Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

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)

As a farewell to James Gunn and the Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3 is a workable film, but if I were to look at it with an objective eye as a "standalone" Marvel movie, I wouldn't be as excited as most of the film community. The action doesn't exactly bust your balls, and (apart from the final single-shot three minute scene in the corridor, which was excellent!!!) there’s almost nothing significant to remember, and even in terms of new characters it's a very odd affair. Adam Warlock as one of the strongest characters in the universe has about five minutes and he comes across as a regular civilian and certainly not a character around which the future world should be built. That was very disappointing as I was expecting an introduction to his abilities and a lure to his future action. On the other hand, it's worth picking up the great Draxx again and again, who (as the only one) adds fresh humour, with Dave Bautista literally enjoying the role. But the rest seems to have got lazy compared to the previous episodes in terms of humour, and actually plays too much on emotions and parting with the whole concept – maybe a bit more than it should. Good? Definitely yes. But as good and fateful as it was touted to be? Definitely not. Still, the new Guardians of the Galaxy takes away the "Marvel gold standard" in the form of a decent four-star rating, it's just that when you compare it to the first Marvel movies 10 years ago, it's just something vastly different... (05/08/2023)

Thank god Marvel had the sense to bring James Gunn back to direct. He has crafted the best Marvel team from the best universe Marvel could have ever dreamed of. James Gunn is one of the few Marvel directors who really thinks about what he’s making, giving his films a unique touch. Guardians of the Galaxy is the best thing that could have happened to him. The characters are fantastic, the settings are beautiful, and the films are packed with creative ideas. There's no need to break it all down here. The third Guardians movie is one of Marvel’s best films, and honestly, given how the brand has been struggling lately, Marvel might as well quit while they're ahead. (06/02/2023)

"I bet we were fun." - "You wouldn't believe it..." The essence not only of a great Marvel movie, but also of an adventure film, an unforgettable trilogy, unique heroes, basically everything a creator could wish for. James Gunn is once again the king, because this time he turned a diverse group of creatures, villains, and misfits into a team of stars that has no equal in the genre, as they do not fit anywhere else with their exaggeration, craziness, and uniqueness. I don't understand how well the combination of adolescent, childish, and extremely simple jokes can work with the best action of the whole franchise and the deeply moving emotion that makes me tear up every time someone saves someone, someone remembers, or someone realizes something that the viewer knew a while ago. No one is left behind and I can only breathe a sigh of relief and marvel that something turned out so fairy-tale-like despite the accompanying complications. (08/20/2023)

For God's sake, give this bunch of lovable oddballs some dignity. If the first and second films were overstuffed but benefited from the fact that the main characters looked so "different and funny" compared to most others, the third film looks like a stale and generic colouring book without any innovation and freshness. There are lots of characters that aren't even worth talking about and the only thing that has a solid pull and gets some emotion out of the viewer is the line with the raccoon and a couple of funny jokes with Bautista. A film that starts 30 minutes and ends at about 45, already quite a nightmare with all the banging and shooting. Star Lord and co. can take a well-deserved break now no one will hold a grudge. (05/22/2023)