2003) allusion –
    • This is perhaps something worth mentioning:

https://twitter.com/SuperheroSteel/status/927738096048918533/photo/1

  • “Sun’s getting real low” –
    • This phrase from Age of Ultron is spoken once again to Hulk. This calmed him down as a means to turn the green beast back into his human form Bruce Banner.

thor-ragnarok-suns-getting-real-low-1048355

  • Point Break –
    • While making an attempt out of Sakaar using the Quinjet, Thor uses voice recognition as a password. When “The Strongest Avenger” does not work, “Point Break” does. This was a nickname Tony Stark/ Iron Man gaves to Thor during the events of The Avengers, which is a reference to Patrick Swayze’s character in the film Point Break (1991).

thor point break

  • Stan Lee cameo –
    • The legendary Marvel god makes an appearance as the barber of Sakaar who gives Thor his haircut. He wields a horrifying blade which makes the God of Thunder scream like a girl.
  • Shopkeeper –
    • The shopkeeper from The Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) makes an appearance in the film and is apparently revealed to be related to the Grandmaster. In GotG, the shopkeeper of Xandar refused to buy an Infinity Stone after learning Ronan the Accuser is after it.
  • Mid-credits scene –
    • Thor and Loki have a brief conversation while their vessel crosses paths with a much larger ship. This will, of course, set up the events of Avengers: Infinity War.
  • Post-credits scene –
    • The Grandmaster exits some debris and meets those of the resistance. Who doesn’t love a little more Jeff Goldblum?
  • Trivia Fact: Director Taika Waititi portrayed Thomas Walkmaku, best friend of Hal Jordan, in 2011’s Green Lantern.

taika-waititi-green-lantern

Which character was your favorite? Which Easter Egg did you love the most? Are there more we have not covered? What did you think of the film? Let us know! For more Marvel Cinematic Universe related news and reviews, follow Geek Motivation on Twitter (@GEEKMOTIVATION) and Instagram (@geekmotivation).

Written by: John Tangalin

+ posts

Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.

John Daniel Tangalin

About John Daniel Tangalin

Managing editor & film and television critic with a Bachelor's of Arts in English Literature with a Writing Minor from the University of Guam. Currently in graduate school completing a Master's in English Literature.

View all posts by John Daniel Tangalin

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