When I first saw "Guardians of the Galaxy" a few years ago, I really did not know what to expect as I was not familiar with the characters or the story. When the first scene came up, a sad boy in a hospital playing a cassette tape with "I'm Not in Love" playing, I thought "Huh? Wasn't this supposed to be a 'space movie' why were we back in Earth?" Turns out the film had more human and earth elements to it and ended up being my favorite Marvel movie-ever. It feels like James Gunn's bunch of a-holes hijacked my love and I was a fan ever since.
Now, with the much awaited finally hitting theaters, things can get a little tricky. You see a sequel to a much loved movie can either be a success or a disaster and with the many super hero movies that have come out in the past few years, who really remembers the second one right? well, except for "Captain America: Winter Soldier" the rest are forgettable and fall under that obscure list of movies you forgot that you actually saw.
Well I'm glad to say that "Volume 2" of the Guardians of the Galaxy delivers and stands on its own amidst the many super hero movies that come out year after year. The team becomes more of a family unit and this time things are personal. I love how they were able to keep much of the plot underwraps despite the highly anticipated trailers, you really weren't sure where the story was going, except that the guys are back and are hilarious as ever. Which is why I will honor this tradition as well and keep this review as spoiler free as possible.
Being a music geek, the now ingenious, unprecedented and probably game changing decision of director James Gunn to not only feature 70's pop music but to successfully incorporate it into the story has become a distinguishing trait of the film, one that has fans like me, born decades after discovering a treasure trove of awesome music and this continues in the sequel. Unlike in the first movie where you were not expecting a mix tape of songs to feature so prominently in the film, this time around you have an idea of what's going to be playing and (if you're like me) you have already listened to and downloaded some of the songs, it would be no surprise that you would be singing and dancing to the different songs (even if you're just seeing the movie for the first time). I have a vinyl of the first film's soundtrack and will definitely get one for the sequel! Currently listening to the songs from the two movies, which is also downloaded on my Spotify account.
The film once again opens with a flashback on Earth and looks into Peter Quill's (AKA Star-Lord, played by Chris Pratt, who now has a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star under his name, by the way) parentage, we know his music loving mom passed away in the first movie but who is the "star man" that she fell in love with and whose genetic code made it possible for Peter to hold an infinity stone (again, in the first film) -albeit for a short moment only? This is a central theme in the movie and which is where much of the plot revolves in and-that's all that I'm saying about that. *zips lips*.
Groot (Vin Diesel) is now Baby Groot and is loveable and adorable as ever. Ever time he is on screen, the audience would just 'awwwww' and he just makes you want to take him home. But I think the one who stole the show was Drax (Dave Bautista) whose literal humor and dead pan delivery just had audiences laughing every time he was on screen.
I'm glad that Micheal Rocker's Yondu gets more screen time and that we look into his character - 'Why did he keep Peter all those years ago?'
Some things I didn't like about the movie though? Well it seems that everyone has some issue that needs to be dealt with (which was unnecessary for some) and some jokes were played through rather extensively.
Aside from the things I mentioned though, "Vol. 2" is a fun, personal movie which maintains the same charm and humor which made the first movie so memorable and a fan favorite.
I thought, well, Paul and I thought that the 3D conversion (it's probabbly better in IMAX) was a bit too dark and will definitely see the movie again when it comes out.
There are four mid credits and one post credit scene after the film, so just sit back and enjoy the ending credits, its actually pretty entertaining and opens up a whole lot of possibilities in the future *winks*.
8.5 out of 10. "Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol.2" is now showing in cinemas!
#RockTheGalaxyPH
#GOTGVol2
Superstars Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel return to lend their voices to Rocket and Groot in Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vo. 2, the highly anticipated sequel, featuring the world’s favorite band of intergalactic misfits.
The action-adventure is written and directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Dawn of the Dead).
When it comes to voices, James Gunn knows Rocket’s better than anyone as the director has many times professed that there is a little bit of himself in the character. Rocket, a tortured little beast who’s been torn apart and put back together, is still incredibly funny and heartfelt at times, particularly as voiced again by Academy Award® nominee Bradley Cooper.
A scene stealer in the first Guardians of the Galaxy with only the same three words of ‘I am Groot,’ was the wise, old, talking humanoid tree creature Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel. Despite his unique appearance and extremely limited communication skills, Groot embedded himself in the heart of audiences around world with just those three little words. A valuable ally and a loyal friend to Rocket and the Guardians, the character makes the ultimate sacrifice and returns in the sequel as a baby Groot.
Voiced again by Diesel, the little Groot is a totally different character. “He doesn’t have the memories of adult Groot and he is a baby,” explains Gunn. “He’s completely adorable, but has a lot more anger issues than adult Groot did. All of the other characters react to Baby Groot in different ways. Drax doesn’t like him. Rocket yells at him a lot, but he is okay with him. Gamora definitely has motherly instincts towards him, and Quill barely acknowledges his existence.”
Picking up where Guardians of the Galaxy—2014’s highest grossing film of the summer—left off, Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the action-packed, irreverent, epic space adventures of Peter Quill aka Star-Lord and his gang of eccentric characters as they patrol and protect the universe, doing mercenary work in the wake of the popularity and fame they garnered from saving Xandar.
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, the story follows the team as they fight to keep their newfound family together while traversing the outer reaches of the cosmos to 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.
The film stars Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Dave Bautista as Drax, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Karen Gillan as Nebula, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha, Chris Sullivan as Taserface, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, Tommy Flanagan as Tulik, Laura Haddock as Meredith Quill, with Sylvester Stallone as Stakar, and Kurt Russell as Ego.
Opening across the Philippines on April 26, 2017, Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is distributed in the Philippines by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
