Is Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder worth watching?
Marvel’s latest film, Thor: Love and Thunder, hit US theaters on July 8, 2022, furthering the hero’s storyline in the much-loved Marvel universe.
Despite the high level of anticipation, the movie left many Marvel fans disappointed by the final result. This left many wondering if it’s worth seeing on the big screen or even worth watching at all.
Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth film in the fan-favorite Thor franchise. The movie’s plot takes on a new villain, Gorr the God Butcher, played by Academy Award-winning actor Christian Bale, as he attempts to rid the universe of all the ‘Gods.’
The movie’s casting also brought back some of the franchise’s beloved characters, such as Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi), and even Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), known as Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) ex-girlfriend. The cast of Guardians of the Galaxy also makes an appearance at the start of the film, including fan-favorite character, Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt.
With a runtime of only 119 minutes, the film’s main criticisms surround its fast-paced layout, which many found gave the movie a rushed and careless feel. Paired with its short duration, some viewers shared similar criticisms about the movie’s comedy-focused script. Even though Thor’s character is typically known for being humorous, audiences found that the constant comedic exaggeration took away from the story, often interrupting its emotional parts.
However, the movie’s comedic and light-hearted feel gave audiences a new view of the Thor franchise, straying away from overdramatic and heavy plotlines that often seem to drag on.
Even with few emotional moments, Thor: Love and Thunder still include a couple of tear-inducing scenes, reminding you of the hero’s soft side and the harsh realities of characters in the Marvel Universe.
Another of the film’s notable features is its impressive and visually stunning scenes, paired with creative costume design unique to each character. Barry Baz Idoine and Todd Banhazl, the film’s cinematographers, executed an array of breathtaking visuals despite its relatively brief runtime.
Many of the movie’s creatures and monsters are tremendously creative and unique, making it difficult to look away. Specifically, Gorr the God Butcher’s (Christian Bale) shadow army, which included monsters straight out of a child’s nightmare, adding aspects of horror to the plot and showcasing the new villain’s abilities.
Other scenes displayed beautiful landscapes, whether it was a shot of deep space or the picturesque town of New Asgard. The film also played with light and color, from fight scenes in black and white to a battle in a giant coliseum made out of gold.
In terms of visual effects and set design, Thor: Love and Thunder certainly hit the mark and exceeded expectations.
Despite the film’s range of harsh criticism and mixed reviews from viewers, this new addition to the Thor franchise shouldn’t go unnoticed, especially for fans who enjoy Marvel’s out-of-the-box character development and attention-grabbing visual effects.
Next. Chris Hemsworth almost lost ‘Thor’ role to Liam Hemsworth. dark
Make sure to stick around to the end for two end credit scenes that give a sneak peek at what’s to come for the Thor franchise.