SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

The sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home, was well received by fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and critics. One of the most memorable scenes took place in the middle of the end credits and saw the villain, Mysterio, revealing to the whole world that Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is the web slinging superhero, Spider-Man, and that he was the cause of all of the chaos in London. Following the release of Far From Home in 2019, fans have been sharing their theories of what they think will happen in the follow-up, No Way Home, making it one of the most anticipated films of the year. However, does it live up to the hype? 

The story picks up immediately after Far From Home and sees Peter’s life turned upside down. He loses his privacy and is constantly harassed by the media. Peter, his girlfriend, MJ (Zendaya) and his best friend, Ned (Jacob Batalan) are rejected by their dream college due to their involvement with Spider-Man. This leads to Peter asking Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to cast a spell that makes people forget that he’s Spider-Man. Unsurprisingly, the spell goes wrong leading to various villains appearing from alternate universes, including Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina) and Electro (Jamie Foxx). 

There’s no denying that 2021 has been a packed year for Marvel Studios. Aside from releasing four films including Black Widow, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Eternals and No Way Home, they’ve also produced four spin-off original series, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and Hawkeye. Although I’ve genuinely enjoyed all of the films and series that Marvel have released this year, I think that the stand-out is No Way Home. I can’t imagine fans of Spider-Man being disappointed with what director Jon Watts and screenwriters, Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, have created with the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Although the latest trailer, which was released last month, confirmed the appearances of previous Spider-Man villains, including Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Lizard (Rhys Ifans) and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church), fans have been wondering about the return of Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, with the latter being frequently questioned by journalists whilst he was promoting his latest film, tick, tick…BOOM!. Garfield has denied any involvement with the latest Spider-Man film. I will honestly say that, prior to watching No Way Home, I didn’t think that either Maguire and Garfield were in it so I was more than pleasantly surprised when they made their appearance halfway through. Although I didn’t grow up with the Spider-Man franchise as I was too young, I can imagine that those who did will love seeing their favourite portrayals of Spider-Man teaming up to defeat the villains. There will be those who will complain that No Way Home is simply fan service but I don’t think that’s necessarily an issue when it’s done this well. Recent blockbuster franchises, including Star Wars with their latest trilogy and Ghostbusters with the release of Afterlife, have relied on nostalgia in order to sell tickets. Whilst No Way Home will certainly be enjoyed by fans of the web-slinging superhero, those who haven’t seen the other Spider-Man films will be puzzled as they won’t have any idea who the villains are. Although No Way Home definitely succeeds as a Spider-Man film, as a stand-alone superhero film, it struggles as it does expect you to have seen all of the previous films in order to understand who the characters are and what’s happened. Most of the conversations between the three Spider-Men and the villains are hints at things that have happened in other films. Because I had recently rewatched all of the Spider-Man films, I understood their references, however, I can imagine casual movie goers being confused.  

What’s most interesting about No Way Home is that it uses some of the characters better than in their own films, especially Garfield. Although I don’t think they’re bad, both The Amazing Spider-Man and its sequel are disappointments as it didn’t really do anything new or exciting with the character and failed to live up to the adjective in its title. What was most impressive about both of the films was Garfield’s performance as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man. I think the main issue was the writing as it didn’t give him enough depth. In No Way Home, Garfield returns to one of his most famous roles and he continues to impress with his portrayal. Those who have seen The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will remember one of the most heartbreaking scenes when Garfield’s Spider-Man fails to save his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, as she falls to her death. A similar scene sees MJ, who is in a relationship with Holland’s Peter, begin to fall before she is captured by Garfield’s Spider-Man, who is relieved that he saved someone. All three of the Spider-Man actors had great chemistry and clearly had a lot of respect for one another.  

What’s most impressive about No Way Home are the performances, especially by Dafoe and Molina who return to their most memorable roles as Green Goblin and Doctor Octopus. Their performances makes it hard to believe that it’s been almost twenty years since they first appeared in Spider-Man and its sequel. Dafoe succeeds in capturing the Green Goblin’s menacing and twisted personality whereas Molina humanises Doctor Octopus. Out of all of the villains that appear in No Way Home, Doctor Octopus is the only one who wants to help Peter. While Foxx’s performance of Electro is an improvement than the one he gave in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, especially because he’s no longer a blue CGI mess, he is still underused as are Thomas Haden Church as Sandman and Rhys Ifans as the Lizard. Also returning after appearing during the post-credits scene of Far From Home is J. K. Simmons as the fast-talking and fiery head of the Daily Bugle, J. Jonah Jameson. While Simmons continues to amuse with his scene-stealing performance, I am disappointed he didn’t get to share any scenes with Maguire’s Peter. While it’s great seeing all of these past actors return to some of their most famous roles, it’s Holland who stands out. Since making his first appearance in Captain America: Civil War five years ago, Holland has succeeded in capturing Peter’s cheerful personality and Spider-Man’s heroism and that’s still the case with No Way Home, however, he also delivers his most emotional performance yet. Equally as impressive is Zendaya as MJ, who is more than just Peter’s love interest and is given a lot more to do. She’s not just the damsel in distress which is a tiring cliche in a lot of superhero films. Batalan is still likeable as Peter’s best friend, Ned, however, I did feel like he was underused and was funnier in both of the previous films.  Following the action packed climatic battle, No Way Home ends on a emotional note as Peter realises the only way to save the world is by making everyone forget about his existence whilst retaining their knowledge of Spider-Man. This impacts his relationships with MJ and Ned who forget about Peter. Their chemistry has been the highlight of the past Spider-Man films so their final scene is heartbreaking. It does make me wonder about the future Spider-Man films and what will happen. 

