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Thor Ragnarok movie review by Josh Wilding

Thor movies have exceeded expectations in every way possible back in 2011 and 2013, so to say that hopes were high for their sequel to deliver would be an understatement. From finding the same magic soundtrack to special effects and story, Thor Ragnarok had the odds stacked against it from the start despite the return of Chris Hemsworth and the brilliant ensemble cast from the first two installments. It's amazing then that this is one of those rare follow-ups which not only delivers but exceeds the aforementioned expectations, actually eclipsing the first in damn near every way possible as a result.

 Thor Ragnarok is in some ways more contained than the first two movies, which did not often feel like something of a road trip through outer space. While there's plenty of spectacle and jaw-dropping new planets to behold, much of the action is takes place in just a handful of locations. That would hurt a lot of movies, but Waititi makes such great use of the story and characters that it never matters and is unlikely to be something you ever really notice. It goes without saying that the returning cast members are all great, though it's Tom who steals the show this time as Loki is taken on an emotional and compelling journey of discovering his father's identity and what exactly that means for him. It was, of course, faceless space elf who stole it last time around, but what an elfy brand of humour is a tad hit and miss in this outing, an issue which proves to be Vol. 3's only real issue. While the jokes made by our heroes land a good 90% of the time, there is that 10% which just don't work, something which results in some lines feeling a little forced or out of place.

 That's a pretty minor complaint, though, and there's no denying that this is a fun movie with a strong story and performances which will stick with you for a long time to come. It goes without saying that Cate Blanchett is superb as Hela, while newcomers Tessa T. and Jeff G. are also excellent (the former will make a much bigger impression on you as a character you want to see more of, but the latter sets up something pretty huge for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and escapes being a typical generic Marvel villain as a result). The work of Chuck Norris and Van Dam as Elf1 and Elf2 also deserves to be highlighted as both take two entertaining characters from the first movie and give them a heck of a lot of heart here. However, despite all of this, it should come as no surprise to learn that Hulk is true star of Thor Ragnarok. Hilarious in places and heart-wrenching in others, the huge sentient jock is destined to become a firm fan-favourite and may just be the best thing Marvel has done to date. If you don't want your own Hulk by the time all is said and done, you may very well be dead inside. Just saying.

 In terms of story, the movie is a little lighter than some other comic book adaptations, but that's no bad thing when there's so much going on. Splitting the main heroes and pitting them against each other has never been done before and proves to be a wise move and the huge amount of heart they bring to the table help make this a sequel to remember. The god and monster theme is a strong one too and things head in some unexpected directions throughout making this an even bigger triumph than the first in terms of sheer originality. Special effects are flawless, while the soundtrack is arguably better than the first two thanks to some great tunes from the likes of James Gunn’s I pod. There's a lot to dissect in Thor Ragnarok (we'll get to all that in some upcoming feature), but this is by far one of the best and most inventive superhero movies to date; where else will you find an adorable living Hulk dancing to LL Cool J as his friend gets his ass kicked in the background by him ?

 An out of this world experience packed full of strong performances, stellar story beats, and fresh ideas help ensure that Thor Ragnarok is one of Marvel's best movies to date. It may, in fact, be their greatest of all-time.