Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

The first third or so was barely a 3*, the situational jokes didn't work and the humour was a bit too pedestrian for Gunn (he was probably still winging it after the average Christmas special). But then it clicked. By going deeper with Rocket's flashbacks and showing his hardships, the story was given the emotional charge it needed, plus there's one more aspect that's important to me - how helpless animals somewhere are rescued, or an effort is made to rescue them, the film gets plus points with me. And the ending was poignant and chilling, and only served to prove that the most cohesive and interesting bunch in the entire MCU universe were the Guardians. It's been a pleasure, you lovable freaks. PS: Gunn's films are distinctive and have their own identity, which is why I like them so much. What a difference from the factory fare Marvel offered after Endgame, they can go bury themselves in shame. PPS: A message for parents: if you don’t want your kids to be traumatised, don’t take them to this film. It’s really not for little kids. (05/04/2023)

Already in the trailer, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 made it clear that it would be a heartwarming movie and a farewell to some characters all in one. (Spoiler alert!) I admit that the concentration of onions increased more than once during the screening in the cinema – animal cruelty will move just about everyone, but even in other moments the the film manages to play on a sad note without being annoyingly obvious. The central villain didn't really appeal to me and joins the ranks of his ilk: arrogant freaks with twisted "higher goals"; and the character of Adam Warlock also left me cold. But the focus of the film is Rocket, from little raccoon to seasoned adult. James Gunn manages to tell the origin story of Rocket in a truly engaging and moving way – Harry's dialogue with Dumbledore at King's Cross immediately came to mind when reuniting with his friends on the other side. The line with the intergalactic version of eugenics added a deeper dimension to an otherwise more or less light-hearted film and definitely had potential - the sequence from Counter-Earth reminded me The Island of Dr. Moreau's. Alongside the poignant and more serious moments, however, the film doesn't forget the action or the humour, though the funny scenes that worked were rather fewer. But I left the cinema satisfied after the screening - my diaphragm was tickled, and it was a decent farewell and a touching film all in one. (05/04/2023)

Marvel has managed to move me a few times, but it has never managed to do it so many times in one film. This is simply a triumph, and it's a joy to see what it looks like when a series is lovingly nurtured by a man who understands it – James Gunn. The farewell to the Guardians of the Galaxy is not quite flawless, I was a little bothered by the not-so-smooth transitions from comedy to drama, for example, but in the end it's such a beautiful film that I can't be mad at it, and not just because of the raccoon eyes. So thanks, from the very first film it's been a beautiful, always imaginative, stylish and memorable ride. What will happen next, we’ll see. (05/05/2023)

Third time’s the best. Rocket's origin, along with an emotionally drained Star-Lord and Gunn's most confident direction yet, brings the Guardians of the Galaxy to adulthood. Well, almost. In the more serious moments, the atmosphere thickens more than ever, but then another joke or the thirtieth song comes along. This exuberant gang stays true to themselves with all the good (mostly), but sometimes some of the bad too. This time, however, I was the least short of perfection. (05/03/2023)

The MCU’s swan song. I’m afraid that the third installment of Guardians of the Galaxy is (and probably will be for a long time) the last MCU movie which made me care about the story and the fate of its characters. Most importantly, it's an awesome movie packed with emotion, great moments, and, as we’ve come to expect of Gunn, an absolutely amazing soundtrack. Yes, it's a bit overelaborate, it does get cringy at times, and there are way too many characters. However, since the end of Phase Three, there hasn’t been anything this intriguing, entertaining, and moving (not just the ending). A last look into the good old world which, whether I admit it or not, has very much influenced my taste in movies, my interest in comic books, and just me personally in general. Thanks, Kevin. (05/25/2023)