Rating of
3/4
"One more time with feeling."
Matthew Brady - wrote on 06/07/23
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is an emotional and satisfying swansong for James Gunn and some of the Guardians. It is hard to imagine anyone other than Gunn directing this movie, with the Bullshit firing back in 2018. It would not be the same without him, almost like a void.
Marvel has yet to have a solid track record recently. There are, of course, a few golden nuggets among the pile of shit, but Marvel hasn't been the same after Endgame, and audiences are quickly losing interest. The quality has also dropped, as it felt rushed and unfinished.
While I am still uncertain about the future of the MCU; however, I am 100% certain that James Gunn managed to deliver a solid trilogy about a bunch of misfits whose weirdness and differences only make them stronger together.
What surprised me the most was how the movie approached the themes of cruelty, especially toward animals. On top of that, someone kills, and body horror scenes push the limits of the age certificate, with the last Marvel film to do that being Doctor Strange 2. I love it.
The villain this time around, The High Evolutionary, played wonderfully by Chukwudi Iwuji, is a highbrow narcissist who likes playing the role of God. He is a villain that you hate. It’s brilliant how James Gunn took the criticism/feedback he received from the first Guardians regarding the villain to deliver a villain we love to hate, all thanks to Chukwudi's performance.
Speaking of improvements, the action scenes, especially one in a hallway, were expertly shot and amazingly choreographed. They fought in sync and understood their roles in the fight without communication. It is one of the best action scenes in the MCU.
I loved seeing all the practical alien designs & makeup throughout. If I remember correctly, this movie has the World Record for the most makeup prosthetic appliances created for a single production, which is superb!
The music choices were obvious, but still, solid songs, and it was great to hear on IMAX speakers. At times, the Marvel humour did ruin a couple of moments that could have been impactful. Thankfully, it was nowhere near as awful as Thor: Love and Thunder.
What could I say about the Guardians other than I like them a lot? I enjoy their interactions and teamwork. I love how these characters care and love each other; while not being related. However, this is very much a Rocket Raccons movie. He was secretly the main character this entire time. From the start, we knew little about his past, but for this third entry, we see it, feel it, and understand him differently now. All the actors did a fantastic job in their respective roles and certified it as their own. It has been quite a journey following these characters throughout the years, where a lot has happened for both them and for me, and how the characters exist in this finale was unexpected but bittersweet.
Overall rating: Into the forever we go!
