GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3 FILM REVIEW

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Adam Warlock, Drax, Gamora, Groot, Guardians of the Gaaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy 3 review, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 review, High Evoloutionary, James Gunn, mantos, Marvel, MCU, Nebula, Rockert, Rocket

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3

Review by Paul Bowler

Marvel’s oddball superhero team are back in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, and this time writer-director James Gunn goes for broke with an action packed spectacular that’s rich with emotional depth. It also sets in motion a reasonably satisfying finale for these fan-favourite characters who we have grown to know and love over their many appearances in the MCU. This blockbusting sequel catches up with the Guardians who have made their new HQ in  the rebuilt Kowhere, a huge mining facility built inside a Celestial’s skull. Unusually, the film initially quite a somber tone, as some of the Guardians are in a somewhat reflective mood. The Guardians, comprising of : Peter Quill, otherwise known as  Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), an easy-going manchild obsessed by rock and pop anthems, the tough taking racoon, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) the green-skinned assassin, her cyborg sister Nebula (Karen Gillan), the lovable walking tree Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), the humourless warrior Drax (Dave Bautista), and the empathic Mantis (Pom Klementieff) are all back for James Gunn’s MCU swan song to round off the Guardians trilogy in fine style.

The melancholy is interrupted by the sudden appearance  of Adam Warlock (Will Poulter , a super buff golden assassin. His brutal attack is eventually repelled by the Guardians, but not before Rocket has been fatally wounded. After discovering Rocket has a kill switch in his chest that prevents him from undergoing life saving surgery, the Guardians have no choice but to embark on a dangerous heist mission, along with The Ravagers and a reluctant Gamora, to steal a code from a biotech company. If that wasn’t enough for them to contend with they will also have to confront the powerful High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Lwuji), who originally created Rocked as part of his scheme to genetically engineer a master race. 

The ensemble cast are all on especially fine for throughout. Each have made their roles their own now, the team dynamic of the Guardians is a joy to watch, and the humour comes thick and fast as well. James Gunn has clearly been given free reign to do whatever he wants with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3, there’s so much crammed in its a little overwhelming at times, but the fun and spectacle of it all is truly breathtaking. It’s not all interstellar high jinks though, Gunn puts Star-Lord and Rocket through the emotional wringer. Peter is pining for the loss of his soulmate Gamora who died in Avengers Infinity War, adding insult to injury, he now has to cope with the face she’s been replaced by the alternative timeline version of Gamora from Endgame who doesn’t love him. Meanwhile, the emotional heart of the film comes from the disturbing flashbacks exploring Rockets origins which highlight the terrible trauma and circumstances that made him into a the kick-ass raccoon we know today. Rocket’s origin story is a harrowing and deeply emotional journey to witness as it unfolds, and its is this powerful underlying narrative that really drives the plot.

With its frenetic action, amazing special effects, and great soundtrack Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 is everything fans could’ve hoped for and then some. Sure, the plot dose’t always quite hold together as well as it could’ve and the third act drags a little bit, but James Gunn has still managed to skilfully dodge the pitfalls of the threquill to deliver a fitting finale and entertaining intergalactic adventure on the wackier side of the MCU! 

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Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #1 (2023-) REVIEW

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Collin Kelly, Drax, Gamora, GROOTFALL, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy #1, Guardians of the Galaxy #1 review, Jackson Lanzing, Kev Walker, Mantis, Marvel Comics, Nebula, Ster Lord

Guardians of the Galaxy #1 (2023)

Marvel teased big things were coming in Guardians of the Galaxy #1, and they sure weren’t kidding either. A year ago, the Guardians of the Galaxy were totally broken. Betrayed by one of their own, their optimistic outlook and future was all but destroyed. Now in this new Marvel Comics series, written by Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly (Captain America Sentinel of Liberty),  and with art by Kev Walker (Predator), the Guardians now ride the lawless alien frontier of the Manifold Territories.They are driven ever onwards, locked in a desperate search to reclaim their heroism and humanity, yet relentlessly pursued by the horrific phenomenon that caused their fall from grace – the GROOTFALL! 

Lanzing and Kelly throw us right into the think of the action with The Massacre at Galilee IV, where Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Nebula, and Mantis ride into a ramshackle colony town of refugees trying to eek out a humble existence on a backwater world. But the Guardians have been changed by the chaos that has brought them here. It soon becomes clear they are far from the saviours they proclaim themselves to be, are they really here to rescue these refugees, or are they just running from a burning fire they have no idea how to put out? The contrast between these Guardians and the one’s we know and love is really striking, especially Peter Quill, who seems to have become a gruff high-plains drifter of the space ways, Gamora and Nebula are as edgy as ever, even Drax seems at odds with Quill’s abrasive new leadership style, leaving only Mantis to remain the one bright light at the heart of the team that once was. The action moves along at a fast and furious pace, as the nondescript menace of GROOTFALL descends on the planet, and the Guardians race to evacuate the refugees to safety.

The Guardians have all been given a fittingly cosmic Wild West costume make-over for this new series. Kev Walker’s art really shines, with beautifully rendered characters, expressions, and  sublime detail that highlights just how much the dysfunctional joy of the Guardians has been turned upside down by GROOTFALL. It’s all there in the body language and snappy asides as the Guardians mosey on into town in their own inimitable style. Walker captures the grittier nature of this environment of the frontier worlds with sweeping panoramic vistas and dusty run down towns, the colors by Matt Hollingsworth are both subtle and vidid, seamlessly balancing the dramatic and emotional beats of the narrative. The cover for this first issue by Marco Checchetto is also really striking and brilliantly encapsulates the tone of this new series as we journey into the unknown territories of the Marvel Universe. 

