Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
October 24, 2017 3:22 PM - Subscribe
After the god of death Hela returns to lay waste to Asgard, Thor has to fight the Hulk in the Grandmaster's arena on the planet of Sakaar, rally Hulk and the disaffected Agardian Valkyrie and return to prevent Ragnarok - the twilight of the gods.
I think this is the most fun I've had in a Marvel movie. Taika Waititi not only puts the comedy to the fore, but also slyly weaves in a subtext about how we've forgotten the way our privilege stems from the imperialism of our forebears ("Where do you think all the gold came from?") The entire cast is on top form, Blanchett's Hela reminds me, of all people, of Madge out of Neighbours but sexy in an all-murdering way. Waititi has a couple of motion capture cameos, most winningly as rock monster Korg, supposedly based on softly spoken but colossal Polynesian bouncers of his acquaintance.
It's possibly the most Kirby thing I've ever seen that the King himself didn't draw. Some characters even have ludicrous hats, and there's nothing more Kirby than ludicrous hats.
I think this is the most fun I've had in a Marvel movie. Taika Waititi not only puts the comedy to the fore, but also slyly weaves in a subtext about how we've forgotten the way our privilege stems from the imperialism of our forebears ("Where do you think all the gold came from?") The entire cast is on top form, Blanchett's Hela reminds me, of all people, of Madge out of Neighbours but sexy in an all-murdering way. Waititi has a couple of motion capture cameos, most winningly as rock monster Korg, supposedly based on softly spoken but colossal Polynesian bouncers of his acquaintance.
It's possibly the most Kirby thing I've ever seen that the King himself didn't draw. Some characters even have ludicrous hats, and there's nothing more Kirby than ludicrous hats.
https://www.flicks.co.nz/movie/thor-ragnarok/#wellington
posted by Sebmojo at 7:49 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Sebmojo at 7:49 PM on October 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
New Zealand gets it first? There's another reason to move to Kiwiland...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:04 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
It'll be out here tomorrow! (Malaysia) and i'm seriously thinking of hitting up the midnight show tonight...
posted by cendawanita at 9:08 PM on October 24, 2017
posted by cendawanita at 9:08 PM on October 24, 2017
oh wait my bad, it's already out today... 0.o
brb
posted by cendawanita at 9:11 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
brb
posted by cendawanita at 9:11 PM on October 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
"I was falling for 30 minutes"
My favourite line in a film that is chock full of great ones.
So quotable.
posted by Faintdreams at 4:38 PM on October 25, 2017 [16 favorites]
My favourite line in a film that is chock full of great ones.
So quotable.
posted by Faintdreams at 4:38 PM on October 25, 2017 [16 favorites]
Also. OMG SOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOD
posted by Faintdreams at 4:39 PM on October 25, 2017
posted by Faintdreams at 4:39 PM on October 25, 2017
it really is quite good, but i hesitate to now claim that it's omg good, only because i'm terrified of the positive word-of-mouth is going to inflate expectations. but if you're a fan of waititi, you won't be disappointed, because his sensibility is strongly there. and because both thor and hulk left earth post-ultron, that's the last movie they both reference. in fact, rather like captain america 3, this is also pretty much a side-avengers movie - certainly thor's characterisation is more avengers than his own previous standalone stuff. and not to mention that the script kept its eye on the ball in terms of building up to the next avengers one. but the movie was so good, i was actually ok whenever parts of ultron gets mentioned (a movie i deeply dislike). cumberbatch's american accent remains extremely questionable.
posted by cendawanita at 7:42 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 7:42 PM on October 25, 2017 [4 favorites]
also i'm cracking up at the subtle shift in makeup/design for loki. he definitely does not get the hero lighting, if you know what i mean*.
(*he looks subtly like the makeup people hate him)
posted by cendawanita at 7:43 PM on October 25, 2017 [11 favorites]
(*he looks subtly like the makeup people hate him)
posted by cendawanita at 7:43 PM on October 25, 2017 [11 favorites]
Blanchett's Hela reminds me, of all people, of Madge out of Neighbours but sexy in an all-murdering way
wait what
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:53 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
wait what
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:53 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Did you spot the Matt Damon cameo? Plus there's Sam Neill and Luke Hemsworth, all actors in the play!
posted by adrianhon at 3:18 AM on October 26, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by adrianhon at 3:18 AM on October 26, 2017 [9 favorites]
*wait what*
Yes, sorry, that's a bit odd. It's the voice. Why it reminded my of Madge Mitchell, I don't know. Probably something to discuss with a psychoanalyst.
posted by Grangousier at 3:24 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yes, sorry, that's a bit odd. It's the voice. Why it reminded my of Madge Mitchell, I don't know. Probably something to discuss with a psychoanalyst.
posted by Grangousier at 3:24 AM on October 26, 2017 [2 favorites]
LUKE! I KNEW IT WAS SOMEBODY.
I think I lost my mind laughing at Damon hamming it up because it just kept going
posted by cendawanita at 3:41 AM on October 26, 2017 [6 favorites]
I think I lost my mind laughing at Damon hamming it up because it just kept going
posted by cendawanita at 3:41 AM on October 26, 2017 [6 favorites]
(*he looks subtly like the makeup people hate him)
"Oh hi Thor!"
posted by Iridic at 3:20 PM on October 26, 2017 [14 favorites]
"Oh hi Thor!"
posted by Iridic at 3:20 PM on October 26, 2017 [14 favorites]
Having been spoilt for sly Kiwi injokes in Waititi's movies, I think it's awesome that the Aussies get a turn this time round.
My favourites were the sly reference to the Aussie comedy The Castle: "She's dreamin!"
Also, getting the crowd chanting "Thunder" as in Thunderstruck by AC/DC.
posted by Start with Dessert at 10:06 PM on October 26, 2017 [6 favorites]
My favourites were the sly reference to the Aussie comedy The Castle: "She's dreamin!"
Also, getting the crowd chanting "Thunder" as in Thunderstruck by AC/DC.
posted by Start with Dessert at 10:06 PM on October 26, 2017 [6 favorites]
If I have never seen an Avengers movie, is there anything I need to know to follow this movie?
posted by Mavri at 10:07 AM on October 28, 2017
posted by Mavri at 10:07 AM on October 28, 2017
i think what you really need to is wiki the endings for the last thor movie (the dark world) and the last proper avengers movie (age of ultron). knowing a bit of captain america 3 might make some exchanges funny. i don't know how much i can say without giving things away (not massively big spoilers but it does give away some parts of the plotting and character beats).
i'm currently awake, so if you're really curious you can memail me.
posted by cendawanita at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2017
i'm currently awake, so if you're really curious you can memail me.
posted by cendawanita at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2017
So now I've seen it, and I loved every second of it.
Loki looked like Lt. Cmdr. Data.
posted by Mavri at 7:33 PM on November 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
Loki looked like Lt. Cmdr. Data.
posted by Mavri at 7:33 PM on November 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
I've never had such a good time at a prophesied apocalypse.
The film covers a lot of ground, from Hela's back story, to where the Hulk has been, to Thor's development as a King, to the ongoing relationship between Thor and Loki. But it did it confidently and with style. Korg was a great touch.
Cate Blanchett killed it as Hela, swarmy and arrogant, yet regal, with a zero fucks given attitude. I hope we see her again.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:27 PM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
The film covers a lot of ground, from Hela's back story, to where the Hulk has been, to Thor's development as a King, to the ongoing relationship between Thor and Loki. But it did it confidently and with style. Korg was a great touch.
Cate Blanchett killed it as Hela, swarmy and arrogant, yet regal, with a zero fucks given attitude. I hope we see her again.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:27 PM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
The Pure Imagination music cue just killed me.
posted by rewil at 11:00 PM on November 2, 2017 [39 favorites]
posted by rewil at 11:00 PM on November 2, 2017 [39 favorites]
It had the mega colorful vibe (shades of GOTG 2) but slightly toned down. Love the cameos in the play, "The Death of Loki." Finally got some brotherly love and it's been a long time coming.
Hemsworth just has such great comedic timing, ex. Ghostbusters, I wish Hollywood would utilize that more often.
The fight scenes were great and pretty clearly shot. The use of Led Zeppelin could have been too much but that is a perfect Viking fighting song, so whatcha going to do?
The cast was great and Korg was awesome. I thought it was Murray (Rhys Darby) from Flight of the Concords at first. But then again, it is a classic Kiwi South Island accent.
The Pure Imagination music cue just killed me.
Me too, I was just so jazzed up by that.
posted by nikitabot at 12:36 PM on November 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Hemsworth just has such great comedic timing, ex. Ghostbusters, I wish Hollywood would utilize that more often.
The fight scenes were great and pretty clearly shot. The use of Led Zeppelin could have been too much but that is a perfect Viking fighting song, so whatcha going to do?
The cast was great and Korg was awesome. I thought it was Murray (Rhys Darby) from Flight of the Concords at first. But then again, it is a classic Kiwi South Island accent.
The Pure Imagination music cue just killed me.
Me too, I was just so jazzed up by that.
posted by nikitabot at 12:36 PM on November 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just saw it tonight - so pleased, there's *so* much they got right in this, and I'm impressed how Waititi's reinventing what a Thor movie should be in order to fit in all this stuff (the comic sensibility, the sort of low-key humane moments, and the absurd colors and music and so on) - it really feels like a comic book, and without that feeling stupid.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:27 PM on November 3, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:27 PM on November 3, 2017 [12 favorites]
-just tons and tons of delightful stuff: Jeff Goldblum's Garbage Planet, Dr. Strange using his uncanny powers solely to be a dick, "prisoners with jobs", Stan Lee glossed as "a creepy old man"
-Hela smashing the Renaissance mural (complete with blond Jesus Thor) to reveal the more brutal medieval art underneath was a cool touch
-I was never convinced that I should be rooting against a giant awesome wolf and I kept waiting for it to switch sides and maybe the Hulk could ride it for a while
posted by theodolite at 11:20 AM on November 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
-Hela smashing the Renaissance mural (complete with blond Jesus Thor) to reveal the more brutal medieval art underneath was a cool touch
-I was never convinced that I should be rooting against a giant awesome wolf and I kept waiting for it to switch sides and maybe the Hulk could ride it for a while
posted by theodolite at 11:20 AM on November 4, 2017 [23 favorites]
If you have the opportunity, see this in the cinema.
I liked it but didn't love it in the way that some people did but it's such a gorgeous movie and so amazingly colourful that your eyeballs deserve to see it in the best possible format.
The 80s metal album cover shots were my favourites. And I've had Immigrant Song stuck in my head for over a week now.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:23 PM on November 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
I liked it but didn't love it in the way that some people did but it's such a gorgeous movie and so amazingly colourful that your eyeballs deserve to see it in the best possible format.
The 80s metal album cover shots were my favourites. And I've had Immigrant Song stuck in my head for over a week now.
posted by slimepuppy at 2:23 PM on November 4, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's the Flash Gordon of our times. I want to go see it again tomorrow. And yes shirtless Hemsworth still astonishes me every time. He is just a beautiful beautiful man. Also beautiful: Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie (I don't think she got another name?)
posted by emjaybee at 5:19 PM on November 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 5:19 PM on November 4, 2017 [6 favorites]
I watched this last night with a friend of mine, and we enjoyed every single minute of it. There was so much to love in this movie. I have to admit, I was a bit thrown off by listening to Hulk talk. I know it's been established in the comics and the movies that he has the ability, but it's not something he chooses to do very often - and when he does, it's always in the third person.
Speaking of Hemsworth, can he GET any more ripped? He looked absolutely incredible in this film.
The post credit scene with Thor and the Asgardians - I'm assuming it ties in to Infinity War? It's been a long time since I read the Infinity War comic series.
posted by Roger Pittman at 7:03 PM on November 4, 2017
Speaking of Hemsworth, can he GET any more ripped? He looked absolutely incredible in this film.
The post credit scene with Thor and the Asgardians - I'm assuming it ties in to Infinity War? It's been a long time since I read the Infinity War comic series.
posted by Roger Pittman at 7:03 PM on November 4, 2017
Speaking of Hemsworth, can he GET any more ripped?
Yes, because The Hulk.
Rachel House is exactly the same character she played in "The Hunt for the Wilderpeople" and this makes her the most awesome super villain - Korg was a mind-blowing interpretation of the character.
