When it comes to remaking Akira, Taika Waititi knows how he would approach it. By drawing inspiration strictly from the manga and not the 1988 anime film. “I don’t believe the world needs a remake of the anime,” Waititi told Slashfilm, he continued “I would really just want to look at an adaptation of the books in a new way”. Consisting of over 2000 pages, the manga ran in Young Magazine from 1982 to 1990.
When its publisher Kodansha collected it into six volumes. Though Waititi’s vision is sure to make fans happy, the film has been in pre-production since 2009. Which is when Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment first acquired the rights to the property. Since then it has been a neverending uphill battle.
As Director Albert Hughes (Book Of Eli) exited the project in 2011. Citing creative differences. Then in 2012, Warner Bros. shut down the Akira production offices due to casting, script, and budget issues. Recently Waner Bros. turned to Jordan Peele to direct but was turned down by the Get Out director.
Netflix Friday afternoon released the first trailer and images from season two of DreamWorks ‘Trollhunters.’
In Part 2 of the epic saga DreamWorks Trollhunters, ordinary teen-turned-Trollhunter Jim Lake Jr. faces new challenges in his continued battle to protect his hometown of Arcadia and the fantastical Troll world he inherited. Jim’s risky decision to enter the Darklands unearths startling discoveries, forcing him and his friends to face gripping consequences as they race to end the battle against evil.
What the trailer below:
The second season adds the voice talents of Mark Hamill, Lena Headey and David Bradley, who join Kelsey Grammer who won an Emmy for his role as Blinky, Steven Yeun, Anjelica Huston, Jonathan Hyde, Amy Landecker and Charlie Saxton. The late Anton Yelchin, who completed recording through Part 2, voices the lead role of Jim Lake, Jr.
Guillermo del Toro created the series with Marc Guggenheim, Rodrigo Blaas, Chad Hammes, and Christina Steinberg.
The new episodes of ‘Trollhunters’ hit Netflix on December 15.
As we enter a new era of Marvel Comics, I’ll be providing a weekly report on all Legacy titles. Your one-stop guide to what’s going on in the 616 universe from MFR’s resident Marvel fan. Above you’ll see Marvel’s report card for the week, then below we’ll dive into each book. Let’s dig in!
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
Spider-Man #234 “Sinister Six Reborn” Part One
Miles Morales was one character in desperate need of a course correction. Marvel Legacy provides Brian Michael Bendis the opportunity to get Spider-Man back to being a compelling book again, like Ultimate Spider-Man was.
Ever since Miles joined the 616 universe, post-Secret Wars, he’s been trapped in a string of lackluster coming-of-age stories. None of the weight he had in the Ultimate universe carried over.
Throwing together a Sinister Six for Miles to fight is a cheap but effective way to draw people back to Spider-Man. Revealing Miles’ uncle Aaron as the Iron Spider who’s assembling this Sinister Six? Now that’s a step in the right direction sure to keep readers coming back for the next issue.
Aaron Davis was one of the most crucial components of what made Miles’ Spidey origin so tragic and compelling. Even if he’s the 616 counterpart, he clearly has a vendetta against Spider-Man in some capacity. Bendis is finally addressing the corners of Miles’ life worth exploring.
Oscar Bazaldua brings an art style that is both cartoonish and reminiscent of the original Ultimate Spider-Man series. There isn’t much web-slinging in this issue, but each member of the Sinister Six looks dynamite together. The regular cover art does this dastardly gang no favors, Bazaldua does all the heavy lifting inside.
The only problem with the art is how impossible it is to tell Ganke and Goldballs apart in any full shots from a distance. This has been an annoyance since day one of Goldballs becoming Miles and Ganke’s roommate.
If you’re someone who loves Miles but hasn’t enjoyed his time in the 616, this is the time to jump back in. The Legacy course correction could succeed where Spider-Men II has failed in recapturing the essence that drew us all to Miles in the first place.
