Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3

I finally got to see the third movie in the Guardians of the Galaxy saga. It was much better than I thought it would be. So good that I want to write a review about it. There were a few issues to criticize, but mostly I wish to praise the last installment.

First I want to begin saying that the crew or cast of this movie did a great job. MCU movies have a way of making me love their characters and the Guardians trilogy did not disappoint me in that way. Chris Pratt was never once out of his character Peter Quill. From the first time he was introduced he was a wonderful blend of goofy, cocky, and heroic - a refreshing charmer who happens to have great taste in music. Zoe Saldona as Gamora was also well done. I'm probably in the minority when I say that I'm glad that Quill and Gamora broke up. There are a few moments when Quill's face is pained by how she doesn't remember him or their love affair, but I liked her a lot better as an individual who decided to care about others on her own and not because it's the dutiful "girlfriend" thing to do. Karen Gillan took the character of Nebula a long distance. At first she seemed a weird contradiction of tortured victim seeking vengeance on the wrong people. But by this movie, we see Nebula as loyal, strong, and logical. While she kept her relationship with her sister Gamora alive, she also defends Quill against her sister when Gamora wants to destroy him. That was shown well even if only briefly. The best performance was delivered by the villain (High Evolutionary) played by Chukwudi Iwuji. He really made me hate him and want to kill him. I haven't felt that way about a villain in a long time so he did exactly what he was supposed to do. Mantis was my new favorite character (played by Gunn's girlfriend Pom Klementieff) who brought a sweet "hippy chick" loveliness to the scene that I enjoyed.

Visually, the movie was a lot for the eyes to take in. Some of the sets were so dramatically creative they were almost distracting to the focus on plot. Mostly these new and interesting set designs were the backdrop for the action packed fight scenes so I will say that was well done. However, there were a few places in the movie where the fight scenes and sets did seem thrown in for no good reason, as if the directing team did so just to appease audiences who only see movies for action and not plot or character development. I suppose I can't be too harsh in my opinion on that matter since this is an MCU movie and comic fans tend to seek the big fight scenes and grandiose explosions. There were plenty so those fans should not be disappointed if that's what they like.

Personally, I was most impressed with the story focus on Rocket. I didn't expect a movie with a Beastie Boys song in it to bring me to tears. Somehow they pulled it off. Rocket's back story was truly touching and the flashbacks were highly emotional. Some critics might think that the use of animorphics was a silly gimmick, but I think it was a very clever ploy that demonstrated our deep love of animals and our inate respect for all life. Rocket's friendships with the other "experiments" (animals like him who can talk) brought to the forefront the definition of "humane" and that was a bold and much needed statement in our culture today. I almost cried when his sweet otter friend was shot and killed, but I definitely cried later in the movie. I was also very upset and worried when the drama made me believe that Rocket or Peter were in danger of dying. If I'm yelling at the movie screen for someone to save them, then the storytellers have done a great job getting the character connection established, and that's what makes plot and suspense work in a movie.

There were a few controversial issues, but nothing to get bent out of shape about too much. There wasn't your typical feminist or rainbow pride agenda going on in this film. The story stayed focused on Rocket and in that story the only controversy for us to ponder is the question of "What is more important to our humanity? Fair and kind treatment to all life, or sacrificing any life in the name of evolution? I think the answer is obvious to our emotions and the movie does a good job validating that.

Some critics and movie viewers might not like the highs and lows that this movie delivers. In one scene, the emotion is scared or stressed or sad or sentimental, then in the next scene the emotion is light and funny, maybe even silly or cheesy because of a slapstick behavior or joke. I don't have a problem with that. I thought the comic relief was wel balanced even if it seems a bit choppy in some areas. Gunn could have let the audience dwell more in the emotional response to Rocket's story, but I think stylistically his approach with the humor was loyal to the MCU movie predecessors especially the Avengers. I became an MCU fan largely because of those jokes between the team members, and I appreciated that Guardians shared a sense of humor that reminded me why MCU movies are still a good time.

I recommend this movie. Of the Guardians trilogy, I think the first and last were the best. If you were hoping that Peter and Gamora would reunite in some lovey dovey way, you will be disappointed. In the end, Peter passes the torch of the Gaurdianship to Rocket, and he and Gamora go their separate ways. He is sad about it, but she doesn't even remember it so she has no feeling about it. I wasn't sad about their break up. (Honestly, I never thought they looked good together as a couple.) I was sad about the Gaurdians breaking up which of course makes sense since this is the last movie in the trilogy. I suppose Rocket could come back with another movie, the way this ended, but the Guardians of the first movie is over.