Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017)
First off let us take a moment to reflect upon this movie’s very title. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 has a very episodic ring to it and gives the audience the impression that we are experiencing another tale from an epic series rather than a just another humdrum sequel. Semantics are at times a big deal and I think it’s relevant that Guardians of the Galaxy is marketed this way. It really seems to tie in with the franchises comic book roots.
First off let us take a moment to reflect upon this movie’s very title. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 has a very episodic ring to it and gives the audience the impression that we are experiencing another tale from an epic series rather than a just another humdrum sequel. Semantics are at times a big deal and I think it’s relevant that Guardians of the Galaxy is marketed this way. It really seems to tie in with the franchises comic book roots.
As for the movie itself, well once again we find that seventies and eighties popular music dominate not only the soundtrack but seem to actively shape the narrative. I’d even go so far as to say that the writers and director may have a deliberately picked the songs in question and then reversed engineered the narrative around them. Not that I’m complaining, as it all works incredibly well. There’s an opening battle with a space Cephalopod set against Mr Blue Sky by the Electric Light Orchestra which pretty much sets the tone. The soundtrack then goes on to feature Fleetwood Mac, Glen Campbell and even David Hasselhoff. Brandy by Looking Glass, is also used liberally in key scenes.
The plot is somewhat arbitrary because it’s merely a vehicle to develop the central characters. Marvel press releases have managed to distil it down to the following. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill's true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes' aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand. Let it suffice to say that the main plot device is the Starlord AKA Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) discovering that his father is none other than a Celestial being called Ego (Kurt Russell). Cue Mr Russel revisiting Snake Plissken’s greatest hits. They even use digital effect to de-age him for flashback sequences.
The movie then proceeds with what appears to be two distinct storylines One feature Quill, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Drax (Dave Bautista) and another set around Baby Groot, Rocket Raccoon and Nebula (Karen Gillan) as they fall foul of space pirate Taserface (Chris Sullivan). The return of Yondu (Michael Rooker), Quill’s blue-skinned mentor from the first movie brings the various strands together. I was actually surprised by the genuinely nuanced and dare I say, moving story arc director James Gunn brings to the table. But then again it was the depth of character and the credibility of their friendship that made the first movie so good. It’s all here once again.
Jaems Gunn cut his teeth in the movie industry as a protégé of Lloyd Kaufman, at Troma Entertainment. Thus, he has a knack for low budget creativity. Yet none of these skills are lost when translated to a $200 million franchise driven blockbuster. Throwaways scenes, small character foibles and telling dialogue elevate Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 above the usual sterile and dry narratives of other entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gun gives us not only the thrill and action we crave but does it in a far more colourful and playful universe. It is such a breath of fresh air to dispense with the flawed and brooding anti-hero and to have them replaced by the chipper and likeable Peter Quill.
It would be remiss of me if I didn’t take a moment to mention Dave Bautista and his incredibly strong performance as Drax. As a character with no sense of sarcasm, or understanding of verbal metaphor there is great scope for humour. Yet because Bautista seems to have an innate sense of comic timing many throwaways gags grow to become much more. I cannot remember the last time I last out loud so much in a cinema. Baby Groot is also a source of great amusement, despite his single line of dialogue. As with the first movie the balance between action, humour and pathos is skilfully handled.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is certainly a robust and entertaining second instalment and shows the flexibility of the MCU, when skilled film makers take the reins. The vivid production design, with its explosion of colour and the playful use of popular music, paints a vibrant universe, despite the peril and impending doom of the story. The movie at times looks like the artwork you’d find on a seventies progressive rock album. If there is a weakness in the production it would be in the film’s final act, where the surfeit of characters do seem to slow the proceeding a little.