OK, you are tasked with integrating the Avengers movies with Asgard with Guardians of the Galaxy, and also you have deliberately cast Karl Urban as Skurge the Executioner.
It delivers. Ohhhhh, it delivers. Also Thor is so powerful, Loki is so powerful, they get reminded a few times they are way out of their league.
"I'm disguised as Tony Stark!"
"I won, easily."
Can you spot Matt Damon and Sam Neil? Grapes are involved.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Yes, because The Hulk.
Rachel House is exactly the same character she played in "The Hunt for the Wilderpeople" and this makes her the most awesome super villain - Korg was a mind-blowing interpretation of the character.
OK, you are tasked with integrating the Avengers movies with Asgard with Guardians of the Galaxy, and also you have deliberately cast Karl Urban as Skurge the Executioner.
It delivers. Ohhhhh, it delivers. Also Thor is so powerful, Loki is so powerful, they get reminded a few times they are way out of their league.
"I'm disguised as Tony Stark!"
"I won, easily."
Can you spot Matt Damon and Sam Neil? Grapes are involved.
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:06 PM on November 4, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, if the Grandmaster declares a tie, just fucking take it. He will erase you right back to the 16th century if you don't. Who the hell did you think set up the garbage portals and why would you believe him when he denied it?
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:15 PM on November 4, 2017
posted by Slap*Happy at 9:15 PM on November 4, 2017
Well, I was pretty well amused and enjoyed it. Best of the Thors.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:42 PM on November 4, 2017
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:42 PM on November 4, 2017
THE DEVIL'S ANUS
I got a little excited at the idea of Loki taking over Garbage Planet. He really would be good at it.
posted by emjaybee at 11:10 PM on November 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
I got a little excited at the idea of Loki taking over Garbage Planet. He really would be good at it.
posted by emjaybee at 11:10 PM on November 4, 2017 [4 favorites]
For whatever reason, I didn't find the jokes especially funny, even though I thought What We Do in Shadows was hilarious. But it was still amazing just taken as a super sci-fi action adventure.
And, holy shit, Cate Blanchett.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:19 AM on November 5, 2017
And, holy shit, Cate Blanchett.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 7:19 AM on November 5, 2017
They should have cut back on the jokes. There is no need to joke after a planet just got destroyed. It just lessens the weight of what should be a sombre moment. A lot of parts felt super rushed. Less Odins exposition and more visual storytelling would have helped as well. I thought this was an average movie.
posted by asra at 7:38 AM on November 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by asra at 7:38 AM on November 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
So I liked the movie overall, but one jarring thing was that Thor suddenly knew how to work spaceships? I know he's had extensive interactions with Stark and technology, but I guess we've never been told or shown that he himself are familiar enough to jump into random spaceships and start controlling them, especially since his first trip to Earth had him not knowing what cars are.
posted by numaner at 12:10 PM on November 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 12:10 PM on November 5, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just got back from it and I loved it. Pondering buying a van just so I can have somebody airbrush the sides with the Valkyries attacking Hela.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:03 PM on November 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 4:03 PM on November 5, 2017 [14 favorites]
The flying longship-things in Asgard are established as spaceships, and he's probably had seat time on the Quinjet. A lot of the visual appeal of Asguard in the MCU is the melding of high fantasy and sci-fi elements. Wakanda looks like it's going down a similar path, and I love it.
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:48 PM on November 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 4:48 PM on November 5, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just saw it tonight and loved it, probably my favorite Marvel movie so far. I love that they've finally opened up the color palettes on the last few films, the early MCU films were so gray and blah looking.
I loved that there was so much humor and the audience I was with seemed to agree.
posted by octothorpe at 7:50 PM on November 5, 2017
I loved that there was so much humor and the audience I was with seemed to agree.
posted by octothorpe at 7:50 PM on November 5, 2017
Symbolism of the hair cut (beyond that he just looks so much better, imho, with short hair)?
posted by freethefeet at 7:55 PM on November 5, 2017
posted by freethefeet at 7:55 PM on November 5, 2017
RE: the haircut: "It was partly due to I didn't want to spend two hours in hair and makeup putting a wig on," Hemsworth said.
We saw it yesterday & loved it. Still laughing over great lines and the physical comedy. Aside from Black Panther, though, i probably won’t see anymore MCU movies in the theater. Just done with it all at this point. Ultron ruined it all for me, and as good as this was, it’s not enough change my mind about the forthcoming avengers movies.
posted by malthusan at 8:31 PM on November 5, 2017
We saw it yesterday & loved it. Still laughing over great lines and the physical comedy. Aside from Black Panther, though, i probably won’t see anymore MCU movies in the theater. Just done with it all at this point. Ultron ruined it all for me, and as good as this was, it’s not enough change my mind about the forthcoming avengers movies.
posted by malthusan at 8:31 PM on November 5, 2017
That was the most amazing airbrushed van painting I have ever seen.
I did not anticipate the third Thor movie becoming possibly my favorite Marvel movie ever, but here we are.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:42 PM on November 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
I did not anticipate the third Thor movie becoming possibly my favorite Marvel movie ever, but here we are.
posted by middleclasstool at 9:42 PM on November 5, 2017 [12 favorites]
Symbolism of the hair cut (beyond that he just looks so much better, imho, with short hair)?
A visual change which matches the interior one he's gone through. No longer a wild and free warrior, Thor's grown up and has a more nuanced view of the world. Which befits a king.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:43 AM on November 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
A visual change which matches the interior one he's gone through. No longer a wild and free warrior, Thor's grown up and has a more nuanced view of the world. Which befits a king.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 3:43 AM on November 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
middleclasstool: "That was the most amazing airbrushed van painting I have ever seen.
I did not anticipate the third Thor movie becoming possibly my favorite Marvel movie ever, but here we are."
I was pretty enthusiastic when I found out that Waititi was directing and even more when I saw the "Immigrant Song" trailer but the first two Thor movies were way at the bottom of MCU films for me. Happy that they turned it around since Hemsworth really deserved a vehicle for his increasingly brilliant comic talents.
posted by octothorpe at 3:59 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I did not anticipate the third Thor movie becoming possibly my favorite Marvel movie ever, but here we are."
I was pretty enthusiastic when I found out that Waititi was directing and even more when I saw the "Immigrant Song" trailer but the first two Thor movies were way at the bottom of MCU films for me. Happy that they turned it around since Hemsworth really deserved a vehicle for his increasingly brilliant comic talents.
posted by octothorpe at 3:59 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I strongly agree that this is a great-looking movie. The composition, depth and color were very nice in almost every shot. This was easily the most artful-looking film I've seen in 3D. Absolutely gorgeous. The production design in general is distractingly good--I kept missing dialogue because there were so many interesting things to look at.
There are good actors in all the Marvel films, but I feel like performances must suffer from the technical constraints of such a big production. And the writing doesn't really give them much to do with their characters. They often feel flat to me. Not the case for this film: whatever they did to prep and film worked great, because this felt like living, breathing people saying things they felt and reacting to one another. It would be easy to compare it the first Guardians, yet there is so much more banter and comic status-jockeying in the midst of dire situations, and no weepy scenes.
Obviously this is not Citizen Kane and there are plot holes aplenty, but it is professionally-crafted cinematic junk food. I felt like I got every dollar's worth for my IMAX experience, which is a rare occurrence. Ever since I heard they were making movies out of Lord of the Rings, I've been waiting impatiently for someone to use Led Zeppelin well, and holy cats... my hair was standing up at the climax.
posted by heatvision at 4:22 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
There are good actors in all the Marvel films, but I feel like performances must suffer from the technical constraints of such a big production. And the writing doesn't really give them much to do with their characters. They often feel flat to me. Not the case for this film: whatever they did to prep and film worked great, because this felt like living, breathing people saying things they felt and reacting to one another. It would be easy to compare it the first Guardians, yet there is so much more banter and comic status-jockeying in the midst of dire situations, and no weepy scenes.
Obviously this is not Citizen Kane and there are plot holes aplenty, but it is professionally-crafted cinematic junk food. I felt like I got every dollar's worth for my IMAX experience, which is a rare occurrence. Ever since I heard they were making movies out of Lord of the Rings, I've been waiting impatiently for someone to use Led Zeppelin well, and holy cats... my hair was standing up at the climax.
posted by heatvision at 4:22 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
I was pretty enthusiastic when I found out that Waititi was directing and even more when I saw the "Immigrant Song" trailer but the first two Thor movies were way at the bottom of MCU films for me.
Oh, me too. And I was doubly delighted to see that he got to cast some of my favorites from his previous films. But if you'd pulled me aside up to the day before he was announced as director and said "the third movie of the most ponderous series in the MCU will be your favorite Marvel flick of all time" I would have felt your forehead.
Hell, even after he was announced, my expectation was that they'd let him make a mostly-funny movie, but I didn't think the suits'd give him the free range he got. I wasn't really kidding on the "airbrushed van" comment; some of the neon tableaux he put together (like the ride of the Valkyries) were just bananas, the kind of thing I'd think the studio would be really scared of. Hell, Disney fired Lord and Miller from the Han Solo movie because they were letting the actors improvise. And now this weird Kiwi wants to basically make Midnight Run in Space with the Hulk's bare ass showing, starring Jeff Goldblum as Jeff Goldblum in Makeup? And they let him? Thank god they did.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:57 AM on November 6, 2017 [39 favorites]
Oh, me too. And I was doubly delighted to see that he got to cast some of my favorites from his previous films. But if you'd pulled me aside up to the day before he was announced as director and said "the third movie of the most ponderous series in the MCU will be your favorite Marvel flick of all time" I would have felt your forehead.
Hell, even after he was announced, my expectation was that they'd let him make a mostly-funny movie, but I didn't think the suits'd give him the free range he got. I wasn't really kidding on the "airbrushed van" comment; some of the neon tableaux he put together (like the ride of the Valkyries) were just bananas, the kind of thing I'd think the studio would be really scared of. Hell, Disney fired Lord and Miller from the Han Solo movie because they were letting the actors improvise. And now this weird Kiwi wants to basically make Midnight Run in Space with the Hulk's bare ass showing, starring Jeff Goldblum as Jeff Goldblum in Makeup? And they let him? Thank god they did.
posted by middleclasstool at 5:57 AM on November 6, 2017 [39 favorites]
Not the case for this film: whatever they did to prep and film worked great, because this felt like living, breathing people saying things they felt and reacting to one another
Supposedly most the dialogue was improvised, like 80%.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:09 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Supposedly most the dialogue was improvised, like 80%.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:09 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
I liked the first two Thor movies. I had fun with this one too. It had a different feel -- mostly good but I feel like it was trying a little too hard to be Guardians of the Galaxy. It still came off better than Guardians 2.
Maybe between Guardians 1, 2 and Valerian I'm a little burned out on wacky aliens movies?
Anyway. Enjoyed it, wouldn't call it my favorite MCU movie (that'd have to be Spider-man: Homecoming, Dr. Strange, or Guardians 1) but I'll go see it again this week.
I did love Korg though. I want Korg and Groot to team up.
posted by Foosnark at 6:20 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Maybe between Guardians 1, 2 and Valerian I'm a little burned out on wacky aliens movies?
Anyway. Enjoyed it, wouldn't call it my favorite MCU movie (that'd have to be Spider-man: Homecoming, Dr. Strange, or Guardians 1) but I'll go see it again this week.
I did love Korg though. I want Korg and Groot to team up.
posted by Foosnark at 6:20 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
I gave up on Spiderman movie a long time ago, Homecoming is really worth it?
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2017
posted by octothorpe at 6:28 AM on November 6, 2017
IMO it's the best Spider-Man movie ever made. I think the worst possible spin on it would be to say it's worthy of Raimi's first two movies. But I think it's better. Holland is the Spidey I always envisioned in my head, and the Vulture is a very believable and menacing bad guy.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:34 AM on November 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 6:34 AM on November 6, 2017 [12 favorites]
^ if you need someone else to agree with that statement to help convince you, well, I'm here for you.
posted by komara at 6:40 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by komara at 6:40 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
yeah, Homecoming is the best Spider-Man movie ever made, period. It does a really great job of making Peter and the Vulture very believable and relatable. The worst thing I can say about is that if falls into the need to have a final battle, but it works a bit better than others for being shorter and its resolution is very character driven.
