"Thor: Ragnarok" - SPOILER ALERT

Be still, my heart. Thor is back.💖

I recently watched an interview with Chris Hemsworth where he said when he was first given the script for "Thor: Ragnarok", he thought it was hilarious. I had also read somewhere else that it was a funny movie, so I had high expectations.

I'm happy to report I was not disappointed. I laughed throughout the movie from the very beginning (like when Thor was hanging from the chain and it was revolving with him on it while he was trying to have a serious conversation) and that is the main reason I loved it so much. It's also why Thor has undeniably become my favorite avenger in the MCU. He's a funny god without trying to be so. It's just the way he is and I suspect this is also true to the actor's real-life personality. That makes his character all the more authentic and likeable.

The entire scene with Doctor Strange and Thor seemed a bit random to me, but it made me laugh so much that I could forgive the randomness. It was worth including it in the movie. It's hysterical to see Thor in uncomfortable situations. He's this rough and tough god, but he has a vulnerable side to him that makes him human-like. I love this combination!

One character I've had a love/hate relationship with from the very first Thor movie is Loki. Tom Hiddleston continues to be impeccable in the role of Thor's trouble-making brother. In one way, I can't stand the god, yet, in a weird way, I have a soft spot for him. Some of my favorite scenes in "Thor: Ragnarok" are the ones where Thor and Loki are standing or walking together, united as a strong team. I also found "get help" quite amusing.😄

I love that Loki continues to stay true to his mischievous personality, but that Thor is starting to figure him out and be one step ahead of him. I also love that Thor is still loyal to his brother. The way these two characters have evolved has been interesting to watch. What a twist at the end when, in a way, Loki and Skurge (another character I loved to watch evolve in this movie) saved the day. Well, maybe more than just the day!

It's interesting to note, my feelings about Hela, their evil sister, were quite different. Whereas with Loki I have always wanted him to stick around, I really couldn't stand Hela (a credit to Kate Blanchet's stellar portrayal of the character and to the writers of the script). I was appalled when she destroyed Thor's hammer! Who does that?! Evil Hela, that's who! Seriously. That was the last straw for me. She lost me right then and there. It did clearly demonstrate her power, though. That was actually a brilliant way to show what she was capable of doing. I think the hammer (or lack of it) also became a symbol of how strong Thor is on his own. I was touched by the scene where Odin reminded Thor that he is the god of thunder, not the god of hammers. This was comforting to me and I was suddenly okay with Thor being without his mighty hammer. I realized, and I think Thor realized, his strength was not only physical, but also mental.

I was also quite distraught that Thor had his hair cut. Take away his hammer AND cut his hair??? Yikes!!! I loved his long hair! It suited him well, although his shorter hair seems to make him look more mature, which is fitting for his character. So I suppose I'm okay with it. I guess. Sigh...

A couple of other characters I liked a lot were Valkyrie and Korg. I can sense something interesting brewing between Valkyrie and Thor. I wonder if she will be the "Love" in "Love and Thunder". And Korg...well he is just a super cool character. He made me think of Treebeard in "Lord of the Rings". I love both of those characters.

One character throughout the Marvel series that I've had trouble understanding is Hulk. Especially after watching "Thor: Ragnarok", I'm unsure what triggers Bruce Banner to change into the angry green guy. In at least one previous Avenger movie, didn't he proclaim and then prove that he could change whenever he wanted to?  I'm so confused. In any case, I did like his role in this movie, and I especially liked Thor's reaction and attempt at small talk when he first realized he would be up against his old friend.

The cinematography was clever, but there was something interesting I noticed about the garbage planet. It was beautifully trashy. The overall views of Sakaar seemed so colorful and striking to me. I don't know if that was intentional or just my perception of it.

One last thing I must mention that I really liked is the music that played in the battles at the beginning and end of the movie. They fit the mood well. That combined with an outstanding cast, signature Thor humor, and an engaging plot made this a winner for me!