Yet, at its heart Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 is a further exploration of the complexity and importance of family and identity. It explores themes that are common to all viewers and does it so honestly and with a great deal of affection. As a result, I was thoroughly entertained and uplifted. It’s been a while since a movie has done that for me. So, I wholeheartedly hope that all concerned can maintain this emotional momentum for the next instalment of Guardians of the Galaxy.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
I had my doubts about Guardians of the Galaxy when I first saw it back in 2014, mainly because it's a franchise that I wasn’t familiar with. Also, because the movie is a throwback to a genre that has been conspicuously absent for several decades; namely the “space opera”. Readers over a certain age group may well have fond memories of movies such a Battle Beyond the Stars or The Last Starfighter. They may also have bad memories regarding Ice Pirates and Lorca and the Outlaws. The other thing that was a talking point about Guardians of the Galaxy upon its release, was the fact that it represented a somewhat of a gamble for Marvel Studios (Disney) and the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Taking a punt on a lesser known franchise at a cost of $170,000,000 is not something you do lightly.
I had my doubts about Guardians of the Galaxy when I first saw it back in 2014, mainly because it's a franchise that I wasn’t familiar with. Also, because the movie is a throwback to a genre that has been conspicuously absent for several decades; namely the “space opera”. Readers over a certain age group may well have fond memories of movies such a Battle Beyond the Stars or The Last Starfighter. They may also have bad memories regarding Ice Pirates and Lorca and the Outlaws. The other thing that was a talking point about Guardians of the Galaxy upon its release, was the fact that it represented a somewhat of a gamble for Marvel Studios (Disney) and the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe). Taking a punt on a lesser known franchise at a cost of $170,000,000 is not something you do lightly.
Director James Gunn is an interesting film maker who until this movie has not achieved the level of success he deserves. Slither, an enjoyable and quirky horror/sci-fi movie, was somewhat overlooked on its release. Mercifully, Guardians of the Galaxy rectifies this situation. Gunn along with co-writer Nicole Periman, find a great balance between action, drama and humour. The script is full of amusing banter, pop culture references and unabashed nerd bait. The characters are actually likeable and accessible, while the story has a strong positive message about the power of friendship. Deliberately avoiding big names in the lead roles works very well and the cast acquits themselves admirably. Chris Pratt and Zoë Saldana fulfil their roles but don't overwhelm them as some "A" list actors do.
Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel provide voice and motion capture for their CGI characters, while wrestler Dave Bautista is surprising good as Drax, a warrior who takes all comment literally. Then with a second tier of character actors such as John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker and Glenn Close, the movie is more than equipped to tackle its initially complex storyline. Establishing who's who takes a while but the pieces soon fall in to place. Furthermore, Guardians of the Galaxy has a great sense of pace and moves forward through the narrative with assured ease. The visual FXs are outstanding and the production design is inventive and different but it never relegates the story or dialogue to the passenger seat.
Perhaps directors Gunn's best trick is managing to entertain on multiple levels. It's something the animation industry has managed for decades but it’s more difficult to achieve in a live action movie. There is plenty of spectacle, hardware and explosions to appeal to the young, where older viewers will revel in the pop culture references of mix tapes, Footloose and dance offs. Gun also uses sentiment wisely and to good effect. Groot and Rocket have an especially good dynamic. The more mature members of the audience will know that they're getting their emotional buttons pushed with Pavlovian mastery but it's all part of the ride.
Overall, there's not a huge amount to complain about with Guardians of the Galaxy. It is a well-conceived, polished example of a summer blockbuster. Lee Pace fans may be a little disappointed as he spends his time on screen swathed in cowl and under a lot of heavy make-up. I would also point out that younger children may find this movie quite scary. A person’s face crumbling in a cloud of purple hued plasma is still quite a potent image, so parents be warned. The screenplay is also liberally laced with minor profanity, which although I found quite amusing, I was somewhat surprised by.
What I took away the most from Guardians of the Galaxy was the feeling of being thoroughly entertained. There is a good ethical foundation to the story as it wrestles themes such as loyalty, redemption and self-sacrifice, yet they are presented in an engaging fashion with humour and wit. I laughed a great deal which seldom happens when watching movies these days. If we must have a steady diet of big budget blockbusters can we not have more like this, created by people such as James Gunn? Who knows, we may even see a return of the space opera genre. Would that be such a bad thing? I think not, as long as Michael Bay isn't involved.
NB The post credit scene with The Collector (Benicio Del Toro) still raises some interesting possibilities (even after my second viewing). I hope it means what I think it means regarding a certain iconic character.