Seriously, go see it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:46 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Seriously, go see it.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:46 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yep, best Spider-Man ever. Much better than previous Spiders-Man in terms of characterization, and a thoroughly fun movie.
Back on Thor: Ragnarok: I will say the score (by Mark Mothersbaugh) was my favorite MCU score by far.
posted by Foosnark at 7:14 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Back on Thor: Ragnarok: I will say the score (by Mark Mothersbaugh) was my favorite MCU score by far.
posted by Foosnark at 7:14 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Homecoming and Ragnarok are not identical in tone but they both have a similar sort of point of view on the Marvel universe, that things can be high-stakes and can Matter without having to be humorless and pompous and grey. I don't think it's so, but if you told me they were both made as part of a hard turn away from CA: Civil War, I would believe you.
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:59 AM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 7:59 AM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
The worst thing I can say about is that if falls into the need to have a final battle, but it works a bit better than others for being shorter and its resolution is very character driven.
I'd be happy if most of these films, including Ragnarok, could find a way to not have the final boss battle but maybe that's what people want. The guys behind me in the theater last night were certainly wooping it up during the battle with Hela. I Usually kind of tune out once I see that the third act has started since it means that the fun character stuff is over.
posted by octothorpe at 8:56 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'd be happy if most of these films, including Ragnarok, could find a way to not have the final boss battle but maybe that's what people want. The guys behind me in the theater last night were certainly wooping it up during the battle with Hela. I Usually kind of tune out once I see that the third act has started since it means that the fun character stuff is over.
posted by octothorpe at 8:56 AM on November 6, 2017 [3 favorites]
Saw it last night and reeeeally enjoyed it, even though it's nowhere close to being a perfect movie. But I was dazzled by the look of it, by the fact that they didn't omit some of that humanizing connective tissue that keeps the movies from being bland and only about the action-y bits, and the humor. I actually felt they could have dialed down the "puncture the seriousness with a joke" thing a couple of notches - maybe cut two or three of them? But on the whole it worked really well.
Odin standing on a Norwegian cliffside was so beautiful. This movie is also causing interesting dissonance in my head because I'm still working my way through the first season of American Gods.
The scene with the Valkyries attacking Hela was so gorgeous. Ditto the need for an airbrushed panel van. I adore Tessa Thompson.
Thor and Hulk are adorable buddies. And Loki was used really, really well. I liked the idea of him being who he is but with more ragged edges that made him more believable as a character and pushes back a bit at the temptation to woobiefy him.
Jeff Goldblum needs to consider walking around looking like the Grandmaster all the time, because it really works for him. Ditto Cate Blanchette, who is a woman who can rock a massive horned headpiece.
I actually really adored the second time "Immigrant Song" kicked in - I legitimately got chills between the fight scene and the song and the look of the movie. It worked so, so well. Just yes. And the idea of Asgard being a wandering people now is interesting.
posted by PussKillian at 9:16 AM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Odin standing on a Norwegian cliffside was so beautiful. This movie is also causing interesting dissonance in my head because I'm still working my way through the first season of American Gods.
The scene with the Valkyries attacking Hela was so gorgeous. Ditto the need for an airbrushed panel van. I adore Tessa Thompson.
Thor and Hulk are adorable buddies. And Loki was used really, really well. I liked the idea of him being who he is but with more ragged edges that made him more believable as a character and pushes back a bit at the temptation to woobiefy him.
Jeff Goldblum needs to consider walking around looking like the Grandmaster all the time, because it really works for him. Ditto Cate Blanchette, who is a woman who can rock a massive horned headpiece.
I actually really adored the second time "Immigrant Song" kicked in - I legitimately got chills between the fight scene and the song and the look of the movie. It worked so, so well. Just yes. And the idea of Asgard being a wandering people now is interesting.
posted by PussKillian at 9:16 AM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Captain America: Winter Soldier will always be my favorite because it has basically all my best beloved characters, but Thor: Ragnarok just made a concerted effort to unseat Iron Man 1 and/or 3 from their second place spot in my heart. What a delight of a movie. I thought it was genuinely hilarious, in ways both delightfully smart and dumb, while retaining just enough genuine emotion and gravitas to not render Thor himself a total joke of a character. That's a thin line to walk, and I'm impressed with the cast and Waititi for managing it. This is my favorite Thor appearance yet: he's a weirdo with insecurities, he's funny, he's the guy who delights in a good old-fashioned fight, but he's also grown into some kingly gravitas, and oh yeah, he's the fucking god of thunder. What a great job with some of those fight scenes, showing off the (literally) awesome power of his thunder and lightning.
I also think they snuck in some fascinating critique of imperialism. I honestly never would have expected a Marvel movie, or a Thor movie, to ask "where did you think all this gold came from?" of Asgard. With that context, blowing up Asgard, and Thor making the choice to go forward with Ragnarok is downright revolutionary. Which also ties in nicely with Korg's revolution on the garbage planet.
On a couple shallow notes: yeah that shirtless Thor scene was necessary. I feel very pandered to, and I am appreciative. Also, Valkyrie's everything. And Heimdall's new look was also very good for me.
posted by yasaman at 9:34 AM on November 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
I also think they snuck in some fascinating critique of imperialism. I honestly never would have expected a Marvel movie, or a Thor movie, to ask "where did you think all this gold came from?" of Asgard. With that context, blowing up Asgard, and Thor making the choice to go forward with Ragnarok is downright revolutionary. Which also ties in nicely with Korg's revolution on the garbage planet.
On a couple shallow notes: yeah that shirtless Thor scene was necessary. I feel very pandered to, and I am appreciative. Also, Valkyrie's everything. And Heimdall's new look was also very good for me.
posted by yasaman at 9:34 AM on November 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
"And, holy shit, Cate Blanchett."
"yeah that shirtless Thor scene was necessary"
As far as I'm concerned, this movie had something for everyone and I am super appreciative of that.
posted by komara at 9:54 AM on November 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
"yeah that shirtless Thor scene was necessary"
As far as I'm concerned, this movie had something for everyone and I am super appreciative of that.
posted by komara at 9:54 AM on November 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Got a £4 Monday ticket; saw Thor Ragnarok; liked it a lot, would def. see again for £4.
Not perfect - what is? - but very nice. I especially liked how accurately they followed the myth re Ragnarok: an eternal fight with Fenris and all the giants and monsters forever on Bifrost while Asgard burns. I'm amazed at what Waititi has done here: funny, light, visually gorgeous, Marvel-compatible and Norse myth compatible. That detail about the 80% impro is just...something.
And I loved that after all the bashing and crashing and jumping and thumping and herbular-turbular we've already seen, that last fight with the lightning just BROUGHT THE EXTRA.
posted by glasseyes at 11:05 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
Not perfect - what is? - but very nice. I especially liked how accurately they followed the myth re Ragnarok: an eternal fight with Fenris and all the giants and monsters forever on Bifrost while Asgard burns. I'm amazed at what Waititi has done here: funny, light, visually gorgeous, Marvel-compatible and Norse myth compatible. That detail about the 80% impro is just...something.
And I loved that after all the bashing and crashing and jumping and thumping and herbular-turbular we've already seen, that last fight with the lightning just BROUGHT THE EXTRA.
posted by glasseyes at 11:05 AM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
This movie is also causing interesting dissonance in my head because I'm still working my way through the first season of American Gods.
Heh, in Odin's scene in Norway I was wondering whether they were going to take the character in a Gaiman-esque direction, and the whole death thing was a fake-out for some purpose (to test his sons, as a trap for Hela, or something).
I especially liked how accurately they followed the myth re Ragnarok...
Closer than could be expected for Marvel, I think. When Loki arrived in the big spaceship, my spouse leaned over and whispered "it's not made of fingernails, and the undead army was already there."
posted by Foosnark at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Heh, in Odin's scene in Norway I was wondering whether they were going to take the character in a Gaiman-esque direction, and the whole death thing was a fake-out for some purpose (to test his sons, as a trap for Hela, or something).
I especially liked how accurately they followed the myth re Ragnarok...
Closer than could be expected for Marvel, I think. When Loki arrived in the big spaceship, my spouse leaned over and whispered "it's not made of fingernails, and the undead army was already there."
posted by Foosnark at 11:25 AM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
Other than a single act of necromancy, Hela seemed more like the Goddess of Knives than of Death.
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 11:30 AM on November 6, 2017 [7 favorites]
Well, she killed a lot of people, does that count?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:35 AM on November 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:35 AM on November 6, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've a vague memory that in the myth nobody's sure who's side Loki will be on at Ragnarok, have I remembered that right?
yes I know I'm sitting here typing on a gigantic electronic encyclopaedia but where's the fun in looking stuff up like a keener or sthg
posted by glasseyes at 12:12 PM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
yes I know I'm sitting here typing on a gigantic electronic encyclopaedia but where's the fun in looking stuff up like a keener or sthg
posted by glasseyes at 12:12 PM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
I sat in the cinema watching the trailers for one superhero film after another and thinking, Thank god for Disco Trek. Then Thor happened and it weren't bad at all.
posted by glasseyes at 12:59 PM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by glasseyes at 12:59 PM on November 6, 2017 [1 favorite]
She was also the Goddess of Making Me Not Be Overly Troubled that She Was Evil and Had Antlers, fwiw
posted by middleclasstool at 1:04 PM on November 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 1:04 PM on November 6, 2017 [15 favorites]
Saw it this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I am now convinced that Natasha taught Thor that interrogation technique. The whole "Get caught on purpose and show no respect for your captors" is straight out of her playbook.
There are so many funny moments in this movie - three of my favorites are Korg saying "Goodbye, new Doug", the childhood story of Loki turning into a snake and Bruce jumping out of the ship only to crash on the walkway.
Loved Thor channeling his power through his body, the changes to Hulk because he was in control for so long, every moment Hela was on screen.
Just a thoroughly enjoyable film. It can't take the #1 spot (because that will always belong to Winter Soldier) but it is definitely in my Top 5 in the MCU.
posted by Julnyes at 2:48 PM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
I am now convinced that Natasha taught Thor that interrogation technique. The whole "Get caught on purpose and show no respect for your captors" is straight out of her playbook.
There are so many funny moments in this movie - three of my favorites are Korg saying "Goodbye, new Doug", the childhood story of Loki turning into a snake and Bruce jumping out of the ship only to crash on the walkway.
Loved Thor channeling his power through his body, the changes to Hulk because he was in control for so long, every moment Hela was on screen.
Just a thoroughly enjoyable film. It can't take the #1 spot (because that will always belong to Winter Soldier) but it is definitely in my Top 5 in the MCU.
posted by Julnyes at 2:48 PM on November 6, 2017 [4 favorites]
The snake story and Loki's reaction was really one of the funniest moments in any of the MCU movies, and not in small part that it wasn't just a throwaway gag, but was great in showing the essence of the characters and their relationship. Hiddleston and Hemsworth have marvelous chemistry, where they have deep and abiding grievances, and want to hate each other and should hate each other, but just can't anymore.
Also, every time Urban is on the screen portraying a nerd favorite, he is utterly watchable and inhabits broad-brush comic-book characters with depth and intensity and OH MY GOD LOOK AT HIM THAT IS SKURGE!
His arc isn't anywhere near the same as in the comics, but it fits the theme of the film, and I'm a sucker for the "Crouching Coward, Hidden Bad-Ass" trope.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:03 PM on November 6, 2017 [8 favorites]
Also, every time Urban is on the screen portraying a nerd favorite, he is utterly watchable and inhabits broad-brush comic-book characters with depth and intensity and OH MY GOD LOOK AT HIM THAT IS SKURGE!
His arc isn't anywhere near the same as in the comics, but it fits the theme of the film, and I'm a sucker for the "Crouching Coward, Hidden Bad-Ass" trope.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:03 PM on November 6, 2017 [8 favorites]
Having never heard of Skurge I was immediately questioning why Urban, who plays all kinds of badasses, would be in this weaselly role (although I still enjoy him hamming it up like how he hams up any character) aaaaand all of it completely paid off in his last scene, like worth every preceding moment of the character.
