*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
Superhero films are becoming more and more frequent these days. However, that doesn't stop them from being one of the highest grossing films of the year. Despite being released the same year as another Marvel Studios film, X-Men: Days Of Future Past, Guardians Of The Galaxy went on to receive over $773 million at the box office and was the third highest grossing film of 2014. This proves that superhero films are still really popular today. I think that people love seeing their favourite comic books being brought to life on the big screen. However, if it doesn't meet their expectations, the results can be a disaster. Just look at the Fantastic Four films. There has been three films yet all of them were criticised by both critics and fans. Fortunately, Guardians Of The Galaxy didn't follow that same path and, not only did it impress fans, it won over a new audience too. This was because, despite it being a superhero film, it felt different in comparison to similar films such as Fantastic Four and The Avengers. Unlike the two aforementioned films, Guardians never took itself too seriously and made for a highly entertaining watch. The first installment shows how the titular Guardians met and became the team they are now known as today. Now its sequel, which has been released after three years, follows the group on another adventure in space. However, there can be a lot of pressure for a sequel to be as good as its predecessor, does it meet people's expectations?
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 has one of the best openings to any film I've ever seen. The Guardians are fighting off a large behemoth, however, the film decides to focus on Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) who, despite all the background action, is busy dancing to ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky'. Here, the film sets the audience up for what's to come which is a lot of action and humour. After this, the Guardians receive a prisoner in exchange for killing the behemoth, however, that prisoner is Nebula (Karen Gillian) who is Gamora's (Zoe Saldana) sister. Due to the events of the previous film, their relationship is very strained. After Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) steals some batteries from the Sovereign race, the Guardians' ship crash lands on a distant plant where Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) meets his father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Despite Gamora's concerns, Quill is ecstatic to finally meet his father. This leads to a tense relationship between the Guardians who believes Ego is using Quill for his own good as he seduces him with his powers.
Apart from the opening, the Guardians spend most of the film separated with Quill, Gamora and Drax (Dave Bautista) on Ego's home planet and Rocket, Baby Groot and Quill's adoptive father, Yondu (Michael Rooker), being held captive by the leader of the Ravagers, Taserface (Chris Sullivan). In the scenes with Quill and his father, we find out why Ego left Quill's mother and gives more background to Quill's character. In the first film, Quill came across as a cocky yet charming pilot, however, we see a softer side to him here. Pratt's portrayal of the leading protagonist proves why he's one of Hollywood's biggest stars working today. Despite appearing in Jurassic World and, most recently, Passengers, Pratt returns to the role of Quill and it's like he never left the role. When the first Guardians film was in production, actors such as Joel Edgerton, Jim Sturgess, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eddie Redmayne were considered for the part of Quill. However, Pratt won the role and it was a good choice as he fully personifies Quill. I don't think any of the aforementioned actors would've been right for this role.
One of the biggest themes in this film is family. It is played throughout the film as we see Gamora and Nebula making amends. Despite being raised by Yondo, Quill believes that, because they're biologically related, his true father is Ego. However, the film shows that family doesn't necessarily mean the people who are your blood relatives, it can mean the people who love you unconditionally. It's a message that works in this film as we see the Guardians become closer.
After its release in 2014, the first Guardians film went on to receive two Academy Award nominations including Best Achievement in Visual Effects which is unsurprising considering that the visual effects were one of the most impressive aspects of the film. The same can be said for the sequel as it's just as visually stunning as its predecessor. The visual effects department team have clearly put a lot of effort into making this a film that stands out in term of its overall look. Compared to the first Guardians film, this sequel features a lot more brighter colours and a fresh, unique look. This is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen as the visuals may lose their impact once released on DVD and watched on a smaller screen.
Guardian's soundtrack was a big highlight of the film as it featured classic and well-known songs which made the scenes a lot more entertaining to watch. Quill, as a character, can be defined by his love of music which he plays on his Walkman, which he owned as a child and kept with him when he was taken into space. His love for music hasn't changed here with songs such as Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' and Jay and the Americans' 'Come a Little Bit Closer' making appearances throughout the film.
Performances-wise, the standouts are Pratt as Quill and Saldana as Gamora, who is portrayed as a fierce and strong-minded individual. Despite her concerns about Quill and his relationship with his father, she knows her relationship with Nebula is more important. In the first film, Drax was seen as a angry individual who wanted revenge for the death of his wife and child. However, because of Bautista's performance, we see he has a funny side too which is shown in the banter between the Guardians. Cooper's voice is unrecognisable as the foul-mouthed Rocket who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Newcomers include Russell who, like Pratt's Quill, brings a certain charm to his role as Ego and Pom Klementieff as Mantis who looks after Ego and can reveal the feelings of others by touching them.
