Guardians of the Galaxy The Rate and Review Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Thread (TAG SPOILERS)

[Frodo]

The film is a mixed bag. I can see they were trying to go all wraith of khan and Empire Strikes back, but it felt like, at times, they were trying too hard with the emotional aspects . It seemed as if they attempting to tug on the heart strings as opposed to the emotion being a natural result of the story.

While I actually liked the music alot more in this one, given that My Sweet Lord, Brandy, Bring it on home to me, are some of my favorite songs anyway, and while I thought Russell and the returning cast were good, it felt like the story could have used another pass over.

I give it a B to B-. Not one of the stronger Marvel films , but not awful.

 

[legendkillin]

Still wondering what Drax did in this movie other than jokes and a momentary pep talk. There was too much of that in this movie.

Yeah Drax really didn't have any action that helped. Perhaps he is saving it all for Thanos.

 

[Web-Head]

9/10.

Tons of fun, I had a blast watching it. 3D was really good too, and it hit some great emotional spots. My only negatives would be Karen Gillian and Zoe Saldana can't act, especially the former. She was jarringly awful.

Agreed, Nebula was easily my least favorite part.

 

[def28]

Wow I loved this, the first was one of my favorite comic flicks and this was a fantastic follow up imo. Can't believe all the crazy **** in this movie is now mainstream.

Awesome stuff.

 

[fancyarcher]

8 / 10 for me.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Review includes spoilers, so proceed at your own peril:

Spoiler

Few movies have made me immediately feel like I needed to call my family and tell them how much I loved them, but boy this was one of them. On the surface, the concept of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is insane and this idea should never have worked. But the beauty of film is that any idea in the right hands can turn out marvelous, and James Gunn is an evil genius. What he has crafted here is not just a wonderful space adventure once again oozing with personality and loads of Marvel easter eggs to gush over, he also crafted a film that explores the nature of family.

The plot of the film centers around Starlord's father finding him after all these years. Ever since the news broke that Kurt Russell would be playing the cosmic entity Ego the Living Planet, I was super curious to see how this madness could possibly work. How can his father be a planet? Was this just too much in the silly department? Not only does this work in execution, but Ego turns out to be maybe the best MCU villain not named Loki. The film lulls you into a false sense of security promising that the character Ayesha, who turns out to be not that vital to the plot, is the villain of the film, but at a certain point you realize start to see the crack in the facade Ego is putting on, and the villain reveal is well explained, brilliantly set-up, and reveals a twist that is just jaw dropping. You see him in an all new light and just how downright awful Ego truly is. The first Guardians of the Galaxy film has some critics that say Ronan was weak, but I do not agree. Ronan I felt was a fine villain in the movie and worked well. However, while Ronan is a great villain, Ego is a great CHARACTER, and that is a very important distinction. Ronan was never meant to be anything other than a very entertaining main threat for the team, wheras Ego has many layers to him and lots of depth. Kurt Russell plays both the villain and seemingly loving father equally well. The MCU may not always have the strongest villains, but there is an exception to every rule, and Ego is one of them and a great strength of the film.

Much like the first film, all the characters are great again, so I don't wanna single out performances, but I do want to compliment James Gunn on how he worked all the characters into that family theme so well. Ideas of what it means to be a father, a son, a sister, a brother, etc. are all explored in depth, though the primary focus of the film is between fathers and sons. The idea of these wandering loners seeking out the family they never had, only to realize the had it all this time is lovingly crafted within the script, and when we get our big emotional payoff at the end, any person with a soul will be fighting the misty eyes.

While this film is strong in basically every way the first film was, there are 2 areas of improvement in particular: cinematography and story flow. If there is one minor nitpick I had about the first film, it is that the first 20 minutes move super fast allowing little chance to breathe. This film does not have that problem. The story flows at a natural pace and has a logical progression. I would not say the first film had poor cinematography, as it is one of the best looking MCU films of phase 1 or 2, but Guardians of the Galaxy 2 may have the best camera work and design of any MCU film, period. The MCU has been lacking vibrancy in most of their movies in terms of color, but that is not a problem here. This movie is colorful and looks very original. I hope they continue to allow for more creative camera work and add more color to future installments, as well.

Guardians of the Galaxy a few years ago won over audiences all over the world with its heart, quirky humor, and totally original characters. Its sequel captures all of what made the first movie great, but unlike films like Iron Man 2 and Thor: The Dark World, it surpasses the original. While the movie does little to build toward the eventual Infinity War coming next year, it further explores the bonds between these wonderful characters, both building on the events of the first film and shedding them in a new light, as well as being its own entity. I want to see the movie again, but in terms of the Marvel Studios pantheon, this films stands as one of their best, no hesitation. The soundtrack doesn't hurt, either!

