THOR : LOVE AND THUNDER : Wednesday 6th July 2022.

I saw the M Rated 'THOR : LOVE AND THUNDER' at an early screening this week, and this American Superhero offering is Written and Directed by Taiki Waititi who returns to the Director's chair following his success with helming 2017's 'Thor : Ragnarok' (which grossed US$854M off the back of a US$180M production budget) to which this is a direct sequel. This is the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the fourth instalment in the 'Thor' series, and is part of the MCU Phase Four. Filming took place in Sydney, Australia at a production cost of in the region of US$250M and was originally set for release an early November 2021, but was delayed to mid-February this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was then delayed once again to early May before shifting for the final time to the July 2022 date. The film has generated largely favourable Reviews. The film has so far taken US$16M.

The film opens up with a man carrying a young child through a dry, barren desert landscape with the sun beating down. He cradles the young girl in his arms as they take shelter from the sun and a sand storm behind a rock. He calls out to his gods to protect his daughter and save her. Later, the young girl dies, leaving the man distraught. He falls asleep from exhaustion and wakes to the sound of a faint whisper in the distance. He follows the whispering to an oasis in the desert where he meets his god who taunts and derides him which quickly turns him into a non-believer. Ultimately, he is chosen by a long sword, called the Necrosword, which enables him to create an army of shapeshifting shadow creatures and to use the sword to kill all gods, starting with the one who has just turned his back on him and disregarded his cries for help. 

After the opening credits have rolled we turn to Korg (Taika Waititi) telling a story to a group of gathered children giving the back story of Thor (Chris Hemsworth), and how he turned from being a Dad Bod into a God Bod, how he once loved a Jane Fonda (corrected to a Jane Foster) and how he teamed up with The Guardians of the Galaxy. After this brief recap to bring us up to date, Thor receives a distress signal from his childhood friend Sif (Jaimie Alexander) that The Guardians (Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel and Bradley Copper) need his help on some distant planet to thwart an attack, after which the Guardians depart to fight some battle in another part of the galaxy, leaving Thor and Korg looking on as their ship leaves. Sif warns Thor of Gorr, the God Butcher (Christian Bale), a being possessing the god-killing weapon the Necrosword seeking the extinction of all gods as revenge for ignoring the death of his family, and that his next target is New Asgard. 

Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is first seen in a hospital receiving chemo therapy treatment for her Stage Four cancer. She returns to her lab to run further tests of her own in trying to find a cure, when she turns to a book of Viking myths. In it she reads of the healing powers of Thor's hammer Mjolnir. Jane takes a trip to New Asgard to see the old fragmented hammer encased under a glass dome as a tourist attraction. As she stands besides the glass dome the broken pieces of Mjolnir begin to vibrate, shake and reform as it bonds itself to Jane after sensing her worthiness and so giving her the power of Thor. Gorr attacks New Asgard at night just as Thor arrives to begin battle with his shadow creatures, and is surprised to find Jane wielding Mjolnir like there's no tomorrow as Mighty Thor. Thor, Jane, Korg and Valkyrie, the King of New Asgard (Tessa Thompson) do battle with Gorr and the shadow creatures, ultimately overcoming them, but Gorr is able to escape, but not before he kidnaps all the children of New Asgard. 

The group travels to Omnipotent City to warn the other gods and ask for their help in destroying Gorr, The God Butcher. The god Zeus (Russell Crowe) is not prepared to help and has Thor captured, forcing the group to fight off Zeus's men. Zeus reduces Korg to nothing more than a pile of volcanic rubble and so in retaliation Thor appears to kill Zeus using his own thunderbolt, which Valkyrie then steals during their get away. 

They then travel to the Shadow Realm to save the children. However, this turned out to be a diversion for Gorr to take Stormbreaker (Thor's mighty and powerful axe), which he intends to use on the Bifrost to enter Eternity and seek the destruction of all gods. Gorr manages to overpower Thor's group and successfully steal Stormbreaker. Gorr uses Stormbreaker to open the portal to Eternity. With Valkyrie injured from being stabbed by the thunderbolt, and Jane suffering from the effects of her progressive cancer, Thor is left no option but to go it alone to confront Gorr once and for all. Once he has found the kidnapped Asgardian children, he temporarily imbues them and their weapons with the power of Thor to fight alongside him. Jane joins Thor in fighting Gorr and destroys the Necrosword, so diminishing the power of Gorr which ultimately will lead to his own death. However, Gorr stumbles through the portal and enters Eternity. 

