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You already know Rudy but now meet his litter brother, Scurge

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**THUNDEROUS SPOILERS BELOW**

I will be the first to admit...Thor wasn’t my favorite Avenger -- I have never watched the original 2011 Thor all the way through, and while I didn’t think Thor: The Dark World was bad, it wasn’t a movie I particularly remembered -- well, at least he wasn’t my favorite Avenger until now.

My Top Ten Thoughts on Thor: Ragnarok:

10. I think director’s finally have figured out what Joss Whedon was first to tap into with Cabin in the Woods: that Chris Hemsworth is a genuinely funny actor.

Thor’s character has certainly evolved the most over the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from being a stone-serious fish out of water Norse god, to a, dare I say, electric (there, I did the pun) personality that is narcissistic, self-aware, but still serious with a flare for bravado. I just hope they keep him a little more grounded and serious, which they seem to be doing, so he doesn’t turn into another Star Lord.

Maybe by Infinity Wars, we’ll see for sure!

9. Tessa Thompson shone to me as Valkyrie. She took on the tropes given to most male sidekick characters -- the survivor backstory, the depressing drinking, the scavenger role -- but she also gets the redemption arc and becomes part of the “team.” I also like that she is strictly portrayed as a strong warrior -- yes, there are a few moments where her and Thor share some chemistry (apparently he broke up with Jan so no more Natalie Portman and friends? I’m okay with this), but it’s never played up...she’s just a character, part of the team...and I love it.

8. Speaking of part of the team, this gang is probably my favorite Avengers spin-off group: Thor, Loki, Valkyrie, The Hulk -- even a brief cameo by Doctor Strange, which did seem like just an introduction scene for him so that he would make sense being in future films -- everyone played their part well, even though:

7. Bruce Banner was definitely “off” in this movie -- similarly to Tony Stark in Iron Man 3. It’s not a bad thing, but poor Banner is completely out of his element. It took me a second to realize that this IS, in fact, his first visit off of Earth. We’re so used to seeing The Guardians of the Galaxy in space, it’s a little strange to see an Avenger we’re so used to only on earth have to get used to life in the outside universe. I love Ruffalo’s performance as Banner, and he’s SO sweet in this, even his little moment where he and Valkyrie realize who each other are. He may have been “off,” but it didn’t take away from the film!

6. And neither did the side characters. Idris Elba is as good as ever, and Karl Urban was a welcome edition as the janitor-turned-executioner Scurge...but of course, Jeff Goldblum stole the show as the GrandMaster. There’s just something already “eternal” about Goldblum...him as a self-centered egomaniac just kind of...fits? Is that the right term? Still, a scene involving his star ship and “Birthday” theme had me ROLLING in the theater.

5. If I had one complaint about the film -- and I’ll justify that complaint below, just wait -- it’s that there is a tonal “gap” in the film. At times, it can be serious (though not too serious), but for the most part it can be very light-hearted and comedic. Not all the jokes land, but there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. And helping to tie the serious parts together --

4. Loki and Odin: Tom Hiddleston definitely knows this part and plays it SO well! For all the serious and aloof attitude Helmsworth projects as Thor, there’s a much more delicate and passionate performance by Hiddleston as Loki, even when he’s just making a facial expression or saying one line.

The same goes for Anthony Hopkins as Odin -- spoilers, but Odin dies in the start of this film, which causes the release of Hela, who we find out is -- spoilers again -- Thor’s older sister, the first daughter of Odin, and goddess of death.

I really liked the message of a home not being a “place, but a people.” And the serious moments worked well -- more on that comedy later, though.

3. Cate Blanchett as Hela was just lovely -- she was strong, powerful, and had a grounding with a purpose as Thor’s sister who just wants to keep conquering the universes as she did with her father. She is quite a foe to be reckoned with, as Thor finds out first hand -- rather, with his own “eye” (sorry, I can’t resist the puns today)!

As for her “end,” well, I of course don’t really think it’s an “ending.” I mean, come on -- I love the end monster ex machina idea that Thor thought up, but with Thanos being literally “in love” with Hela in the comics -- to my knowledge, anyway -- I have a feeling we’ve not seen the last of her. And I’m so excited to see more, hopefully!

2. Before my final point, I have to throw in the MVP award to The Hulk; Bruce Banner literally has been taken over by The Hulk for two years in the movie’s narrative -- and it’s fun to see a culture in a film so in love with The Hulk. There are paper masks and green colors everywhere -- it’s great to behold! And we get The Hulk fighting a giant Wolf! On. Board.

1. So, about that comedy -- yes, at times, it distracts from the seriousness of a scene. However, I will defend it for these reasons: First, the subject matter is Thor’s universe -- a rainbow sky teleports a giant green monster, former space-amazon warrior, trickster, and thunder “lord” to an alien planet to fight the goddess of death...yeah, at some point, there’s a line where we can’t be too serious with our plot. And Thor: Ragnorak completely understands this. It’s one of the reasons it’s able to be a funny, light-hearted movie, and work as just that.

Second, my biggest complaint about Civil War is that it tried to be too serious -- with too many stakes, too much cold emotion, and everyone ended up apart by the end. These are comic book movies -- I want to care about these characters, but I’m also aware of the type of movie this is -- Thor: Ragnarok does an excellent job of being a humorous, fun, zany romp that sets up future films without distracting from the story it’s telling.

...oh, and Thor loses and eye and now can control his thunderous power without a hammer. That is all.