Thor: Ragnarok - Trimmed Edition

So, this being my first review, it is only fitting that I started with the film which introduced me to fan-edited films. You see, Thor Ragnarok sums up all the problems I have with the MCU since the end of Phase One; too much lightheartedness, bathos and overuse of mood-killing jokes. Add to all that Waititi's cartoonish approach towards Thor and The Hulk/Bruce Banner and you get why Thor Ragnarok is my most hated film of the whole bunch, especially when it's supposed to deal with the Twilight of the Gods.

When I heard about DigModification’s Trimmed Edition, I was intrigued. Was it possible for a fan-editor to salvage this film? The answer is, pretty much yes. From the get-go, the film seems much better as Thor is no more constantly interrupting Surtur’s speech when he’s spinning around his chains and the so overused joke with the mistimed arrival of Mjolnir is also gone. DigModification’s cuts and edits are seamless and you wouldn’t know that something is missing even if you know what you’re looking for. It was only just this scene during Thor’s escape from his quarters where I could tell that the glass shattering sound was a little “off”, but other than that it’s all top-notch. Actually, there are some ingenious cuts here and there, like Doctor Strange’s complete removal in a very clever way and the edited Stan Lee cameo, without having Thor screaming like a little girl.

So, did really DigModification save Thor Ragnarok? Unfortunately not for me, but that is not by any means the editor’s fault. The film is pretty much unsalvageable. There is no way for any editor to turn this rambling Bruce Banner into the troubled soul we knew from the first Avenger film. There is no way you can turn Korg into the gladiator from the Planet Hulk event (unless you dub over Waititi’s voice, that is). And there is no way you can give Loki back some of his godly dignity when objects are hurled onto his head. That is the reason why, while I mostly enjoyed the first and third act (especially the third act), the second act felt underwhelming. That’s because there is too much nonsense there, impossible to cut without compromising the whole narrative.

Again, that is by no means DigModification’s fault. In fact, thanks to his hard efforts, I can now comfortably watch a previously insufferable film every time I get into a MCU marathon. It’s definitely a must-watch for anyone who felt betrayed by Waititi’s directorial style.

I cannot find the words to describe how wonderful this edit was. Useless and flat jokes are gone, awkward pauses are out, and things feel elevated because of it. I did ding you a star for an audio effect (only because it stood out so much), but please don't take offense to it. When Thor throws the ball out against the glass, the shattering sound effect needed to extend longer, it ended too soon. Personally I would have kept the Dr. Strange and "tunnel scream", but only because it made me laugh so much.
But in all seriousness, you have done excellent work and this is a GRAND example of why I love this community so much! My hats off to you! I will never watch the vanilla version again!

This was a really great edit.

As other reviewers have noted, this edit has stripped a lot of the misplaced humor that was in the original. The humor is still there, but it shines through really well.

I do disagree with one edit, though, the one Digi made in the scene where Thor was stabbed by Loki at 8 years old.

It was my favorite joke, and was sad to see it go.

One audio edit stuck out to me, though. The scene where Thor throws the ball and breaks the glass, the breaking glass sound effect didn’t sound natural to me in that scene, maybe it was a little muted, but other than that any other audio edits that were done went completely unnoticed by me.

All in all, this is a great edit by Digi. Looking forward to any future edits he makes.