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Power Pack #63 “Rarely Pure And Never Simple” Part One of One
A Marvel one-shot bringing us back to a classic team we haven’t seen in a very long time. The Power Pack are a bit older and spread across the multiverse. Writer Devin Grayson uses Katie to tell us an old Power Pack tale of super-heroism.
This was a well crafted, perfectly executed single issue story. Artist Marika Cresta steers most of the storytelling. Showing us both Katie and her teacher’s perspective of the adventure Katie has turned in. The side-by-side layouts make this an exceptionally fun read.
I think this was exactly what it needed to be. I don’t need any more and didn’t get any less than I expected. It doesn’t overstay it’s welcome, it’s short and sweet.
Power Pack #63 is a fun trip down memory lane that stands on its own. The Marvel Legacy one-shots are off to a wonderful start.
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Iron Fist #74 “Sabretooth: Round Two” Part Two
Somebody is parading around as the Constrictor and Sabretooth isn’t happy about it. The unlikely duo of Victor Creed and Danny Rand finds themselves beating down z-list villains in search of this new scumbag and the Iron Fist book he stole.
Ed Brisson brings the best out of both characters, mining a chemistry nobody thought to explore much before (even though this is a “round two”). There are a lot of effective comedy bits to break up the bouts of badass.
Brisson has been able to successfully toe the line between Danny’s funny side and his more serious kung-fu stature. So far, his writing has been a god send for Marvel. They need to keep letting him loose on as many titles as he’ll take on.
Mike Perkins and Andy Troy have also delivered phenomenal work. The art lends a big hand in keeping this book gritty and fierce without making the lighter moments feel out of place.
The Serpent Society, mysterious enemies of K’un L’un, an army of mystical warriors, Iron Fist & Sabretooth all pursuing the same magical book. Those are the ingredients to a classic Iron Fist comic book.
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Iceman #7 “Champions Reunited” Part Two
Iceman stumbled a bit out of the gate, the book has its heart in the right place but can’t find its footing. Bobby’s original Champions reunion continues as they face a handful of prop sentinels.
Bobby’s parents find a new thing to be upset over, but it’s finally one worth exploring. Mrs. Drake discovers there are two of their son, which will surely complicate their already damaged relationship.
For a book trying to accumulate a gay mutant into a diverse superhero setting, Sina Grace doesn’t seem very confident or comfortable with the transition. Bobby coming out doesn’t seem to carry any weight to anyone but his parents. Which is totally fine that no X-Men make a big deal out of their friend being gay. The problem is that his coming out is the center of this title but doesn’t seem to matter.
The shoehorned dialogue, trying to sound “hip”, drags this book down. At one point somebody complains they “couldn’t even get a decent Vine” of the big battle. Referencing an out of commission app still isn’t as bad forcing a “Yas Kween” into the bottom of a nice action sequence.
The action sequences of the former Champions destroying fake sentinels are exciting. Robert Gill’s layouts are explosive and we get to see Iceman use his abilities a number of different ways.
This issue was better than the last but it still hasn’t found its groove completely. When every character sounds like a parent trying to appeal to their kid’s friends, it’s hard not to seem synthetic.
Iceman isn’t much of an X-Men book and it doesn’t do anything for Bobby Drake as a character. LGBTQ representation in comic books is important. Readers looking for a compelling gay hero can look elsewhere as the industry is full of better options.
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Guardians Of The Galaxy #146 “Infinity Quest” Part One
Gerry Duggan’s All-New GOTG series has been one of the strongest comics at Marvel. Proudly leading the charge of cosmic Marvel’s return to prominence, it’s the best we’ve seen the Guardians be since Abnett/Lanning.
Their first Legacy arc sees our favorite space scoundrels lending the Nova Corps a hand before beginning their search for the infinity stones. They just recently welcomed Ant-Man to the team, this is our first issue with Scott Lang in space. Duggan wastes no time fitting him into story, he and Gamora encounter Ultron while investigating a distress call.
