I watched Thor: Ragnarok (2017) with 3 of my friends today. 2 complained it was absurd as they laughed while one enjoyed it while laughing with me. After the movie ended one said that the humor vastly overshadowed the seriousness. Let me present this theory in my analysis.
Firstly, all of Marvel’s movies share a penchant for humor which has now turned into a formula. Whereas the early films like Iron Man and Captain America needed humor to balanced its serious themes (and of course to showcase the public side of Tony Stark), Thor is based on Norse legend. So I commend Marvel for making this part the funniest of the trilogy as you take a seat in the theater never expecting a comedy fest.
Secondly, Thor 3 is completely character-driven. This is because Thor 3 has such a predictable story and ending that 20 minutes into the movie you can guess the ending (even if you’ve watched one Marvel film prior to this).
Thor 3 also exceeds in one part where Avengers 2 failed; bringing a versatile cast together. Hemsworth, Ruffalo, Thompson and last but the not the least, Hiddleston give the paramount performances of their lives here. Hemsworth looks so serious it’s even more hilarious when he’s in the majority of funny sequences. Thor 2 might’ve used Loki as its centerpiece but Thor reigned supreme both figuratively and literally in this part.
I’d also state that this movie failed at one level and that was breaking boundaries. There isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. CGI splattered action scenes. Check. Humor in the face of destruction. Check. Wisecracks. Check. Simply story of stopping an ascension to the throne. Triple check.
But I ask you viewers who have watched this movie. What did you feel while watching the movie? If like me you felt joy then this movie is certainly one of the best you’ve seen this year. To quote Mary Angelou, you might not remember what people say or do, but you’ll certainly remember what they say.
Thor is the 3rd best comic-book adaptation this year outclassing Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Spider-Man Homecoming (which was basically Peter Parker as millennial), but Thor still lags behind Logan (#1) and Wonder Woman (#2) as Logan dealt with Western themes in a comic-book world and WW dealt with female equality during WW1. Again, this is because the movie is a lot like previous Marvel entries (Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy 2), and offers the same stunning visuals without any depth in its dramatization, but it still relies on a comprehensive list of characters who all do their job, of entertaining the audience members.
Thus, Marvel added more of the same ingredients into this formula, and with a touch of originality it could’ve been the best Thor film, but that right is still held by the 2011 Thor origin feature.
