As a Marvel fan, I was eagerly waiting for the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, the third instalment in the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy‘ franchise that has been going for almost a decade. And it definitely did not disappoint. Read here why (without spoilers). Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 land in UK cinemas on 3 May.
The story
Marvel’s official synopsis for the movie is this: In Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. I’d hate to spoil the story by adding any further details. Let’s just say that, despite his mourning, our Star Lord is still addicted to 70s/80s hits using his vintage Walkman, for the fans’ greatest delight.
The trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvfTZM4aNck
The verdict
The movie picks up where the latest Avengers Engame episode left off, with the Guardians still together and trying to find their place in the universe. However, things quickly go awry when a new villain emerges, threatening to destroy not just the Guardians, but the entire universe.
What I loved about this movie was the perfect balance of humour, action, and emotion. The witty banter between the Guardians, especially Drax and Mantis, kept me laughing throughout the film. But at the same time, the emotional moments, especially the ones involving Gamora and Peter Quill as well as Rocket, were just as impactful.
One of the standout performances for me was by Dave Bautista as Drax. He was given a much more significant role in this film, and he absolutely nailed it. His comedic timing was perfect, and he brought a lot of heart to the character.
Only in this movie I paid attention to the fact that Mantis (Pom Klementieff) confirms that she and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) are brother and sister. Apparently, in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (streaming on Disney+), it was revealed that Mantis’s father is also Ego. They repeat this concept a few times in this sequel. Mantis’ character is very fascinating. She has an array of powers such as mind control and the ability to induce sleep, but most importantly, she has the power to sense other people’s feelings and emotions. It’s what we call empathy. A cool way to include such a skill as a superpower. She is possibly my favourite superheroine for what she represents.
The action sequences were also top-notch. From space battles to hand-to-hand combat, each fight was expertly choreographed and kept me on the edge of my seat. And of course, the soundtrack was amazing, with classic hits from the 50s through the 80s and 90s perfectly fitting the tone of the film. I could not stop moving my feet while at my seat at the IMAX screen in Leicester Square.
One of the things that stood out to me in this movie was the exploration of the characters’ pasts. We learn more about Rocket’s traumatic experiences in captivity for the first time. This added a layer of depth to the characters that we haven’t seen before, and made me care about them even more, especially Rocket.
Another highlight of the film was the introduction of some new characters, including Adam Warlock (Will Poulter) and Nova Prime. While they didn’t have as much screen time as the main Guardians, they were still interesting additions to the Marvel universe.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3G is an entertaining movie. It has everything I look for in a Marvel film, from humour and action to heart and emotion. The characters are all given their time to shine, and the story is well-crafted which kept me engaged from beginning to end.
If you’re a Marvel fan, a superhero or space movie enthusiast or simply looking for a fun sci-fi adventure, I recommend checking out Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3G.
The final clip after the credits lets us hope for the Guardians to be seen in future maybe as part of the Avengers: “The Star Lord will return’.
London Mums’ rating: 7/10
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