Let’s get something straight – Thor is the silliest Avenger.

Super assassins I can handle. Genetically engineered super soldier? Seen it before. Billionaire playboy with fancy gadgets? Essentially just a cheerful Batman. Man who gets big and strong when he’s angry? Totally within my suspension of disbelief.

Then we get to Thor Odinson. The Literal Norse God of Thunder. 

Because of this imbalance in plausibility, the Thor franchise has never quite found its footing, swinging between shakespearean melodrama and slapstick silliness without finding a consistent or compelling tone.

Luckily, if there is one director who knows how to make something fun out of something fundamentally silly – it’s Kiwi born Taika Waititi. Ragnarok leans into the insanity of its source material and makes it a strength.

The central arc of Ragnarok is Asgard being taken over by the newly returned Goddess of Death, Hela, (Cate Blanchett). Thor and his long estranged brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), must attempt to get back to Asgard after ending up trapped on a new world, Sakaar.

Sakaar is a dumping ground, where wormholes jettison whatever they’ve sucked up from across the Universe. It’s crowded and colourful and presided over by a gloriously camp Jeff Goldblum as ‘The Grandmaster’. Here is where the film is strongest, surrounded by fresh locations, characters and a playful tone which is a joy to watch.

As has been beaten to death by trailers, it is here where Thor meets up with old Friend Bruce Banner / Hulk, and new friend Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson). Loosely based on the iconic “Planet Hulk” storyline, in which Hulk is forced into becoming a gladiator on a barbaric alien world, the Sakaar section of the film is a wonderful medley of action and comedy.

Chris Hemsworth embraces the more humorous tone of his iconic character, and shows he has a surprisingly strong knack for humour, providing the most fun Thor we’ve yet seen.

The set design and soundtrack are both beautifully evoke the classic, Flash Gordon style 80’s epics which obviously inspired the film and every new set in Sakaar is a joy to behold.

Mark Ruffalo is once again excellent as Bruce Banner / Hulk, with Hulk in particular being an actual character this time around, instead of a rageful force of nature. His interactions with Thor make for some of the film’s best laughs.  

Newcomer Valkyrie makes a far better female lead than the series had in Jane (Natalie Portman), she’s a hard drinking, capable warrior who proves more than a match for Thor.  

The usual cameos and inter-film tie ins also abound, from Stan Lee to Dr Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), with Odin (Anthony) Hopkins popping in briefly to provide some grave exposition to his sons. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is his usual scheming self, though somewhat toothless these days, more snarky but harmless sibling than villainous God of Mischief .

Taika Waititi himself makes the best new addition to the cast, as the Rock monster ‘Korg’, bringing a uniquely Kiwi brand of offbeat humour which grounds the film during some of its more highfalutin moments.  

The action in Ragnarok is excellent, with Taika showing that he doesn’t just have the chops for comedy, but can deliver the awe inspiring moments Marvel has banked on ever since Avengers first assembled. This is also the first movie to really explore Thor being the God of Thunder in any actual meaningful way, with some impressive CGI sequences near the films climax.

Cate Blanchett is wonderful as Hela, Goddess of Death, but she is under utilised in Ragnarok. All the significant action takes place on Sakaar, with Asgard essentially bookending the film. I wanted to see more of Hela interacting with the central cast, but she spends most of her time delivering speeches in empty halls or to faceless crowds of Asgardians.

It’s unfortunate that compared to Sakaar, Asgard is stale and boring. While being consistently beautiful, Asgard and it’s residents has never truly felt fleshed out in any meaningful way, and this is never more apparent than here. The size of both the world and the population within it seem arbitrary according to the current shot and head-scratchers abound. Are the people hyper advanced aliens? Or medieval peasants? Why is Heimdall (Idris Elba) omniscient only when it’s convenient? These questions don’t derail the film, but definitely rob it’s finale of impact, as we never truly connect with the world that the cast is trying to desperately to save.

Ragnarok is definitely the best film so far in a somewhat troubled franchise. It’s combination of humour, strong performances and killer effects make for a worthy cosmic caper. However underneath it’s slick style, there are some tired narrative bones at work. It remains to be seen what  place this new, more self aware Thor will have in the wider Marvel universe as we close in on Avengers 3, but Ragnarok gives me some cautious hope for the future of Earth’s mightiest, most ridiculous hero.    

The post Thor: Ragnarok (Marvel – 2017) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

New Zealand comedian and feature film actor; Jonathan Brugh is known for What We Do in the Shadows 2014 (feature film) and can currently be seen in 800 Words for the second season.

800 Words, is filmed in West Auckland, New Zealand and is a series currently airing in Australia and New Zealand about a recently widowed father who leaves his job as a popular 800 word columnist for a top selling Sydney newspaper. On impulse, he buys a house in New Zealand in a remote seaside town, news he then has to break to his two teenage kids, who are still suffering from the loss of their Mum. What ensues is a small family readapting to life within an even smaller community full of, well, colourful locals, Jonny plays one of these locals. 800 Words is a mix of light hearted comedy with serious under tones.

Jonny, as he is known, hails from Auckland, New Zealand and started his acting career with absurdist tragi-comedy duo Sugar&Spice who achieved critical acclaim throughout New Zealand and Australia and won the Chapman Tripp Award for best Comic Performance in 1996 and the Billy T Award in 1998.

