'Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2' spoiler free review
Who could have imagined back in in 2014 that the Guardians of the Galaxy, a relatively unknown group of comic book characters, would be drawing over £100 million in the box office during the opening weekend of their second cinematic outing. Yet that's exactly what has happened. Due to the ever observant leadership of Marvel studios, a fantastic cast and the bold brilliance of director James Gunn, the first movie was an immense success and as a result the sequel has become one of the most anticipated blockbusters of 2017. Turns out it was with good reason, as Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 is everything you loved about the first movie and then some!
Starting shortly after the events of the first film, the galaxy is rewarding the team for their heroics by hiring them to do odd jobs - 'odd' referring to battling giant space monsters rather than painting a fence. When one job goes badly wrong for them, the Guardians are forced to flee. Their escape leads them into the path of Ego (Kurt Russell) who proclaims to be Peter Quill's long lost father. Still disturbed by his lack of knowledge about his parents and even his own genetic makeup, Peter and the team go with Ego in search of answers. Yet all is not as it seems.
The cast of this movie is fantastic. All 5 returning members are as great as the first outing, some even out-doing their last performances in my opinion. Gamora's interactions with her revenge seeking sister Nebula are great if not slightly disturbing, whilst Drax really comes into his own in this film. The transformation of Groot to Baby Groot is a stroke of genius (not only because Marvel Studios are going to make a shed-load of money selling Baby Groot toys) but because it offers the team a new dynamic whilst maintaining the same membership. Baby Groot is often more of a hinderance than a help, with some quite hilarious results. The interactions between the Guardians are on point and offer some genuine 'laugh out loud' moments. Also the expansion of some characters story arcs, such as Rocket and Yondu are much welcomed and only further display the bond between this group of outcasts that have become a family. The new characters are also great. The Sovereign are presented as this omnipotent threat, yet seeing the Guardians get under their skin, whether using quick wit or even quicker space ships is immensely satisfying. Ego is also great, as you'd expect from an actor of Russell's calibre. I won't delve too deeply into his character for fear of spoiling but he captures the role brilliantly. Mantis is probably the weakest character in the film, not because she's bad - just because everyone else is so good. She still has some standout moments though.
I've heard people complain that the story of this film is not as good as the first one, but I would strongly disagree.Volume 1 was a lightning bolt of a movie - sheer magic captured in a film, and its arguably impossible to ever recreate that initial sense of awe. However, this film has a pretty good go at it and in my opinion defiantly succeeds. The plot of the film covers some pretty substantial topics, including feelings of abandonment, redemption and the strength of family. Yet it's all interwoven into the hilarious nature of a Marvel movie. I would say that this is one of the most joke filled Marvel films to date, and whilst not every joke is a winner, there are definitely more hits than misses.
I've heard people complain that the story of this film is not as good as the first one, but I would strongly disagree.Volume 1 was a lightning bolt of a movie - sheer magic captured in a film, and its arguably impossible to ever recreate that initial sense of awe. However, this film has a pretty good go at it and in my opinion defiantly succeeds. The plot of the film covers some pretty substantial topics, including feelings of abandonment, redemption and the strength of family. Yet it's all interwoven into the hilarious nature of a Marvel movie. I would say that this is one of the most joke filled Marvel films to date, and whilst not every joke is a winner, there are definitely more hits than misses.
James Gunn deserves some serious credit for this film's success. Granted, the film being set off Earth offers him a certain level of freedom that directors of other Marvel movies don't get, but what he has done with that freedom is spectacular. The courage shown to include a whole host of whacky and nonsensical characters, settings and creatures has to be commended. I mean, he put Howard the Duck in these movies. Howard the Duck!! Granted they're only cameos, but Howard the Duck is proven cinematic poison - so to include him just to give some die hard comic fans a smile is really incredible. And Ego the living planet? 10 years ago, if a director had said 'Yeah and one character in this movie is gonna be a giant planet with a face on it' they'd have been laughed out of Hollywood. Yet Gunn has done it, and in a way that isn't at all goofy or bad - it fits snuggly into this crazy universe he's created and I love it!
The visuals in this movie are spectacular. As mentioned, the freedom of having a movie set somewhere other than Earth allows for a world to be as vibrant and cooky as possible and this film doesn't hold back. Everything; spaceship models, character prosthetics, creature designs, locations. Everything looks fantastic. In addition, after previous Marvel movies have been criticised for a lack of colour, this film has an astonishing array of vibrant and exciting palettes around each and every corner. Its an old cliche, but it really does look like it's been ripped from the pages of a comic book.
And of course the soundtrack. I've heard people say that they were more excited for 'Awesome Mixtape Volume 2' than they were the actual movie. It had a very tough act to follow for the first soundtrack, but it has certainly delivered. Fleetwood Mac and Parliament being personal highlights as well as the opening scene set to 'Mr Blue Sky', which may be the best opening scene to any movie ever made.
I urge you to rush out and see Guardians 2. My expectations were high and yet I was still impressed. Stunning visuals, soundtrack and performances all round. I didn't dare think it possible but it matched the levels of the first entry and perhaps even surpassed it. A must see.
4/5 Stars
The visuals in this movie are spectacular. As mentioned, the freedom of having a movie set somewhere other than Earth allows for a world to be as vibrant and cooky as possible and this film doesn't hold back. Everything; spaceship models, character prosthetics, creature designs, locations. Everything looks fantastic. In addition, after previous Marvel movies have been criticised for a lack of colour, this film has an astonishing array of vibrant and exciting palettes around each and every corner. Its an old cliche, but it really does look like it's been ripped from the pages of a comic book.
And of course the soundtrack. I've heard people say that they were more excited for 'Awesome Mixtape Volume 2' than they were the actual movie. It had a very tough act to follow for the first soundtrack, but it has certainly delivered. Fleetwood Mac and Parliament being personal highlights as well as the opening scene set to 'Mr Blue Sky', which may be the best opening scene to any movie ever made.
I urge you to rush out and see Guardians 2. My expectations were high and yet I was still impressed. Stunning visuals, soundtrack and performances all round. I didn't dare think it possible but it matched the levels of the first entry and perhaps even surpassed it. A must see.
4/5 Stars
