REVIEW: THOR - LOVE AND THUNDER

4/5

Thor Thor.

119 Minutes. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Jaimie Alexander, Taikia Waititi, Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Russell Crowe & Natalie Portman. Director: Taika Waititi. 

Sweet child of mine, the thunder is back. But this time, it's a love story. And even if you find those kinds of rom-com thunderbolts of lightning very, very frightening, Galileo. If all romantic comedies were like 'Thor-Love and Thunder', you'd be screaming "ANOTHEEEER". And that's the tea. Poirot himself, Kenneth Branagh's bawdy 2011 first 'Thor' film was fresh fun. Sibling rivalry setting the Shakespeare in the park stage for things to come like the assembling Avengers battle for New York against brother in arms Loki. Many consider Thor's 'The Dark World' sequel to be Marvel's worst movie not called 'Eternals'. But both enjoyable, entertaining films deserve better from the fans. And if this is the worst the M.C.U. has to offer, then you're in for a treat like skipping leg day (although this God doesn't like Van Damme) for cheat day. Still when 'What We Do In The Shadows' and Oscar nominated 'Jojo Rabbit' director Taika Waititi broke the bifrost and chopped off Odin son's legendary locks, it was clear we needed the change we were in for. With 'Ragnarok' he destroyed Asgard with Cate Blanchett Hela horns to pay. Coming out of dark worlds with vibrant colour. Taika left you green with envy as he even had a Hulk for his thunder clap. Upstaging everyone with the voice of his own lovable rock-steady concrete character Korg. Here narrating the "Dad bod to God bod" story so far with some hilarious misnames for the God of Love and Thunder's muse. Now forthcoming 'Star Wars' director Waititi (right now going against himself and Hemsworth's fellow avenging Chris, Evans (also going to Netflix battle with 'The Gray Man' against Hemsworth's 'Spiderhead', that sounds like it's own superhero movie) in the Disney buzzing 'Lightyear') doesn't keep us waiting with one of the shortest, silliest, but also brilliant and beautiful Marvel movies in recent memory. A new/old 'Loki' has his own show now. And friend from work Bruce Banner is about to provide more than legal aid for our 'She Hulk' attorney at law for the next Disney + series after 'Ms. Marvel'. No matter. See that 'American Psycho' over there butchering God's like he was about to listen to Huey Lewis and the News and kill another Joker? Now there's a Batman! With an axe to grind.

Dark Knight Christian Bale is seriously good here. Despite rebuking a reporter who asked him what it was like to enter the Marvel Cinematic Universe. To him the M.C.U. is where him and Gordon locked up Heath Ledger's legendary clown prince. "I saw one of the ones were the big bloke was looking for stones", Bale hilariously told Empire magazine when asked about his superhero binging. But now this anti-hero has literally lived long enough to see himself become a villain that looks a little like Voldermort, you're going to love the spell he puts on you. From his Moby looking back story, brutal and beautiful. To his rolling sympathy for the devil, as one of the best and understood Marvel villains of all-time (we see you, Michael B. Jordan's Killmonger). "All God's will die" he declares like it was his duty as he takes a sword a knight would be proud of and plunges into a world that turns dark...literally. In a reverse 'Wizard of the Oz' as Kansas, or new Asgard is turned upside down and Waititi's colourful 'Love and Thunder' palette tonal turns into 'Logan Noir' for the Shadow Realm. Or something out of the Snyder verse for this former caped crusader. This gadget from his armoury enough to break the storm coming from Thor's called axe. A tool that's building his own jealousy to hilarious Iron Man suit or Doctor Strange cape effect. As a former flame is making its boomerang way back to the booming Australian with the underrated comedy chops that never takes any of us fairytale stuff God's and monsters were made of seriously. And just look at who that hammer is spending time with. No not Lady Thor, but Dr. Jane Foster. The new mighty. And blimey the substance of story that you can't spoil given to this passing of the mjolnir to 'V For Vendetta' hero and 'Star Wars' Queen Natalie Portman is bold, believable and true to the source, not searching for a box tick. But something deeper and more meaningful. It's great to have Portman back like you've never seen her before. From the first time you caught the trailer tease and saw those iconic realms that now belong to her. 

Thor four (try saying that after a pint of Asgardian mead) is more than fan service or blockbuster pop culture. It's just a storm of critical consenus breaking delight that puts the hammer down on sticking the landing. As point break goes up against the Maverick new 'Top Gun' movie of the Summer, Hemsworth in a new suped up suit is hilarious as always. Making his Marvel deal as massive as his bulging biceps that leave swooning Goddesses falling over themselves like bowling pins, or streaming Netflix one. About to extract another epic 'Extraction' movie with those avenging Russo's, also playing in the sandbox with Chris Evans' 'Grey Man' moustache. And his reunion with Portman puts them right next to Pepper and Tony and Peter Parker and MJ when it comes to Marvel power couples. Taika taking the piss with the pebbles of Korg will make you forget about Loki, or the not so jolly green giant. Whilst the welcome return of Jaimie Alexander's Lady Sif will make you glad she was probably cameoing on 'Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D.' when Cate laid waste. You probably can't remember the names of the Warriors Three, can you? But that's OK this movie doesn't know either. It's a brave new Asgard and Tessa Thompson's terrific King Valkyrie takes the throne now. And if that wasn't enough for you, even the 'Gurdians Of The Galaxy' are here for Thor Volume 4 (that's better), that sounds like Star-Lord's Zune has been permanently stuck on Guns N Roses (we ain't complaining, welcome back to the Jungle). Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, new member Sean Gunn and Vin Diesel, who is Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket are funny fun as always. Wanting for more adventures of Thor as we look into the eyes of those we love. But listen, for all the classic cameo callbacks, family ones, more stage shows and a pair of goats (watch Marvel's hilarious 'Robot Chicken' like 'M.O.D.O.K' if you want more on Disney Plus) who really are a scream (ten times later...it's still hilarious). It's 'Gladiator' himself Russell Crowe's scene stealing Zeus that's a real strike of lightning to the bolt he waves around like it's the thing he leads his famous orgies with. Crowe has got his feet into some failed franchise ideas of late (we would have loved to have seen more of his Dr. Jekyll and the Hyde side in Universal's Dark Universe), but we hope this isn't the only time he has a God complex. But for all this big bravado and bluster, 'Thor-Love and Thunder' is sweet, sincere and hits the spot. Even if at times it flicks too hard. Or if we have been robbed of Jeff Goldblum and Peter Dinklage cut cameos. Along with a primal scream from Bale (save it for the goats) and a Kate Bush song because of all that running up with 'Stranger Things'. For Thor fans though, this is Valhalla. Give it a round of thunderous applause. You've got to love it! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Thor', 'Thor-The Dark World', 'Thor-Ragnarok'.