Also, I just read this story that Tessa Thompson, learning that Valkyrie (the character) is bisexual in the comics, wanted to show that in the movie, but a scene showing it was cut. Thompson used that characterization for her reaction to her fellow Valkyrie dying to save her, as if that was a past lover. I personally might need a rewatch to catch it though, I admittedly was very distracted by the 3D and everything going on in that battle to judge if her reaction was for a lover or a comrade.
posted by numaner at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Also, I just read this story that Tessa Thompson, learning that Valkyrie (the character) is bisexual in the comics, wanted to show that in the movie, but a scene showing it was cut. Thompson used that characterization for her reaction to her fellow Valkyrie dying to save her, as if that was a past lover. I personally might need a rewatch to catch it though, I admittedly was very distracted by the 3D and everything going on in that battle to judge if her reaction was for a lover or a comrade.
posted by numaner at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
See I saw that scene was immediately like, welp, she's gay then
Over on tumblr I saw some people going for Loki x Valkyrie, I guess because they're both canonically bi? idk I don't see it
posted by vibratory manner of working at 11:12 PM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
Over on tumblr I saw some people going for Loki x Valkyrie, I guess because they're both canonically bi? idk I don't see it
posted by vibratory manner of working at 11:12 PM on November 6, 2017 [5 favorites]
How do we celebrate $121 million at the US box office this weekend?
posted by Start with Dessert at 2:34 AM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Start with Dessert at 2:34 AM on November 7, 2017 [4 favorites]
Well in proper Norse mythology Loki got impregnated by (and then gave birth to) a horse. So who knows with that guy.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:55 AM on November 7, 2017 [14 favorites]
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:55 AM on November 7, 2017 [14 favorites]
Thor and his magic patu: notes on a very Māori Marvel movie
The elimination of ego through humour runs through all of Waititi’s films and follows a basic formula: The Joke Is Always On The Person Trying To Be Smart. In Ragnarok this means the lead character – the superhero, the guy the film is named after – is generally the butt of the joke as he tries to outsmart The Grandmaster, insists he is stronger than the Hulk, tries to act nonchalant in front of Dr. Strange and generally fumbles as he tries to gather the pieces of his ego from the floor. In contemporary Māori culture there are few burns that scald quite so deep as being called “a cool guy”: “Far, what a cool guy”, “Cool guy is it?” There is no sin so cardinal as attempting to claim power or status that doesn’t rightly belong to you. Very broadly, it’s seen as a misappropriation of mana.
The seam of irony that runs through Thor: Ragnarok couldn’t be more different than previous Marvel films which feature Robert Downey Jr as a billionaire smart-ass dropping glib one-liners. It also stands in opposition to the corny dramatics of Joss Whedon’s Avengers scripts, which Waititi seems to delight in gently mocking, as when Thor murmurs “the sun’s going down” a la Black Widow trying to calm the Hulk in Age of Ultron?
The comedy of deflation, the definitive directorial touch that makes Thor: Ragnarok so fun, has been a constant presence in Taika’s work from his first Oscar-nominated short to Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It’s not uniquely Māori, but it is distinctly Māori in tone, in rhythm and as a kind of philosophical outlook.
posted by Start with Dessert at 3:24 AM on November 7, 2017 [39 favorites]
The elimination of ego through humour runs through all of Waititi’s films and follows a basic formula: The Joke Is Always On The Person Trying To Be Smart. In Ragnarok this means the lead character – the superhero, the guy the film is named after – is generally the butt of the joke as he tries to outsmart The Grandmaster, insists he is stronger than the Hulk, tries to act nonchalant in front of Dr. Strange and generally fumbles as he tries to gather the pieces of his ego from the floor. In contemporary Māori culture there are few burns that scald quite so deep as being called “a cool guy”: “Far, what a cool guy”, “Cool guy is it?” There is no sin so cardinal as attempting to claim power or status that doesn’t rightly belong to you. Very broadly, it’s seen as a misappropriation of mana.
The seam of irony that runs through Thor: Ragnarok couldn’t be more different than previous Marvel films which feature Robert Downey Jr as a billionaire smart-ass dropping glib one-liners. It also stands in opposition to the corny dramatics of Joss Whedon’s Avengers scripts, which Waititi seems to delight in gently mocking, as when Thor murmurs “the sun’s going down” a la Black Widow trying to calm the Hulk in Age of Ultron?
The comedy of deflation, the definitive directorial touch that makes Thor: Ragnarok so fun, has been a constant presence in Taika’s work from his first Oscar-nominated short to Hunt for the Wilderpeople. It’s not uniquely Māori, but it is distinctly Māori in tone, in rhythm and as a kind of philosophical outlook.
posted by Start with Dessert at 3:24 AM on November 7, 2017 [39 favorites]
Over on tumblr I saw some people going for Loki x Valkyrie, I guess because they're both canonically bi? idk I don't see it
I'd venture it's because she kicked his ass pretty soundly then put him in chains. That sounds pretty standard for ship beginnings in Marvel to me
posted by lesser weasel at 4:36 AM on November 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
I'd venture it's because she kicked his ass pretty soundly then put him in chains. That sounds pretty standard for ship beginnings in Marvel to me
posted by lesser weasel at 4:36 AM on November 7, 2017 [7 favorites]
I saw this over the past weekend and god I wish standard tickets weren't $18 here, because I'd be going back this weekend if I didn't have other movies I still needed to see. Everyone was perfect, I had such a blast. And the costume designs oh my god
I've seen some lamenting that there wasn't enough brotherly angst, or hashing out deeper feelings, or something; but honestly, I'm so tired of Doom and Gloom superhero movies that a Taika roadtrip film in space--with a good chunk of my favorite characters--is exactly what I needed. Fanfic cures all ills, anyway.
Disliked Ultron, wasn't a fan of Civil War, and what I've heard of Infinity War doesn't interest me at all, unfortunately (though, I mean, I'm still going to go see it). After the absolute gift of Spiderman Homecoming, and Black Panther coming in a few months, I'm enjoying the shift in tonality while it lasts.
posted by lesser weasel at 4:47 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
I've seen some lamenting that there wasn't enough brotherly angst, or hashing out deeper feelings, or something; but honestly, I'm so tired of Doom and Gloom superhero movies that a Taika roadtrip film in space--with a good chunk of my favorite characters--is exactly what I needed. Fanfic cures all ills, anyway.
Disliked Ultron, wasn't a fan of Civil War, and what I've heard of Infinity War doesn't interest me at all, unfortunately (though, I mean, I'm still going to go see it). After the absolute gift of Spiderman Homecoming, and Black Panther coming in a few months, I'm enjoying the shift in tonality while it lasts.
posted by lesser weasel at 4:47 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
I was so excited by the revolutionary and anti-colonial themes, I was fully expecting Thor to dissolve the monarchy at the end.
posted by Hermione Dies at 5:40 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by Hermione Dies at 5:40 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
After seeing Waititi's tweet with the Thor emoji, is there any significance to that double red stripe down the face, because there's a Klingon in Disco Trek that has it as well? Is it a known trope from somewhere?
Thor as a self-deprecated clutz - actually, according to my retold book of Norse myths I was looking up this morning, Thor is a bit of a clumsy idiot in the stories. Plus, I think while the Maori anti-cool guy is def. a thing, there's an understated white NZ version of that as well.
I was thinking if it's still on next week, which is likely as it's been such a success, I'll go see it in super 3D or whatever it's called, cheap ticket be damned. It was so awfully pretty and beguiling. The Garbage Planet cheered me right up after the parallel scenario in Blade Runner 2049.
I didn't actually like Cate Blanchett that much in this - I've been thinking for a few films now what an excellent supervillain she would make and the reality was a bit stilted and stiff compared to what I imagined. I feel if in the script they had humanized the role more, as they did for the other god characters, that would have deepened the role, made it psychologically more interesting. Awe is all very well but villains are always more compelling when you sympathise with them.
posted by glasseyes at 5:41 AM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Thor as a self-deprecated clutz - actually, according to my retold book of Norse myths I was looking up this morning, Thor is a bit of a clumsy idiot in the stories. Plus, I think while the Maori anti-cool guy is def. a thing, there's an understated white NZ version of that as well.
I was thinking if it's still on next week, which is likely as it's been such a success, I'll go see it in super 3D or whatever it's called, cheap ticket be damned. It was so awfully pretty and beguiling. The Garbage Planet cheered me right up after the parallel scenario in Blade Runner 2049.
I didn't actually like Cate Blanchett that much in this - I've been thinking for a few films now what an excellent supervillain she would make and the reality was a bit stilted and stiff compared to what I imagined. I feel if in the script they had humanized the role more, as they did for the other god characters, that would have deepened the role, made it psychologically more interesting. Awe is all very well but villains are always more compelling when you sympathise with them.
posted by glasseyes at 5:41 AM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Well in proper Norse mythology Loki got impregnated by (and then gave birth to) a horse. So who knows with that guy.
We got the Gaiman Norse mythology book when it came out. I read my kids the story of Loki trying to make a woman laugh by tying one end of a rope to a goat’s beard and the other end to his dingdong and then initiating a violent tug-of-war, and I thought my son was going to shit himself.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:03 AM on November 7, 2017 [17 favorites]
We got the Gaiman Norse mythology book when it came out. I read my kids the story of Loki trying to make a woman laugh by tying one end of a rope to a goat’s beard and the other end to his dingdong and then initiating a violent tug-of-war, and I thought my son was going to shit himself.
posted by middleclasstool at 6:03 AM on November 7, 2017 [17 favorites]
I was fully expecting Thor to dissolve the monarchy at the end.
I was really disappointed when he sat in the chair and looked back over his shoulder at his adoring people. Everything was setup for letting go of rule-by-king and then they dodged it, making it seem like taking the throne was the heroic choice. And we all know it's not like he's going to be in on the day-to-day, he has Avengers movies and further Thor adventures to do.
Then again, with the teaser in the credits, maybe the remnants of Asgard aren't long for this world.
posted by kokaku at 6:25 AM on November 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
I was really disappointed when he sat in the chair and looked back over his shoulder at his adoring people. Everything was setup for letting go of rule-by-king and then they dodged it, making it seem like taking the throne was the heroic choice. And we all know it's not like he's going to be in on the day-to-day, he has Avengers movies and further Thor adventures to do.
Then again, with the teaser in the credits, maybe the remnants of Asgard aren't long for this world.
posted by kokaku at 6:25 AM on November 7, 2017 [8 favorites]
I didn't actually like Cate Blanchett that much in this - I've been thinking for a few films now what an excellent supervillain she would make and the reality was a bit stilted and stiff compared to what I imagined.
My problem with Blanchett in this is that she's forced to be in Asgard for the whole movie while all of the really fun stuff is happening with Thor et al on the other planet. I feel like she does what she can (and looks amazing doing it), but I couldn't help feeling slightly bummed out whenever we'd cut away from the heroes to her and Urban briefly kind of hanging out, doing whatever evil stuff in Asgard, just waiting for the rest of the story to get back to them.
(But let's count our blessings: At least she got another, better shot at cartoony villainy after Crystal Skull.)
posted by doctornecessiter at 7:31 AM on November 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
My problem with Blanchett in this is that she's forced to be in Asgard for the whole movie while all of the really fun stuff is happening with Thor et al on the other planet. I feel like she does what she can (and looks amazing doing it), but I couldn't help feeling slightly bummed out whenever we'd cut away from the heroes to her and Urban briefly kind of hanging out, doing whatever evil stuff in Asgard, just waiting for the rest of the story to get back to them.
(But let's count our blessings: At least she got another, better shot at cartoony villainy after Crystal Skull.)
posted by doctornecessiter at 7:31 AM on November 7, 2017 [6 favorites]
Yeah, if she'd had more to do than stride about ranting and killing people and looking amazing that might have been more fun for her. More fun for me certainly.
posted by glasseyes at 9:50 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by glasseyes at 9:50 AM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
Everything was setup for letting go of rule-by-king and then they dodged it, making it seem like taking the throne was the heroic choice.
Given Waititi's normal take on these kinds of things and the way he handled the rest of the film, I'm going to guess that was a studio demand for future continuity plans. Not to excuse it; tearing down Ass-Guard and going into diaspora was the perfect moment to say "maybe no more monarchy". But I'd be willing to bet that was out of his hands and the studio required the movie end with Thor on the throne.
