First reactions have poured in for Taika Waititi’s highly-anticipated “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which had its world premiere June 23 in Hollywood. Expectations for the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe entry are sky high considering Waititi’s last comic book outing, “Thor: Ragnarok,” is widely considered one of the best Marvel movies.
According to journalists and critics on social media, those expectations were met. Film critic Simon Thompson wrote, “#ThorLoveAndThunder is a vivid and vibrant blast that delivers. Hemsworth’s Thor remains a jewel in Marvel’s crown. Bale’s Gorr is a killer boogeyman blending the campy and the creepy. Portman’s Foster and Thompson’s Valkyrie are a top notch pairing. Crowe’s Zeus is *chef’s kiss.*”
Christian Bale Still Hasn't Seen 'The Batman,' Says Robert Pattinson Is an 'Absolutely Wonderful Actor'
Natalie Portman's 'Thor' Workout Revealed: 10 Months of Boxing, Dumbbells and More
How Natalie Portman Grew Nine Inches Taller for 'Thor: Love and Thunder'
#ThorLoveAndThunder is a vivid and vibrant blast that delivers. Hemsworth’s Thor remains a jewel in Marvel’s crown. Bale’s Gorr is a killer boogeyman blending the campy and the creepy. Portman’s Foster and Thompson’s Valkyrie are a top notch pairing. Crowe’s Zeus is *chef’s kiss* pic.twitter.com/PDb5SZRWOo
Insider correspondent Kirsten Acuna agreed and specifically praised Christian Bale’s performance as Gorr, writing that he is “phenomenally menacing” and “one of the creepiest Marvel villains we’ve ever seen on screen.”
Christian Bale is phenomenally menacing as #ThorLoveandThunder’s villain, Gorr the God Butcher. One of the creepiest Marvel villains we’ve ever seen on screen. Gave me some Dark Knight Ledger Joker vibes at one point. pic.twitter.com/zsg9SNXfqY
Critic Courtney Howard touted Taika Waititi’s directing, saying that he delivers “a subversive, irreverent spectacle” with “great story, stakes and character-building.”
#ThorLoveAndThunder has an Appetite For Destruction & laughs. It’s totally rad! Taika Waititi delivers a subversive, irreverent spectacle. Great story, stakes & character-building. Chris Hemsworth & Natalie Portman, superb.Russell Crowe & Christian Bale slip easily into the world pic.twitter.com/W7PUUXIfM5
Some were more critical of the film, like Bro Bible senior writer Eric Italiano, who generally enjoyed “Love and Thunder” but said the plot “felt flat and stakeless.”
#ThorLoveAndThunder is the funniest film in the MCU. The jokes are excellent as is the cast delivering them.
Christian Bale, obviously, is also terrifying as #Gorr
BUT, the plot felt flat and stakeless. Not sure if that's a #Thor problem or an MCU-without-a-big-bad problem. pic.twitter.com/G6XP9EyL0Y
Set after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” the latest “Thor” sequel finds Chris Hemsworth’s superhero teaming up with Korg (voiced by Waititi), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) to stop Gorr the God Butcher (Bale) from eliminating all gods. Portman’s return to the MCU has generated the most buzz for “Thor: Love and Thunder” ahead of its release. Portman sat out “Ragnarok” and appears in the new film as Mighty Thor, which also finds her wielding the mystical hammer Mjolnir. Waititi co-wrote the script with Jennifer Kaytin Robinson.
“On ‘Black Swan,’ I was asked to get as small as possible,” Portman recently told Variety for a cover story. “Here, I was asked to get as big as possible. That’s an amazing challenge — and also state of mind as a woman.”
“I’ve seen her play the scientist character in ‘Thor’ 1 and 2, and it just seemed pointless to do it again,” Waititi added about bringing Portman back as a superhero. “That character feels like just a love interest. It’s an Earthwoman who runs around being mortal and not really consequential throughout.”
“Thor: Love and Thunder” opens in theaters nationwide July 8. Check out more first reactions in the posts below.
Another classic Thor adventure! #ThorLoveAndThunder is everything I wanted it to be. Big, colorful, weird Guns N' Roses-fueled battles to go w/ a hopelessly romantic story about discovering love in unexpected places. Christian Bale & Russell Crowe are especially great. And Korg! pic.twitter.com/fu0gTUuMRj
I saw #ThorLoveAndThunder. It can't quite match the visual or comedy bombast of Ragnarok, but Taika Waititi makes up for it with an emotionally mature Marvel movie. It's also very funny (Natalie's got jokes) and features one of the most stunning visual sequences in MCU history.
