By Gilberto Campa
Everyone’s favorite Demi-God and wise-cracking Avenger returns for another sprawling journey across the Galaxy in Thor: Love and Thunder. Taika Waititi who brought new life into the Thor character and franchise with 2017’s Thor: Ragnarök is back at the helm as Director and serves as co-writer with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson (Someone Great, Unpregnant). Love and Thunder picks up a few years after Endgame and right away you are caught up to what has been happening with Thor and everyone else in his life, which has been a lot. The title of the film isn’t just a cool 80’s album name but it serves as the overall theme of the movie, Love.
Thor is looking for someone to open his heart to, but his faith and past experiences (which are hilariously montaged) have left his heart closed as he’s choosing to be peaceful, the only way that he can. Speaking of faith, the real big headline for this movie is the addition of the one and only Christian Bale as Gorr The God Butcher which ends up turning just another MCU movie into something more. His portrayal as Gorr who is a character that isn’t as well known is unsettling, mysterious, and outright horrifying. With the type of preparation that Bale is known for when taking any film that he makes, you see just how much weight and levity he brings to the role.
You completely understand what his only motivation is (to destroy all God’s) and it never wavers throughout the movie, it also keeps you engaged with what’s going on. What’s also cool is how his powers work as he moves in the shadows and takes the color out of the movie, which is very colorful btw. The other element of the movie that was really fun is the overall sense of adventure and spectacle that drives the story, combine that with a Guns N Roses-inspired 80’s soundtrack and you have a story that stands out over some of the previous entries in the MCU.
The next big thing about Love and Thunder is the return of Jane Foster (Natale Portman) and her transformation into the Mighty Thor. This time around the chemistry with Thor and Jane feels the most natural as it doesn’t feel forced or out of place, and the way that Thor plays off missing Mjolnir and Stormbreaker taking offense to that is done in such a believable and comedic way. Chris Hemsworth has really solidified his portrayal of Thor in such an excellent way and has so much more that he can do going forward, he brings so much humor while also carrying the emotional pain and distress through self-reflective line delivery. This movie also feels really personal to everyone involved as some of the kids in the movie are portrayed by Taika Waititi and Chris Hemsworth’s children which brings things full circle in a way. Overall, with some of the usual fun MCU cameos and Thor-level action that keeps you entertained, Love and Thunder is a fun and exciting adventure that strikes all the emotional chords and leaves you with a smile on your face.
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