This is one thing Ta-Nehisi Coates has explored in his run on Black Panther that I'm hoping will make it into the movie. The fundamental question he digs into is "can there be such a thing as a good monarch?" If they do explore it in the Black Panther movie, I can understand them dodging it here for now, so BP doesn't become a thematic retread of T:R. If not, well, they messed up big there.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:29 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Given Waititi's normal take on these kinds of things and the way he handled the rest of the film, I'm going to guess that was a studio demand for future continuity plans. Not to excuse it; tearing down Ass-Guard and going into diaspora was the perfect moment to say "maybe no more monarchy". But I'd be willing to bet that was out of his hands and the studio required the movie end with Thor on the throne.
This is one thing Ta-Nehisi Coates has explored in his run on Black Panther that I'm hoping will make it into the movie. The fundamental question he digs into is "can there be such a thing as a good monarch?" If they do explore it in the Black Panther movie, I can understand them dodging it here for now, so BP doesn't become a thematic retread of T:R. If not, well, they messed up big there.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:29 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
It took the entire making of 'Thor: Ragnarok' for Marvel to finally nab the rights to a Led Zeppelin song (Jason Guerrasio for Business Insider)
Waititi used Immigrant Song in his sizzle reel for the movie back in 2015, but it took showing the first cut of the trailer with the song to the band to get their buy-off. Oh, and a ton of money, which Disney can do.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
Waititi used Immigrant Song in his sizzle reel for the movie back in 2015, but it took showing the first cut of the trailer with the song to the band to get their buy-off. Oh, and a ton of money, which Disney can do.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:36 AM on November 7, 2017 [5 favorites]
It wasn't until I opened this thread that I realized - I don't remember seeing Stan Lee. Was he in there? I'm usually pretty good at catching those kinds of things so I'm not sure how I missed him.
posted by hoodrich at 12:49 PM on November 7, 2017
posted by hoodrich at 12:49 PM on November 7, 2017
hoodrich, Stan Lee cut Thor's hair.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 12:54 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 12:54 PM on November 7, 2017 [1 favorite]
I hope all future Stan Lee cameos are as subtle and fleeting.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:57 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 12:57 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
I was so excited by the revolutionary and anti-colonial themes, I was fully expecting Thor to dissolve the monarchy at the end.
Nah, there was zero set up for that, especially with Loki around, aka still alive. Asgard just got destroyed, it's people are living on a spaceship. Now is exactly the right time for more nuanced Thor as King.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
Nah, there was zero set up for that, especially with Loki around, aka still alive. Asgard just got destroyed, it's people are living on a spaceship. Now is exactly the right time for more nuanced Thor as King.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
I got the impression that it was kinda maybe part of Heimdall's job to ensure a succession. That, and they really wanted to do a Kirk-sitting-in-the-captain's-chair visual reference.
(Speaking of which: blink and you'd miss it, but Valkyrie stepping on prone Hulk's ass = Han stepping on enhanced-edition Jabba's tail.)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:15 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
(Speaking of which: blink and you'd miss it, but Valkyrie stepping on prone Hulk's ass = Han stepping on enhanced-edition Jabba's tail.)
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 7:15 PM on November 7, 2017 [2 favorites]
This thread from FangirlJeanne about the movie is really good and I can't wait to read more of it.
A small sample:
Bullet points of Doom!
• Parents aren’t perfect. They lie and fail and leave us with a huge mess to clean up.
• Colonialism/Imperialism
~ Every throne sits on a foundation of blood and death.
• Powerful technology has devastating consequences for the less powerful.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
A small sample:
Bullet points of Doom!
• Parents aren’t perfect. They lie and fail and leave us with a huge mess to clean up.
• Colonialism/Imperialism
~ Every throne sits on a foundation of blood and death.
• Powerful technology has devastating consequences for the less powerful.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 7:38 PM on November 7, 2017 [3 favorites]
I loved that Tony Stark had a Nagel shirt (I just did a show where I made shirts with Nagel-ized versions of the leads printed on them).
I nearly choked on my diet coke when Korg runs in, kicks the wall where Loki's apparition had been, and shouts "Piss off, ghost!" I still laugh out loud when I think of it.
This was a great course-correction after the complete drag that Thor II was. The first one isn't very ambitious narratively, but visually it's just amazing.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 1:47 PM on November 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
I nearly choked on my diet coke when Korg runs in, kicks the wall where Loki's apparition had been, and shouts "Piss off, ghost!" I still laugh out loud when I think of it.
This was a great course-correction after the complete drag that Thor II was. The first one isn't very ambitious narratively, but visually it's just amazing.
posted by under_petticoat_rule at 1:47 PM on November 8, 2017 [11 favorites]
Can y'all help me with something? Who was the guy that was melted by Grandmaster? I felt like we were supposed to know him from Guardians, but I can't quite place him.
I really liked this movie, but I looooved Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. She is such a badass.
posted by donajo at 3:52 PM on November 8, 2017
I really liked this movie, but I looooved Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie. She is such a badass.
posted by donajo at 3:52 PM on November 8, 2017
So how much did they pay for using "Immigrant Song"? I hate it when they are coy about details like that. Hundreds of thousands of dollars? A million? More?
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:37 PM on November 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:37 PM on November 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
FanGirlJeanne is missing a key point. Korg has lead two failed revolutions. It may be only obvious to longtime comic nerds, but the Grandmaster did not get to be billions of years old and the absolute tyrant of his world by being charmingly befuddled. The dude can literally will people to death, and resurrect the dead, destroy planets with a gesture and broach time and space itself for his own pleasure.
He was amused by the revolution. TW does not do heroic calls to arms and ultimate showdowns resolving everything. He does horror, and ultimate showdowns fucking up things utterly. To the point were an ultimate showdown fucking things up utterly was the actual plan! (Also Ricky shoots Hec in the ass accidentally.)
Another key point - Thor, by redeeming Loki, has ultimately doomed his people to die at the hands of Thanos, because the infinity gem was too tempting to pass up swiping. Sanctuary II does not look like it is kidding around in that first stinger.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:24 PM on November 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
He was amused by the revolution. TW does not do heroic calls to arms and ultimate showdowns resolving everything. He does horror, and ultimate showdowns fucking up things utterly. To the point were an ultimate showdown fucking things up utterly was the actual plan! (Also Ricky shoots Hec in the ass accidentally.)
Another key point - Thor, by redeeming Loki, has ultimately doomed his people to die at the hands of Thanos, because the infinity gem was too tempting to pass up swiping. Sanctuary II does not look like it is kidding around in that first stinger.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:24 PM on November 8, 2017 [1 favorite]
I've seen some lamenting that there wasn't enough brotherly angst
On second viewing, I really thought Hiddle's sad face when Thor made the suggestion that he stay on Crapsack World, and the quick "I'm proud of you, bro" reaction shot when Thor zapped Hela, pretty much covered as much of that ground as was necessary.
"I've been falling for THIRTY MINUTES!" was as great the second time as it was the first. So was everything about Korg.
posted by Foosnark at 1:43 PM on November 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
On second viewing, I really thought Hiddle's sad face when Thor made the suggestion that he stay on Crapsack World, and the quick "I'm proud of you, bro" reaction shot when Thor zapped Hela, pretty much covered as much of that ground as was necessary.
"I've been falling for THIRTY MINUTES!" was as great the second time as it was the first. So was everything about Korg.
posted by Foosnark at 1:43 PM on November 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
I want to be Korg when I grow up. Accepting and appreciative of the strangeness of the world he lives in. Credulous and kind. Entirely determined to do right with whatever little he's got. Knows how to deal with ghosts.
Korg's the best.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 1:54 PM on November 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
Korg's the best.
posted by Phobos the Space Potato at 1:54 PM on November 10, 2017 [32 favorites]
I nearly choked on my diet coke when Korg runs in, kicks the wall where Loki's apparition had been, and shouts "Piss off, ghost!"
I had forgotten about that- hilarious and touching.
posted by small_ruminant at 4:06 PM on November 10, 2017 [3 favorites]
I saw it today and it was delightful. I laughed, I cried, I rocked out to Immigrant Song.
posted by mogget at 6:57 PM on November 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by mogget at 6:57 PM on November 10, 2017 [2 favorites]
Saw this today - I liked it a lot but didn't love it (but it was way better than Age of Ultron and GotG 2. However, I did love Korg, of course, and the use of "Pure Imagination" was worth the price of admission.
posted by minsies at 4:17 PM on November 11, 2017
posted by minsies at 4:17 PM on November 11, 2017
Just viewed for the second time and the things I noticed that are not mentioned above:
- Mark Ruffalo's stellar acting - his whole panic attack and forlorn confusion felt so real! But in particular when he has the "where you at these days?" convo with a chained up Loki, who says "it varies from moment to moment." Ruffalo's facial expression at that moment was so genius. There is so much subtle comedy in this film.
- Heimdall as a different model of what "masculinity" looks like - the protector, whose energy goes into maintenance instead of progress. He is so quietly badass.
- All the LOTR parallels - not just Hela = dark Galadriel, and obviously Karl Urban, but the fair-haired innocents hiding in the cave a la Thor's Deep, and some of the score was really reminiscent of those films. I haven't seen any articles about this but I assume T.W. is a fan!
- My husband said during the Sakaar sequence, "This is what Fifth Element wanted to be." While I love that movie and he dislikes it, I can't say he's wrong.
I have two main gripes about this film, which I LOVED so much. (1) Hela and Valkyrie never speak to each other. Uncool. I wanted to see some closure & a Bechdel test success and they were SO CLOSE on the bridge! Dang! and related (2) Why the #@!& does Hela's costume have HIGH HEELS for the LOVE OF GOD PEOPLE. She can still be sexy with some nice practical boots. Argh.
In conclusion, please let Waikiti direct EVERY BLOCKBUSTER from now on.
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 11:20 AM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
- Mark Ruffalo's stellar acting - his whole panic attack and forlorn confusion felt so real! But in particular when he has the "where you at these days?" convo with a chained up Loki, who says "it varies from moment to moment." Ruffalo's facial expression at that moment was so genius. There is so much subtle comedy in this film.
- Heimdall as a different model of what "masculinity" looks like - the protector, whose energy goes into maintenance instead of progress. He is so quietly badass.
- All the LOTR parallels - not just Hela = dark Galadriel, and obviously Karl Urban, but the fair-haired innocents hiding in the cave a la Thor's Deep, and some of the score was really reminiscent of those films. I haven't seen any articles about this but I assume T.W. is a fan!
- My husband said during the Sakaar sequence, "This is what Fifth Element wanted to be." While I love that movie and he dislikes it, I can't say he's wrong.
I have two main gripes about this film, which I LOVED so much. (1) Hela and Valkyrie never speak to each other. Uncool. I wanted to see some closure & a Bechdel test success and they were SO CLOSE on the bridge! Dang! and related (2) Why the #@!& does Hela's costume have HIGH HEELS for the LOVE OF GOD PEOPLE. She can still be sexy with some nice practical boots. Argh.
In conclusion, please let Waikiti direct EVERY BLOCKBUSTER from now on.
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 11:20 AM on November 12, 2017 [5 favorites]
I went to RI Comic Con yesterday, and it was a disaster. They oversold tickets, and the PVD Fire Marshals and police nearly shut the whole thing down and emptied the building. We couldn't even get to the lines to get into the lines for the various panels.
Worse. Motherfucking worse. On the Show Floor, Jim Shooter had a booth. He was the only one manning it. THAT'S GODDAMN JIM SHOOTER! Holy hell, he has a binder with his Warriors of Plasm, with every card signed! Not going to buy it, but it's proof that this was Jim Shooter! He wasn't demanding money for autographs, just the man himself manning the booth. We were shoved from his table by a huge group that wanted to see the next table over behind us. Too. Many. People.
What was I pissed off about?
Jim Shooter was Editor in Chief in the '80s when Marvel buried DC as an also-ran, until they started swiping his talent and ideas - the mini-series and crossover event in particular. He was the boss who put Chris Claremont together with John Byrne on the X-Men, and demanded Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz go for it on New Mutants.
Secret Wars I and II, which is basically what the entire MCU is about right now, was his brainchild.
Jim Shooter is as essential to the success of the MCU as Stan Lee. Not because of Secret Wars. Because of his editorial edict:
There are knocks to his politics, and some of them hold water, but he put the Wasp as the head of the Avengers, and Storm as leader of the X-Men. He was evolving as the nation did.
