Ragnarok is coming. Prepare for an epic showdown of Team Thor vs Hela the Goddess of Death.

Thor, The God of Thunder returns for his third solo movie adventure! This time, the Avenger needs to stop the impending destruction of  his home world Asgard from Hela, the Goddess of Death. His journey takes time to the planet Sakaar and being put to fight in gladiatorial matches. There he finds unexpected allies to team-up in a race to save Asgard.

Official Synopsis:
“In Marvel Studios’ Thor: Ragnarok, Thor is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his homeworld and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela. But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk!”

Thor: Ragnarok is directed by New Zealander Taika Waititi (Hunt for the Wilderpeople). Reprising their roles are Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo (The Avengers) as Bruce Banner/Hulk, Tom Hiddleston (Thor) as Loki, Idris Elba (Pacific Rim) as Heimdall, Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs) as Odin, Tessa Thompson (Veronica Mars) as Valkyrie, Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park) as Grandmaster, Karl Urban (Star Trek) as Skurge, and Cate Blanchett (Lord of the Rings) as the lead antagonist, Hela. 

Listen to what the Director and Cast have to say about Thor Ragnarok

What is Ragnarok?

In Norse mythology, Ragnarok was a great battle resulting in deaths of many gods like Odin, Loki, Heimdall, etc and the end of all things. From the movie trailers it can be hypothesized that Hela in her revenge against Asgard will bring about Ragnarok in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ragnarok, the evil robotic clone of Thor.

In Marvel Comics, Ragnarok was a robotic clone of Thor, created by Tony Stark / Iron Man, Hank Pym  Giant-Man and Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic when Thor was presumed dead during the Civil War storyline. Ragnarok went out of control and later destroyed by the real Thor upon return (no superhero stays truly dead in comics). Ragnarok was later rebuild and was used by Norman Osborn / Green Goblin for his Dark Avengers team.

Here are the returning and new characters for in this new movie:

Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the titular god of Thunder. It is no secret from the trailer that he looses the mighty hammer Mjolnir at the literal hand of Hela, and gets a haircuit (do you ladies approve?).

Hulk / Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) was last seen in the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron leaving the team for parts unknown. Now the trailers has revealed that Hulk is also on the planet Saakar, fighting as a gladiator.

Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the God of Mischief and Thor's adopted brother (he's actually a small Frost Giant). He faked his own death after the events of Thor: The Dark World and disguised himself as Odin to rule Asgard.

Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) is a former Asgardian warrior who was once a member of Odin's elite guard. She is now working as a bounty hunter for the Grandmaster in Saakar. It is uncertain whether this movie Valkyrie is the same as the comics version, Brunhilde. She could be ONE of the many Valkyrie warriors.

Heimdall (Idris Elba), the all-seeing and all-hearing Gatekeeper of the Bifrost Bridge of Asgard.

Odin (Anthony Hopkins), king of Asgard. He was last seen in Thor: The Dark World and but viewers were unsure his fate since being "replaced" by Loki.

Hela (Cate Blanchett), the Goddess of Death. She escapes from imprisonment by Odin and now seeks revenge against Asgard. Writhing horns never looked so good!

Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) is one of the Elders of the Universe and master for all games. He created the Gladiator matches on Planet  Planet Saakar.

Skurge (Karl Urban), an Asgardian warrior who aligns himself to Hela. He is also known as 'The Executioner".

Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is now a full-fledged wizard, last seen in his own movie (in after credits) chatting with Thor to help search for Odin.

Get this bromance between Thor & Loki in "Get Help". LOL!

And listen in carefully to those great music tunes in this movie which looks to share the awesome mix vibes in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Thor Ragnarok is currently rated highly on Rotten Tomatoes at 98% and looks to be best of the trilogy. Read what movie critics have to say on Variety. And here's what Australia's ABC had to say about "the funniest Marvel movie ever".

Our resident Vulcan Dr. Mr. Smock reviews Thor Ragnarok together with special Guest The Captain from Pop Culture FUN - Malaysia.

As one of the most highly anticipated blockbuster superhero movies this year, our local cinemas are offering a whole slew of goodies right now:

GSC Cinemas is hosting an early screening for their members on this Wednesday  25 October, 6.20pm at GSC MyTown, Cheras and GSC Queensbay Mall, Penang. The screening package priced at RM30 includes 1 movie ticket, 1 limited edition Thor Ragnarok collectible coin and popcorn / drink combo. Find out more details from their official website. 

  

Now only for advance ticket sales purchase until 26 October, purchase their Thor Ragnarok e-combo online for RM90 to score a pair of Thor and Hulk Podz figurines with a large popcorn and 2 regular soft drinks. Read more on the terms and conditions from the GSC website.

Sample of that Hulk Podz figurine. Photo source: GSC.

Finally the first 50 customers purchasing six D-Box tickets at participating cinemas will redeem an exclusive Gladiator Hulk's Hammer USB plus popcorn and drinks for that party of six. Find out which cinemas are qualified for this prom at their website.

