Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Thor attempts to find inner peace, but must return to action and recruit Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster – who has become the Mighty Thor — to stop Gorr the God Butcher from eliminating all gods.

New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi re-vitalised what a Marvel Cinematic Universe film could be with 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, now, five years later, he’s back in the director’s chair and ready to take audiences on a wild ride into the outer cosmos with Thor: Love and Thunder. And this film is pure METAL! Bringing the unique trademark of his classic dry Kiwi wit and ability to conjure the fantastical from pure imagination, Thor: Love and Thunder is a film that is pure Taika, and audiences will fall in love with it all over again. Waititi’s mission with Thor: Love and Thunder is to take everything up a notch, and this film is a cosmos-hopping adventure of one lonely Thunder god who has to find a new purpose in his life, and re-kindle the feeling of what it means to be a hero again. And he absolutely delivers on it.

Packed out with bright colours and breathtaking creativity, Thor: Love and Thunder is poured from Waititi’s imagination with zeal and enthusiasm. Moments of epic planet-sweeping action and laugh-out-loud hysterics collide, with audiences swept up in all of it. It’s bold filmmaking on a new level, and Waititi takes what worked in Thor: Ragnarok and adds to it for an event movie that will resonate with so many people. Waititi has worked to make this film meaningful for everyone, and it’s an inclusive and fun romp that will have you smiling from ear to ear. His inventiveness helps bring to life previous unseen features of the MCU, and his neon palette makes for a vivid experience of visual wonder. Taika gets to play with all his action figures this time around, and it’s one hell of a show.

Aussie star and MCU legend Chris Hemsworth is once again centre screen as Thor Odinson, the ‘space Viking’, and Thor: Love and Thunder marks a new chapter in this character’s journey, and Hemsworth approaches it with zeal. Gone is the ‘Bro bod’ and instead we get the ‘God bod’, with Hemsworth looking every part the superhero in the film, and he has a blast swinging Stormbreaker around. But it’s not just hammer time for Hemsworth’s Thor, instead this Asgardian God undergoes quite a journey, and it’s a dramatic one. We get a greater insight into Thor’s motivations as part of his reinvention, and it’s clear to audiences that Hemsworth’s own life has impacted his performance. Waititi works to give Hemsworth’s Thor a new dimension, and he’s faced with a new challenge that tests him to his core as a hero.

Facing down Thor this time is Christian Bale as Gorr, a humanoid-alien who becomes possessed by the darkness of the Necrosword, and in his transformation, becomes known as ‘The God Butcher’. And his is a horrifically scary performance. Bale’s performance as Gorr could be likened to a combination of classic villains such as Nosferatu and The Child Catcher, and Gorr has a diabolical and bleak sense of humour that he torments his victims with. And Bale’s delivery is sure to make you shudder. Gorr is a truly worthy villain for Thor to face down, and Bale brings him to life in vivid detail, and audiences will be animated as the God and the God Butcher battle it out. Bale’s performance as Gorr ranks up with other top-tier Marvel villains such as Thanos and Eric Killmonger, and he’s sure to haunt the dark reaches of your nightmares.

Making her return to the MCU as Jane Foster is Natalie Portman, one of the MCU originals, and what a return it is! Faced with a life or death battle, Portman’s Foster harnesses the power of a reconstructed Mjolnir and becomes the Mighty Thor…and she wields the lightning with absolute authority. Foster picks up her terrific mix of chemistry and banter with Hemsworth once more, and the two of them get to have so much fun together in this new adventure. Whether they’re battling shadow monsters or falling in love with one another again, Portman and Hemsworth make a great pair on screen together, and their joint control over thunder and lightning makes this return that much more fun to watch.

Audiences should also expect a great mix of supporting performances as well. This time around the Guardians of the Galaxy are also along for the ride, and it’s fantastic to see our favourite characters back for all the fun. And then there’s Academy Award winner Russell Crowe who makes his MCU debut as the King of the Gods himself, Zeus, and he’s utterly enchanting in the role. Best described as a self-absorbed fop, Crowe’s Zeus has a very memorable interaction with Thor, Foster and their team, and Crowe gets plenty of laughs out of his audience. Plus stay around for the end credits for an incredibly important MCU debut that will get you amped for the future.