Scott seems to be a nice fit immediately, both visually and with the team dynamic. If Ant-Man, and his antennae helmet, is the closest we’re going to get to Bug coming back, I’ll take what I can get for now.
The rest of the team splits up into pairs, an area where this series has tended to shine extraordinarily bright. No matter the configuration, we’re getting the best out of every member of the squad. We also get a juicy taste of things to come as Star-Lord discovers that Richard Rider is alive. Reuniting the best space bros in history, for the first time since Thanos Imperitive, promises to be a heartfelt moment.
Whatever process they’re going through to choose which artists do which stories, every comic with a rotating art team needs to utilize it. Duggan has been working with so many great artists, Marcus To steps in this time with Ian Herring on colors. They continue the trend of bringing beautifully vast and deeply colorful life back to the 616 cosmic galaxy.
This Guardians Of The Galaxy series has it all. Whether you’re an old school cosmic Marvel fan or coming straight from the movies, this book will meet your criteria. Duggan and his rotation of brilliant artists make this a must-read series. Cosmic Marvel is coming back in a big way and this is the epicenter.
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Captain America #695 “Home Of The Brave” Part One
Good ol’ Cap is back, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are here to return Steve Rogers to his former glory. This one-issue story takes a long look at what Captain America actually stands for before we get back to his ongoing adventures.
The inspiration we all find in Steve is celebrated by a small town he saved ten years ago. Waid and Samnee deliver a sincerely heartfelt love letter to the character, a pallet cleanser for those who couldn’t wait for Secret Empire to end.
Rogers finds himself in unfamiliar territory with the public distrusting him. This little pit stop gives him a second to collect himself, he’ll have this to hold onto as he approaches what is surely to be a rough patch.
Chris Samnee’s art, with beautiful Matthew Wilson colors, brings us back to the Silver Age in spectacular fashion. There’s no winks or nudges, just a good and wholesome American comic book.
This is what the comic community has been asking for, Waid and Samnee deliver exactly what they needed to. Whether you enjoyed Secret Empire or not, Cap returning to form inspires a lot of hope in a time where we could really use some
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Avengers #673 “Worlds Collide” Part Three
The Avengers/Champions crossover continues to roll without delay. Chapter three digs into what’s actually going on, the threat our heroes face is planetary.
Earth and Counter-Earth are going to collide, every twenty minutes we’re one step closer to annihilation. This somewhat ridiculous, high-concept science fiction threat is laid out in an easily digestible explanation before we move on to more punching.
Marvel comics operate best the deeper entrenched in sci-fi exploration they are. This may not be as deep conceptually as Hickman’s work, but it’s a tastefully watered-down approach appropriate for the start of a new era for Marvel.
We finally get some High Evolutionary face time and it’s glorious. Waid’s voice for the character is pitch perfect. His villainous plot is grand and large scale, worthy of classic comic book standards.
This crossover has been nothing but fun, worthy of collaboration between the two teams. Waid has crafted a swell starting point for readers looking to give both Avengers and Champions a go at this fresh jumping on point.
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What were your favorites from this week of Marvel Legacy? Be sure to check back next week for another healthy installment of Marvel Legacy Report!
IDW Publishing sent Monkeys Fighting Robots an exclusive five-page preview of Half Past Danger II: Dead to Reichs #3, where Stephen Mooney blows the doors off with action. Did we mention there are dinosaurs?
Check out the preview below:
About the issue: Break In! The team must infiltrate the Japanese Chemical Warfare Division: Unit 731.
The prize: priceless intel on the Nazi pathogen. With the help of Ishi’s sister Emiko and with Spot the Deinonychus in tow, the daring raid is afoot. But something none of them expected lies in wait within… something BIG.
Half Past Danger II: Dead to Reichs is sitting at an 8.9 from nine critics on Comic Book Roundup.