Over at TGV Cinemas, their Movie Club members get to purchase an early exclusive screening of Thor Ragnarok on Wednesday 25 October, 6pm in TGV Sunway Pyramid and Tebrau City, Johor Bahru. These IMAX tickets are priced at RM45 when purchased in advance, or RM60 on the day itself. Some activities like cosplay contest and video games precede the movie screening starting from 4.30pm. For non-members, there are other early screenings in IMAX and standard halls that same night at TGV 1 Utama and Sunway Velocity scheduled for 7pm with activities starting at 5.30pm.

Over the movie opening weekend of 28-29 October, movie marathons comprising Thor The Dark World and Thor Ragnarok will be available for purchase at selected locations.for only RM20 to Movie Club members and RM25 to others. Find out participating cinemas from the TGV website.

Plus from 25 October onwards, purchasing 2 IMAX movie tickets will come with a free mini-poster. Of course only at IMAX cinema locations.

As for movie merchandise, a Hulk Hammer combo is available for RM27 with purchase of 1 Thor Ragnarok movie ticket. This combo includes with a Hulk Hammer water bottle, 1 regular popcorn and 1 regular soft drink. The special bottle is also available at part of an IMAX ticket combo with popcorn for RM40.

MBO Cinemas is offering 3 forms of concession combos:

• Combo A with a 32oz / 950ml Thor OR Hulk helmet cup and a 46oz / 1.35l popcorn for RM27.
• Combo B, an 85oz / 2.5l Hulk Fist popcorn container with a 22oz / 650ml soft drink for RM41 or with 2 soft drinks will be RM43.
• Combo C comes with an 85oz / 2.5l Thor Helmet popcorn container with a 22oz / 650ml soft drink for RM41 or with 2 soft drinks for RM43.

They are also having a contest to win a trip for two to Australia. For more info, read here.

Unexpectedly, retail petrol stations chain Petron Malaysia is also in on the action with exclusive movie premiums available with minimum purchase of RM50 fuel. Then use either Petron points or cash to make purchase of the goodies from participating Petron station. For more details go to their official website.

Avenue K shopping centre is currently having an official Thor: Ragnarok event from 18 October to 5 November. You can take pictures with life-sized statues of Thor and Hulk in their Gladiator armor.

The event area in Avenue K's main concourse, just above the KLCC LRT station.

Life-sized statues of Thor and Hulk

There is also a FREE haircut for fans which the hairstylists will cut your hair short and also give a 'Gladiator Mark' on it (courtesy by C. Michael London hair salon).

Free haircut with the Gladiator Mark. Wonder if Chris Hemsworth approves?

For children, there is a mini 'Gladiator Pit' where they can battle it out like Thor and Hulk. Don't worry, protection are provided.

Gladiator Pit for the kids. Protection provided

There is also a Augmented Reality photo booth where you can take pictures with some of the characters from the movie.

Take pictures with your favorite movie character with the Augmented Reality Photo Booth

Premium Thor and Hulk statues on display

For retail, TGV Cinemas is selling their Hulk Hammer bottle by instead at a discounted price of RM17. Petron has also setup a booth offering their movie merchandise.

For fans who must own a piece of the Marvel Thor universe, here are a number of movie toys and collectibles located by the Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T.):

Hasbro's Marvel Legends series released six 6 inch figures which include Gladiator Thor, Loki, Hela, Thor (Jane Foster), Ares and Thor Odinson from the comics series. Each of the packaging comes with a body part which are called Build-A-Figure and if you collected all 6 figures, you are able to build your very own Gladiator Hulk! Each figure is priced at RM139.90.

Collect parts from each Marvel Legends figure to form Gladiator Hulk.

For Lego fans there are 2 building sets for this movie being released: Thor Vs Hulk Arena Clash 76088 for RM299.00 and The Ultimate Battle for Asgard 76084 for RM249.00.

Set 76088 Thor Vs Hulk: Arena Clash (RM299)

Set 76084 The Ultimate Battle for Asgard (RM249)

Funko POP  has been on a total rampage creating bobblehead figurines of every pop culture franchise our there, and Thor Ragnarok is not exception. New versions of Gladiator Thor and Loki plus other characters from the movie are priced at RM65.00 each. As per typical Funko POP distribution, some of these figures may be retail or event exclusives and not available from normal toy stores. Try to contact local Funko distributor Sheldonet Toy Store Malaysia for latest availability locally.

Various Funko POP Thor: Ragnarok figures

As with all Marvel movies, Hot Toys will be releasing some really detailed one-sixth scaled figurines for this movie comprising of Gladiator Thor, Gladiator Hulk, Loki, Hela and Valkyrie. No details yet on the price and release date.

Gladiator Thor and Hulk

Loki

Valkyrie

Hela

Thor and Hulk having a bonding session. By the way, Hulk now speaks with intelligent conversation!