Sure, the cataclysmic fallout of GROOTFALL looms large for the Guardians, indeed, its hot on their heels, but that’s not to say it’s all doom and gloom. Far from it, in fact. The light, warmth  and humour is still there, the Guardians just have to dig a little harder within themselves to find it right now. As comic book relaunches go, Guardians of the Galaxy #1 provides an exciting and bold new era for the team, featuring a gripping story and excellent art, this new Marvel Comics series is definitely one worth adding to your pull list.

Publisher Marvel Comics

Writers Collin Kelly & Jackson Lanzing

Artist Kev Walker / Colours Matt Hollingsworth

Letters VC’s Cory Petit / Cover Marco Checchetto

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About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

Avengers Infinity War Film Review

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Avengers Infinity War, Avengers Infinity War Film Review, Benedict Cumberbatch, Black Panther, Bradley Cooper, Captain America, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Doctor Strange, Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy, Hulk, Infinity Gauntlet, Infinity Stones, Iron Man, Josh Brolin, Karen Gillan, loki, Mark Ruffalo, Robert Downey Jr, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Spider-Man, Thanos, The Avengers, The Vision, Thor, Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, Wakanda, Wanda Maximoff

Avengers Infinity War Film Review

Review by Paul Bowler

Get set for Marvel Studios’ Avengers Infinity War to rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe to its very core as the Avengers and their superhero allies confront the deadly power of Thanos, played with gravely voiced menace by Josh Brolin. Earth’s mightiest heroes must prepare to sacrifice everything in order to prevent Thanos from gathering the Infinity Stones into a gauntlet that could enable him to destroy the universe!

Quintessentially the culmination of everything the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been building towards since its inception way back in 2008 with Iron Man, it now falls to the nineteenth film in Marvel‘s box-office hit-machine franchise to bring this ten year journey across the MCU full circle with Avengers Infinity War.

Although our heroes were left fractured by the events of 2016’s Captain America Civil War, it’s not long before they reunite in the face of the threat posed by Thanos and the mad Titan’s nefarious scheme to wipe out half the universe.

With returning favourites including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans) leading the charge into battle along with Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlet Johansson), Vision (Paul Bettany), Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olse), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), and War Machine (Donn Cheadle), there’s also the welcome addition of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and the Guardians of the Galaxy into the mix, along with numerous other characters from the MCU also joining the ranks of the films heroic ensemble cast in the battle against Thanos!

Right from the jaw-dropping opening, it quickly becomes apparent that not everyone will survive either. The two and a half hour running time boasts spectacular action and drama, with its narrative interwoven across four major plot threads, spanning locations across the entire MCU; this epic crossover event is ably handled by the directing duo of the Russo brothers and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFreely.

For a film so packed with plotlines and characters the Russo brothers still manage give everyone a moment in the spotlight – however fleeting – and still keep everything and everyone on track. Thanos cuts a swathe of devastation in his quest to acquire all six Infinity Stones, but it quickly becomes a very personal battle for the Avengers because one of the stones is embedded in the Vision’s forehead, making the androids impending plight especially heartrending for his love interest Wanda Maxim off – in scenes movingly played by Elizabeth Olse and Paul Bettany. Chris Evans continues to impress as Captain America, times have been tough for Cap in recent films but the camaraderie between Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes / White Wolf (Sebastian Stan) shines though here, as does Roger’s great respect for Wakandan king T’Challa / Black Panther. The spiky banter between Robert Downey Jr’s Iron Man / Tony Stark and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange is another highlight, and Tom Holland’s wisecracking Spider-Man is always fun to have around. Chris Hemsworth also gets some great scenes as the vanquished Thor who teams-up with Guardians of the Galaxy Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) in the fight to stop Thanos.

Avengers Infinity War crams a hell of a lot in but it never feels bloated or gets bogged down in needless exposition. The majority of the characters are well served by the script, key emotional beats really hit the mark, and there are plenty of fun one-liners to enjoy. Infinity War also goes out of its way to firmly establish the giant purple alien Thanos as the ultimate Big-Bad of the Marvel Universe, and the CGI wizardry together with Josk Brolin’s brilliant performance mesh seamlessly to bring us one of the most richly compelling villains to have ever graced the MCU. Although his motivations in Avengers Infinity War diverge slightly from his comic book counterpart, Thanos still remains a towering presence throughout the film, there’s also great pathos to his scenes with Zoe Saldana as his adopted daughter Gamora, and his fearsome lieutenants The Children of Thanos (known as the Black Order in the comics) are an imposing – if rather one-dimensional – addition to the villain’s forces.

Avengers Infinity War is a veritable fangasim of comic book action, packed with mind-boggling special effects and huge action set pieces that dazzle amidst every twist and turn of the plot as events inexorably rumble towards the epic final battle, and its subsequent game-changing conclusion. Once the dust settles the excitement, gut wrenching loss, and unexpected surprises in Avengers Infinity War will leave you reeling as to where the Marvel Cinematic Universe goes from here. Avengers Infinity War doesn’t pull any punches, however with the stakes raised so high in this move it makes you wonder how much of it is set in stone – especially with the continuation already due in next year’s fourth Avengers film – but one things for sure Avengers Infinity War is without doubt one of the most ambitious and breath taking superhero movies ever!

 

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