As is the case with the MCU films, No Way Home has two post-credits scenes. The first involves Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) who, along with Venom, are updated by a bartender about the new universe. Just as Eddie and Venom are considering meeting Peter, they vanish, however, a part of Venom is left behind. The other scene which takes place at the very end of the credits is a teaser for the Doctor Strange sequel, In The Multiverse of Madness. Although I enjoyed this trailer, I don’t think that it’s worth waiting through the entire credits for as it will be online soon.  

Overall, Spider-Man: No Way Home will certainly satisfy fans of the web slinging superhero and is an exciting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

8/10

ETERNALS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

With her previous films, The Rider, Songs My Brother Taught Me and Nomadland, which won three Oscars, Best Picture, Best Actress for Frances McDormand and Best Director, at this year’s Academy Awards, Chloé Zhao has established herself as a unique filmmaker. Because of this, expectations were high for her latest film, Eternals, which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Unfortunately, prior to its release in cinemas, Eternals received a disappointing response from critics who praised the visuals but found flaws in the script, narrative structure and character development. Following its release earlier this month, Eternals has become the most divisive film set in the MCU. Despite this, I was still hopeful that I would find something to enjoy in Eternals.

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces a team of immortal and powerful beings, known as Eternals, out of the shadows to reunite against mankind‘s most ancient enemy, The Deviants. 

The premise is simple, however, Zhao’s execution is far from it. One of the criticisms aimed at Eternals was the way the filmmaker decided to tell the story of the Eternals by frequently cutting between various points in history and present day. However, I didn’t find this to be an issue as the setting was made clear through text reminding viewers what the location and year were. Making Eternals was always going to be challenging as the film has to provide background for the characters who have never appeared in the MCU before and tell their stories in the present day. With The Avengers, viewers knew who the main superheroes were as most of them, including Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, had had their own stand alone films. However, that’s not he case with Eternals. One critic did suggest that it would have been better to have introduced the characters in their own introductory film, however, I think there have been too many origins films in the MCU and they’ve become boring and predictable. This is why I can understand the decision to introduce the Eternals in one film. 

Although most of the characters are lacking in backstories, this didn’t bother me as much. The opening sees the Eternals battling the monstrous Deviants and captured each of their powers in an exciting, action packed sequence. While a lot of the films in the MCU focus more on thrilling action, I liked that Zhao focused more on the characters and telling their story as it made for a more interesting watch. Eternals benefits from the performances delivered by its talented cast. While I think that they all impressed with their performances, for me, the standouts were Gemma Chan as Sersi, who is chosen to lead the Eternals. Richard Madden brings charm as the Superman-like Ikaris who can fly and shoot lasers from his eyes. Kumail Nanjiani is amusing as Kingo who has found fame as a Bollywood star. Angelina Jolie delivers a moving portrayal of Thena who struggles to control her powers. The rest of the cast, including Barry Keoghan as Druig, Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos and Lia McHugh as Sprite, are equally as impressive despite having limited screen time. 

One element of MCU films that are either hit or miss are the humour. Although films such as Iron Man and Thor: Ragnarok are arguably two of the funniest films, the attempts at comedy hasn’t always worked, fortunately, that isn’t the case with Eternals. Most of the humour, unsurprisingly, comes from Kingo who has a personality similar to Tony Stark’s and is accompanied by his manager, Karun (Harish Patel), who frequently films the Eternals in action. What I liked most about the humour in Eternals was that it was subtle and didn’t feel out of place.

A common issue with superhero films is that they’re feel too similar, with the director having hardly any creative freedom. Prior to the release of Ant-Man in 2015, Edgar Wright, who is known for his comedies such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The World’s End, was set to write and direct but his ideas were rejected by the producers. This led to Peyton Reed directing Ant-Man and the result was a good but unremarkable addition to the MCU, however, I think that it could have been funnier if had been made by Wright. It is a shame that Zhao, who has a unique vision that is evidence in all of her previous films, has probably only been hired as she’s a well known name now following her success at the Oscars and the marketing team can be used to describe her as “Academy Award winner Chloé Zhao“, in the trailer. However, those expecting Eternals to be as moving, thematic and heartfelt as her previous films will, most likely, be disappointed as it’s more of a superhero film than character based drama. I do think that Eternals had the potential to be an epic and unique addition to the MCU but it falls short.

As with all of the superhero films, Eternals has two post credits scenes that are both worth watching and hints at the future of Marvel with an interesting casting choice.

Although it is one of the most flawed and disappointing films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Chloé Zhao‘s Eternals benefits from the performances delivered by its talented cast.

7/10

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2019, Avengers: Endgame concluded the Infinity Saga in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now, two years later, the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings marks Phase Four of the MCU. Most of the films have been successful both with critics and at the box office, however, is Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings a worthy addition to the MCU?