Before Guardians Vol. 2's release, director James Gunn announced that there was going to be an extra five scenes that were going to be shown during and after the credits. However, these scenes are mainly there to set up the upcoming Marvel Studios film, Thor: Ragnarok, which is being released later this year.
For those who enjoyed the first Guardians, you will not be disappointed here. It's just as entertaining as its predecessor and features a lot of the humour that made its predecessor so popular. For those new to the superhero genre, you should find lots to enjoy here, whether it's the characters, visuals or high-energy narrative. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 beat my initial expectations and I honestly can't wait for the release of Vol. 3.
7.5/10
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 has one of the best openings to any film I've ever seen. The Guardians are fighting off a large behemoth, however, the film decides to focus on Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) who, despite all the background action, is busy dancing to ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky'. Here, the film sets the audience up for what's to come which is a lot of action and humour. After this, the Guardians receive a prisoner in exchange for killing the behemoth, however, that prisoner is Nebula (Karen Gillian) who is Gamora's (Zoe Saldana) sister. Due to the events of the previous film, their relationship is very strained. After Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) steals some batteries from the Sovereign race, the Guardians' ship crash lands on a distant plant where Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) meets his father, Ego (Kurt Russell). Despite Gamora's concerns, Quill is ecstatic to finally meet his father. This leads to a tense relationship between the Guardians who believes Ego is using Quill for his own good as he seduces him with his powers.
Apart from the opening, the Guardians spend most of the film separated with Quill, Gamora and Drax (Dave Bautista) on Ego's home planet and Rocket, Baby Groot and Quill's adoptive father, Yondu (Michael Rooker), being held captive by the leader of the Ravagers, Taserface (Chris Sullivan). In the scenes with Quill and his father, we find out why Ego left Quill's mother and gives more background to Quill's character. In the first film, Quill came across as a cocky yet charming pilot, however, we see a softer side to him here. Pratt's portrayal of the leading protagonist proves why he's one of Hollywood's biggest stars working today. Despite appearing in Jurassic World and, most recently, Passengers, Pratt returns to the role of Quill and it's like he never left the role. When the first Guardians film was in production, actors such as Joel Edgerton, Jim Sturgess, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Eddie Redmayne were considered for the part of Quill. However, Pratt won the role and it was a good choice as he fully personifies Quill. I don't think any of the aforementioned actors would've been right for this role.
One of the biggest themes in this film is family. It is played throughout the film as we see Gamora and Nebula making amends. Despite being raised by Yondo, Quill believes that, because they're biologically related, his true father is Ego. However, the film shows that family doesn't necessarily mean the people who are your blood relatives, it can mean the people who love you unconditionally. It's a message that works in this film as we see the Guardians become closer.
After its release in 2014, the first Guardians film went on to receive two Academy Award nominations including Best Achievement in Visual Effects which is unsurprising considering that the visual effects were one of the most impressive aspects of the film. The same can be said for the sequel as it's just as visually stunning as its predecessor. The visual effects department team have clearly put a lot of effort into making this a film that stands out in term of its overall look. Compared to the first Guardians film, this sequel features a lot more brighter colours and a fresh, unique look. This is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen as the visuals may lose their impact once released on DVD and watched on a smaller screen.
Guardian's soundtrack was a big highlight of the film as it featured classic and well-known songs which made the scenes a lot more entertaining to watch. Quill, as a character, can be defined by his love of music which he plays on his Walkman, which he owned as a child and kept with him when he was taken into space. His love for music hasn't changed here with songs such as Fleetwood Mac's 'The Chain' and Jay and the Americans' 'Come a Little Bit Closer' making appearances throughout the film.
Performances-wise, the standouts are Pratt as Quill and Saldana as Gamora, who is portrayed as a fierce and strong-minded individual. Despite her concerns about Quill and his relationship with his father, she knows her relationship with Nebula is more important. In the first film, Drax was seen as a angry individual who wanted revenge for the death of his wife and child. However, because of Bautista's performance, we see he has a funny side too which is shown in the banter between the Guardians. Cooper's voice is unrecognisable as the foul-mouthed Rocket who isn't afraid to speak his mind. Newcomers include Russell who, like Pratt's Quill, brings a certain charm to his role as Ego and Pom Klementieff as Mantis who looks after Ego and can reveal the feelings of others by touching them.
Before Guardians Vol. 2's release, director James Gunn announced that there was going to be an extra five scenes that were going to be shown during and after the credits. However, these scenes are mainly there to set up the upcoming Marvel Studios film, Thor: Ragnarok, which is being released later this year.
For those who enjoyed the first Guardians, you will not be disappointed here. It's just as entertaining as its predecessor and features a lot of the humour that made its predecessor so popular. For those new to the superhero genre, you should find lots to enjoy here, whether it's the characters, visuals or high-energy narrative. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 beat my initial expectations and I honestly can't wait for the release of Vol. 3.
7.5/10
