TajLV’s review published on Letterboxd:
Using a tried and true literary device, director Taika Waititi sets up this fourth film in the Thor Franchise as a story told to Asgardian children by the Kronan rock man known as Korg (voiced by Waititi). There will be times in the nearly two hours of viewing that the audience will forget, as intended, that this is a narrated adventure, and the device allows the New Zealand filmmaker to pull us in any direction at any time, skillfully injecting humor and pathos at will. You have got to love this crazy-ass director.
And yes, Thor 4 is a pretty crazy-ass movie, which wanders far from the series' roots in Asgard and Earth to such new venues as the secret sanctuary of the gods known as Omnipotence City, the black-and-white Shadow Realm, theme park-like New Asgard, and the very core of the Universe, where the cosmic being called Eternity exists beyond the laws of space and time. Of course, Chris Hemsworth is back as the God of Thunder, with Natalie Portman reprising her Dr. Jane Foster role. And there is Tessa Thompson returning as the goddess Valkyrie, now King of New Asgard. But it is the new characters that shape this tale, and they are a formidable bunch, indeed.
First and foremost is Christian Bale, almost unrecognizable as Gorr the God Butcher, who is bent on killing all gods because his own race's god let his young daughter die. No surprise, vengeance becomes the driving force of the film. Then there is Russell Crowe as Zeus, God of Lightning, who puts on quite a show as he lords over orgies, while reveling in the admiration of lesser gods and denying Thor any assistance in battling Gorr. Be prepared to laugh out loud when his four Zuesettes faint. However, one of the funniest bits of all is seeing Matt Damon, Luke Hemsworth, Sam Neill, and Melissa McCarthy acting out a skit for tourists in New Asgard. Too much!
Other familiar faces to look for include eight of the Guardians of the Galaxy led by Chris Pratt as Star Lord Peter Quill, Jaimie Alexander briefly returning in her role as the female warrior Lady Sif, Idris Elba making an appearance as the Bifrost guardian Heimdall, and Kat Dennings continuing as Jane's assistant Dr. Darcy Lewis. New faces include Kieron L. Dyer as Heimdall's telepathic son Axl, Hemsworth's real life daughter India Rose playing Gorr's daughter, and in a set up during the post credits for the next installment -- yes, "Thor 5" T.B.A. -- Brett Goldstein introduced as Hercules! The legends continue.
