Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Another enjoyable entry, 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2' is very good fun.

I actually didn't find the story in this as interesting as in the first film, but the humour - which is still up to the mark in 'Guardians of the Galaxy' - is much greater here; it got more laughs from me, that's for sure. The ending to this is also entertaining.

Chris Pratt and Co. are just as enjoyable as before, with Dave Bautista particularly standing out to me here; if only due to his amusing moments. I like the addition of Pom Klementieff, I can see a spot for her in the crew. Kurt Russell and Elizabeth Debicki make for contrasting newcomers, Russell is just about good but I felt Debicki and her lot were underused/unintriguing.

Not the most compelling plot, which I found more predictable than what the MCU usually produces, but the strong action end and noteworthy humour elevates it to become a pleasant film to watch; if a drop from the original.

Well, the soundtrack rocked. It was wonderfully classic. Wonderfully sentimental. Wonderfully awesome again. And it was fun how music suddenly became their thing as a team.

Baby Groot was fun, funny, and adorable all at the same time...and it worked because he was also a lot more violent than the adult Groot, which made it stand far and away from the overly saccharin nightmare that he could have been.

Star Lord unfortunately matured a bit. He wasn't anywhere near the...can I say d**che bag here? Jerk is too strong of a word and you never really got the impression that he was really an idiot in the first one. In any case it was that annoying quality that made him such a great character in the first movie.

In the sequel Peter has grown and some of the traits that made him so fun to watch are still there...just muted as he became more of an adult.

It works for the plot, and he is still a lot of fun to watch, but a part of the appeal was that he was sort of Peter pan and it hurts wa6tching someone like that grow.

The only really weak point was Mantis and only really because she was clearly going to join the team and clearly not doing much of anything.

As the whole, you have another departure away from the overly serious...or sometimes moderately serious cape flicks...which a refreshing getaway, so long as its understood that Guardians and the like are departures from the norm and not a harbinger of Batman & Robin camp again.

Only slightly better then the first in my opinion. Not cause it was that great of a movie. Only because of the Groot and it was pretty funny, that's it!

Oh well, they had to try I suppose - and as sequels go, this isn't the worst - but it's a far cry from the first one. Chris Pratt still has a cheeky charm as "Peter Quill" but somehow the writing and humour in this are not so relaxed and spontaneous. This time, the gang fall foul of the "Sovereign" despite having saved their bacon from a vicious big monster. When the enemy fleet seems to have them at their mercy; a stranger comes to the rescue and we soon discover that he has a surprise or two for our "Star Lord". Meantime, "Yondu" (Michael Rooker), his erstwhile Ravager mentor, is having quite a bit of trouble keeping his own crew in order. The fun chemistry between "Rocket" and new, baby "Groot" relies too heavily on the "aw, bless..." attitude towards our tiny tree. Dave Bautista ("Drax) has some decent, sometimes quite cruel one-liners, but essentially just revisits his role from the first film with far less purpose, and Zoe Soldana ("Gamora") and her pesky sister "Nebula" (Karen Gillan) actually don't add much to the plot either. It falls to Kurt Russell as "Ego" - a sort of Kenny Rogers/Kris Kristofferson hybrid to provide the menace, but all he really does is ham it all up a bit too much and leave much of the last half hour of the film to the SFX experts. It has to be said, they do a wonderful job, especially towards that end, but unlike in the previous episode, the effects really dominate at the expense of the dialogue and of the story. The soundtrack starts off with a gentle little boogie from "Groot" to ELO and continues to provide quite an eclectic mix as it helps guide us through the adventure, but I'm afraid this is just not as good - pure and simple. GotG 3 is well on it's way - we can but hope is reverts to the more characterful style next time - this one just hasn't got a very good story.

Guardians of the Galaxy has solidified itself as an incredible franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Volume 1: The creation of these characters injected suspense, excitement, and a generous dose of over-the-top comedy into the MCU. Chris Pratt's portrayal of Star-Lord was a fantastic choice, and the characters like Rocket and Groot became instant fan favorites, with merchandise flying off the shelves. While Nebula's transformation from antihero to hero was well-received, Gamora felt underutilized. Drax provided comic relief, but off-screen controversies involving the actor can affect viewers' perception of the character. Overall, the movie is enjoyable and worth watching.

Volume 2: While some may prefer the first installment, Volume 2 offers a deeper dive into the characters and more excitement. The film is wonderfully executed, providing a fantastic adventure that is highly recommended for its magical space journey and character development.

Volume 3: This installment returns to the original concept of Marvel, seamlessly connecting with other films in the MCU. The movie offers fantastic character development, ensuring each character shines without overshadowing the others. Star-Lord and Gamora remain central, but the film also explores Rocket's origin story exceptionally well. The ensemble cast, including Mantis, Nebula, Groot, and Drax, deliver standout performances. New additions like Cosmo and Blurp add charm, while Adam Warlock's portrayal, though slightly disappointing, is explained within the storyline. The film is emotional, with impactful end credit scenes, making it a must-watch in theaters.

Holiday Special: The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an exciting and enjoyable addition to the franchise, offering a fun and engaging viewing experience. The special presentation is a delightful continuation of the characters' stories, making them more relatable and adding an extra layer of excitement to the Marvel universe. This special is a testament to the franchise's creativity and is a welcome addition to the MCU continuity.