Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

  I saw this last weekend but didn't end up getting to post it.  This is definitely the best Thor movie.  I'd have to rewatch all the Marvels to see where it ranks overall, but that is a project for next summer perhaps.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) discovers that Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has been impersonating Odin (Anthony Hopkins) after having hidden him away on Earth.  With some help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), they find a much diminished Odin in Norway.  He warns them that with his death, Hela (Cate Blanchett) will rise and seek to claim the throne of Asgard.  Which she does.  Being older and more powerful than both Thor and Loki combined, she immediately kicks their asses and they end up separated and fallen through the rainbow bridge onto the planet Sakaar.  Loki ingratiates himself with the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), while Thor is tagged by a former Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) to fight in the gladiatorial arena.  He is at first pleased to know his opponent, the undisputed champion, is the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) but soon discovers that Hulk has no desire to ever become Bruce Banner again.  Thor must convince Hulk and Valkyrie to reject their unhealthy coping mechanisms so they can escape from Sakaar and stop Hela before she destroys the universe.

This was a highly anticipated film, in no small part because it represented the first entry from New Zealand director Taika Waititi.  He encouraged the actors to improvise and said in at least one interview that 80% of the script was off-the-cuff.  I don't know how to describe it, but there is a very particular energy in improvisational films.  Anticipation, maybe?  There always seems like a split-second of hesitation between each line.  That may or may not work for you.  You may not even notice it.  For this film, it works.

There's a great camaraderie between the main actors, probably from having worked so closely with each other for so long.  Blanchett is a pro.  You could probably drop her in without a script and she'd blow you away.  Tessa Thompson was a very pleasant addition.  She is a fast rising star and I hope to see more of her in everything.

I loved this movie.  It was a candy-colored arcade-game-themed roller coaster and it rewards my faith in being a Marvel fangirl.