As a cinematic experience, Thor: Love and Thunder is a full-on heavy metal, superhero rock opera, and this film will have you amped from beginning to end. Packed full of bright colours, heavy riffs, and monster-bashing goodness, Thor: Love and Thunder is a flat-out fun ride, and you’ll be in full headbanger mode with this one. Waititi’s choices as a director are packed full of surprises, and the film’s third act delivers one hell of a roar that rocks the cinema with energy. From his unique incorporation of Norse mythology to his bold, imaginative worldbuilding, Waititi succeeds with Thor: Love and Thunder, and MCU fans will be pleased with this one.

Lightning strikes with Thor: Love and Thunder, and this is a film of pure fun for everyone. Every frame is energetic, animated and crackling with passion and brilliance, and it makes for a fabulous time out at the cinema.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Check out the full list of our five most anticipated films of 2022:

The Batman

A new Dark Knight is ready to take to the skyline of Gotham City and deliver justice at the end of his fists in director Matt Reeves’ murky, noir-laced, superhero thriller The Batman. With rising star Robert Pattinson ready to don the cape and cowl of Bruce Wayne/Batman, The Batman is shaping up to be one of 2022’s most intriguing cinematic experiences and with its dark noir cinematography and sinister narrative is our most anticipated film of 2022. Brooding and intense, this will certainly not be one for the faint of heart, but The Batman is set to deliver a cinematic experience you won’t soon forget.

Thor: Love and Thunder

Director Taika Waititi and star Chris Hemsworth are heading back to the cosmos of the Marvel Cinematic Universe for 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder and let it be said that this is my most anticipated Marvel Studios release of the year! Building off of the rollercoaster ride that was 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok, Waititi is promising a film that is going to dive even deeper into the sci-fi crazy that he first established in 2017 and which will jam out with plenty of 1980s hair metal flair. Add in the fact that Hemsworth has taken his muscled frame to even more heroic levels and we see the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster and Christian Bale as intergalactic alien villain Gorr the God Butcher and we’re ready for something incredibly unique within the MCU. Bring it!

The Northman

Prepare to chart coarse to the frozen lands of the Norse in a bloody tale of revenge that is The Northman! This is a piece of cinema that is ready to deliver vengeance at the edge of an axe blade and director David Eggers is crafting a genuine historical epic with this Viking saga. Alexander Skarsgard appears to be at his most savage in the role of Prince Amleth, heir to a Viking kingdom, who, cast out by his evil uncle, swears revenge and is determined to gain his retribution by any means necessary. Prepare to experience the blood and power of the Old Gods with The Northman and ready your call to the halls of Valhalla.

Bullet Train

Ever since I first heard that Hollywood megastar Brad Pitt was teaming up with director David Leitch for the full-on, adrenaline-charging rush of Bullet Train I was hooked. And damn does this blockbuster action thrill ride sound gnarly. Pitt stars as Ladybird, one of five assassins aboard a high-speed bullet train that is hurtling towards Tokyo. But while he has his own score to settle he soon realises that every target onboard is connected and that’s when the bullets start to fly. With Leitch’s talent for kinetic-moving action sequences and Pitt’s star appeal and machismo, Bullet Train is shaping up to be a full-on rush and I cannot wait to see how this one turns out.

Top Gun: Maverick

Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise is ready to take the skies once more as Captain Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the must-watch aerial blockbuster that is Top Gun: Maverick. Top Gun is regarded as one of the 1980s most seminal films and now more than 36 years later we’re ready to catch up with Maverick as he prepares for one last charge into the skies. Top Gun: Maverick is shaping up to be a colossal cinematic event, and Cruise has described the film as a ‘tribute to aviation’ and as an avid aviator himself you can tell that he’s ready to push the envelope even further into the danger zone this time.

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