Mooney is the creator, artist, and writer on the series. Triona Tree Farrell handles the colors. From Ireland, Mooney has been part of the comic book industry for the past ten years, becoming a New York Times bestselling author. He has also worked with DC Comics, Valiant, Dynamite, and Titan.
Half Past Danger II: Dead to Reichs #3 hits your local comic book shop on November 8.
Are you a fan of Mooney’s work? Sound off in the comment section below.
As I watched Thor: Ragnarok, I found myself picking apart Hela’s motivations. This has become standard practice for reviewing MCU films over the past few years, viewing the villains under a microscope. Critics and fans alike lament about shallow, dull baddies; just Google “MCU villain problem” and you’ll see what I mean. But is the “problem” as bad as the internet would lead you to believe? Or have we blown it out of proportion?
Now, there are certainly some bad Marvel villains. Malekith, Whiplash, Yellowjacket…these guys are all terrible. But I would argue that their problems have little to do with their actual characters and their motivations. Many of these guys suffer from unmemorable performances by their actors in movies that are themselves bland and unmemorable. Or, in the case of Yellowjacket, they were sidelined in a movie that put a much heavier emphasis on the hero.
And for good reason. I’ll take more Paul Rudd any day of the week.
Then there are the “others”. The Iron Mongers and Red Skulls. The Ultrons and Alexander Pierces. Loki. These are the guys that catch heat because “well, they’re only evil for the sake of being evil.” And to that I say, “so what?”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying a more complex villain isn’t a better villain. Hell, I think Kilgrave is the best bad guy in the MCU because he’s more complex and sympathetic. But at the same time, isn’t there something familiar about evil for the sake of being evil?
Aren’t the people we vilify in real life those that ruthlessly seek power and money simply because they want to and they can? The CEOs and politicians that step all over the little guy just to inflate their already oversized bank account? The dictators and world leaders that invade and conquer, spreading war just because they want more land than they already have? This is real life villainy.
So when people complain, “Iron Monger is lame. He’s just a rich guy in a suit,” my initial thought is, “yea, but don’t some bad guys actually look like that?” And Jeff Bridges actually gives a pretty menacing and memorable performance in that flick. Why sweep it under the rug so quick?
I mean, Red Skull is a literal nazi. Hitler’s whole schtick was world domination for no real reason. (And don’t @ me about how Hydra aren’t Nazis.)
Fans shouldn’t have to settle for villains that are just ok. Take Kaecilius and Ronan and flush them down the drain. But when you have a character with the charm of Loki, or the menacing voice of Ultron, with the writing and performances to back them up, who cares if they’re evil for evil’s sake? As long as you enjoy the film, and the bad guy leaves some kind of impression on you, shouldn’t that be enough?
I’m genuinely asking, because I don’t know the answer. Maybe there isn’t one. Perhaps the MCU villains are just victims of this new toxic age of film criticism, where things are either the best or the worst with no middle ground. But sound off with your thoughts in the comments below!
The Overwatch League, brought to you by Blizzard Entertainment, has announced its 12-team format for its inaugural season in 2018. The league will follow a similar structure of that of traditional sports and feature both players and teams from all over the world. Both Intel and HP will serve as the official league sponsors, while Overwatch currently has plans to continue to expand its teams beyond the first season. More information about the league, including plans for structure and operations, can be viewedHERE. More information regarding Blizzard Arena, which will be center stage for the postseason, can be foundHERE.
The 12 teams expand over four countries, featuring nine teams from the United States, including two from Los Angeles, three-total from the state of California, and one each from England, China and Korea.
