Thor – Ragnarok: The Perfect Blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi Action

As 2017 draws to a close, we come to the last Marvel release for this year: “Thor – Ragnarok.” The story follows Thor (Chris Hemsworth) as he searches for his father, Odin the King of Asgard (Anthony Hopkins). With Loki (Tom Hiddleston) at his side, the two eventually locate Odin, only to lose him once again, but not before he warns them of an approaching danger that threatens not only Asgard, but all realms in the cosmos. A threat known as Hela (Cate Blanchett), the Goddess of Death, a villainess so powerful that she’s able to overpower the God of Thunder and destroy his legendary hammer Mjolnir.

Outmatched, the two retreat back to Asgard, only to be blown off course and thrown into a new world known as Sakaar, a planet built from junk and garbage. There, Thor is taken prisoner and brought before the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), to fight in his gladiatorial arena known as the Contest of Champions. Now trapped in this new world, Thor must prevail against the champion of the arena if he’s to escape and find his way back to Asgard before Hela takes over and unleashes her undead army upon the other realms. A plan that’s easier said than done, especially when Thor learns that the Grandmaster’s champion is none other than his old ally and fellow Avenger, the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), who has no intention of forfeiting his title without a fight.

From beginning to end, this film is a blast. It’s a perfect balance between Mystic Fantasy and Science Fiction with some of the best action scenes I’ve seen this year. After all, it’s rare to find a movie that possesses scenes where our hero is battling demons in a fiery abyss one moment, then watching him battle spaceships across an alien city in another, before taking on an army of the undead. And that doesn’t even cover the battle scenes with the Hulk and other heroes.

Besides the action, “Thor – Ragnarok” has to be one of the most hilarious films I’ve seen as well. This movie had both me, and the audience, laughing in our seats. While most of my praise is credited towards the writers, I have to give a hand to the actors for their timing and delivery. Because believe me, some of the lines in this movie could not have been easy to deliver with a straight face.

“Thor – Ragnarok” is rated PG-13 for intense sequences of Sci-Fi violence and action, along with brief suggestive material. This film is an example of why I love superhero movies, especially Marvel ones. “Thor – Ragnarok” is what you get when you take the fantasy and sword fights from “Lord of the Rings,” the science and laser shootouts from “Star Wars,” then take some superheroes, some comedy, and then throw them all into a blender. It’s not something I would drink, buts it’s fun to watch. This is one movie that people of all ages will enjoy, especially with the holidays on the approach. Which is why the final score for “Thor – Ragnarok” is an 8.5 out of 10.

Marco Island resident and avid moviegoer, Matthew Mendisana is a Lynn University alumnus. While he possesses a bachelor’s degree in science, it’s the arts that attracted his attention. In his four years at Lynn, Matthew managed to achieve Magna Cum Laude status, earn three publications in the Lynn University magazine, make a short documentary featured in the university’s Film Festival, and created a radio PSA that was later broadcasted overseas.