The latest film in the MCU introduces viewers to Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) who is living a simple life working as a valet in America with his best friend, Katy (Awkwafina). However, an attack from a group of  men on a bus, it is revealed that Shang-Chi’s father is Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung) who is the leader of the Ten Rings, which are mystical weapons that grant their user immortality and great power. Following this encounter, Shang-Chi is forced to confront his past and prevent his father from causing chaos.

Although it’s not without its flaws, Shang-Chi is an exciting addition to the MCU. Like with most of the films in the superhero-based franchise, the strengths of the film lie in the thrilling action sequences and impressive performances by its cast. The main flaws are the special effects and predictable story, fortunately, they didn’t prevent me from thoroughly enjoying Shang-Chi.

Shang-Chi has a memorable opening sequence as it details how Shang-Chi’s parents, Wenwu and Ying Li (Fala Chen), met when the former discovers the latter’s home village, Ta Lo, which is said to harbour various mythical beasts, in order to expand his power. The pair using their unique fighting skills makes for an exciting opening sequence. 

I can imagine that many people, like me, were unfamiliar with Shang-Chi as he’s not as well-known as Iron Man, Captain America and Spider-Man. However, you don’t necessarily need to be a comic book fan in order to enjoy Shang-Chi as, unlike the majority of films in the MCU, it works as a stand-alone superhero film. It introduces viewers to Shang-Chi really well and, by the time the film had finished, I was  excited to see more of the character in future films. One of the post credits scenes hints that this film won’t be the last we’ll see of Shang-Chi and his magical rings. 

Following the release of Endgame in 2019, I was wondering how the MCU could keep its fans interested in the franchise. However, the recent release of Black Widow and Shang-Chi and three original spin-off series, WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Solder and Loki proves that there’s still plenty for fans to enjoy. Shang-Chi is an exciting addition to the MCU as it provides viewers with what they’ve come to expect from the franchise, including exhilarating action sequences, whilst introducing them to a new group of interesting and memorable characters.

Casting is an important part when it comes to making a superhero film. If it wasn’t for Robert Downey Jr.’s perfect portrayal of the charming Tony Stark, the Iron Man films probably wouldn’t have left much of an impression. Because of this, there was a lot of pressure to find the right actor to portray the leading hero, Shang-Chi. Fortunately, with Simu Liu, they have achieved that. Although Liu has limited acting experience (he previously appeared in the sitcom, Kim’s Convenience and the crime drama series, Blood and Water), Liu delivers an instantly likeable performance as Shang-Chi. Leung is one of Asia's most successful and internationally recognised actors, however, Shang-Chi marks his first English-language role and it’s an impressive debut. What I liked most about Leung’s portrayal of Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, is that he wasn’t a one-dimensional evil villain wanting to destroy the world, rather a flawed man grieving the loss of his wife. Awkwafina is known for her comedic roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Ocean’s 8, however, she also impressed many with her dramatic performance in Lulu Wang’s The Farewell. In Shang-Chi, she is a scene-stealer as Shang-Chi’s best friend, Katy. Although she doesn’t have any superpowers, she still gets involved in the action, especially during the climatic battle. Shang-Chi also features surprising appearances from familiar faces.

Because of the pandemic, Disney have made the controversial decision to release some of their films, including Cruella and Black Widow, in cinemas and on their streaming service, Disney+, for an additional Premier Access fee. However, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings has been released in cinemas which I think is a good decision as it’s worth watching on the big screen. I’ve always personally preferred watching films at the cinema as I get easily distracted at home and I soon lose interest, however, that’s never the case at the cinema as it’s a form of escapism. 

With exciting action and an impressive lead performance by Simu Liu, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

8/10

BLACK WIDOW REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since making her first appearance in Iron Man 2 in 2010, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) has become one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite this, it’s taken over a decade for her to finally have her own spin-off film, Black Widow. However, the wait is definitely worth it as it provides viewers with exhilarating action and gives Natasha a background that’s only been hinted at in previous films.

Black Widow takes place shortly after Captain America: Civil War and before Avengers: Infinity War and focuses on Natasha confronting the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

A lot of people will argue that Black Widow is unnecessary because Natasha died in Avengers: Endgame. Because of this, it’s obvious she’s going to survive all of the danger she encounters. Despite this, Black Widow is still worth a watch for fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as it provides one of the most popular characters with background. In her appearances, Natasha has always been a supporting player. Now, in Black Widow, she finally gets to lead her first film and, despite the decade long wait, it doesn’t disappoint. 

The strength of Black Widow lies in Johansson’s portrayal of Natasha. Because she’s only ever had a supporting role in the MCU, it would have been easy for Johansson to portray Natasha as one dimensional and fearless, however, she’s always succeeded at humanising Natasha and making her a character viewers cared about. That’s why her death in Endgame was so heartbreaking as she was one of the most beloved characters. Undoubtedly, Johansson’s performance is one of the most impressive aspects of Black Widow as she captures Natasha’s fighting skills and fierce and brave personality. With her Oscar nominated performance in Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, Little Women, and after appearing in Ari Aster’s horror, Midsommar, Pugh has quickly established herself as one of the most talented actors today. As Natasha’s adoptive sister, Yelena, Pugh proves to be a welcome addition to the cast. Yelena provides comic relief with her memorable and witty one liners. In one scene, she makes fun of Natasha’s superhero poses. Because Yelena is such a fun and interesting character, hopefully, she’ll make more appearances in future films in the MCU. Harbour is best known for portraying Officer Jim Hopper in the Netflix fantasy series, Stranger Things. Unfortunately, his transition from the small to the big screen with his reboot of Hellboy being negatively received and failing at the box office. However, as Natasha and Yelena’s father figure, Alexei, Harbour delivers an amusing and energetic performance. Weisz is underused as Melina, however, she gets involved in the action during the climax. 

