Established 1961 31 Monday, October 23, 2017 Lifestyle FEATURES Film Review ‘Thor: Ragnarok’ takes him to funny heights In the stand-alone films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Thor always seemed to get the short end of the stick. The Thor films were never as popular as Iron Man, and didn’t gain steam like Captain America. They were perhaps a lit- tle too serious and a little too dull - none of which was the fault of star Chris Hemsworth, whose performances in the role have been so seamless and charming that he almost doesn’t get enough credit. But “Thor: Ragnarok” has been touted as a different take on the God of Thunder. Marvel Studios and The Walt Disney Co. signed up a voice-y director in New Zealand’s Taika Waititi, whose riotous vampire mockumentary “What We Do In The Shadows” displayed a unique comedic sensibility. They took away Thor’s hammer, gave him a haircut, added some Led Zeppelin and told the set designer the more neon rainbows the better. The results are pretty decent, though perhaps not the total departure most blandly written villains ever. While she’s off waging I imagine “Thor: Ragnarok” is one that might improve that had been hyped. her deathly serious takeover, Thor gets to join an irrever- on subsequent viewings, when you have a chance to relax The bones of the story are preposterous as ever. It ent comedy sideshow on the planet Sakaar - a sort of with the jokes divorced from the pressure of juggling the turns out Thor has a long lost older sister, Hela (Cate wasteland at the end of the universe run by a Grade-A silly/serious plot. Blanchett), who his father weirdo who calls himself But it’s a fairly flawed movie on the whole with egre- Odin (Anthony Hopkins, Grandmaster, played, fit- gious tonal shifts. Some of the gags go on too long with who appears to have shot tingly, by Jeff Goldblum. the Hulk with too little payoff and sometimes it seems as for about two hours) It’s this section that is though there’s a mandate that every 25 minutes there will locked away because she Not the total pretty amusing and be a big fight no matter what. One particular army of the was so dangerous. where Waititi’s irrever- dead sequence seemed like it could have been lifted from a An event happens that departure ence really gets to shine “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie - which is not the most releases Hela to the world. with pratfalls and witty flattering comparison. She’s really strong, like that had writing. It’s no surprise While Waititi’s energy and wit is apparent in the film, it stronger than Thor strong, that this is right up still feels as though he had to operate from the same and really angry and basi- been hyped Goldblum’s alley, but the Marvel “base flavor” and was allowed on occasion to cally punches Thor into real delight is Hemsworth sprinkle a few of his own original toppings on. “Thor: another dimension and she who knows just how to Ragnarok” is the most fun of the Thor movies by a long heads off to Asgard to subvert the Thor charac- shot, but it is still very much a Thor movie for better or take the throne. ter without turning him worse. “Thor,” a Walt Disney Studios release, is rated PG- The movie literally into a total mockery. He’s a real comedic talent, which 13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for splits in two at this point. Poor Blanchett, who has gone full audiences got a taste of in “Ghostbusters.” And Tessa “intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and brief vamp as Hela, is good as always but how lame it must be to Thompson is fantastic as Valkyrie, a hard drinkin’ fighter suggestive material.” Running time: 130 minutes. Two and a be in the “fun” Thor movie and have to play one of the with a secret past she’d rather forget. half stars out of four. — AP Former US presidents take stage at hurricane benefit concert All five of America’s living former presidents took the stage Saturday at a benefit concert in Texas to raise money for victims of the hurri- cane-ravaged southern United States and Vocalist, and director of the Turas program, Linda Ervine poses for a photo- Caribbean. Former presidents Barack Obama, Former US Presidents, Jimmy Carter, George HW Bush, George W Bush, Barack Obama and graph in her office in Belfast. George W Bush, Bill Clinton, George HW Bush Bill Clinton attend the Hurricane Relief concert in College Station, Texas. — AFP photos and Jimmy Carter appeared together onstage at Texas A&M , praising Americans for their will- ingness to help fellow citizens and urging them a $1 million donation and that a “mental health