Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Directed by Taika Waititi
Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok, the destruction of his home-world and the end of Asgardian civilization, at the hands of a powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela.
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24 films that influenced Thor: Ragnarok
What critics say influenced Thor: Ragnarok
Yes, this latest "Thor" follows in the footsteps started by "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Deadpool," "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Ant-Man" and "Doctor Strange" of not taking itself so damn seriously.
By digging into these weightier character issues without skimping on the comic relief, Waititi’s topsy-turvy ride into Thor’s homeworld of Asgard and the discontents it holds yields the best Thor movie in the series so far, and arguably the funniest Marvel movie in the studio’s cinematic universe too (at least until the next Guardians of the Galaxy comes out).
Ragnarok seems more self-aware than even Guardians of the Galaxy.
It’s a close cousin to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” a high-energy lark that occasionally makes time for monsters, battles, bloodletting and spectacular special effects.
And the decision to not set this film on Earth helps give it a slightly goofy, cosmic vibe which definitely evokes the "Guardians of the Galaxy" movies - right down to a mildly amusing, decidedly Groot-like character who teams up with the captive Thor.
It’s bright and unusual and features designs that seem inspired by esoteric sci-fi oddities like Ice Pirates and Space Truckers instead of just the usual Star Wars riffs.
When it's not stealing from The Lord of the Rings, the script is busy referencing Star Wars and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, only with Vikings.
The recent high-profile Star Wars firings and even the Edgar Wright boot from Ant-Man have made it seem like corporate overture is in danger of overriding any new or interesting voices in Disney properties.
The movie is much closer to the Queen-scored Flash Gordon than the recent Star Wars snores.
Hulk and Thor have a “Withnail & I in space” vibe where they cannot seem to escape from their vacation together.
Ruffalo and Hemsworth make sense of Waititi’s initially baffling claim that he drew on Withnail & I when plotting the squabbles between Hulk and Thor.
The psychedelic sensibility is so off the charts that when Thor is guided through an off-kilter new planet, we hear the musical score of “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
The use of ‘Pure Imagination’ from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in a trippy scene that introduces the viewer to The Grandmaster’s opulent fortress is a wonderful nod to the way Goldblum plays his character.
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It’s bright and unusual and features designs that seem inspired by esoteric sci-fi oddities like Ice Pirates and Space Truckers instead of just the usual Star Wars riffs.
Sakaar’s design is aggressively retro-futuristic, calling to mind Heavy Metal magazine covers (with the Led Zeppelin music cues to match), and the score from Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh drenches everything in lush, prog-rock synthesizers.
Tron, Masters of the Universe and Flash Gordon are apparent reference points; add in the synth-heavy score and the influence of the 80s is all over the shop.
When it's not stealing from The Lord of the Rings, the script is busy referencing Star Wars and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, only with Vikings.
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“Iron Man 2’s” undoing of all that “Iron Man” established).
Superhero movies can be funny without undermining the foundations they stand on, as Iron Man , Doctor Strange , and Spider-Man: Homecoming all were.
Sci-fi comedy is a tricky balance often better handled in animation: Rick and Morty and Futurama are beloved, but The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy movie and Morons From Outer Space rarely get their due.