Although Natasha has found a surrogate family with the Avengers, in Black Widow, she reunites with her first family. However, the four aren’t on the best of terms after they were separated, leading to Natasha and Yelena being trained by the villainous Dreykov (Ray Winstone) in his intense Red Room. The theme of family makes for some amusing banter between the four. What I liked most about the new characters was that they weren’t portrayed as perfect individuals as they’d made mistakes in the past but, after reuniting, are able to forgive and work together as a team to stop Dreykov. 

The majority of the films in the MCU feature exhilarating action sequences and that’s still the case with Black Widow. Director Cate Shortland manages to balance the action with the character building and story, making for a compelling watch for the majority of its 134 minute runtime. Although it’s obvious that Natasha is going to survive, that doesn’t make the action any less exciting and thrilling to watch. 

Although most of the films in the MCU have impressed with their action sequences, coherent storytelling and bringing superheroes to the big screen, a significant flaw with the films have been the villains. Aside from the intimidating Thanos and mischievous Loki, most of the villains that have appeared in the MCU have failed to leave much of a lasting impression. Unfortunately, that’s still the case with Dreykov who is described as threatening and evil, however, because most of the film, understandably, focuses on Natasha, he is forgettable. However, Black Widow isn’t about the villain, it’s about telling Natasha’s story and it succeeds. 

A common trait with the films in the MCU is their post credit scenes. Some of them are fun and unnecessary and others hint at future instalments. The Black Widow post credit scene is the latter and is worth sitting through the lengthy credits for. 

With a lot of cinemas still closed due to the ongoing pandemic as a result of COVID-19, Disney have made the decision to make Black Widow available to watch in cinemas and on their streaming service, Disney+, for those who pay the pricey premium access fee. Although I can understand many people probably won’t want to go to the cinema and be in a screening filled with strangers, I think that Black Widow is definitely worth experiencing on the big screen, due to the high quality of the picture and sound that emphasise the action sequences.

Featuring exhilarating action and a strong performance by Scarlett Johansson, Black Widow is definitely worth the decade long wait. 

8/10

SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Earlier this year, Marvel releases the final film in the Avengers franchise, Endgame. It was an emotional finale as viewers and fans of the franchise said goodbye to one of the most beloved superheroes, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), also known as Tony Stark. The sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming has recently been released and, because of Endgame, expectations were high for Far From Home. Fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint and succeeds as a follow-up to Endgame. However, because Far From Home includes references to the events of Endgame, it doesn’t work as a stand-alone feature so those going in without having seen it will be confused.

The story sees Peter Parker (Tom Holland) being recruited by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) to face elemental threats from another dimension while he is on a school trip to Europe. After defeating one of the Elementals, Parker informs Fury that he just wants to live life as a normal teenager and enjoy his trip to Europe. He is more interested in becoming closer to MJ (Zendaya) than saving the world. 

While I liked Homecoming, I think that Far From Home is an improvement and is funnier and less predictable than its predecessor. Despite the events of Endgame and with the world mourning the loss of Iron Man, Far From Home has kept its lighthearted tone and is an overall fun and satisfying sequel.

Holland returns as Parker and delivers a strong performance. Despite insistence from Fury that he should help S.H.I.E.L.D defeat the Elementals, Parker just wants to live a normal life as a teenager and enjoy his school field trip. He shares chemistry with Zendaya, who improves on her portrayal of MJ after having a small appearance in Homecoming. Batalan is just as funny as Ned, who also finds romance with classmate, Betty (Angourie Rice). 

Gyllenhaal proves to be a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and leaves a lasting impression with his portrayal of Mysterio. While Mysterio is shown helping S.H.I.E.L.D defeat the Elementals in the beginning, it is soon revealed that he is the main villain. While I knew that Mysterio was the main villain, as it wasn't possible for it to be anyone else, I was surprised by his backstory, which explains that he was a former holographic-illusions specialist at Stark Industries who was fired for his unstable nature. Thisl leads to him and a team of disgruntled ex-Stark employees and using advanced projector drones to simulate the Elemental attacks. Gyllenhaal is known for his serious and dramatic performances so it was refreshing to see him take on a role as a villain in a superhero film.

While this year has been filled with superhero films, including Captain Marvel, Shazam!, Endgame and X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Far From Home proves that audiences aren't suffering from superhero fatigue. While the story can be predictable at times, it's still fun to watch Spider Man in action and saving the world.

