Thor: Ragnarok (PG-13)
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Caution: spoilers!

This is the third "Thor" movie; it's the fifth movie in Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe; and the 17th movie overall. I definitely think it's the most enjoyable of the Thor movies. I must say, it's mostly a comedy, and it's pretty well hilarious. But there's also plenty of badass action, and a bit of serious drama, and some decent symbolic themes (though I don't want to try to explain those; if you're interested- and you should be- I suggest reading the "WAW" link up above).

It begins with Thor as a prisoner of a giant sort of CGI lava demon guy named Surtur (voiced by Clancy Brown), who intends to go to Asgard and plunge his helmet into the eternal flame (which would make himself even more gigantic), to start Ragnarok and destroy Asgard. Of course, Thor soon breaks free, fights Surtur, and takes his helmet back to Asgard himself, for safekeeping. So you might think, with Ragnarok averted so quickly, the movie's title isn't particularly apt. But you'd be less right about that than you think. Anyway, before being defeated by Thor, Surtur had revealed that Odin was no longer on the throne. So now that Thor is home, he sees through Loki's disguise, and forces him to reveal himself. Oh, and I should mention Heimdall had been banished in Odin's absence, and replaced as keeper of the Bifrost by a guy named Skurge (Karl Urban). But more importantly (for now), Thor demands Loki take him to find Odin... who turns out not to be where Loki left him, on Earth. But they do soon find him, with help from Doctor Strange. That was fun. Sadly, after a brief conversation between Odin and his sons, Odin dies. Then his firstborn, Hela (Cate Blanchett) appears, released from her imprisonment by Odin's death. She wants to claim the throne of Asgard and return her people to their former "glory" as conquerors. Thor tries to stop her, but she is far too powerful for him. She soon gets to Asgard and tries to take over, but almost everyone opposes her, so we get a stunning display of just how badass she really is. The only person who joins her side is Skurge, and that seems to be mainly because he doesn't want to die.

Meanwhile, when Thor and Loki try to return to Asgard, they end up instead on a planet called Sakaar, which is ruled by someone called the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum), who holds gladiatorial matches. Thor will have to face his reigning champion... who turns out to be the Hulk. Oh wait, I forgot to say Thor had been captured by another badass warrior, Scrapper 142 (Tessa Thompson), whom he later learns used to be a member of an Asgardian corps of female warriors called the Valkyries. But they had all been defeated by Hela, and I guess 142 is the sole survivor. (She's not actually called by any other name in this movie, though I guess in subsequent movies she'll be known as "Valkyrie.") Anyway, she's the one who delivered Thor to the Grandmaster. And Thor befriends an alien CGI gladiator made of rocks, named Korg (voiced by the film's director, Taika Waititi). Eventually, after an epic battle between Thor and Hulk, the Grandmaster's slaves revolt, and um... other stuff happens, including Thor, Valkyrie, and the de-Hulkified Bruce Banner stealing a ship to return to Asgard. Meanwhile, on Asgard, Heimdall had stolen the sword that controls the Bifrost, so that Hela couldn't use it to reconquer the other realms. He also acts as guardian of the common people of Asgard, who now live in hiding. Of course, Hela really wants to get that sword back. And she raises an army of dead warriors, as well as the giant wolf Fenris, to help her out. Once again, Thor tries to stop her, with help from Valkyrie and Hulk. And eventually, Loki shows up with a group of freed slaves from Sakaar, on a ship that will take the refugee Asgardians to safety, as long as the heroes can hold Hela and her army off long enough.

So... a lot happens in this movie. And as is often the case, I feel like I've said too much. But there's also a fair bit that I've left out, and I certainly don't want to reveal any more from this point on, except to say that the ending is bittersweet. And of course, there are brief mid-credits and post-credits bonus scenes. Anyway... this is easily my favorite Thor movie, and among my favorite MCU movies. It is jam-packed with so many delicious flavors of... jam, I guess.

Oh yeah, also, Thor and Jane broke up at some point. I don't remember seeing that happen, but it was mentioned in this movie.