I would really have liked to chat with him a few minutes, and buy some of his merch.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:41 PM on November 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Worse. Motherfucking worse. On the Show Floor, Jim Shooter had a booth. He was the only one manning it. THAT'S GODDAMN JIM SHOOTER! Holy hell, he has a binder with his Warriors of Plasm, with every card signed! Not going to buy it, but it's proof that this was Jim Shooter! He wasn't demanding money for autographs, just the man himself manning the booth. We were shoved from his table by a huge group that wanted to see the next table over behind us. Too. Many. People.
What was I pissed off about?
Jim Shooter was Editor in Chief in the '80s when Marvel buried DC as an also-ran, until they started swiping his talent and ideas - the mini-series and crossover event in particular. He was the boss who put Chris Claremont together with John Byrne on the X-Men, and demanded Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz go for it on New Mutants.
Secret Wars I and II, which is basically what the entire MCU is about right now, was his brainchild.
Jim Shooter is as essential to the success of the MCU as Stan Lee. Not because of Secret Wars. Because of his editorial edict:
While Marvel editor-in-chief in 1982, Shooter detailed what he considered the necessary qualities for a good comic book story:This is every MCU movie ever, for good or for bad. Including Thor: Ragnarok. Mostly for good.
The characters must be introduced.
Their situation must be established.
The conflict must be introduced.
Suspense must be built.
A climax must be reached.
A resolution must be achieved.
. . . When I evaluate a story, should one of the essential elements listed above be missing – say, the characters are not introduced properly when they are brought onstage – I immediately suspect that the author of the "story" knoweth not what he ith [sic] doing.
Second, I look for how well the story is told. Is the conflict worthwhile? Is the climax exciting? Is the resolution satisfying? Is the plot good? Are there interesting twists and turns? Is there a theme? Is there character development? Is it dramatic? Is it entertaining? This is the really important stuff. It should go without saying that a writer or a prospective writer should know enough to meet the fundamental requirements of a story. It's the power and the passion and drama and characterization that I really look for.
There are knocks to his politics, and some of them hold water, but he put the Wasp as the head of the Avengers, and Storm as leader of the X-Men. He was evolving as the nation did.
I would really have liked to chat with him a few minutes, and buy some of his merch.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:41 PM on November 12, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just saw Thor Ragnarok this afternoon and had a blast. I only wish I'd managed to somehow avoid all of the promos/trailers with the Hulk reveal so I could have been surprised by the "I know him from work" line, but, Loki's reactions to the whole sequence were a joy too.
I haven't seen the last few MCU movies - skipped Dr. Strange entirely on principle (the whitewashing, the mighty whitey trope, tired of Benefort Crundlescut, etc), didn't get around to seeing Guardians 2 or Spiderman Homecoming while they were in theaters but am waiting for them to show up on cable or Netflix). Was Banner being missing something I should have known from those movies, or was it mentioned in Civil War and I'm just drawing a blank? (My memories of Age of Ultron are pretty haze as well, aside from the 'flames, flames on the side of my face' feelings about the Natasha/Bruce pairing and the other various character-assassinating writing choices by Whedon.)
posted by oh yeah! at 5:51 PM on November 12, 2017
I haven't seen the last few MCU movies - skipped Dr. Strange entirely on principle (the whitewashing, the mighty whitey trope, tired of Benefort Crundlescut, etc), didn't get around to seeing Guardians 2 or Spiderman Homecoming while they were in theaters but am waiting for them to show up on cable or Netflix). Was Banner being missing something I should have known from those movies, or was it mentioned in Civil War and I'm just drawing a blank? (My memories of Age of Ultron are pretty haze as well, aside from the 'flames, flames on the side of my face' feelings about the Natasha/Bruce pairing and the other various character-assassinating writing choices by Whedon.)
posted by oh yeah! at 5:51 PM on November 12, 2017
Banner/Hulk went missing at the end of Age of Ultron.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:11 PM on November 12, 2017
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:11 PM on November 12, 2017
I saw it again today and I noticed that Clancy Brown is the voice of Surtur. It's a shame he & Jeff Goldblum didn't have any scenes together for a real Buckaroo Banzai reunion.
posted by mogget at 8:21 PM on November 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by mogget at 8:21 PM on November 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
Hello? Does anyone know when the Hela Funko Pop will be out? Asking for, well, everyone.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:56 AM on November 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 6:56 AM on November 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
For those who love Taika Waititi films, one of my favorite details is that Stu the IT guy from “What We Do in the Shadows” helped invent the lighting effects used in the Ride of the Valkyries scene, and Waititi brought in Stu’s special effects company for the action sequences.
WE LOVE STU AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO EAT HIM
WE’RE GOING TO HELP HIM GET DISNEY LEVEL MONEY AND MARVEL LEVEL FAME
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:59 AM on November 13, 2017 [25 favorites]
WE LOVE STU AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO EAT HIM
WE’RE GOING TO HELP HIM GET DISNEY LEVEL MONEY AND MARVEL LEVEL FAME
posted by a fiendish thingy at 9:59 AM on November 13, 2017 [25 favorites]
Cool, Funko Pop Hela is already here!
They're on back order 'cause I've bought all of them, but ya'll can go ahead and pre-order the next batch.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:25 PM on November 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
They're on back order 'cause I've bought all of them, but ya'll can go ahead and pre-order the next batch.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 1:25 PM on November 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Ok, I just finally got to see this and it was DELIGHTFUL.
I loved how Thor's haircut was completely jacked up the whole time, all unevenly shaved. I bet they had fun with that. And OMG, gratuitous shirtless scene was much appreciated.
Tessa Thompson was great, and I finally liked Loki thanks to his use in the "Help me!" scenario. That was excellent. I like that we do see that Thor has finally wised up in a lot of ways, from learning how to selfie with fans to pickpocketing steathily and finally seeing through Loki's standard double cross. And his unrepentant response when the Mjolnir-umbrella damaged Dr Strange's house was another small-but-hilarious moment. Hemsworth does really have excellent comedic timing.
posted by TwoStride at 7:06 PM on November 14, 2017 [6 favorites]
I loved how Thor's haircut was completely jacked up the whole time, all unevenly shaved. I bet they had fun with that. And OMG, gratuitous shirtless scene was much appreciated.
Tessa Thompson was great, and I finally liked Loki thanks to his use in the "Help me!" scenario. That was excellent. I like that we do see that Thor has finally wised up in a lot of ways, from learning how to selfie with fans to pickpocketing steathily and finally seeing through Loki's standard double cross. And his unrepentant response when the Mjolnir-umbrella damaged Dr Strange's house was another small-but-hilarious moment. Hemsworth does really have excellent comedic timing.
posted by TwoStride at 7:06 PM on November 14, 2017 [6 favorites]
Oh, one nagging question, though: where was Sif?? The Warriors Three seem to have met unhappy ends, but she was nowhere to be found? picking blindspot would be a sad reason
posted by TwoStride at 7:55 PM on November 14, 2017
posted by TwoStride at 7:55 PM on November 14, 2017
The actress herself was missing because of Blindspot filming, I believe. I think - and I'm sure someone can clarify - that there was a single line in the film about Sif being off on a quest somewhere.
posted by komara at 9:19 PM on November 14, 2017
posted by komara at 9:19 PM on November 14, 2017
EW article where Jaime Alexander explained why Sif wasn't in Thor: Ragnarok direct conflict on filming timetables with Blindspot. It does sound like the door is open to having her come back, but it might be a timing issue.
I don't have a lot of praise to heap on that hasn't already been heaped on, but I do want to share how some of my friends on social media were lamenting how Hela was less of a Goddess of Death and more of a Goddess of Knives, and I said, "well, it's not like she's using those knives to mince garlic, so ... why not both?"
but now that image has just distracted me with wanting to see an Asgardian cooking show where Hela is just chiffonading parsley while Thor is flattening some veal cutlets with his hammer and Loki narrates everything, and Odin just shows up and surprises everyone with the news that the 'veal' is actually made of smurfs that he murdered a century ago.
posted by bl1nk at 2:17 PM on November 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
I don't have a lot of praise to heap on that hasn't already been heaped on, but I do want to share how some of my friends on social media were lamenting how Hela was less of a Goddess of Death and more of a Goddess of Knives, and I said, "well, it's not like she's using those knives to mince garlic, so ... why not both?"
but now that image has just distracted me with wanting to see an Asgardian cooking show where Hela is just chiffonading parsley while Thor is flattening some veal cutlets with his hammer and Loki narrates everything, and Odin just shows up and surprises everyone with the news that the 'veal' is actually made of smurfs that he murdered a century ago.
posted by bl1nk at 2:17 PM on November 15, 2017 [6 favorites]
cumberbatch's american accent remains extremely questionable
Not half. Its painful. Talking of accents, why does Hogun seem be to the only Asgardian who doesn't have some sort of English accent?
posted by biffa at 1:49 AM on November 16, 2017
Not half. Its painful. Talking of accents, why does Hogun seem be to the only Asgardian who doesn't have some sort of English accent?
posted by biffa at 1:49 AM on November 16, 2017
Is he Asgardian? In the beginning of The Dark World I think Thor and company take the Bifröst back to Asgard after a battle on Hogun's home world.
posted by ODiV at 2:11 AM on November 16, 2017
posted by ODiV at 2:11 AM on November 16, 2017
You're right, I looked him up and he is Vanir, according to the MCU wiki. This is different from the comic book version I think.
I'm afraid I can remember virtually nothing from The Dark World, something for which I accept no responsibility.
posted by biffa at 10:22 AM on November 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm afraid I can remember virtually nothing from The Dark World, something for which I accept no responsibility.
posted by biffa at 10:22 AM on November 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
Finally got to see it today, and while I’m not quite as enthusiastic as some, it’s definitely the best of the Thor movies and in the top half of the MCU.
Lots of great lines, but my favorite was “Are you Thor, god of...hammers?” Great way to get to the “the power was inside you all along” moment.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2017
Lots of great lines, but my favorite was “Are you Thor, god of...hammers?” Great way to get to the “the power was inside you all along” moment.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 3:58 PM on November 18, 2017
Putting Skurge on a bridge in the beginning of your movie is like a Marvel Chekhov's gun. In the end it didn't give you the feels of his stand at Gjallerbru... but I'm glad it happened instead of just teasing it.
Also child me would have never believed that I'd see Hulk suplexing a giant mythical wolf to a Zeppelin song in a movie, so that's kind of an amazing thing to see.
Also also I can't stop thinking about that janky tin can style prop robot bartender, that's the kind of prop design the new Star Wars are missing!
posted by jason_steakums at 10:13 PM on November 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also child me would have never believed that I'd see Hulk suplexing a giant mythical wolf to a Zeppelin song in a movie, so that's kind of an amazing thing to see.
Also also I can't stop thinking about that janky tin can style prop robot bartender, that's the kind of prop design the new Star Wars are missing!
posted by jason_steakums at 10:13 PM on November 18, 2017 [2 favorites]
Saw it for the third time this weekend. A few thoughts:
Mark Ruffalo's stellar acting - his whole panic attack and forlorn confusion felt so real! But in particular when he has the "where you at these days?" convo with a chained up Loki
I want to highlight this because I LOVE this moment. It's a tiny moment but it says a lot about Bruce Banner in very little time. "Last time I saw you, you were wanting to kill everybody. Where are you at these days?" is the perfect question for him to ask. He's a guy that turns into a giant, unstoppable, unstoppable, rage-monster, so OF COURSE he has a nuanced understanding of mental health and believes, however fleetingly, in the possibility that Loki could have reached some kind of peace. And his expression at Loki's response is perfect.
I had noticed the score the first couple of times, it's very synth-heavy and new-age-y, so when I saw that Mark Mothersbaugh was responsible for it, that made sense. What I hadn't noticed was that the score is fairly traditional and symphonic up until we reach Sakar. That's when it starts to sound like Devo, which is perfect. The Grand Master would be Devo's biggest fan, I'm sure.
When Loki and Thor arrived in Manhattan, I was struck by something I hadn't noticed before. Hiddleston and Hemsworth are close to the same height. I looked it up, Hiddleston is 6'2" and Hemsworth is 6'3". This was kind of jarring because I'd always thought of Loki as being smaller than Thor. So I wondered if maybe Thor just appeared shorter in his civilian disguise and he would get taller when he banged his umbrella on the ground. But nope. They're just both tall dudes.
