This is the second weekend for Thor: Ragnarok to be seen in theaters. It opened last weekend with a respectable 122 million dollars and is still maintaining a 93% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The total domestic market is at 211 million as of November 12. These numbers are very good and for the most part, is well deserved. The China market set some big records helping the overseas gross market at 438 million at this time.
I enjoyed the movie very much, it was very satisfying to see these characters together. Taika Waititi directed movies are always fun to watch and this film kept me smiling and chuckling the whole 2 hours and 10 minutes. I don’t know if the levity or lack of serious emotion was appropriate when Asgard was destroyed or the death of Odin but you did not have time to think about that with all the action. And they did away with the Warriors Three, Hogun, Volstagg, and Fandral early in the movie, one of my regrets. The overall story was very good and it flowed well.
Early in the movie, it was fun to see Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) out magic Loki, who is supposed to be a master of the magical arts. Cate Blanchett was awesome as Hela who dominated the scenes she was in and the most formidable foe Thor has ever faced. The Thor-Hulk battle was titanic and one of the best parts of the first half of the movie. Mark Ruffalo was finally allowed to show what a good actor he is as Banner and had some of the best lines in the movie. Tom Hiddleston as Loki did a good job of making an already complicated relationship with his adopted brother Thor even more complicated.
Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie played an emotionally damaged bad-ass that places a pain-controlling device on Thor’s neck to forcibly enlist him in the servitude of the Grandmaster, head of Sakaar, who was played wonderfully by Jeff Goldblum. Thor’s interaction with the Hulk after the main battle was great and very funny. Chris Hemsworth as Thor played the character with renewed life, redefining the role in a lighter way to match the directors lead. Taika Waititi played a rock creature called Korg. He looked tough till he spoke in a high pitch voice then you laughed because it was out of sync with the looks, very funny. The scene with Thor and Korg talking in the weapons room was hilarious with Thor trying to explain his relationship with his hammer.
In the third act of the movie, Idris Elba as Heimdall hid many survivors of Hela’s attack on Asgard. He had a major role keeping the people together. Karl Urban as Skurge showed his surviving skills when he made a reluctant pact with Hela to be her executioner and enforcer. The chemistry of the actors and how they fulfilled their roles made the movie enjoyable and helped you overlook any weak story points in the movie. Marvel has another hit on their shoulders and a great lead into the next Avengers film – Infinity War.
Remember, if you have not seen it yet to stay for the credits scenes. We are having a great time watching well-done superhero movies and are happy to report when they are good and not so good. Stay here at Comics Talk for more about the movies you love. 🙂 Walt
Thought the movie was well-done but wish Thor did not loose his Eye fighting Hela.