The team will symbolize and pay tribute to the region’s strong heritage in the energy sector. Team owner, Team Envy, are known as the ‘Boys in Blue’ … [MORE]
The name is derived from a ‘Supermarine Spitfire’, a British fighter plane that was flown in World War II. The light blue colors honor its parent company, Cloud9 … [MORE]
The name honors Asian rulers in bygone eras and is owned by Kevin Chou … [MORE]
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As the platform of competitive eSports continues to rise all over the world, more companies, gaming titles and big-time sponsors will follow suit. The great thing about eSports is that anyone with skill can become a pro athlete. Plus, in 2013, it was recognized as an official sport by the US Dept. of State, so to grant travel visas for competitors. The types of eSports tournaments are as follows: Real-Time Strategy (RTS), First-Person Shooter (FPS), Multiplayer Online Beta Arena (MOBA), Fighting (H2H/Weaponized Combat) and ‘traditional sports’ games. The industry is on a parallel path and will soon surpass that of traditional sports viewership, which it technically already has, and participation. It’s big business now. Currently, the Top 3 countries that dominate the eSports industry in earnings are, U.S.A. ($37 million), China and South Korea, both with earnings of $34 million.
“eps3.3_metadata.par2” sets a deadline for Phase 2 and gives us a look into the mind of Darlene. The following article contains spoilers, so read no further if that sort of thing bothers you.
Subway Confession
The episode starts with a great scene where Darlene (Carly Chaikin) wakes on the subway to find that her wallet has been stolen and quickly deduces the culprit. She confronts the girl, but in a Jules Winnfield moment, says she doesn’t care about the cash, she just wants something sentimental, a photo of her family on a trip to the beach. But why doesn’t she care about the money? Because she stole it in the first place; from the pickpocket, from everyone. Her guilt over the 5/9 hack is started to overwhelm her, and she confesses to this thief all her sins, including when she killed a woman (E-Corp lawyer Susan Jacobs) with a stun gun. After this, she gets off the subway casually, leaving the thief stunned. The scene subtly uses Elliott Smith’s “Everything Means Nothing To Me”, which also closes the episode and gives us an idea of what Darlene is going through.
As we saw at the end of last week’s episode, Elliot used the bug Darlene placed on his computer to trace a path back to her apartment, which was set up by the FBI. Darlene has always shown a cynical, IDGAF facade, but everyone has to care about something and Darlene cares about her brother, really the only person she has left in her life. Unfortunately, she can no longer be sure whether she’s dealing with Elliot or the sinister side of his mind, Mr. Robot.
Once he convinces her of who he is, Elliot tells her about his plans to stop Phase 2. Since he wants to be the one to stop it, don’t include giving his information to the FBI. He also confides in her that he’s been spending nights in Shayla’s apartment since she was killed in season one and asks Darlene to keep an eye on him at night, when Mr. Robot takes over. As he leaves, he tells her “Whatever he does, it’s not me.”
“Red Wheelbarrow Understands”
Irving meets with Angela for an update meeting in Red Wheelbarrow and gives a disquisition on BBQ ribs. But Angela isn’t interested in ribs. She confirms to Irving (with more than a trace of doubt) that her team is on schedule for Phase 2, which now has a hard deadline of 9/29, or ten days hence. She wants reassurance that the building will be evacuated and no one will be hurt, which he gives her, but in a manner not at all reassuring. Then she asks him “Did Whiterose ever show you?”, presumably talking about the giant device from the season premiere, which may or may not be a time machine. Whatever it is, Irving believes it can work, and Angela is obviously counting on it.
The FBI makes an arrest related to the new fsociety video in the form of Sasan Nouri (Nuah Ozryel). When they burst into his apartment, they find a camcorder and he puts on the mustache mask. Dom (Grace Gummer) and Norm (Rizwan Manji) interrogate him, but he remains stone-faced and doesn’t react to any of their questions until Dom mentions Whiterose. It looks like the Dark Army has set up this fake fsociety video in order to distract attention from themselves, but Dom is going to have trouble getting the rest of the FBI to believe her.
“I Should Have Believed You”
Elliot and Darlene go for a walk and Darlene is clearly worried that the Dark Army is planning to kill her. She proposes a vengeance pact, and Elliot agrees. He apologizes to her for the way he’s treated her since the 5/9 hack and these two siblings share a touching embrace.