In the hands of nearly any other actress, Hela's lines would be overblown, boiler-plate, villain-speak, yet somehow she manages to make it work. I don't know how she does it. It's spectacular.
Valkyrie/Scrapper 162 calls Thor "Your Majesty" almost immediately, which I suppose is an indication that she hasn't totally left her Valkyrie roots behind her. It also suggests that she's aware that he's the rightful King of Asgard, since Majesty is a term reserved only for kings and queens (everybody else gets Highness or Lordship).
Where was Skurge hiding his machine guns when he got on the ship? When did he pick them up? I mean, I'm glad he had them, but uh, what?
I hope Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were suitably honored to have their song put to such good use. I'm sure Bonham would have loved it.
posted by wabbittwax at 8:30 AM on November 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
Mark Ruffalo's stellar acting - his whole panic attack and forlorn confusion felt so real! But in particular when he has the "where you at these days?" convo with a chained up Loki
I want to highlight this because I LOVE this moment. It's a tiny moment but it says a lot about Bruce Banner in very little time. "Last time I saw you, you were wanting to kill everybody. Where are you at these days?" is the perfect question for him to ask. He's a guy that turns into a giant, unstoppable, unstoppable, rage-monster, so OF COURSE he has a nuanced understanding of mental health and believes, however fleetingly, in the possibility that Loki could have reached some kind of peace. And his expression at Loki's response is perfect.
I had noticed the score the first couple of times, it's very synth-heavy and new-age-y, so when I saw that Mark Mothersbaugh was responsible for it, that made sense. What I hadn't noticed was that the score is fairly traditional and symphonic up until we reach Sakar. That's when it starts to sound like Devo, which is perfect. The Grand Master would be Devo's biggest fan, I'm sure.
When Loki and Thor arrived in Manhattan, I was struck by something I hadn't noticed before. Hiddleston and Hemsworth are close to the same height. I looked it up, Hiddleston is 6'2" and Hemsworth is 6'3". This was kind of jarring because I'd always thought of Loki as being smaller than Thor. So I wondered if maybe Thor just appeared shorter in his civilian disguise and he would get taller when he banged his umbrella on the ground. But nope. They're just both tall dudes.
In the hands of nearly any other actress, Hela's lines would be overblown, boiler-plate, villain-speak, yet somehow she manages to make it work. I don't know how she does it. It's spectacular.
Valkyrie/Scrapper 162 calls Thor "Your Majesty" almost immediately, which I suppose is an indication that she hasn't totally left her Valkyrie roots behind her. It also suggests that she's aware that he's the rightful King of Asgard, since Majesty is a term reserved only for kings and queens (everybody else gets Highness or Lordship).
Where was Skurge hiding his machine guns when he got on the ship? When did he pick them up? I mean, I'm glad he had them, but uh, what?
I hope Robert Plant and Jimmy Page were suitably honored to have their song put to such good use. I'm sure Bonham would have loved it.
posted by wabbittwax at 8:30 AM on November 19, 2017 [6 favorites]
I looked it up, Hiddleston is 6'2" and Hemsworth is 6'3". This was kind of jarring because I'd always thought of Loki as being smaller than Thor.
Hiddleston was actually originally cast as Loki after auditioning for the role of Thor-- his natural hair color is blond, and "blond, over six feet, not yet super famous, willing to bulk up" were the original casting requirements for Thor.
Hiddleston put on something like fifty pounds of muscle for the audition, and when they went with Hemsworth and asked him to be Loki, he had to lose it all immediately.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 2:03 PM on November 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
Hiddleston was actually originally cast as Loki after auditioning for the role of Thor-- his natural hair color is blond, and "blond, over six feet, not yet super famous, willing to bulk up" were the original casting requirements for Thor.
Hiddleston put on something like fifty pounds of muscle for the audition, and when they went with Hemsworth and asked him to be Loki, he had to lose it all immediately.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 2:03 PM on November 19, 2017 [3 favorites]
This is what I want my super hero films to be now, guys.
Yes, this. I enjoyed this a ton. Pretty, and just the right amount of stupid (ie hitting things with hammers, gratuitous shirtless Chris Hemsworth, like 3 dick jokes--all things I can appreciate) with some smarts too. Also Hela has great eyeshadow game.
So I guess the shiny thing that Loki gets distracted with when he goes to throw the thing in the thing is one of these "infinity stones" that are going to motivate the next movie?
Bummed the scene that would have made Valkyrie explicitly bisexual was cut.
posted by quaking fajita at 9:57 PM on November 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Yes, this. I enjoyed this a ton. Pretty, and just the right amount of stupid (ie hitting things with hammers, gratuitous shirtless Chris Hemsworth, like 3 dick jokes--all things I can appreciate) with some smarts too. Also Hela has great eyeshadow game.
So I guess the shiny thing that Loki gets distracted with when he goes to throw the thing in the thing is one of these "infinity stones" that are going to motivate the next movie?
Bummed the scene that would have made Valkyrie explicitly bisexual was cut.
posted by quaking fajita at 9:57 PM on November 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also, I thought that Asgard was a little too much Roman Empire (was Loki eating grapes on that couch??) and not enough Norse but now I am thinking that maybe that was on purpose (see: rest of thread of commentary re: imperialism, etc)
posted by quaking fajita at 10:15 PM on November 19, 2017
posted by quaking fajita at 10:15 PM on November 19, 2017
So I guess the shiny thing that Loki gets distracted with when he goes to throw the thing in the thing is one of these "infinity stones" that are going to motivate the next movie?
In short, yes.
To expand on that: That would be the Tesseract, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of a reality bending artifact from the comic books, the Cosmic Cube. In the movies, its powers were narrower in scope. It can function as an energy source for high tech weapons, and also open wormhole like portals. Of all the Stones, the Tesseract has had the most appearances, being the macguffin that tied the last half of the Phase One movies together. Red Skull used it to power HYDRA's weapons in the first Captain America movie. After the end of that movie, SHIELD got possession of it, and researched it for years. As a credits teaser at the end of the first Thor movie, astrophysicist Dr. Erik Selvig, fresh from his meeting of Thor & crew on their first modern visit to Earth, gets recruited by SHIELD to work on the Tesseract, while Loki, hidden from sight by his powers of illusion, looks on with interest. Then in the first Avengers, Loki, under orders from Thanos, steals the Tesseract and uses it to open a portal over New York for aliens to invade Earth. At the end of Avengers, Thor takes Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard so it can be stored safely in Odin's vault (where it probably should have been all this time, but Odin had decided to hide it on Earth centuries ago, which was how Red Skull ended up getting it in the first place).
Inside of the Tesseract is the Space Infinity Stone. Another Infinity Stone that has been shown is the Mind Stone, which was contained in the Scepter that Loki was using to mind control people in the first Avengers movie. HYDRA would then use the Mind Stone (still contained in the scepter) to give superpowers to the Maximov twins. Iron Man gets the scepter back from HYDRA, and uses it to create the AI that would become Ultron, the big bad of the second Avengers. During that movie, the Mind Stone is freed from the scepter, and is incorporated into the construction of the android Vision.
The other Infinity Stones have had more self contained appearances. The macguffin of Thor 2, the Aether, was the Reality Stone in a liquid form. Guardians of the Galaxy showed us the Power Gem, contained in the Orb that was the focus of that film, as well as telling the backstory of all the stones, that they were remnants of six singularities older than the universe itself and involved in its creation. The most recent to be revealed, the Time Stone, is the core of Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamatto amulet that he uses for his time magic shenanigans. The final stone, the Soul Stone, has yet to be revealed; many fans speculate that this will be a plot point of the Black Panther movie.
posted by radwolf76 at 8:13 AM on November 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
In short, yes.
To expand on that: That would be the Tesseract, the Marvel Cinematic Universe's version of a reality bending artifact from the comic books, the Cosmic Cube. In the movies, its powers were narrower in scope. It can function as an energy source for high tech weapons, and also open wormhole like portals. Of all the Stones, the Tesseract has had the most appearances, being the macguffin that tied the last half of the Phase One movies together. Red Skull used it to power HYDRA's weapons in the first Captain America movie. After the end of that movie, SHIELD got possession of it, and researched it for years. As a credits teaser at the end of the first Thor movie, astrophysicist Dr. Erik Selvig, fresh from his meeting of Thor & crew on their first modern visit to Earth, gets recruited by SHIELD to work on the Tesseract, while Loki, hidden from sight by his powers of illusion, looks on with interest. Then in the first Avengers, Loki, under orders from Thanos, steals the Tesseract and uses it to open a portal over New York for aliens to invade Earth. At the end of Avengers, Thor takes Loki and the Tesseract back to Asgard so it can be stored safely in Odin's vault (where it probably should have been all this time, but Odin had decided to hide it on Earth centuries ago, which was how Red Skull ended up getting it in the first place).
Inside of the Tesseract is the Space Infinity Stone. Another Infinity Stone that has been shown is the Mind Stone, which was contained in the Scepter that Loki was using to mind control people in the first Avengers movie. HYDRA would then use the Mind Stone (still contained in the scepter) to give superpowers to the Maximov twins. Iron Man gets the scepter back from HYDRA, and uses it to create the AI that would become Ultron, the big bad of the second Avengers. During that movie, the Mind Stone is freed from the scepter, and is incorporated into the construction of the android Vision.
The other Infinity Stones have had more self contained appearances. The macguffin of Thor 2, the Aether, was the Reality Stone in a liquid form. Guardians of the Galaxy showed us the Power Gem, contained in the Orb that was the focus of that film, as well as telling the backstory of all the stones, that they were remnants of six singularities older than the universe itself and involved in its creation. The most recent to be revealed, the Time Stone, is the core of Doctor Strange's Eye of Agamatto amulet that he uses for his time magic shenanigans. The final stone, the Soul Stone, has yet to be revealed; many fans speculate that this will be a plot point of the Black Panther movie.
posted by radwolf76 at 8:13 AM on November 20, 2017 [18 favorites]
Hott femme top Valkyrie & anti-fascist ideology & silly comedy & districting dumb fun were all good for me but definitely about an hour more punching/explosions/space battles/impalings than I am up for. Also, to stick with the progressive agenda, at the end the people of Asgard and their new comrades in the Revolution should have been like, "Um, hey Thor, we're really glad your back, but we'd like to move toward a representative Democracy now."
posted by latkes at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by latkes at 8:55 AM on November 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
I have to make this point: Whatever made Thanos think it was a good idea to use one infinity stone to find another? Like, if he has any cosmic awareness he should've realized that was a bad idea. Nevermind that the first time Loki went up against Thor, he lost, but any amount of research should've informed him that with all the heroes running around on Earth there's at least a 50/50 chance Loki would lose the scepter and the Mind Stone.
posted by numaner at 1:45 PM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by numaner at 1:45 PM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just as planned.
posted by tobascodagama at 2:41 PM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 2:41 PM on November 20, 2017 [1 favorite]
if it was planned we wouldn't have that post credit scene where he's like "If you want something done right you have to do it yourself" and puts on the glove.
posted by numaner at 3:55 PM on November 20, 2017
posted by numaner at 3:55 PM on November 20, 2017
I love how they dealt with the continuity issue of Odin having the Infinity Gauntlet in his vault in a previous movie and Thanos having it too. *thwap!* "FAKE!"
posted by jason_steakums at 4:52 PM on November 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 4:52 PM on November 20, 2017 [8 favorites]
You want to know what I want to see the MCU take on next? Marvel Team-Up. Where completely awesome Marvel characters who have no business with each other teaming up to fight an even more unlikely foe.
These may not float an entire feature film, but maybe a made-for-Premium-TV series. An hour long episode each.
First Episode.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:08 PM on November 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
These may not float an entire feature film, but maybe a made-for-Premium-TV series. An hour long episode each.