#ThorLoveAndThunder is much more episodic than I would have suspected. Delivers big laughs. Very standard, cookie cutter villain with Christian Bale. I want the buddy cop comedy with Natalie Portman & Tessa Thompson. Matt Damon must go Broadway. Post credits are EPIC! Pure fun. pic.twitter.com/2J5UQuHHSA
— Clayton Davis – Stand with 🇺🇦 (@ByClaytonDavis) June 24, 2022
Everything Coming to Netflix in June 2022
What's Coming to Disney+ in June 2022
Molly Shannon's Memoir 'Hello Molly' Is Already an Instant Bestseller on Amazon
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.
"Thor: Love and Thunder" was a family affair on-set for stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale: "It was one big family experience." (June 24)
Initial reactions praise Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, new cast member Christian Bale and more in Thor: Love and Thunder
‘It is no small thing, physically nor emotionally,’ the actor said
Russia has cut piped natural-gas supplies to Germany, citing an equipment hold-up in Canada as a result of sanctions over the Ukraine war.
Find out what Kentucky basketball’s Shaedon Sharpe and TyTy Washington will earn in the 2022-23 season.
Marcel the Shell creators Jenny Slate and Dean Fleischer Camp explain how the internet sensation became a meta movie star.
(Bloomberg) -- The US Senate voted 65-33 to approve bipartisan gun-safety legislation that is hailed as the biggest breakthrough on the issue in three decades. Most Read from BloombergSupreme Court Overturns Roe, Transforming Abortion-Rights FightStocks Roar Back With Best Week in a Month: Markets WrapJuul’s Vaping Products Are Ordered Off the Market in the USJustice Kavanaugh Says States May Not Bar Travel to Obtain an AbortionProtest Latest: NY, DC Protests Grow After People Get Off WorkThe vo
The sequel to Thor: Ragnarok and the fourth installment in the Marvel Universe 'Thor' saga.
Chris Sanders, the co-director of the 2002 Disney picture "Lilo and Stitch," wants to remind viewers that the film highlighted themes of sisterhood over romance long before "Frozen." In an interview published in The New York Times on Tuesday in celebration of the 20th anniversary of “Lilo and Stitch,” Sanders recalled feeling “frustrated” when critics and audiences referred to “Frozen” as the first Disney film to prioritize sisterhood over romance.
Listen, Lilo & Stitch co-director/writer Chris Sanders loves “Let it Go” and all. But when it comes to the fanfare around Frozen’s central sisterhood, Sanders says it bothers him when people celebrate Frozen for breaking down barriers he feels Lilo & Stitch crossed years ago.
Chappelle had threatened to divest from Yellow Springs if the affordable housing plan passed, saying "I am not bluffing." Dave Chappelle Buys Ohio Land Where He Helped Block Affordable Housing Plan Wren Graves
Thousands are waiting for the latest Supreme Court decisions to be handed down. The High Court Is expected to touch on multiple issues, including immigration and climate change, but the primary focus is on a case that could overturn Roe v. Wade.
Taylor Swift has “Carolina” on our minds.
For fans of Taika Waititi’s take on Thor in Thor: Ragnarok, the premiere of the writer-director’s latest MCU go-round, Thor: Love And Thunder, has been a long time coming. But it seems there may be yet more to come. At the Hollywood premiere on Thursday, its star, Chris Hemsworth said he hopes to continue the […]
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, a.k.a. Barbie and Ken, are together at last! The pair were photographed in Western costumes on the set of Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie.
Following the release of official character posters, Marvel Studios releases the final trailer for...
Burger King employee Kevin Ford went viral — and caught the attention of Saturday Night Live alum David Spade — with a TikTok about a paltry 27-year anniversary present
Justin Timberlake apologized to his fans after a video of him awkwardly dancing at Washington D.C's Something in the Water music festival went viral.
Bruce Willis stepped out with wife Emma Heming Willis in Los Angeles three months after his family shared his aphasia diagnosis. See a photo of their outing.
Okay, quick show of hands: Who remembers 2017's Wonder? Sweet little movie, Owen Wilson, Julia Roberts, Jacob Tremblay? Kid has facial anomalies, kid overcomes prejudiced society, kid is declared a “wonder,” all is well?