Overall Rating - 5/5

Good start to the MCU yearly offering! Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok have stiff competition.

 

[legendkillin]

Agreed, Nebula was easily my least favorite part.

Yeah she was just okay but didn't have it like everyone else. I hope she is not a major part of IWs or 2019 one.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

I thought Karen Gillan was great, and Zoe, don't get the complaints personally.

 

[DyeLorean]

This movie is the very definition of FUN. I go to the movies mainly to be entertained, and I couldn't ask for more.
It's a 9/10.

 

[NealKenneth]

I voted 7/10.

Not in the top-tier/"great" films like the first one, and solidly in the middle of the pack for the "good" MCU films. Drax was a highlight and Mantis was a very fun new character. You really do get the impression that the Guardians are just a group of misfits with unusual powers.

Spoiler

Three things stood out to me as red flags in the original film.

1. Moments of very forced humor
2. Yondu's arrow and
3. Howard the Duck

Unfortunately, I have to report that all three of these things were far worse in this film than the first. In the first, I remember a few times that Rocket would "misunderstand" things and, not only does this essentially become half of his dialogue in this film but...I honestly can't tell anymore if this is Rocket's "sense of humor" or if it's just bad acting. Then there's the gags that last wayyyyy too long...Baby Groot was a good idea but the scene where he dances to ELO and the other where he can't find the fin for Yondu just go on and on and on. I guess the "joke" is that Baby Groot is cute?

There are also callbacks to both the "I need a leg" and "12% of a plan" bits, neither of which I thought were all that funny the first time. Drax and Mantis scenes in this film are probably the funniest of the series so far, but the first film was far more consistently funny and there was much less humor that fell flat for me.

Yondu's arrow. Yikes! The scene where he uses it to kill an entire squad of soldiers always makes me cringe in the first film, but this is taken to the next level in the sequel. I mean...I'm all for Yondu being badass but the power of that arrow makes it seem like he could make short work of not only the Guardians themselves but also half the Avengers. It should never have been able to pass through people...that's what takes it from being badass to so stupidly overpowered that it starts to create plot holes.

I'm not sure if I have a problem with Howard himself, but I definitely have a problem with what he represented in the first film: a jarring cameo. The best cameos in any film work so that they would be entertaining even if you don't recognize the person, or at least they'd go unnoticed. Unfortunately, there are several times in this film where the casual moviegoer is definitely left out of the joke. Whether it was Howard (again), the original Guardians or the Watchers, you're just going to be out of the loop if you don't read comics. Sorry folks!

It was disappointing when Ego goes crazy at the end. Instead of a more interesting conflict where Star-Lord might actually be tempted to help him, it just becomes a battle for survival.

Yondu is the greatest success of the film from a dramatic point of view. This character is fleshed out nicely and has a good arc. There is one scene where he yells at Rocket that felt way too forced and there's his arrow of course...but Gunn mostly did a very good job telling a story with this character. The idea of fatherhood is explored very well through him and Ego.

I thought Nebula was underrated in the first film so it was good to see so much more of her in this one. Drax piqued my interest a little, but it turns out to be Nebula who finally makes me interested in seeing where we're going with this Thanos story.

Overall, this film felt a little like an appetizer for Infinity War, which I'm alright with. I'm excited to see what they have in store for us!

 

[DyeLorean]

Spoiler

Then there's the gags that last wayyyyy too long...Baby Groot was a good idea but the scene where he dances to ELO and the other where he can't find the fin for Yondu just go on and on and on. I guess the "joke" is that Baby Groot is cute?

I don't think those two scenes are meant to be taken as "jokes" or "gags". Maybe the second one, but if you didn't like the opening credits sequence I'm afraid...

 

[Frodo]

The more I reflect on the film, I actually think the basic story and themes would have been much better suited for a GOTG part three than a part two.

 

[combocaz]

I liked it but not as much as the first movie. I just wish they didnt throw jokes at certain moments where it felt like things were getting serious.

 

[Slick]

Just got back from seeing the movie. I dont do long reviews but....... this was freaking awesome. I loved it more then the first. I could really relate to the theme of fathers and sons because of my own complicated relationship with my father who has passed. Everything in this was great the characters and the music was great. Anyway I give this a 10/10. It's my favorite MCU movie so far

 

[Vartha]

LOVED it!! I had one complaint,

Spoiler

no actual Warlock

and in I guess some way the "formula" of the film mimicked the first.
I laughed throughout the film tho. I was thoroughly entertained!

