As time has passed, the Marvel movies have grown bolder but Thor: Ragnarok might just be their most exciting effort to date. That's thanks to director Taika Waititi, an initially unexpected choice to helm the threequel but someone who has now put themselves on the map (something the awesome What We Do In The Shadows and The Hunt For The Wilderpeople should have done) with this incredible movie which boasts laughs every bit as big as the amazing action sequences.
Thor: Ragnarok is a big departure for this franchise in terms of tone but it sits nicely alongside previous instalments and the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. The story takes us to a lot of different locales and features some shocking twists and turns but it all blends together seamlessly and we have Waititi to thank for that. Marvel really does need to bring the filmmaker back for a fourth instalment as this is the best the God of Thunder has ever been and it would be a shame to end that now. It turns out that humour is just what this corner of the MCU needed and it's to Waititi's credit that all of the jokes land and you will almost certainly be laughing from start to finish.
However, Thor: Ragnarok does have its serious moments and we mostly have Cate Blanchett's delightfully evil Hela to thank for that. Like most of Phase 3's villains, she's a step above those from the past and makes for a great opponent for the titular hero. Speaking of which, Chris Hemsworth is amazing here as this God of Thunder with a brand new attitude. It's his best performance to date and he's surrounded by a stellar supporting cast. Mark Ruffalo also shines as Bruce Banner in a way he never really has before, while Tom Hiddleston is clearly having a lot of fun as Loki.
The new additions really shine, though, with Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie, Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster, and Karl Urban's Skurge all making a memorable mark here. However, if we're talking about real scene stealers, that honour goes to Waititi's Korg, a hilarious addition to Thor: Ragnarok who we'll hopefully see much, much more from moving forwards. Alas, fans of The Warriors Three will likely be disappointed but at least Idris Elba's Heimdall gets some cool stuff to do this time around!
Thor: Ragnarok may be big on laughs but make no mistake about it, the action scenes here do not disappoint. They're stylish, exciting, and quite possibly the best we've seen in the MCU as the God of Thunder takes on everyone from Surtur to Hela and The Hulk (and yes, that arena scene definitely lives up to expectations). Throw in the 80s inspires score and perhaps the best use of Led Zeppelin on film ever and this is a movie firing on all cylinders! See it in IMAX 3D, though, because the visuals are truly out of this world.
Thor: Ragnarok is a triumph and with a story boasting plenty of laughs, action and, perhaps most importantly, heart, this threequel is another winner for Marvel Studios, setting up some exciting things for the future while also expanding on the God of Thunder's legacy by finally giving him the chance to shine.