With most of the films in the MCU, Far From Home features two extra scenes that take place during the middle of the credits and after. Both are worth watching, especially the first one which features an unexpected cameo from J. K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, a reporter he portrayed in the original Spider-Man trilogy alongside Tobey Maguire as Spider Man. At this point, audiences believe that Spider Man has successfully defeated Mysterio but it's in this scene that we see that he made a video revealing Spider Man's true identity, much to Parker's shock. The post-credit confirms a fan theory regarding Fury. In Captain Marvel, Fury admits that if bread is cut diagonally, he can’t eat it, however, in Avengers: Age of Ultron, he is seen eating toast that was cut diagonally which lead to fans wondering if he was actually a Skrull in disguise. The Skrulls are a species of aliens that first made their appearance in Captain Marvel and could disguise as humans. The post credits scene confirms this fan theory by revealing Fury’s true identity, which is Talos (Ben Mendelsohn). This lead to many fans wondering how long Talos has been disguised as Fury and I think that, after the events of Avengers: Assemble in 2012, when he knew the team was assembled, Fury took his skills to space and left Talos in his place. This post-credit scene both amused and impressed me as I didn't believe in the fan theory, however, I was proved wrong.

Creating a sequel that meets fans' expectations and matches the quality of its predecessors was always going to be a challenge, however, with Far From Home, director Jon Watts, who previously directed Homecoming, succeeds. It features everything fans could want from a sequel, including character development, thrilling action sequences, an interesting villain and a strong leading performance from Tom Holland as the titular web-slinging superhero.

8/10

AVENGERS: ENDGAME REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of Iron Man in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become one of the most successful franchises, with the majority of their films impressing both critics and at the box office. Based on the comic books by the late Stan Lee, each film has provided entertainment for fans of superheroes. Avengers: Assemble, which was released in 2012, saw the titular team appear on screen for the first time and the result was successful as it earned over a billion dollars at the box office. Featuring a team of memorable characters, including Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, Chris Evan's Captain America, Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow, and exciting action sequences, Avengers: Assemble proved to be one of the greatest superhero films. Three years later, its first sequel, Age Of Ultron, and, while it wasn't as good as its predecessor, it was still a solid successful and it was great seeing the Avengers team up again. It wasn't until 2018 when a second sequel, Infinity War, was released and it was a huge improvement over its predecessor, in terms of story, character development and action. The film saw the characters face their biggest threat yet in the form of Thanos (Josh Brolin) who wants to restore balance in the world by destroying half of humanity. However, he can only achieve that by collecting the Infinity Stones. The majority of Infinity War focuses on the characters trying to stop Thanos, unfortunately, they are unsuccessful, leading to a shocking and emotional cliffhanger.

Avengers: Endgame sees the remaining characters dealing with the aftermath of Thanos' actions. After an unsuccessful attempt to reverse his actions, they are left hopeless, until Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) turns up after being trapped in the Quantum Realm for five years. He reveals there may be a way to bring everyone back, however, the plan requires bravery, teamwork and personal sacrifice in order to succeed. Together, the remaining team, which includes Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers (Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Natasha Romanoff (Johansson), Bruce Banner (Ruffalo), James Rhodes (Don Cheadle), Rocket the Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and Nebula (Karen Gillian), become determined to succeed in their plan and bring everyone back. However, the plan is easier said than done as it involves time travel. 

Creating a conclusion that satisfies fans and meets their expectations was always going to be a challenge, fortunately, the directors, Joe and Anthony Russo, have succeeded. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with what they've created. Together, the brothers have created four of the best films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including Endgame, Infinity War and two of the Captain America films, The Winter Soldier and Civil War. They clearly understand what each of the characters have been through, making them the best choice to direct the final two films in the Avengers franchise. With Endgame, they've created a satisfying conclusion that is, at times, emotional and full of action.

