10 Hulk-smashing movie moments from ‘Thor: Ragnarok’

Forget Thor as you know him.

The unremarkable Asgardian arc has been spared as Director Taika Waititi makes the film straddle comedy and action in the same way that Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man have in the past. The latest Marvel film also has new characters every moviegoer will go crazy for—Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Jeff Goldblum’s Grandmaster, and Cate Blanchett’s goddess of death, Hela.

Thor: Ragnarok has embarked on a more kooky, nonsensical tone, but also introduces a self-contained plot with a vision of setting more Norse origins into play. It’s truly a film that lives up to every Marvel fan’s Hulk-size expectations, and here are 10 things we loved about it:

1. Strange things on Bleecker Street

It’s been exactly a year since we’ve seen Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) take over the title of Sorcerer Supreme, and—we’re not kidding—he has really shaped up to be a Mystic Arts pro. He shows his newest mind-bending tricks during his quick appearance in Thor, and these jagged scenes contain a preview to a great sequel.

2. Led Zeppelin adrenaline

Every single time “Immigrant Song” plays, the god of thunder is faced with a massive battalion he has to defeat on his own. It’s also the first time Thor wields his hammer as a shield on the big screen, creating an infectious energy that’s perfectly in sync with Led Zepellin’s magnetic song. It’s just too bad the Mjolnir was smashed into pieces before we got to see more of that.

3. The God of Mischief is back

After stealing Surtur’s crown, Thor comes home to a giant golden statue of Loki and an ongoing play about his brother’s heroic death. But it will come as no surprise that the known Norse trickster disguised himself as Odin, faked his own death, and tried to glorify his image among Asgardians. Throughout the whole film, Loki’s loyalty, as he said himself, “varies from moment to moment.”

4. All hell breaks loose

Odin’s passing frees the goddess of death from her exile, and Hela has her eyes on ruling Asgard and all of the realms under its protection. Odin’s former executioner has no mercy and limitless power—she summons the greatest of weapons without breaking a sweat, killing her enemies in an instant. Thor is definitely no match for this murderous villainess, and we have to admit that crown looks damn good on her.

5. The best Stan Lee cameo ever!

If you want Thor’s newest hairdo and brawny gladiator look, just give Stan Lee a call.

6. Black Widow, is that you?

The Hulk hasn’t transformed back into Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) for two whole freaking years! Thor tried to tame the strongest Avenger with the same words of Natasha (Scarlett Johansson): “The sun’s getting real low.” He thought it was some sort of magic phrase (and actually kept repeating it), but he clearly lacked Black Widow’s sass and deadly charisma to make the trick work. It’s a real treat to watch Thor get Hulk-smashed.

7. Lord of thunder

Who knew Thor would turn out to be stronger sans his hammer? While the Mjolnir did help concentrate Thor’s powers, it limited what the Thunder God thought he could do with his innate strength. Now, not only is the Norse god more in touch with his element, casting thunderbolts from his bare hands, he has assembled his own superhero troop, too—The Revengers.

8. A dash of Stark

Waititi knows how to break the action monotony and balance it out with fun, unforgettable scenes. How does he do it? He completely changes Thor’s personality with comedic moments. It was revealed that the Asgardian hoped his moniker was the “Strongest Avenger,” when it’s actually “Point Break,” the nickname Tony Stark teased him with. Waititi also makes Bruce wear Tony’s clothes. Does this signal that Thor’s Revengers will be more likely to join Team Iron Man?

9. The Odin of Norse Mythology

Marvel still hasn’t gotten the Norse genealogy right but they did depict the Asgardian king more accurately this time. In Thor: Ragnarok, Odin was revealed as the cruel and feared war god he once was, which eventually led to acquiring Asgard’s massive wealth and duty as the protector of the Nine Realms.

10. There’s a new OTP in town 

We’re so glad Jane Foster broke up with Thor—there was obviously no chemistry between the two, anyway. Now that Thor’s back in the market, we’re shipping his tandem with another Asgardian. And not just any Asgardian, mind you! Valkyrie is the last surviving warrior of Odin’s elite army, serving to protect the throne. When Valkyrie finally wears her maiden armor once again, the scene truly needed some fireworks in the background—and Waititi definitely saw that coming.