Thor: Ragnarok (Marvel 2017, Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett)

In Ragnarok, the third Thor Marvel outing, Thor has to cope with the death of his father Odin and the discovery of a previously unknown sister who is rightful heir to the throne of Asgard. Unfortunately Hela, Thor’s sister, is the all powerful Goddess of death and wants nothing more to destroy Asgard.

In an early skirmish Thor winds up on the strange planet of Surtur where he is forced into a gladiatorial style competition against a certain giant green fellow.

Eventually the action moves back to Asgard and a final battle between Thor and Hela.

Brilliantly directed by Taika Waititi who also turns in a great performance as the voice of Korg. Ragnarok fits very nicely into the MCU phase three plans. It’s also easily the funniest Marvel movie yet made. Fans will bemoan the absence of Natalie Portman et al but Earth makes only the smallest of appearances and that’s mostly so that Doctor Strange can make a nice cameo. Cate Blanchett makes for a brilliant villainess as Hela and Tessa Thompson makes a great addition to the team as the last surviving Asgardian Valkyrie.

There are a couple of fun cameos from Matt Damon and Luke Hemsworth playing Loki and Thor respectively in an Asgardian play being performed when Thor returns home.

production details
USA | Marvel – Disney | 130 minutes | 2017

Creators: Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Director: Taika Waititi
Script: Larry Lieber, Jay Oliva, Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost,

cast
Idris Elba as Heimdall
Stan Lee as Barber
Matt Damon as Actor Loki
Chris Hemsworth as Thor
Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk
Cate Blanchett as Hela
Tessa Thompson as Scrapper 142 / Valkyrie
Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster
Karl Urban as Skurge
Anthony Hopkins as Odin
Taika Waititi as Korg / Surtur / Hulk (mo-cap)
Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange
Rachel House as Topaz
Clancy Brown as Surtur (voice)
Tadanobu Asano as Hogun
Ray Stevenson as Volstagg
Zachary Levi as Fandral
Luke Hemsworth as Actor Thor
Sam Neill as Actor Odin
Charlotte Nicdao as Actor Sif
Georgia Blizzard as Asgardian Date #1
Amali Golden as Asgardian Date #2
Ashley Ricardo as Odin’s Assistant
Shalom Brune-Franklin as College Girl #1
Taylor Hemsworth as College Girl #2
Cohen Holloway as Lead Scrapper
Alia Seror-O’Neill as Golden Lady #1
Sophia Laryea as Golden Lady #2
Stephen Oliver as Cousin Carlo
Hamish Parkinson as Beerbot 5000
Jasper Bagg as Warden
Sky Castanho as Asgardian Daughter
Shari Sebbens as Asgardian Mother
Richard Green as Asgardian Uncle
Sol Castanho as Asgardian Son
Jet Tranter as Valkyrie Sister #1
Samantha Hopper as Valkyrie Sister #2
Eloise Winestock as Asgardian Woman
Rob Mayes as Asgardian Man
Tahlia Jade as Asgardian
Winnie Mzembe as Asgardian
Sean Edward Frazer as Asgardian
Connor Zegenhagen as Asgardian
Tracie Filmer as Asgardian
Tracey Lee Maxwell as Asgardian Servant
Beatrice Ward as Asgardian Citizen (uncredited)
Donnie Baxter as GM Pilot
Greta Carew-Johns as Grandmaster VIP
Adam Green as New York businessman
Mollie McGregor as Twin Sakaaran citizen
Sophia McGregor as Twin Sakaaran citizen