The majority of Endgame focuses on the main characters as they travel to different points in time to collect the Infinity Stones before Thanos does. In this sequence, we return to events we've already experienced and view them from a different perspective, which made for a fun watch. In one scene, we see Stark, Rogers, Banner return to New York in 2012 with Lang when Loki (Tom Hiddleston) caused havoc with the Tesseract. This is also one of the more lighthearted scenes in Endgame and is full of comedic potential, especially when Rogers accidentally encounters his past self, leading to a fight between the two. It's during the time heist, as the characters call it, where Endgame is at its most entertaining. Another scene sees Thor finding closure with his late mother, Frigga (Rene Russo), in a moving scene. However, as mentioned earlier, the plan requires personal sacrifice. After Romanoff and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) arrive on Vormir in order to retrieve the Soul Stone, the pair are surprised to discover that a sacrifice must be made, leading to a tragic death. This scene is similar to one in Infinity War, where Thanos sacrifices his adopted daughter, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), to retrieve the stone.
With most superhero films I've watched, there doesn't seem to be much at stake and I've always found the stories to be lacking in tension, as it's obvious that the superhero will save the day. However, with Infinity War and Endgame, there's a lot of stake, with half of humanity having vanished from existence. With so many superheroes teaming up together to defeat him, you'd be forgiven in thinking that Thanos would be an easy villain to defeat. However, Infinity War proved that theory wrong and that he's stronger than a team of superheroes. In Endgame, Thanos still threatens the Avengers, even after his death early on in the film. This is because a past version of Thanos learns, through Nebula, of future events, leading him to become even more determined to defeat them, making their plan even harder to successfully achieve. While there have been a lot of villains in the MCU, Thanos is, undoubtedly, one of the best and is portrayed brilliantly by Brolin.
The most impressive aspect of Avengers: Endgame is its ensemble cast, which consists of the most talented actors working in Hollywood. The stand-out performance comes from Downey Jr. who gives his best portrayal of Tony Stark yet. In his first appearance in Iron Man, the character came across as a cocky billionaire. However, since then, he has developed into a more mature person. In Iron Man 3, we saw Stark suffering from anxiety, following the events of Avengers: Assemble. I thought that this was Downey Jr.'s best dramatic performance yet, however, with Endgame, he has improved and has developed Stark into a true hero. Like Logan did with Hugh Jackman's Wolverine, Endgame provides a farewell to a beloved character. The MCU started with Iron Man, it's only fitting that it should conclude with him as well. While I think that every actor involved did a great job with portraying their characters, I think that Downey Jr. deserved a special mention.
While I enjoyed the time heist sequence, I thought that Avengers: Endgame was at its best during yhe final battle sequence, which is exhilarating throughout. The sequence sees the lost characters successfully return and team up to defeat Thanos once and for all. With so many characters featuring in the battle, it was always going to be difficult to make sure they all each get their time to shine, however, the Russo brothers succeeded. With her film, Captain Marvel, having recently been released, I was expecting Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) to have more screen time, however, she's only seen in the beginning and during the final battle sequence. Despite her limited screen time, she still leaves a lasting impression and I can't wait to see more of her in future sequels.
While Endgame may be the final Avengers film, the final scenes hint at future films, including the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, Far From Home, and a third Guardians of the Galaxy film. While I doubt any future film in the MCU will ever come close to matching the emotions that Endgame leaves you with, I'm still looking forward to future instalments and seeing what direction the story goes in, following the events of Endgame.
Overall, Avengers: Endgame is a successful conclusion to over a decade's worth of films and will satisfy fans.
8/10

CAPTAIN MARVEL REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2015, Brie Larson impressed critics and audiences with her Oscar-winning performance as Joy in the moving drama, Room. Larson had previously given solid performances in films such as Short Term 12 and Scott Pilgrim vs the World. However, her performance in Room earned her recognition and she has since given further solid performances in films such as Free Fire and Kong: Skull Island. Larson has also recently made her directorial debut with a comedy titled Unicorn Store that is set to be released on Netflix in April. There seems to be no end to her talent and that is further proved with her portrayal of the titular superhero in the much anticipated Captain Marvel.
Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) is an extraterrestrial Kree warrior who finds herself caught in the middle of an intergalactic battle between her people and the Skrulls. Living on Earth in 1995, she keeps having recurring memories of another life as U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers. With help from Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Captain Marvel tries to uncover the secrets of her past while harnessing her special superpowers to end the war with the evil Skrulls.
It doesn’t seem like it’s been three years since Larson was announced to be portraying Captain Marvel when she appeared at San Diego Comic Con in July 2016. Since then, there has been a lot of anticipation surrounding her performance and the film itself. Fortunately, Larson doesn’t disappoint and gives a strong performance as Captain Marvel. In the beginning, her character is known as Vers, a member of the Kree species who begins to have strange memories that she can’t remember. Over the course of the two hour runtime, we learn more about Vers, her strengths, weaknesses and background. Larson captures her fierce and brave personality and proves to be a welcome addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
As is the case with most films in the MCU, Captain Marvel features an ensemble cast, including Samuel L. Jackson as a young Nick Fury, Jude Law as Yon-Rogg and Annette Bening as Wendy Lawson. It was interesting to see Fury’s life before he created the Avengers Initiative and how he lost his eye. Law is known for portraying likeable and charismatic characters so it was interesting to see him play against type as the villain. Similarly, Ben Mendelsohn is known for portraying the antagonist, however, while in the beginning his character, Talos, a shape-shifting Krull, is seen as the enemy, we see a different side to him. A memorable character is a cat named Goose who Fury bonds with. Goose also brought a lot of comic relief into the action packed film. Those unfamiliar with the Captain Marvel comic books will assume that Goose is just a cute cat, however, fans of the comic books will know that that isn't the case. Because I haven't read the comic books, I was very surprised when Goose was revealed to be a Flerken, which is an alien creature that resembles cats. Unlike the common Earth cat however, they possess cognitive intelligence and can lay eggs. Their mouths contain pocket dimensions used to store and hold almost anything; they can also teleport and summon tentacles with fanged maws from their mouths to attack and consume with.
Speaking of action, there are a lot of great sequences throughout Captain Marvel. The most memorable occurs early on in the film, where Captain Marvel chases a Krull, who is in disguise, onto a train. It’s thrilling and captures Marvel’s strength and refusal to give into her weaknesses.
As is the tradition with films in the MCU, there are two mid and post credit scenes. The mid credits scene is an exciting tie in to the upcoming Avengers: Endgame and the post credits scene isn’t necessary to watch, only for those who want to see more of Goose.
Many people have said that the weakest aspect of Captain Marvel is its story as it follows the same path of similar origin based films set in the MCU. While, at times, it is fairly predictable, I found the story to be empowering and inspiring as it’s revealed how Captain Marvel became known as the powerful superhero. When she was growing up on Earth, we see that she was always belittled by the people around her, saying that she’s weak. However, she soon gains strength and becomes increasingly powerful. Captain Marvel isn’t saying that women are more powerful than men, it’s saying that women are equally as powerful as men. What I've noticed with most superhero films is that the female character serves as a love interest for the main protagonist. I found it refreshing that the writers of Captain Marvel, Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden and Geneva Robertson-Dworet, decided against adding in an unnecessary love interest for Captain Marvel.
Late last year, the creator of Marvel comics, Stan Lee, tragically passed away at the age of 95. Before his death, Lee filmed cameos for Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame and the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home. Aside from his cameo appearance in Captain Marvel, the film pays tribute to him in the Marvel Studios logo at the beginning. It’s a heartfelt tribute to a man who leaves behind a legacy and a collection of comic books and superhero films that will be enjoyed for generations to come.
Captain Marvel is directed by Fleck and Boden, who previously worked together on indie films such as It’s Kind Of A Funny Story and Mississippi Grind. While there must have been a lot of pressure throughout production to create a feature that matches the quality of the previous films in the MCU and meets people’s expectations, I think that the directors have succeeded. It’s action-packed, tells a meaningful story and does justice to Captain Marvel’s character. I can't imagine fans of the original comic book being disappointed with what Fleck and Boden have created.
Overall, Captain Marvel is a strong addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and features an impressive performance from Brie Larson.
8/10
​

