On Friday, Nov. 3, Thor is hitting theaters for the third time, and come on, you know you've been planning to see Thor and Hulk hang out on the big screen since the first trailer dropped. The more important question isn't if you should see the movie, it's is Thor: Ragnarok in 3D worth it? Let's face it, 3D movies are divisive for a reason. Not only are the ticket prices higher, the glasses themselves can make the film look darker than it actually is, and for some people, the technology leads to motion sickness. However, 3D doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and Thor: Ragnarok may be one of the few movies that actually makes wearing those silly glasses worth it, at least according to early reviews from fans — and its biggest advocate.
No one is a bigger supporter of seeing Thor: Ragnarok in 3D than the film's director, Taika Waititi. Even though he has plenty of reasons to be biased, Waititi's endorsement of the 3D experience is worth listening to. After all, who would know better than the filmmaker? In an interview with RealD, Waititi said,
"This film has so many amazing elements, like Hulk and Thor, and so many amazing action sequences and spaceship chases, and all these things. It just has a depth to it that deserves to be seen in 3D."
If early Twitter reviews are any indication, then Waititi isn't overselling the 3D experience. Many of the fans who have seen the film while sporting those multi-colored glasses, seem to have enjoyed the ride.
Film website CinemaBlend did a complete breakdown of Thor: Ragnarok's 3D credentials, and and writer Dirk Libbey found that the movie uses the technology as more than a gimmick. Libbey notes that seeing Mjölnir thrown at the screen and sometimes off camera is something of a spectacle in the early part of the story, and Libbey reports that there are plenty of battles later in the film to keep the momentum going. Perhaps more importantly, the CinemaBlend article states that Thor: Ragnarok avoids suffering from the dimming effect that 3D glasses often cause because of the film's ultra bright color palette.
This may seem like a small detail, but the fact that Waititi and his team made sure that every part of the movie works as well as possible in both formats points to a true commitment to putting the story first. Far too often movies seem to be released in 3D just for the sake of it, but it sounds like Thor: Ragnarok set out to take viewers on a multilayered adventure that could truly be enhanced with the extra visual boost.
Of course, no matter how much praise the 3D version of the film is getting, it's important to remember that everyone has their own preferences when it comes to the 3D movie debate. While Thor: Ragnarok puts the technology to good use through epic space battles, Hela's impressive powers, and Thor's Mjölnir-throwing skills, that may not be enough to make every viewer a 3D convert.
Ultimately, it comes down to preference. Thor: Ragnarok has all of the cool things that you expect from a Marvel movie: characters fans love, mesmerizing battles, humor, and a killer soundtrack. The 3D is just a bonus, if you're into the trend. The consensus seems to be that seeing the movie in 3D doesn't take away from the story, and in many cases, it does enhance the action-packed film.
That doesn't mean you have to see Thor: Ragnarok in 3D, but it does mean if you decide to, there's an excellent chance that you'll think it was worth it.
If you're not a fan of 3D, don't go into the theater expecting Thor: Ragnarok to make you a believer. But if you do want to add a little something extra to the fun of watching Thor and the Hulk battle it out in space, then springing for the higher ticket price sounds like the best way to go.