Trump did not attend the concert, but As politicians bicker, to do more. The effort by the three Democrats and emotional trauma surviving program” praised the effort in a video message released and two Republicans has raised over $31 million would be set up for hurricane survivors. earlier, terming it a “wonderful” and “vital from 80,000 donors for the victims of hurri- “Pain is such an equalizer. And in a time of effort.” “As we begin to rebuild, some of Gaelic blossoms canes Harvey, Irma and Maria, George HW catastrophe, we all put our differences aside America’s finest public servants are spearhead- Bush’s office said. and we come together, ‘cause we need each ing the One America Appeal,” said Trump, “All of us on this stage here tonight could not other, or we can’t survive,” she said. Lee whose administration’s response to the heavy be prouder of the response of Americans. When Greenwood opened the concert and served as storm damage in Puerto Rico has drawn fire. they see their neighbors and they see their master of ceremonies for the event, titled “Melania and I want to express our deep grati- friends, they see strangers in need, Americans “Deep From the Heart: The One America tude for your tremendous assistance,” he said. step up,” Obama said. “Let’s all work together Appeal,” which also featured artists including Ticket-sale receipts were to benefit organiza- and make America still a greater volunteer The Gatlin Brothers, Yolanda Adams, Robert tions in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the US nation,” said Carter, making an apparent play on Earl Keen and Sam Moore. Virgin Islands. — AFP President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan. The Georgia native said that Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit he’s worked with for 36 years, would build 6,000 homes in hard-hit areas. It’s raised $20 million of the $100 million sought, he said. And “I too am here to urge you to give to this fine fund, and I want to thank all the volunteers,” the younger Bush said. “There’s still work to do,” Clinton said. “It can be a new beginning if we just do what we ought to do and prove that the heart of America, without race or religion or political party, is greater than our problems.” Participants take notes as Caoimhe Ni Chathail takes an Irish language singing class. ‘We need each other’ Former first ladies Barbara and Laura Bush In the heart of a Protestant area of east However, just 4,130 people, 0.2 percent of both attended the event, as did vice president Belfast, a group of students belt out a tra- the population, said it was their main lan- Dick Cheney, ex-secretary of state James A ditional Irish song as part of their weekly guage-fewer than those who said Polish Baker, Senator Ted Cruz and Texas Governor Gaelic language practice. At the Skainos and Lithuanian. Paul Lynas, a retired public Greg Abbott. Lady Gaga gave a surprise performance at Community Centre, there is little sign of servant who has been attending classes for Singer Lady Gaga performs during the Hurricane Relief concert. the bitter political dispute over a language just over three years, said he did not care the concert, announcing that she would make associated more with Catholic Irish nation- about any political associations. alism. “It’s massively growing,” teacher “Protestants who came from Scotland, Caoimhe Ni Chathail told AFP. She is part many of them would have spoken Scots of the “Turas” (Journey) project which Gaelic and Protestants have always been connects people from Protestant commu- involved in Gaelic,” he told AFP. “I really nities to their own history with the Irish don’t see it as anything revolutionary.” language. After the choral practice, the biggest Gaelic revival class of beginners the 31-year-old has ever The school provoked a mixed response seen take their place at the centre, which is from the Protestant Unionist community decorated with Gaelic-language posters when it opened in a local Methodist church such “Mionna Na Bliana”-which depicts in 2011. “Some people left the church... and the months of the year. The creation of an we’ve had some verbal abuse on Facebook,” Irish Language Act is the main obstacle Ervine said. Since then, the project has standing between Catholic Irish republi- flourished with classes mushrooming from cans Sinn Fein and the Protestant, pro- one per week to 13. More than 160 students British Democratic Unionist Party in nego- ranging from beginners to experts, children tiations-ongoing since March-to form a to adults take part in the free singing les- power-sharing government in Belfast.