The family bonding doesn’t last, though. When Darlene sees Elliot leave his apartment at 1:48 am, she knows its really Mr. Robot. She tails him and spies him talking with Angela, but they give her the slip before returning to the bunker.
A depressed Darlene meets up with Dom at a bar and they talk about childhoods in New Jersey and relationship status before moving on to the business of the Dark Army. Darlene lets Dom know what she’s giving up by informing to the FBI, “It’s game over for me. I’m losing my brother.”
“Never Appeal To A Man’s Better Nature. He May Not Have One.”
Tyrell Wellick doesn’t take the news of the deadline and Elliot sabotaging the shipment of paper records well. He smashes a computer and threatens Mr. Robot that he is going to take over. Mr. Robot, after quoting Robert Heinlein, slams Wellick up against the wall and that’s when things get glitchy. The Elliot personality emerges and he sees Wellick and Angela, who uses a syringe to knock Elliot out before he can figure out what’s going on.
Tyrell talks to Irving about the new deadline, which Irving informs him is non-negotiable. Tyrell says he can’t work with Elliot/Mr. Robot anymore, since he can’t count on one showing up over the other. Irving strokes Tyrell’s ego in order to manipulate him into continuing with Phase 2. Tyrell says he wants to go to the Ukraine with his wife, of whose death he is still unaware. Irving hedges, saying he will look into it.
Angela calls Phillip Price and asks that Elliot be fired, refusing to give him any reason for it. He assents, but it’s clear that this favor will not come without a price. Angela sits down with Mr. Robot and tells him what happened in the bunker. She is rattled when she gets a text from Irving saying they’ll be ready to go on Monday.
“Everything Means Nothing To Me”
Darlene has decided to leave, running away to Budapest to escape from the FBI and the Dark Army. Before she goes, she leaves the family photo for Elliot as the chorus plays into the credits.
Questions
Will Darlene make good her escape?
How will Angela explain to Elliot what happened in the bunker and will she have to explain why she was with Tyrell Wellick?
What is going on with Mobley and Trenton, and (more importantly) Leon? We still don’t know their status since the teaser at the end of season two (the scene from last episode with Leon was part of a flashback).
What’s going to happen when Tyrell finds out about Joanna? We’ve seen that he doesn’t handle bad news well, and what worse news can one receive than that your wife is dead and your child is in the custody of a government that wants you imprisoned or worse?
According to Forbes, the Gal Gadot-led superhero origin story is now the highest grossing motion picture of its kind, passing Sam Raimi’s original Spider-Man movie.
The flick has brought in a whopping $821.74 Million worldwide, a staggering number not even WB could’ve predicted.
Although DC films have gotten a bad wrap thus far, the studio remains hopeful that Wonder Woman will flip the narrative. With Justice League a few weeks away, can the momentum continue to build, or will it fall flat, akin to the release of Batman v Superman or Suicide Squad? Ultimately, I think Justice League is truly make or break for the upcoming slate of DC films. The studio must nail the debut performance of The Flash, Cyborg, and Aquaman – along with these new characters, audiences are looking to see Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman further fleshed out. Regardless of how Justice League does, nothing can take away the success that Patty Jenkins, Gal Gadot, and the entire crew deserve for the hit they released in June.
How do you feel about Wonder Woman? Did you enjoy the film? Sound off in the comments below.
Jordan Peele may be taking audiences into a land of both shadow and substance with a reboot of The Twilight Zone, according to sources. Per The Hollywood Reporter, CBS Corp. President and CEO Leslie Moonves announced the project on Thursday’s earnings call.
Peele, known for sketch show standout Key and Peele and more recently for his directorial debut (the riveting social thriller Get Out) will be joined by Marco Ramirez (Daredevil, The Defenders). The show is planned for CBS All Access, which recently launched another sci-fi revival, Star Trek: Discovery
They will have their work cut out for them trying to do justice to the original Twilight Zone, which ran from 1959-1964 on CBS and is perhaps the most iconic television series of all time. The show was created by Rod Serling and featured stories from many of sci-fi’s top writers (such as Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson), as well as performances from countless stars and future stars.
