So we saw Thor three...
“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.” Yes, it’s that time again. Another Marvel movie has been unleashed onto the big screen. Thor is back for his third film, however this time he’s bringing a couple of friends. You may have seen one of them making a whole lot of noise in the trailer… If you need a hint, he’s big and green.
The last time we saw Thor, he’d just helped to save Earth from an army of robots led by Ultron. He swiftly ran off on the hunt for infinity stones – and you quickly learn he found none. We also presumed Loki to be dead, so it was a lovely (or horrible depending on whether you’re a fan of the character or not) surprise to see his face pop up in the trailer.
Hulk also went missing after the last Avengers fight. He was seen in full Hulk form flying a jet away from the Avengers, but we were given no clue as to where he was going. It turns out he didn’t really have much of a plan, and we meet him again on a junk yard-type planet, Sakaar. He’s been in Hulk form for two years, so doesn’t recognise Thor when they’re reunited.
Thor himself has been on quite a journey by this point. Not only did he find out Loki was alive, but his father, Odin informed him that he had an older sister that he never knew about, so he’d basically gained two siblings in the space of a day. He also lost his hammer, which sounds like a pathetic reason to be annoyed, but this is Thor we’re talking about. His hammer is basically a third hand.
In true Marvel fashion, there are some exciting surprises
Now, about that sister. Her name is Hela, she’s the Goddess of Death, and she’s played by the mesmerising Cate Blanchett. When we first meet her, it has to be said that it feels anti-climactic. She pretty much walks out of a dark cloud and says hello. But don’t be too disheartened because it doesn’t take long to show you exactly what this character is capable of. She’s easily the most powerful villain of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) so far. In fact, she’s such an infectious character to watch, you may leave the cinema hoping she pops up again in future MCU films.
But she’s not the only badass woman we’re introduced to. We meet Valkyrie, played by Tessa Thompson. She’s an Asgardian, but since being stranded on the planet of Sakaar, has given up her fight and become a bit of a hopeless mess relying rather heavily on alcohol to get her through the day. She recently confirmed that although the character’s sexuality isn’t explicitly addressed in the film, she decided to play her as a bisexual and stay true to the original comic book character. This is being looked at as the first explicitly queer character in the MCU right now, which is albeit delayed, but certainly welcome in terms of sexual diversity.
The film itself is by far the best Thor movie to date. It’s easily one of the funniest Marvel films. It’s so colourful you can’t take your eyes off the screen. And the friendship we see from Thor and Hulk is refreshing after the huge fall out between most of the other Avengers in Captain America: Civil War.
In true Marvel fashion, there are some exciting surprises. The soundtrack is one to rival Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – let’s be honest, Guardians of the Galaxy isn’t getting beaten any time soon. But ultimately, we see a more grown up, likeable and relatable Thor with some character progression that we haven’t seen before.
Whether it’ll be the best superhero film of 2017 is difficult to say, there’s a lot of competition this year. But one thing is certain; it’s another Marvel triumph.
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