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of Iron Man a decade ago, the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has gone on to be one of the most successful franchises ever. Each film released in the MCU has received impressive box office results and received a lot of praise from both critics and audiences. Infinity War is the third film in the Avengers trilogy and is the nineteenth film in the MCU, however, does it live up to the expectations its previous films have set up for us?

There's a lot going on in Infinity War, however, the plot basically surrounds the main villain, Thanos (Josh Brolin), whose plan is to steal all six 'Infinity Stones' so he can become incredibly powerful and destroy half of humanity in order to restore balance to the universe. This leads to the majority of the characters returning from previous MCU films and teaming up in order to stop him.
Infinity War was a lot better than what I expected it to be. I wasn't a huge Marvel fan, mainly because when I was in high school, I studied the superhero genre and, after two years of watching and studying them, I'd grown a bit bored of them. However, I'm glad that I decided to start watching them as I understand what the hype is about now. After watching the majority of the films in the MCU (excluding Ant-Man), my excitement for Infinity War grew and, fortunately, it didn't disappoint. It tells a compelling story that features a lot of exhilarating action and a emotional climax that will leave viewers in shock. Most superhero films tend to follow the same path of having the main protagonist defeat the villain which makes it predictable, however, I had no idea Infinity War was going to end the way it did. Because it ended on a cliffhanger, viewers will be left in suspense until the release of the untitled Avengers sequel which is due to be released in May next year.
What I liked about Infinity War was its portrayal of the superheroes. In previous films, we've seen how strong and brave they are, however, with Thanos becoming increasingly powerful, the superheroes become weaker and more afraid. At first glance, you would expect that a team of almost 20 superheroes would easily be able to defeat Thanos, however, the film clearly shows that he is stronger than all of them, which is why he's easily the best villain. Brolin proves he's the best choice to portray the villain and uses both voice acting and motion-capture for his performance.
 Fans of the MCU will be happy to see their favourite superheroes teaming up on the big screen, however, they may be a bit disappointed that some characters don't get as much screentime as others. For example, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) receives the most screentime and we see him team up with Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper) and Groot (voice of Vin Diesel) to create a weapon that will hopefully defeat Thanos. I was also surprised by the lack of Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), considering he appears on the poster, however, despite in the first Avengers film where he says that he's 'always angry' before transforming into the green monster, Bruce Banner finds it difficult to become the Hulk. This leads to Banner fighting in Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) anti-Hulk armour. I liked this, as judging from its appearance in the trailer, I assumed it was Stark fighting in the armour so I was very surprised to see Banner fighting in it.
One of the main problems with films that feature a lot of characters is making sure they all get enough screentime. Fortunately, directors Joe and Anthony Russo make sure that every character makes a contribution to the story, rather than just making an appearance. All of the superheroes work well together and are divided into different groups across the universe. One of the most memorable fight sequences takes place on Wakanda and shows Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Banner, the Falcon (Anthony Mackie) and War Machine (Don Cheadle) all fighting alongside the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and his tribe. Vision (Paul Bettany), an artificial intelligence being created by Ultron the villain of the previous Avengers film, has one of the Infinity Stones located in his head, leading to Thanos sending his army to try and steal it. This leads to an action-packed battle between the two armies.
As for the performances, they're all impressive. Brolin is the stand-out as he makes Thanos an intimidating villain and someone who is incredibly tough to defeat. While there's not a bad performance to be found, I found Hemsworth, Evans, Downey Jr. and Tom Holland to be the most memorable. They all handled the action and dramatic aspects of the film really well. Holland further proves why he's the perfect choice for Spider-Man as he captures his upbeat tone and bring comic relief with a few quips. I also thought that Zoe Saldana was great as Gamora, Thanos' adopted daughter. Since her first appearance in Guardians Of The Galaxy, she's been one of my favourite characters in the MCU. There's a scene involving her and Thanos that is heartbreaking. Elizabeth Olsen was very good as Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch. Since Age Of Ultron, she has bonded and formed a close relationship with Vision and, in one scene, we see her making a tough decision in order to save the universe.
It's not worth watching Infinity War if you haven't seen any of the previous films in the MCU as the story expects you to know who these characters are and what they've been through. I would suggest watching both of the Avengers films, Captain America: Civil War, Guardians Of The Galaxy, and Black Panther. In my opinion, they're the best films in the MCU and gives most of the characters that feature in Infinity War a backstory and sets the story up.
The films in the MCU are known for their post-credits scenes. Some of them hint at the next film. I do think that it's definitely worth waiting until the post-credits scene as it involves Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Maria Hill (Cobie Smaulders).
Overall, Avengers: Infinity War ably juggles a dizzying array of MCU heroes in the fight against their gravest threat yet, and the result is a thrilling, emotionally resonant blockbuster that realises its huge ambitions.
8/10