Two previous attempts to reboot the series (three if you include the 1983 movie) met with limited success. Get Out proved that Peele has vision and talent in the field of socially-conscious science fiction, which was at the heart of most of the original series’ best episodes. The timing could be right, as many of the issues Serling and company dealt with (racial tension, fear of nuclear war, the potential hazards of technology) are on our collective minds as much as they were in the 1960s. Dark Mirror, a show that owes much to the original Twilight Zone, and deals primarily with the technological aspects, has been popular enough to be greenlit for a fourth season.
Tremendous writing and outstanding performances make Thor: Ragnarok a hit.
Summary
This story picks up with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) slaying a fire demon named Surtur and once again saving Asgard. He returns home to find his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), impersonating their father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins). Apparently, he was sent to Earth to live his final days. When they go to find him, they learn that his death is imminent and that will free their sister Hela the Goddess of Death (Cate Blanchett). Her plans become quickly known as she plans to bring Ragnarok and destroy Asgard. A battle ensues, and Thor ends up on the planet Sakkar. He’s immediately captured by Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and sold to The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) so that he may battle his reigning champion who has a special connection to Thor (Psst … it’s the Hulk played by Mark Ruffalo).
What Worked
Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle, and Christopher Yost all deserve a standing ovation for the storyline they developed. Rather than come up with some hero’s quest, they focused on the absurdity of our favorite Asgardian. What we have is a Thor vs. Hela storyline rife with off the wall moments and great chemistry. Some of the best written moments came when the Hulk and Thor were interacting in the Grandmasters palace. Hemsworth and Ruffalo’s chemistry had moments that reminded me of Gibson and Glover in Lethal Weapon.
Thompson’s was strong, empowered, and a bit of bad ass. She challenges Hemsworth’s character on multiple levels. For more than half of the film, Valkyrie dominates him. It was refreshing to see and enjoyable to watch.
Taika Waititi got more out Hemsworth and Ruffalo than any of the previous Marvel releases. One would have to surmise he saw the clips of Hulk saying “Puny God” after demolishing Loki and Thor being wholly oblivious and realized he could use it to his advantage. Waititi allows these characters to embrace the absurdity of their circumstances. Sakkar is a planet that worships the Hulk in a way no planet would. Ruffalo’s character still believes that he can’t co-exist with the people of Earth. On this battle planet, they have parades that honor him and sculptures made of his likeness. For someone who is feeling low, Sakkar is the perfect pick me up.
Thor has spent the majority of his previous Marvel films being the most dominant character on screen. Now he doesn’t have control of what he can do from one minute to the next. Each of these characters finds humor in their respective circumstances which sets this release apart from any number of the previous films.
Mayes C Rubeo and Beverly Dunn deserve recognition as well. The set designs and costumes in the film were so fun and added another element to the film. The vibrant color choices and the architecture of the Grand Masters palace were highlights for me.
The most prominent part that stood out to me was how conflicted Ruffalo’s character was in the film. It’s easy to see that being the Hulk and Dr. Banner is starting to wear thin. He’s frightened by the idea that he may one day transform and never return. Hopefully, they dive deeper into this narrative during Avengers: Infinity War.
The color palette in this film was terrific and brought such vibrancy to each scene.
Blanchett’s portrayal of Hela is twisted and stands out as one of the best villains in the Marvel universe to date.
The cameos are some of the best of any Marvel film.
What Didn’t Work
Thor: Ragnarok has some elements of predictability to the plot.
Overall
Thor: Ragnarok is the first Marvel release that made me want to start reading comic books. Waititi’s approach has created a film which is full of visual splendor yet rooted in Thor’s rich history. No one needs to be a comic book historian to enjoy this release. The bottom line is the film is highly entertaining and should be seen ASAP.
