Version I saw: UK cinema release (3D)
Actors: 7/10
Plot/script: 7/10
Photography/visual style: 6/10
Music/score: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
Taika Waititi was midway through a meteoric rise when he made this big-budget effects-laden Marvel blockbuster.
To the already stacked cast he added fellow antipodeans Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban and himself, and brought the production to his native New Zealand for filming. Standouts include Mark Ruffalo in a surprisingly prominent role that makes this a stealth Hulk film, and Jeff Goldblum bringing his idiosyncratic acting style that turns out to be a good match for Waititi's offbeat humour.
While keeping some aspects directly drawn from the comics, Waititi and scriptwriters Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher L. Yost picked and chose what to retain and what to dispose of from previous instalments. Among the elements lost are Thor's trademark 'ye olde' phrasing, and love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), although I am inclined to ascribe this to scheduling conflicts, given her return in Love & Thunder.
Visually it is very much a Marvel film, with crisp photography in bright colours and lots of spectacular settings and action. However, Waititi's wit and sense of silliness are also very much in evidence. Some have actually said this is a bad thing, as it undermines the tension, but I found it very enjoyable.
Thematically, the film deals with ideas around the reassessment of history and how to cope with disaster. I think it has more depth than many give it credit for.
I have not yet seen Love & Thunder, partly because the broad consensus is that it is poor, which is a shame for multiple reasons. I hope we get more in future from Thor and from Waititi.
For my full review, see my independent blog on Blogspot, Cinema Inferno.
Taika Waititi was midway through a meteoric rise when he made this big-budget effects-laden Marvel blockbuster.
To the already stacked cast he added fellow antipodeans Cate Blanchett, Karl Urban and himself, and brought the production to his native New Zealand for filming. Standouts include Mark Ruffalo in a surprisingly prominent role that makes this a stealth Hulk film, and Jeff Goldblum bringing his idiosyncratic acting style that turns out to be a good match for Waititi's offbeat humour.
While keeping some aspects directly drawn from the comics, Waititi and scriptwriters Eric Pearson, Craig Kyle and Christopher L. Yost picked and chose what to retain and what to dispose of from previous instalments. Among the elements lost are Thor's trademark 'ye olde' phrasing, and love interest Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), although I am inclined to ascribe this to scheduling conflicts, given her return in Love & Thunder.
Visually it is very much a Marvel film, with crisp photography in bright colours and lots of spectacular settings and action. However, Waititi's wit and sense of silliness are also very much in evidence. Some have actually said this is a bad thing, as it undermines the tension, but I found it very enjoyable.
Thematically, the film deals with ideas around the reassessment of history and how to cope with disaster. I think it has more depth than many give it credit for.
I have not yet seen Love & Thunder, partly because the broad consensus is that it is poor, which is a shame for multiple reasons. I hope we get more in future from Thor and from Waititi.
For my full review, see my independent blog on Blogspot, Cinema Inferno.