Approved for 12+

Thor: Ragnarok

Imprisoned, the mighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.
10
Negative Rating
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SexLanguageViolenceDrugsNudityOther
2
Positive Rating
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FaithIntegrity

Dove Review

The Avengers’ strongest hero, (unless the Hulk has something to say about it) is back to the big screen in Marvel’s newest piece of superhero fun, Thor: Ragnarok. Thor’s latest flick is very different from his first two installments, but the eye-candy action and relatable Marvel humor will make you feel like you’re right at home with the franchise. Here’s what you can expect.

The movie begins with Thor (Chris Hemsworth) in chains before the fire demon, Surtur, who quickly informs him (by way of witty bantering, of course), that the apocalyptic event known as Ragnarok will soon consume Asgard, Thor’s home world. After an easy defeat, Thor comes out victorious under the illusion that he has prevented the prophesy from coming true.

He quickly returns to Asgard to find his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) lounging about under the guise of his missing father. A quick journey to earth follows Thor’s threats against his brother, and there he discovers his banished father with the help of Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). Right before he dies, King Odin (Anthony Hopkins), prepares his sons for the coming of his vengeful first born, the goddess of death, Hela (Cate Blanchett) and the advent of the inevitable Ragnarok. Hela appears on the scene immediately and, after destroying Thor’s hammer, defeats her two brothers while the three engage in battle along the intergalactic highway, the bifrost bridge. Thor and Loki are thrown out of the bifrost, and here’s where the movie begins to feel somewhat different from its previous two installments.

If the trailers and posters didn’t warn you enough in advance Thor: Ragnarok plays out most of its screen time in a new world for our god in shining armor, the eclectic planet Sakaar, which serves as the galaxy’s dumping ground. On this techno planet of references ranging from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory to Led Zeppelin, Thor is separated from Loki and is forced to battle in the Contest of Champions under the flamboyant dictator, the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Along the way, he quickly discovers a few familiar faces, including the current reigning champion, the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). In this neon world that feels like an 80s arcade, Thor proves to be the hero he has claimed to be, and before too long, he stages and escape with the odd team of allies he puts together. Meanwhile, after making it safely to Asgard, Hela has crowned herself Queen, and her rule proves deadly for those who stand in her way. Thor knows this, and the movie tracks his journey to take up the mantle of his true identity: the god of thunder, as he journeys home to defeat this epic foe once and for all. I won’t spoil the ending, but here are some thoughts from Dove’s perspective.

For starters, this movie is incredibly fun. Whether you enjoy the interplay between all the characters within the Marvel Universe, the fun soundtrack of oldies-but-goodies, or the new retro look for Thor and friends, the movie will keep you laughing and keep you feeling like you got your money’s worth when you paid to see a fun superhero movie. Unfortunately, due to the amount of edgy content, the movie does not get the Dove Seal of Approval. While the movie maintains a relatively clean atmosphere, it does present the audience with one too many sexual innuendos and a plethora of cuss words which might be hard on young ears. And while the fantastical, anti-gravity-styled action is choreographed to feel out of this world, there are a few scenes of gore that might make the sensitive a little squeamish. For these reasons, we cannot give our Dove Approval to Thor: Ragnarok. However, if you do want to journey through space in Marvel’s newest high-flying film, keep your eye out for these things.

Here’s What To Talk About:

First, pay attention to the theme of identity. The entire movie is framed around the question: Who is Thor? As the god of thunder wrestles with the title bestowed upon him, it becomes a matter of victory or defeat. Great conversations could be had about what identity means for the human trying to figure out who they are and who God made them to be. Second, pay attention to the theme of loyalty and friendship. Superhero movies (particularly those from Marvel) are absolutely peppered with this theme. The point: no matter how strong you might think you are, you can’t do this thing alone. Perhaps a willingness to engage in conversations like these might make for good night out at the movies with the family.

Dove Rating Details

0
Faith

No overt Christian message

2
Integrity

Acting sequences of fighting, bludgeoning, shooting, slashing; lots of mayhem and destruction

2
Sex

Mentions of sexual behavior; references to orgies and masturbation

2
Language

Scattered curse words during stressful moments; at least three uses of "s***"

2
Violence

Acting sequences of fighting, bludgeoning, shooting, slashing; lots of mayhem and destruction

2
Drugs

Secondary character is seen drinking; mention of her alcohol problem

2
Nudity

Thor is seen shirtless; Hulk's backside is shown; women wear mildly revealing costumes.

0
Other

None

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