 

[legendkillin]

LOVED it!! I had one complaint,

Spoiler

no actual Warlock

Spoiler

Besides the credit scene

Well I believe we went in knowing that he wouldn't show since no casting news. We know he won't be in IWs either but maybe he will be in the 2019 one. I expect him to play a big part in the MCU after GOTG3.

 

[DyeLorean]

I just wish they didnt throw jokes at certain moments where it felt like things were getting serious.

This is true. As much as I love the film, I can see that.

 

[Vartha]

Spoiler

Besides the credit scene

Well I believe we went in knowing that he wouldn't show since no casting news. We know he won't be in IWs either but maybe he will be in the 2019 one. I expect him to play a big part in the MCU after GOTG3.

I was kind of hoping for at least a last minute add but I can wait lol

 

[legendkillin]

I was kind of hoping for at least a last minute add but I can wait lol

I am wondering if she is making Warlock a different way or if she somehow has the cocoon from Collector's place. Going to be interesting to find out more about how he comes to be.

 

[Vartha]

I am wondering if she is making Warlock a different way or if she somehow has the cocoon from Collector's place. Going to be interesting to find out more about how he comes to be.

Yeah, that's why I wish that scene was longer. To at least see what she had going there

 

[B]

I just wish they didnt throw jokes at certain moments where it felt like things were getting serious.

The comedy in this movie isn't anywhere near as good as the first, the majority of it misses it's mark. In general it feels like the writers were trying to hard to make it funny & when you try too hard to be funny, you aren't.

 

[Ivan Drago]

One of my favorite critics, Walter Chaw, wrote a well written review that pretty much sums up how I felt about GOTG2.

GOTG2 is plagued by the sweat showing. All of the underlying structure is visible. One of the defining triumphs of the first film was how effortless it felt: the chainsaw juggler eating an apple. The closest comparison I can draw is probably Airplane! II: The Sequel versus the original Airplane!. I'm sure some people prefer the second one, though I've never met any. Guardians of the Galaxy's soundtrack of AM Gold standards had subtle things to say about the Jack Kirby visuals and balls-insane world-building, and the cast had none of the burden of sudden stratospheric popularity weighing them down. The songs this time around comes across as desperately-curated rather than inspired. The visuals are stunning and beautiful, it's true, but Avatar-like; there's nothing truly awe-inspiring about really pretty calendar pictures of a national park. What's most painful is the level of emotional exposition going on: the exchange where Yondu lays out, at length, how he and Rocket are just the same broken thing on the inside, for instance, and the inexplicable sacrifice later that the first film has already debunked as inevitable. Worse is the revelation that Nebula's current cyborg state is a result of child abuse and Gamora's--the ostensible romantic lead's--horrifying sociopathy. Suddenly, it's all not so funny anymore. The best part of GOTG2 is Mantis, who's not only completely guileless, but also vulnerable, deeply complicated (she's essentially a comfort woman enslaved by a powerful white guy), and ultimately heroic. Well, for a while, at least. Then she's unconscious and has to be carried around.

The picture substitutes magnification for invention and, having upped the stakes in terms of spectacle, finds itself making caricatures of characters who were beautifully, even subtly, developed in the first film. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is a fair diversion that feels like a parody of Guardians of the Galaxy. Sometimes a loving one. Sometimes just an accurate one.

Don't mean to be a killjoy, but this review helps phrase better what I was trying to say earlier.

 

[NotNickFury]

The comedy in this movie isn't anywhere near as good as the first, the majority of it misses it's mark. In general it feels like the writers were trying to hard to make it funny & when you try too hard to be funny, you aren't.

That sounds similar to the criticisms lobbed towards Iron Man 2 and Age of Ultron as far as there being too much humor at times where situations don't call for it.

 

[DyeLorean]

One of my favorite critics, Walter Chaw, wrote a well written review that pretty much sums up how I felt about GOTG2.



Don't mean to be a killjoy, but this review helps phrase better what I was trying to say earlier.

I don't agree but I can understand all the previous stuff, but the bold quote, I just can't see that. We have different characters because they have been together for a few months when we meet them again in Vol. 2 and their relationships have evolved, they're not caricatures, they're just more comfortable with each other. Is like real life, when you get closer with people you get to be yourself a bit more (Drax comes to mind).

 

[Primal Slayer]

Just got done watching it. It was ok but sadly I did not love it as much as I did the first one. All the effects/alien looks/humor was all great but I felt like the humor was TO MUCH, like it was like we were hit over the head with it to much that it just took away from the overall story. Probably a 7.5/10