Review of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) by Thomas B — 03 May 2018

***.

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed that.

Comic-book movies can be really great - like 'The Dark Knight' and 'The Winter Soldier'. Others can be terrible, like 'Suicide Squad' and 'Wonder Woman'. Then there are those that are just okay, like the original 'Thor' and, I would argue, 'Batman v Superman'. Then there are those that are even more rare to come across - the kind that are just heaps of fun. They're not 'great' movies, but, in many ways, they capture closest what reading a comic book is all about. 'Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2' kind of sits about there. This is, undoubtedly, one of the weirdest and most bizarre entries in the Marvel cannon - and one that feels so fun not just because of the great action and extremely addictive soundtrack - but because it doesn't really tie into anything. Marvel, for the most part, have allowed this movie to be its own thing, which I really appreciated. It's a lot messier than the first movie, and the plot is all over the place. Not everything works. But then again, it's also far more ambitious than the original, so it's only natural that some things won't work out. It definitely attempted to tell a more character-driven story, and whilst I'm not sure Kurt Russell's character totally payed off, you've got to give them credit for trying. The effects are, quite honestly, some of the best I've ever seen - they were practically seamless. The characters are just as likeable as before, as are their respective performers; but it's James Gunn who steps it up a notch. Finally - FINALLY - we have a beautiful Marvel movie. The direction has style, the cinematography is gorgeous - this is a real visual treat.

In many ways, what helps Vol. 2 overcome some of its problems is the fact that it really doesn't feel all that much like a Marvel movie. Although I generally knew where it was going, I was rarely certain as to how it was going to get there, and the ending was surprisingly emotional. I don't know if it's better than the original, as I haven't watched it in about 4 years, but it was certainly more inventive, which in itself is a quality worthy of more praise. All in all, I think this is probably the most ambitious Marvel movie yet, that was finally allowed a bit of independence. Kudos to all involved, looking forward to Vol. 3.