James Gunn provides us with what will most likely be his last production for the Disney owned studio, and officially draws the curtain on arguably the best trilogy in the MCU.
As always, the knight is dark, and full of spoilers.
Release date: 5 May 2023
Director: James Gunn
Budget: 250 million USD
Box office: $832.3 million
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Cinematography: Henry Braham
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Chukwudi Iwuji, Bradley Cooper, Will Poulter, Sean Gunn, Karen Gillian, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, Nathan Fillion, Nico Santos, Pete Davidson, Chris Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus, Seth Green
Summary
Our favourite misfit group of intergalactic heroes returns to the big screen for another adventure. They face a new threat that puts the entire galaxy at risk, as usual. As they navigate through dangerous worlds and encounters with old and new allies, the Guardians must confront their past and make sacrifices to save the universe once again. With humour, action, and heartfelt moments, the Guardians of the Galaxy fight to protect the cosmos from impending doom.
Story
It’s incredible that the third instalment of the Guardians Of The Galaxy trilogy isn’t centred around Quill. It’s centred around Rocket, even though he’s unconscious for most of the movie, and James Gunn reveals that all the GOTG movies have actually been centred around him. That’s a neat little detail that makes me want to go back and watch the trilogy again. The story of the former master attempting to come back to his life and make him a slave again made for a beautiful tale, and had me spellbound wondering how it would end, and boy did it end magnificently! Django would have been proud.
I also thought several bits of this story were brilliant. Like how tired Quill is of supernormal beings trying to conquer worlds and create new planets. He’s seen it all before, from Thanos to his own father Ego, and he’s had enough of these larger than life villains who think they’re the only ones capable of providing a version of life that is suitable for living, and it shows in his exasperation when he meets The High Evolutionary. It shows a lot of growth for the character and I loved that this was imbibed in the telling of this story.
Also, the fact that Gamora didn’t recollect anything from the universe where her and Starlord were an item — she even refers to him as ‘Quinn’ — is a beautiful addition to the story. I love that it doesn’t close with the atypical happy ending for them both, where the hero gets the girl in the now-overdrawn Hollywood trope. This fact is the best thing about the movie as far as I’m concerned, and is actually quite refreshing. Peter Quill has to struggle with his emotions and reconcile himself with the fact that the Gamora that knew him and loved him is gone forever. Sometimes, your actions have consequences and you have to find healthy ways to cope with the pain and live with these repercussions from that moment on. His character grows. Actually, pretty much everyone in this movie shows tremendous character growth. Even Drax.
For that fact alone, the story gets an A+ from me.
Costume and Setting
Is Marvel your mate?
These guys have arguably set the bar for how to recreate comic book costumes. The consistency since Iron Man 1 has been exemplary. Costumes are always pristine! At first I thought that The High Evolutionary’s face was a bit weird but after watching through the movie, I understood that it was intentional and it made perfect sense.
Ever since I saw The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special last year, I’ve loved the transformation of Knowhere from the outer-worldly vault of the Collector, to an intergalactic sanctuary. I also really liked the flesh-like, ambient setting of Wundagore II. It looks and feels alive, with the rooms and offices looking like they’re made of organs and nerve endings, and the walls looking like skin. That definitely took a lot of creativity to bring to life.
Cinematography
Okay, there isn’t much to talk about in this category for this movie. And the lack of cinematography is kind of disturbing. I felt it was a little deficient in this department, and asides a few space scenes, Henry Braham’s camera didn’t seem to be doing much for me at first.
Until we get to THAT ONE SCENE!
That one-take tunnel scene in the third act where they run through the tunnel blasting bad guys, bouncing off each other, and showing off their retinue of powers was absolutely breathtaking! I would go back again and again just to watch that scene. Again, is Marvel your mate? Also, the fact that No Sleep Till Brooklyn by Beastie Boys is playing in that scene points to the fact that James Gunn is truly an A-List director. One of a kind.
The part where Nebula gets her body parts disfigured and still keeps on shooting, while repairing herself in the midst of all that chaos; the way the camera follows Groot’s outstretched limb as Mantis jumps off it and throws henchmen on the tree branch; Quill planting electric shockers on different characters at different times and letting them all have it at once; that slow motion shot of Rocket jumping off the same limb to pause mid-air and let that chopper sing…
I don’t promote violence but I thoroughly enjoyed that scene. I was sad when it ended. The scene where the Guardians defeat the High Evolutionary is also a beautiful piece of art. I also liked that when Adam saves quill he re-created the Creation of Adam painting. The entire cinematography budget clearly went into creating those 5–8 minutes of on-screen beauty and it was money well spent.
Acting
Again, the WWE keeps producing some of the best actors. The casting of Dave Batista as Drax The Destroyer? Chef’s kiss. Drax delivers pure comic relief, without even trying, especially as his biggest antagonist in this movie was a couch. I hope twitter wins and he’s actually cast as Kratos in the upcoming God of War movie. Also, how good was the boy Chukwudi Iwuji as The High Evolutionary? He joins the league of Nigerians playing Super heroes/villains in Hollywood like Chiwetel Ejiofor (Karl Mordo, Dr. Strange), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Killer Croc, Suicide Squad; Algrim, Thor: The Dark World) and Sammi Rotibi (General Amajagh, Batman v. Superman), flying that green-white-green high. We global. Chukwudi’s character serves as the perfect antagonist, a larger-than-life world creator who seeks to obtain Rocket, his past ‘possession’, and use him to create a utopian world, and he delivers it so perfectly and emotionally, it impressed even the most ardent of critics.
Saldana performs brilliantly as the New Gamora, not remembering a thing from her past and being a lot more vicious and angry than her previous self. She didn’t even speak Groot. Her performance will have you wondering “is this the same Gamora?” and it’s intentional, because it isn’t the same character. She’s a different person and she brings that fact to life skilfully. Will Poulter delivers a beautiful rendition of Lil Uzi Vert — I’m kidding, I’m kidding. His portrayal of Adam Warlock seemed a little forced though. Not saying he didn’t adequately sell the role, I’m just not sure I bought it. In my head, even after that post credit scene, he’s still a villain. Sean Gunn, on the other hand, is proof that nepotism, when combined with talent, actually works. His enactment of Kraglin was beautiful and soulful, and his interactions — particularly with Cosmo the bad dog — were quite refreshing.
Rating
3D
★★★☆☆
Delightful. Delicious. Debonair
It’s an amazing movie to watch, but save for that cinematic highlight in the third act, I’m not sure if I’ll be going back to see it again. It’s a lovely addition to the trilogy and arguably the best trilogy in the MCU, but that’s where it ends. Gunn signs off brilliantly though, and it will be critically acclaimed for a long time, I’ll give it that, but you’re not missing much if you don’t see it in the cinema.