Jonny Brugh

Jonny also has a Art and Design degree. In 2003 Jonny performed a series of solo shows called The Rise And Fall Or The Fall And Rise Of Dinky Jon, which involved him catapulting water melons at the stage walls and flying over the audience hanging from a rail dressed as Super Man.

Also known for his comedy theatre work, Jonny has been at it for the past 15 years and still going strong. So, we asked Jonny a couple questions.

StG: Jonny, what made you get into acting in the first place?

Jonny: I used to do sketches with my 2 sisters when i was a kid. I think I always knew I should probably be a comic actor but because no one at my school had the gumption to hold an actual drama class it wasn’t a possibility. Then at 20 I made friends with some way more enterprising guys from another school. Together we hit local comedy events around Auckland. It very quickly became touring Australasia with some adventurous comedy shows.

StG: With comedy being your forte, how do you cope with serious roles?

Jonny: I have no interest in serious roles (serious face). Or i do but i just a stick a laugh track on it and call it comedy. Actually i think i enjoy playing a blurry mix of a straight character with his heart of his sleeve who unconsciously shows his fallibility. Its true that most comedic actors play it straight anyway, perhaps we push a little more of the emotions in a scene. Craft-wise I’m more interested in how a character responds to the crisis a the narrative of stories i tell. I don’t find it hard to play straight, although friends would disagree. In film and TV one tends to play straight compared to theatre. It’s about how a character approaches a situation and how much their expression convays. We have to be likable. I’m also sculpted by a thousand theatre shows where I’m always trying to keep an audience interested. that tends to make an actor larger in their nuances.

StG: Currently you are present in the second season of 800 Words. Can you tell us about your character?

Jonny: I am Monty’s wingman! Everybody describes Monty as a sleazy smarmy real estate agent. But he isn’t! He is a solo Father running two businesses while trying to be a good man to everyone. He is bullied by his brother which in the end brings out the best in Monty. Its interesting that people, even journalists, will assume he is sleazy because of the pride he shows in his fashion sense. But i dare you to find real reason to write him off as smarmy! you cant! because there isn’t one. Judge a man by his actions before his dress sense. I think this issue really touches a nerve in me. its so lazy. But i must admit that Monty is just a fictional character created for the purpose of playing the sleazy real estate agent. He isn’t real. I know i project my own frustrations onto other people, we all do it, Im no different and neither is Monty.

StG: Last question, are there any other actors that inspire you, or have inspired you?

Jonny: No acting isn’t inspiring to me. But if I had to choose I love working with New Zealand comic actors Jackie van Beek and Cohen Hollaway. Cohen and I have a comedy crush! Also Australians Rick Donald (Woody, 800 Words) and Nick Boshier (Soul Mates, Meanwhile On Earth), Aussie has some funny people!

When not filming 800 Words, Jonathan has also been developing his next solo show titled ‘191 years of Bullshit’. On top of that he is writing new works with a range of exciting writers and practitioners.

Be sure to check out What We Do In The Shadows directed by Taika Waititi (Boy 2010, Hunt for the Wilderpeople 2016) and Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords, Moana 2016) and catch 800 Words Season Two TV1, Television New Zealand and stay tuned for Mega Time Squad by Tim van Dammen, released this year.

 

The post An Exclusive with Jonny Brugh appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

It’s not often a quality New Zealand made film comes along. Luckily for us, when it does, its usually one for the collection.

Hunt for the Wilderpeople follows Ricky (newcomer Julian Dennison), a rebellious boy who spends his time in and out of homes in the foster system. When he is taken to one of the last families that will take him in, Ricky ends up in the New Zealand bush with his foster Uncle (Sam Neill). The only problem is, the authorities believe Ricky is there against his will, prompting a wild goose chase and forcing the pair to put aside their differences and work together to survive.

The adventure film, Hunt for the Wilderpeople embodies the typical New Zealand way of life to a tee. Through a balance of light-hearted comedic elements and emotional connections formed between its characters and storyline, Hunt for the Wilderpeople oozes delight for viewers of all ages.

Sam Neill plays the part of Uncle Hec. Neill helps develop Hec from a typical old man who wants to be left alone, to a man that’s willing to give the kid a chance. Julian Dennison as Ricky though, is the real star and though many may not know his name, I’m sure they know it now.

Dennison is a talent and portrayed comedy and drama with maturity and ease. As usual in a New Zealand film, the supporting cast is full of familiar faces such as Rhys Darby, Oscar Kightley, Cohen Holloway, Rachel House and Stan Walker.Although I sometimes question whether or not New Zealand thinks they only have a small void of familiar talent to choose from, it somehow works with the film’s overall charm in this particular scenario and narrative.

Speaking of narrative, Hunt for the Wilderpeople is in fact based on the 1986 book by Barry Crump “Wild Pork and the Watercress”, though the film is set in today’s time. Because of this, the film opts to title moments of the film by chapter perhaps in homage to the author or perhaps bringing it back to Ricky’s storytelling and haikus.

This charming coming of age story has heart and is most certainly crafted with care. Children and adults alike can enjoy this family film and perhaps leave with a longing to explore the great outdoors or a become a ‘Wilderperson’ themselves.

*Check out my personal Blog for more Movie and TV goodness HERE.