10 Movie Sequels That Started In Surprising Ways

Having quietly wowed with Eagle vs. Shark, Boy, What We Do in the Shadows, and Hunt for the Wilder People, director Taika Waititi impressed plenty with how he brought his unique humour and heart to Thor: Ragnarok in 2017. So, when Waititi was confirmed to return to helm last year's Thor: Love and Thunder, hope was high that this would be yet another homerun for the New Zealander.

Unfortunately, Love and Thunder is one of the most divisive movies in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Here, Waititi's worst instincts were turned up to 11, resulting in a picture that fell flat as the filmmaker struggled for restraint. This was apparent as soon as Love and Thunder's first few minutes were done, with the movie bizarrely trivialising some of the most traumatic moments in MCU history.

After briefly introducing us to Christian Bale's Gorr the God Butcher, it's when Thor first resurfaces when the red flags really start waving. As the Waititi-voiced Korg regales a group of youngsters with the Thunder God's backstory, it's done in such an overly-quirky, cheery way that almost pokes fun at some extremely heavy moments - such as the murder of Thor's mother, the death of his father, the slaughtering of Loki, the demise of Heimdall, and the complete destruction of Asgard.

Tonally, Korg's diatribe was way off the mark. But then again, so was Thor: Love and Thunder, period.