Admitting defeat, Thor manages to convince Gorr that all he wanted from Eternity was not to destroy the gods but to get his daughter, Love, back. Jane dies in Thor's arms after succumbing to her Stage Four cancer which was only sped up by taking on the mantle of Mighty Thor. Eternity grants Gorr's request to revive Love (India Hemsworth), whom he asks Thor to take care of before he dies from the effects of the destroyed Necrosword. The children all return safe to New Asgard where they are greeted by the welcoming and relieved parents. Sometime after Valkyrie and Sif begin training them combat skills. Meanwhile, Thor, now in possession of Mjolnir again, continues to go on adventures to help people in their time of need, with Love, now wielding Stormbreaker, by his side, as the pairing of Love and Thunder. 

The film also stars cameo appearances from Matt Damon, Sam Neill, Luke Hemsworth, Melissa McCarthy, Ben Falcone and Idris Elba. Remain in your seat for the mid-credits and end-credits sequences, although if the truth be told, you won't be missing much if you choose not to!

'Thor : Love and Thunder' for me is the most disappointing film out of four in this franchise so far as it trades in a lot of substance for style, wisecracks and quips that often fail to land, and a whole dollop of cheese and corn that is enough to make even Thor's Dad Bod former self belch. That said, this has all of the Waititi touchstones over it that made 'Thor : Ragnarok' so welcoming and refreshing, including the thumping soundtrack, the colourful visuals, his irreverent sense of humour, the action set pieces, and he has proven here too that he can get serious and emotional when it is called for. And whilst Chris Hemsworth glides through his role as Thor, Christian Bale as Gorr shines through in his role as a mash up of Voldemort, Pennywise and Gollum, and Natalie Portman provides a welcome distraction as Jane Foster that brings the story full circle. It's not a great film, but it's also not that bad either and at just on two hours in length it's long enough to keep you engaged and doesn't outstay its welcome.

'Thor : Love and Thunder' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps. 

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new in Odeon's this week : Thursday 7th July 2022.

The 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), held in the city of Bucheon, the second most densely populated city in South Korea after Seoul, takes place between the 7th and 17th July. This festival is a non-competitive international film festival with a competitive section. With 'Stay Strange' as its motto, BIFAN strives to be a film festival that caters for the non-mainstream, while discovering and giving courage to talents that are pushed to the margins. This year BIFAN will feature 268 films from forty-nine countries and comprise eighty World Premier screenings, twenty International Premiers, seventy-nine Asian Premiers and fifty-one Korean Premiers. The festival will open with the screening of folk horror tale 'Men' by Alex Garland and close with film noir thriller 'The New Normal' from Korea and Directed by Jeong Beom-sik.

In competition for the Bucheon Choice Awards that offer a new outlook on the world, a unique style, and experimentation and progress in terms of genre conventions. Three feature film awards and two short film awards are voted on by a jury consisting of international film professionals. Audience Awards for both the features and shorts categories are determined by audience vote. In the feature film category, awards are presented for Best of Bucheon with a cash prize of the equivalent of US$15,500, Best Directors Choice offering US$3,850 and the Jury's Choice also offering US$3,850.

The ten films in competition are :-

* 'Alien Artist' - from Japan and Directed by Hoya Seiyo. Supernatural coming of age crime noir. International Premier.

* 'Huesera' - from Mexico and Peru and Directed by Michelle Garza Cervera. Supernatural thriller. Asian Premier.

* 'La Pieta' - from Spain and Directed by Eduardo Casanova. Asian Premier.

* 'Sissy' - from Australia and Directed by Hannah Barlow and Kane Senes. Horror drama comedy. Asian Premier.

* 'SLR' - from Thailand and Directed by Lertsiri Boonmee and Vutichai Wongnophadol. Supernatural horror. International Premier.

* 'Social Distancing' - from Hong Kong and China and Directed by Gilitte Leung. Horror thriller. World Premier.

* 'Speak No Evil' - from Denmark and The Netherlands and Directed by Christian Tafdrup. Thriller. Asian Premier.

* 'Vesper' - from Lithuania, France and Belgium and Directed by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper. Supernatural Sci-Fi. Asian Premier.

* 'The Womb' - from Indonesia and Directed by Fajar Nugros. Horror. World Premier.

* ' You Won't Be Alone' - from Australia and Directed by Goran Stolevski. Supernatural horror. Asian Premier.

In the Korean Fantastic Competition section which was established to support and encourage Korean genre films, four feature film awards are chosen by the Korean competition jury. Those ten films are : 'Body Parts', 'Cabriolet', 'Chiaksan Mountain', 'The Fifth Thoracic Vertebra', 'A Good Boy', 'Mind Universe', 'Next Door', 'Thunderbird', 'Tiger's Trigger' and 'The Woman in the White Car'. 

