Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Some elements of Thor: Ragnarok show their age, but the core of it — home is not a place, Taika Waititi's comedic reinvention of Thor — hasn't diminished at all. Films this good age better than almost anything else.

I usually avoid this kind of film but gave Thor: Ragnarok a chance after constant recommendations. Completely converted. Taika Waititi transcends genre entirely. It works as pure human drama first.

Thor: Ragnarok builds so carefully to its conclusion that when it arrives you feel genuinely moved. The reinvention thread pays off in a way that's earned rather than manipulative. Couldn't sleep afterward.

Thor: Ragnarok is technically accomplished and I understand its place in film history. But it left me cold. The the truth about Asgard's history element felt mechanical and I never connected emotionally. Maybe I'll try again.

I've seen Thor: Ragnarok multiple times now and it just keeps getting better. Cate Blanchett as Hela is something rarely matched in cinema. If you haven't watched it yet, clear your evening.

Every choice in Thor: Ragnarok feels deliberate. The framing, the pacing, Led Zeppelin entrance — Taika Waititi is operating at a level most filmmakers never reach. It's the kind of film you study rather than just watch.

The music in Thor: Ragnarok is so deeply married to the images that you almost can't separate them. It stays in your head days later and when you hear it again the emotions return immediately.

Every actor brings something to Thor: Ragnarok, but the lead performance is genuinely extraordinary. The subtlety involved, the way the character changes without announcing it — it's a masterclass.