Thor: Ragnarok will be opening in cinemas nationwide on Thursday 26 October 2017 with sneak previews starting Wednesday 25 October 2017.

Disclaimer: Thor, Hulk and associated trademarks are copyright to Marvel Studios, referenced here for fan service purposes only without intent to infringe.

Revisiting Your Childhood Dreams with Cinderella

by contributing writer Michelle Chee

I remember as a child having a VHS videotape of Disney’s classic Cinderella animation from 1950 and watching it over and over again through the years. I can still remember until today how to sing ‘Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo’ as well as remember the names of Cinderella’s mousey friends ( Jaq and Gus). I still remember as a child trying to recreate certain scenes from the movie including Cinderella’s attempt to balance trays on her head and walk up and down the stairs. Of course the Mumsies was not too happy with all these childish shenanigans and quickly put a stop to it. 

Wasn’t it every girl’s dream to run down the steps with a flouncy blue dress?

This year, whoever grew up with the famous classical Disney version of Cinderella will have a chance to relive their childhood fantasies by watching the live action movie starring Lily James and Richard Madden. Being a fan of the two renowned series which they represent (Lily James from Downton Abbey, Madden from Game of Thrones), I’m looking forward to seeing their on screen chemistry. Will it sizzle? Or will it fizzle?

Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!

Anyhow, the trailers look promising enough. Even though it is based on the original 1950 story, viewers and fans should keep in mind that it is a reworking and therefore the resemblance would be rather loose and not strictly similar. I personally think the trailer carries a hint of something darker and more realistic compared to the original cartoon. Also, very few appearances by cutesy little creature companions this time:

The ladies of course would be going gaga over Richard Madden in one of his first golden screen appearances after his critically successful work on Game of Thrones. Here you get to see him as the archetypical prince charming who does a host of macho activities like horse riding, sword fighting and waltzing. Let’s not forget that clean shaven Richard Madden has the bluest eyes ever and the shiniest smile you can get lost in.

Those blue eyes and smile can melt any girl’s heart

Apart from our two visually appealing leads, the movie also stars Oscar award winner Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother and Lily James’ co-star on Downton Abbey, Sophie Mcshera as Drizella, one of the stepsisters. Holliday Grainger from the critically acclaimed series ‘The Borgias’ plays the other stepsister Anastacia and most exciting of all is a cameo from Helena Bonham Carter who plays the fairy Godmother. It seems the fairy godmother appears younger in the live movie version and doesn’t appear to sing any silly rhyming tunes. Here you can watch a tiny featurette that includes Helena Bonham Carter as the lively Fairy Godmother, who in this version seems to be a fan of heavy makeup:

On the homefront in Malaysia, the Outpost Movie Recon Team (M.R.T.) has sourced various brands are offering generous giveaways in conjunction with the movie’s release on March 12^th 2015. We begin with the local cinemas chains whereby TGV Cinemas is offering the trip of a lifetime to meet Cinderella in person at Hong Kong Disneyland from their Watch & Win contest. Just watch Cinderella at TGV until March 26th 2015 and submit your entry online for chance to live this fairy tale:

Meanwhile MBO Cinemas and Cathay Cineplexes are offering F&B concession promos. With their Cinderella Combo priced at RM17 for large popcorn and drink, MBO is throwing in a complimentary crystal dome double-walled cup. And strange “fairy tales do come true” with minty blue gourmet popcorn flushed down by Revive from Cathay Cineplexes.

Astro customers with the Kidspack Subscription stand to win limited edition merchandise from AstroCircle. All you have to do is fill in your details and answer a simple question. If you are lucky entrant of the sequence number listed on their website, the prizes are yours. Contest runs until March 22^nd.

Local beauty website lipstiq.com is also having a Cinderella merchandise giveaway and contestants stand a chance to in T-shirts, caps, Bracelet watches, and pocket mirrors. Just follow the instructions on their website and walk away with prizes. Double your chances of scoring these movie merchandise from local blog KLIPS+ is giving away similar goodies.

Goodies for Cinderella fans

Kose Malaysia is promoting its Sekkisei line of products by giving away limited edition Cinderella phone plugs with every purchase of Sekkisei lotion, so you can visit their website to find out which retail outlets you can visit to get them.

So far, no local stores seem to be selling Cinderella live action movie merchandise, but you can ship products in from The Disney official website. There are dolls and figurines of Cinderella, the Evil Stepmother and Fairy Godmother, as well as costumes for kids and babies.

Lastly, of course, before we forget, the exclusive animated short ‘ Frozen Fever’ will only be shown with the feature length Cinderella movie in cinemas so fans are in for a double treat. The animated short tells the story of Anna’s plans to throw Elsa a birthday party and the chaos (plus fun) that ensues. Catch the trailer here:

Disclaimer: Cinderella and other trademarks are copyright to Walt Disney Pictures, and their respective owners, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.