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 REVIEW

*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 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

When Guardians Of The Galaxy was first released in 2014, it was a huge success. It was different in comparison to any other superhero film that had been released previously and the humour that featured made it a highly entertaining motion picture. Kick-Ass was one of the first films to combine the superhero genre with comedy. It was a combination that worked well, thus leading to films like Guardians Of The Galaxy and Deadpool that also featured humour. While Guardians Of The Galaxy works well as a comedy, it is also full of action that never fails to thrill.

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful villain with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits - Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon, Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid, the deadly and enigmatic Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the cosmos, he must do his best to rally his ragtag rivals for a last, desperate stand - with the galaxy's fate in the balance.

I have to admit, when I first watched Guardians Of The Galaxy, I wasn't a huge fan. I found Pratt, as the main protagonist, a bit irritating. However, since then, I have re-watched it and I enjoyed it more than I did the first time. I can understand why it has become one of the most successful superhero films and why it's popular among both critics and audiences alike. The humour works really well, the majority of which comes from Pratt. Before Guardians, Pratt was best known for appearing in the sitcom series, Parks and Recreation. He handles the comedy really well, however, he is also a great superhero, which is shown in the thrilling action sequences. Because of Guardians, and other roles in films such as Jurassic World and Passengers, Pratt is one of the most well-known actors working today. Cooper is surprisingly funny as the foul-mouthed raccoon and has plenty of one-liners throughout. However, he also has a softer side which is shown in the film's final climax. Another strong performance comes from Saldana as Gamora who is almost unrecognisable underneath the green make-up. This is the third franchise Saldana has appeared in (the others being Avatar and Star Trek) and this role further proves why she's one of the most versatile actresses working today. She makes Gamora her own and a strong heroine. Diesel not only voiced Groot but also provided the motion-capture of the character as well. Despite saying the same line, 'I am Groot' repeatedly, Diesel still makes him a charming and heart-warming character. He also proves to be useful in many of the fight sequences and uses his ability to grow his branch-like arms to defeat enemies. As the main villain of the film, Pace gives a solid portrayal and, through certain actions, makes Ronan truly despicable. He has a very sick and twisted view of what morality is; strength is virtue and weakness is sin and that is what he lives by, and he is very scary because of his beliefs, which are real to him. Other recognisable names include: Karen Gillian in her first role post-Doctor Who as Gamora's sister, Nebula; John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey; Glenn Close as Irani Rael and Benico del Toro as Taneleer Tivan. Overall, Guardians Of The Galaxy features a star-studded cast who are all solid in their roles.

Because its main setting is in outer space, Guardians works effectively well as a science-fiction film. Most superhero films are based on Earth and can lead to a predictable plot that involves the villain destroying the city. However, being set in space, the whole universe is in danger because of Ronan's evil plans. The special effects are really impressive too making it a visually stunning film. The titular galaxy is truly brought to life through this special effects. It's no surprise the visual effects were nominated for an Academy Award in 2015.

With so many superhero films being released, it must have been an incredibly daunting task for director and co-writer, James Gunn, to create a film that is unlike anything we have seen before. Fortunately, he mostly succeeds. It has a unique setting, entertaining characters and is very funny. The narrative, however, does feel quite formulaic. We have the superheros who must do what it takes to stop the villain from destroying the universe. It's been done plenty of times in previous superhero films but the non-stop action still makes it enjoyable all the same. 

In the opening of the film, we see Quill as a child and we learn he has a fondness for music and is given a walkman by his dying mother. This leads to popular songs being featured including Blue Swede's 'Hooked On A Feeling', Rupert Homes' 'Escape (The Pina Colada Song)' and The Jackson 5's 'I Want You Back'. These make the scenes even more entertaining than they already were. 

After receiving critical acclaim after its release, Guardians Of The Galaxy went on to become the fourth highest grossing film of 2014, making over $773 million at the box office. 

Despite its incredible success and popularity among critics and audiences, I doubt Guardians Of The Galaxy will appeal to everyone. There will be those who think it's overrated. However, fans of comedy and superhero films, especially those produced by Marvel Studios, should find lots to enjoy here. 

While I know Guardians Of The Galaxy is a really good film, I don't love it as much as other people do. However, I am hoping that the two upcoming sequels will improve on their predecessor and change my opinion.

Guardians Of The Galaxy is funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor.

7/10