First Episode.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:08 PM on November 20, 2017 [4 favorites]
A Marvel Team-Up TV series sounds like a license to print money - you could get some bigger Marvel film heroes in it more easily because an episode or two is a much smaller commitment than a serialized show, you could backdoor pilot all kinds of things, constantly change it up if it gets stale and the ratings lag, deep dive into the comics to crank out new-to-live action characters...
posted by jason_steakums at 6:01 PM on November 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by jason_steakums at 6:01 PM on November 20, 2017 [3 favorites]
That was fun! As far as thematic elements, there was lots of 'mirroring opposites' in the film.
posted by P.o.B. at 9:10 AM on November 23, 2017
posted by P.o.B. at 9:10 AM on November 23, 2017
Taika Waititi: ‘I don’t have to be a tortured artist to be interesting, I can just be a f**king weird New Zealander’
When it comes to Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, the Asgard warrior who exiled herself after defeat at the hands of Hela, the film jumps into archetype: the Han Solo, the hard drinker, the rogue. The thing is, it’s an archetype almost never applied to female characters. Her introduction sees her both singlehandedly take out an entire gang of scrappers and drunkenly topple off a gangplank.posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:01 PM on November 23, 2017 [18 favorites]
It was enough of a change that Waititi admits he was nervous as to how she’d be received by audiences. “My fear sometimes is that people’s reactions are, ‘Oh god, a drunk woman? What’s wrong with her?’” he says. “But, if it was a guy, you know, everybody would be like, ‘Ah, awesome, what a cool dude! He loves day drinking!’ Which is so dumb.”
I lolled.
I mean, I don't know how else to comment on this other than... Thanks??
posted by Start with Dessert at 1:55 PM on November 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
I mean, I don't know how else to comment on this other than... Thanks??
posted by Start with Dessert at 1:55 PM on November 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Can y'all help me with something? Who was the guy that was melted by Grandmaster? I felt like we were supposed to know him from Guardians, but I can't quite place him.
Isn't he the guy Quill originally tried to sell the infinity stone to? That kicked him out when he heard Ronin's name.
posted by fshgrl at 11:40 PM on December 3, 2017
Isn't he the guy Quill originally tried to sell the infinity stone to? That kicked him out when he heard Ronin's name.
posted by fshgrl at 11:40 PM on December 3, 2017
Nah, I don't believe he's meant to be the same. If you get the sense the camera lingered, it's because of the casting, iirc he's a fellow kiwi comedian.
posted by cendawanita at 6:57 AM on December 4, 2017
posted by cendawanita at 6:57 AM on December 4, 2017
Oh my bad, he's Aussie. Steven Oliver's the name. That's all I can tell you from mobile
posted by cendawanita at 7:00 AM on December 4, 2017
posted by cendawanita at 7:00 AM on December 4, 2017
Hi this is just to say I’ve see this twice and taking new people to see it next week bye
posted by The Whelk at 3:09 PM on December 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:09 PM on December 8, 2017 [6 favorites]
Putting Skurge on a bridge in the beginning of your movie is like a Marvel Chekhov's gun. In the end it didn't give you the feels of his stand at Gjallerbru
For those who haven't read it, here's excerpts from He Stood Alone at Gjallerbru.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 12:43 PM on December 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
For those who haven't read it, here's excerpts from He Stood Alone at Gjallerbru.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 12:43 PM on December 21, 2017 [5 favorites]
...and the last page. "They sing no songs in hel, nor do they celebrate heroes..."
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:27 PM on December 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:27 PM on December 21, 2017 [3 favorites]
Fantastic! It really seriously felt like reading a Marvel comic in the late seventies or early eighties. This or GOTG are my A#1 films in the MCU now, which I am otherwise more or less entirely bored by now.
Will look in on that Spidey based on suggestions upthread, but low expectations, I assure you.
posted by mwhybark at 5:55 PM on February 10, 2018
Will look in on that Spidey based on suggestions upthread, but low expectations, I assure you.
posted by mwhybark at 5:55 PM on February 10, 2018
This popping up in my recent activity reminded me: here is a deleted scene. I see why it was cut, but I was still weeping with laughter.
posted by yasaman at 6:33 PM on February 10, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by yasaman at 6:33 PM on February 10, 2018 [9 favorites]
There's footage of, uh, is goldbluming a verb?
posted by Pronoiac at 11:20 AM on February 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Pronoiac at 11:20 AM on February 16, 2018 [6 favorites]
When we first see Odin on the Norwegian coast, I couldn't help but think that e's pining for the fjords.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 10:11 PM on February 16, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hey all, it just arrived on iTunes, time for a rewatch.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:24 PM on February 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 9:24 PM on February 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just saw this. Cate Blanchett makes a great Hexadecimal, and Jeff Goldblum makes a great Jeff Goldblum
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:11 AM on April 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by DoctorFedora at 6:11 AM on April 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
When you're already Jeff Goldblum, there's no reason to play any other character.
posted by octothorpe at 8:07 PM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 8:07 PM on April 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Finally saw this now that it's on Netflix. It's very, very, very good.
posted by tobascodagama at 8:26 PM on June 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 8:26 PM on June 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am amused by the Netflix advertising and the Internet's response...
posted by rmd1023 at 1:07 PM on June 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 1:07 PM on June 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
That is genius social media marketing by Netflix. Intentionally leaving out Loki pretty much guaranteed that Loki fans would end up meming it out like this. And now everybody knows that Thor: Ragnarok is on Netflix.
posted by tobascodagama at 1:28 PM on June 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 1:28 PM on June 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just watched this on Netflix. What a great film! I can think of literally no other actress who could have stood at the edge of a chasm pulling a 50-foot door down with knives without making me think "this is utterly ridiculous".
I do have one very small quibble. Why would Hela recognize the phrase Thor says his father told him that starts "A wise man never seeks out war..." I mean, I get that the second part of the phrase would resonate with her, but it doesn't make sense that she and Odin would have had much use for the first part, her whole shtick is that when she was still in Asgard she and pops were ALL ABOUT seeking out war.
posted by solotoro at 6:57 AM on June 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
I do have one very small quibble. Why would Hela recognize the phrase Thor says his father told him that starts "A wise man never seeks out war..." I mean, I get that the second part of the phrase would resonate with her, but it doesn't make sense that she and Odin would have had much use for the first part, her whole shtick is that when she was still in Asgard she and pops were ALL ABOUT seeking out war.
posted by solotoro at 6:57 AM on June 12, 2018 [1 favorite]
Well, Hela and Odin had a falling out, when she wanted to keep on keepin' on but he wanted to stop being colonizing warmongers. I assume he started using sayings like that when he was trying to get her to settle down, before he decided to just exile her.
posted by meese at 9:29 AM on June 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by meese at 9:29 AM on June 12, 2018 [3 favorites]
That was my take on that as well.
posted by tobascodagama at 9:33 AM on June 12, 2018
posted by tobascodagama at 9:33 AM on June 12, 2018
“Odin draws his power from Asgard, just like you.” Then later Thor gives up on saving Asgard and claims “Asgard isn’t a place, it is it’s people.” So Thor is smart enough to just let go of Asgard and let prophecy/mythos/fate take it’s course and in so doing: he destroys Hella and preserves the soul of Asgard, and his powers, by saving his people.
But then in Infinity War....
posted by P.o.B. at 10:24 PM on June 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
But then in Infinity War....
posted by P.o.B. at 10:24 PM on June 13, 2018 [4 favorites]
Finally saw this for the first time (thanks Netflix!) and enjoyed the crap out of it. I've never been able to get to the end of the previous two Thor movies, so this was a really pleasant surprise. More like this!
posted by olinerd at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by olinerd at 11:18 AM on July 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
(Finally saw this and am catching up)
Hell, even after [Taiki] was announced, my expectation was that they'd let him make a mostly-funny movie, but I didn't think the suits'd give him the free range he got.
According to my roommate, who is knowledgeable in such matters, neither did he. Apparently Marvel approached a few people, not just him, and Taiki didn't think he'd get it, so he figured he'd pitch them the kooky idea he really wanted to do rather than the serious thing he thought they wanted because why not. So when they came to the pitch, he told them what he really wanted to do was "something like Withnail and I". And to his great surprise Marvel said "oooh, yeah, perfect. Go for it, it's yours!"
"uh.....what?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 PM on March 9, 2019 [3 favorites]
Hell, even after [Taiki] was announced, my expectation was that they'd let him make a mostly-funny movie, but I didn't think the suits'd give him the free range he got.
According to my roommate, who is knowledgeable in such matters, neither did he. Apparently Marvel approached a few people, not just him, and Taiki didn't think he'd get it, so he figured he'd pitch them the kooky idea he really wanted to do rather than the serious thing he thought they wanted because why not. So when they came to the pitch, he told them what he really wanted to do was "something like Withnail and I". And to his great surprise Marvel said "oooh, yeah, perfect. Go for it, it's yours!"
"uh.....what?"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:23 PM on March 9, 2019 [3 favorites]
Slap*Happy: Korg was a mind-blowing interpretation of the character.
Taika Waititi's inspiration for Korg was Polynesian nightclub bouncers he would encounter in New Zealand (Screen Rant). When asked about Korg's accent in the film, Waititi described these bouncers as being "giant hulking dudes" who have rather delicate and gentle voices, but also "end up breaking a lot of legs and arms" (direct link to his interview on The Last Leg).
posted by filthy light thief at 5:45 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
Taika Waititi's inspiration for Korg was Polynesian nightclub bouncers he would encounter in New Zealand (Screen Rant). When asked about Korg's accent in the film, Waititi described these bouncers as being "giant hulking dudes" who have rather delicate and gentle voices, but also "end up breaking a lot of legs and arms" (direct link to his interview on The Last Leg).
posted by filthy light thief at 5:45 PM on May 22, 2019 [2 favorites]
Taika Waititi signs on for Thor 4.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 11:21 AM on July 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 11:21 AM on July 16, 2019 [4 favorites]
Yes. That means more chance for it to be called:
THOR FOUR: MORE THORS
subtitle: THE THOR CORPS TOUR
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:47 AM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
THOR FOUR: MORE THORS
subtitle: THE THOR CORPS TOUR
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 2:47 AM on July 17, 2019 [1 favorite]
For an insane second when I saw the Twitter announcement I read it as "TOM WAITS signs on to direct Thor 4" and my immediate reaction was "WHAT WOULD THAT EVEN BE."
Taika Waititi is still awesome, but seriously, imagine a Tom Waits-directed THOR movie and tell me that wouldn't be mind-altering.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:58 AM on July 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
Taika Waititi is still awesome, but seriously, imagine a Tom Waits-directed THOR movie and tell me that wouldn't be mind-altering.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:58 AM on July 17, 2019 [4 favorites]
Woot!
posted by praemunire at 11:13 AM on April 18, 2022
posted by praemunire at 11:13 AM on April 18, 2022
Just watched this. Enjoyed it.
I thought Cate Blanchett did a fantastic job putting a wry spin on a pretty generic villain.
I would love to see a female villain in a film like this who is either physically imposing (looks like she could throw a shot put) or just normal looking, and not in heels.
And I was disappointed that she basically just beat people up one on one. I expected the Goddess of Death to have a shock and awe level of charisma, and subdue people with a look. Rob them of hope and motivation.
Dominate them from the back of Fenthris.
Fighting and kicking and jumping about made her seem weak to me.
Would have loved to see a bit more of a moment between her and Fenthris, so that I could feel they cared about one another.
Both of them freed from captivity and with nothing to lose, loyal to one another but uncaring about anyone else's suffering.
I know I'm unlikely to get any of these things in a marvel movie, and I still enjoyed the movie despite these things, but I can't help wishing.
posted by Zumbador at 11:23 PM on April 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
I thought Cate Blanchett did a fantastic job putting a wry spin on a pretty generic villain.
I would love to see a female villain in a film like this who is either physically imposing (looks like she could throw a shot put) or just normal looking, and not in heels.
And I was disappointed that she basically just beat people up one on one. I expected the Goddess of Death to have a shock and awe level of charisma, and subdue people with a look. Rob them of hope and motivation.
Dominate them from the back of Fenthris.
Fighting and kicking and jumping about made her seem weak to me.
Would have loved to see a bit more of a moment between her and Fenthris, so that I could feel they cared about one another.
Both of them freed from captivity and with nothing to lose, loyal to one another but uncaring about anyone else's suffering.
I know I'm unlikely to get any of these things in a marvel movie, and I still enjoyed the movie despite these things, but I can't help wishing.
posted by Zumbador at 11:23 PM on April 23, 2022 [1 favorite]
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posted by Pope Guilty at 7:02 PM on October 24, 2017 [1 favorite]