Review: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill must rally his team to defend the universe and protect one of their own. If the mission is not completely successful, it could possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Sean Gunn, Bradley Cooper, Pom Klementieff, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, Vin Diesel, Maria Bakalova, Elizabeth Debicki
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ is the intensely emotional conclusion to this team of guardians story. Taking on a darker tone than the last two films in the trilogy, the stakes are extremely high.
James Gunn has mastered the comic book genre, and this is another expected trophy added to his shelf of phenomenal superhero projects that he’s crafted in his career so far. His ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ trilogy will go down as one of the greatest comic book movie trilogies of all time, due to Gunn’s innate ability to balance the heart and humor that’s necessary to grip an audience.
Given such a massive amount of narrative baggage from the last two avengers films, I was slightly worried that it wouldn’t be possible to manage all the storylines in a way that would have the emotional payoff that these characters deserved. That needn’t be a worry, every character ends the film off with a satisfying end to the journey they’ve been on over these last ten years. The film is packed full of emotional moments that will be remembered for years to come.
The story is centered around Rocket’s tragic history, and how his past has finally caught up with him. Not only was this the perfect choice to end off this trilogy, but it provides a level of catharsis that wouldn’t have been able to be achieved if Rocket wasn’t at the core of this story. I was moved to tears by his arc, and he is surely one of the MCU’s greatest characters.
Chukwudi Iwuji is also fantastic as the High Evolutionary. He plays the character with such bravado, creating a truly cunning and Shakespearean take on this character. You truly hate the High Evolutionary, and that’s in no small part due to Iwuji’s phenomenal performance.
Chris Pratt shines as well, he’s at his best in this film, where we see Star Lord at potentially his most vulnerable state. His character has gone through so much, and it was rewarding to see how he has overcome so many challenges, in a truly gratifying end to his decade spanning arc.
Found family continues to be the theme of this franchise, and it’s never hit harder. Fans will be satisfied by how Peter Quill and Gamora’s relationship is handled in this film, given everything that’s happened since Vol. 2. There was a lot to explore within that dynamic, and the idea that keeping a friendship is more important than trying to retain a lover was a fantastic route to take.
Gunn continues to prove that nobody can create a better soundtrack than him, since every song choice in the film couldn’t possibly be better, and always brings the scene to a new level.
This era of the Guardians of the Galaxy is over, and it’s been one hell of a ride. This is Marvel at its best, and it’s worth seeing this team of misfits together for the last time in a packed cinema. It’s a whirlwind of emotions that’ll leave you nostalgic about the journey we’ve gone on with these characters, and excited about what might come next.
