Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

 SPOILER ALERT

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

The first Guardians of the Galaxy was the runaway hit of 2014. It more than satisfied the usual Marvel fans, and even won a legion of new fans not familiar with the Marvel films. Its power was that it didn’t take itself too seriously. The first film has maybe a few serious, tender moments, but for the most part it was a rollicking good time. So why reinvent the wheel when you’ve got such a great thing.

“Guardian’s of the Galaxy Vol. 2” picks up exactly where the first film left off, even though it was released three years later cinematically. We left our heroes as a newly formed group, who fly off into space aboard Quill’s ship. What trouble would they get into? 

It didn’t take long for trouble to find them, as they start the film defending a planets power source from a giant alien monster that eats power sources. This action-packed scene occupies the opening credits, where Starlord, Gamora, Drax and Rocket get their butts kicked trying to kill the alien, but Baby Groot, now recovered and growing up after temporarily dying in the first film, doesn’t help them in the mission. In fact, he plays some music, and dances his way around the power station pad, narrowly missing being crushed, squashed and killed, until finally he joins in the action. It’s a fun way to start the movie. 

After this, the gang soon find themselves being hunted… again, after not delivering what they promised to their buyer… again and get chased across the universe by a pissed-off alien race…. again. Their narrow escape is barely made, as their ship gets damaged and they have to bail out on a random planet. But perhaps fate had a hand in this crash landing, as Quill bumps into an older man, wise and friendly, who claims to be his dad. Quill not knowing anything about his dad other than he was an alien,  is shocked and confused, but naturally wants answers. 

While they try to repair their ship, Quill gets to know them man who calls himself Ego. He explains he is basically a Celestial, able to manipulate matter and created the very planet he lives on. By explaining more of his past and how he met Quill’s mother Meredith, Ego tells his son he has the power to be a Celestial himself. 

Meanwhile, Rocket is captured and taken prisoner by the disgruntled Yondu (Quill’s boss), but finds a kindship in Rocket, and helps him escape to regroup with Quill on the planet. But the Ravagers follow them there to kill them all and Gamora battles with her estranged sister Nebula, as they sit on different sides of the fence regarding their relationship to Thanos. 

There’s not much else to say about the film without giving away too many plot details, and there are some interesting twists and turns along the way. The film sets up some character interactions which no doubt will play an important part in the future Avengers films, but still stands as a sequel to the first Guardians, and does a good job keeping that style intact. If you’re looking for more of the same, you won’t be disappointed. The film continues to explore its multi-dimensional characters in some very funny scenes, and reveals more music on Quill’s second mix tape, which was a present from his mother.

Post Credit scenes – there is plenty to indulge on at the end of Guardians here, starting off with a funny scene in which side character Kraglin, now inheriting Yondu’s telekinetic arrow which is powered by whistling, fails miserably at controlling it. It flies off randomly hitting poor old Drax in the face, at which he screams in rage for a while. The next one is a brief scene where Stakar Orgod (Sylvester Stallone) reunites with his team mates in what appears to be a pale imitation of our Guardians.. will they figure in Part 3? Thirdly, Ayesha (leader of the aliens the Guardians pissed off at the start of the film) has created a new weapon she is sure will destroy all the Guardians. Lastly, Groot has grown up  little bit more and is now a moody teenager, playing video games in his messy room. Quill finds himself saying “Now I know how Yondu felt” in respect to the main who raised him.

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This review was originally part of a special review of films called "The Movies of Marvel" which you can check out here

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