For the full programme of events, screenings, and all the sections of this years 26th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, you can visit the official website at : http://www.bifan.kr/eng/

This week, turning attention back on to the four new release movies coming to an Odeon near you, we kick off with the 29th film in the MCU and the fourth film featuring the Asgardian God of Thunder who this time, with the help of some trusted friends, must thwart Gorr the God Butcher who intends to make the Gods extinct. Next up we have a wealthy family on vacation in Mexico until a distant emergency cuts their trip short, and when one relative disrupts the family's tight-knit order, simmering tensions rise to the surface. This is followed by a French comedy about a young convicted man who is sentenced to community services, and must now work in a retirement home, where he learns a thing or two about life from the residents there. And closing out the week we have a drama film that sees a Finnish student and an rough Russian miner slowly forge a hesitant connection when they are thrown together in a cramped train compartment on a journey across Russia.

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'THOR : LOVE AND THUNDER' (Rated M) - is an American Superhero offering that is Written and Directed by Taiki Waititi who returns to the chair following his success with helming 2017's 'Thor : Ragnarok' to which this is a direct sequel. This is the 29th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is part of the MCU Phase Four. Filming took place in Sydney, Australia at a production cost of in the region of US$250M and has generated largely favourable Reviews.

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is on a journey unlike anything he's ever faced - a quest for inner peace. But his retirement is interrupted by a galactic killer known as Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), who seeks the extinction of the Gods. To combat the threat, Thor enlists the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who, much to Thor's surprise has come to inexplicably wield his magical hammer, Mjolnir, as the Mighty Thor. Together, they embark upon a harrowing cosmic adventure to uncover the mystery of the God Butcher's vengeance and stop him before it's too late. Also starring Jaimie Alexander, Russell Crowe, with Chris Pratt, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper reprising their roles from the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' franchise, and Sean Gunn, Jeff Goldblum, Matt Damon, Sam Neill, Luke Hemsworth, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone.

'SUNDOWN' (Rated MA15+) - this Mexican, French and Swedish Co-Produced drama film is Written, Co-Produced, Directed and Co-Edited by Michel Franco whose previous film making offerings include 'After Lucia' in 2012 that won the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes, 'Chronic' in 2015 with Tim Roth and 'New Order' in 2020 with Diego Boneta. Here then, the wealthy London man Neil Bennett (Tim Roth) is vacationing with his sister Alice (Charlotte Gainsbourg) and her two children at a resort in Acapulco, Mexico until she receives a phone call. There's been a death in the family, and everyone must return home. However, at the airport, Neil pretends to have left his passport as the hotel, which delays his return, while Alice and her children return to London, leaving the seemingly uncaring and apathetic Neil to his own devices. The film has garnered generally favourable reviews, and has so far grossed US$336K since its release in the US at the end of January having seen its World Premier as the Venice Film Festival back in September last year. 

'THE VILLA' (Rated M) - is a French and Swiss Co-Produced comedy Directed by Thomas Gilou whose previous Directorial efforts include his 1986 feature film debut with 'Black Mic Mac' then 'Rai' in 1995, 'Would I Lie To You' in 1997 and its two sequels in 2001 and 2012, with 'Victor' in 2009 and four episodes of 'Marseille' in 2016. Having been raised in an orphanage, Milann Rousseau (Kev Adams) does precious little with his life. Hosted by his lawyer and childhood friend, the latter constantly pushes him to move. After causing property damage that nearly killed an old woman in a supermarket, Milann is sentenced to two months of community service. Hired as a handler in a retirement home, it is a real nightmare for Milann who does not support the elderly. Despite his clumsiness and his lack of motivation, Milann in time becomes attached to the residents, where he forges a close rapport in particular with Lino Vartan (Gerard Depardieu), a former boxer, who will teach him to defend himself and take his life in hand.

'COMPARTMENT NO. 6' (Rated MA15+) - this internationally Co-Produced drama film is Co-Written and Directed by the Finnish Juho Kuosmanen in just his third feature film following 2010's 'The Painting Sellers' and 2016's 'The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Maki'. The film is based on the 2011 novel of same name by Rosa Liksom. Here then, traveling by train from Moscow to Murmansk in the far north western part of Russia to study the Kanozero Petroglyphs, (a set of about 1300 rock drawings dating back to the 2nd and 3rd millennium BC), a Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haaria) forms an unlikely friendship with a gruff Russian miner, Lyokha (Yuri Borisov) as they are forced to share the long ride and a tiny sleeping car. This unexpected encounter leads the occupants of Compartment No. 6 to face major truths about human connection. The film was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival in July of that year, where it shared the Grand Prix with Asghar Farhadi's film 'A Hero', has garnered generally favourable Reviews and has taken US$3.2M at the Box Office so far.

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-