GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Vol. 2
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The boys are back in town, plus the green-skinned Gamora (Zoe Saldana) … well, back in space at least.
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The old gang from Guardians of the Galaxy are still together in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – there’s Quill, aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt), the ‘built like a brick shithouse’ Drax (Dave Bautista), the tree creature Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and the wise-cracking raccoon Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper). The exiled Ravager Yondu (Michael Rooker) is back as well, plus a couple of new characters, the guileless ‘empath’ Mantis (Pom Klementieff), who can read people’s emotions, and Gamora’s estranged sister Nebula (Karen Gillan).
It’s a motley crew but James Gunn’s direction and script brings them all together well. They all get sufficient time on screen to provide enough of a back story that the characters become more than just ciphers, as out there as the story is. This time they’re on the run from the golden Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), leader of the Sovereign race, when they run into Ego (Kurt Russell), who turns out to have a strong connection to Quill.
As in the original film, various spectacular battles and clashes take place between the Guardians, the Ravagers, the Sovereigns and assorted family members before we arrive at a neat conclusion to all the conflict. What is it about the importance of the family you choose, rather than the family you’re born into, being the dominant theme in many American movies these days? You see it again and again, from the The Fast and the Furious series to X-Men, and many more. Is it a reflection on the power of Facebook?
Whatever, if you liked the original film you’ll certainly like this, and there’s a lot to like, not least Quill’s corny but great ‘70s and ‘80s mix-tape that’s always playing in the background, plus some brilliantly trippy SFX. And, whatever you do, don’t leave before the credits roll!
// IAN TAYLOR
Previewed at Event Cinemas, George Street, Sydney, on Thursday 20 April.
It’s a motley crew but James Gunn’s direction and script brings them all together well. They all get sufficient time on screen to provide enough of a back story that the characters become more than just ciphers, as out there as the story is. This time they’re on the run from the golden Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), leader of the Sovereign race, when they run into Ego (Kurt Russell), who turns out to have a strong connection to Quill.
As in the original film, various spectacular battles and clashes take place between the Guardians, the Ravagers, the Sovereigns and assorted family members before we arrive at a neat conclusion to all the conflict. What is it about the importance of the family you choose, rather than the family you’re born into, being the dominant theme in many American movies these days? You see it again and again, from the The Fast and the Furious series to X-Men, and many more. Is it a reflection on the power of Facebook?
Whatever, if you liked the original film you’ll certainly like this, and there’s a lot to like, not least Quill’s corny but great ‘70s and ‘80s mix-tape that’s always playing in the background, plus some brilliantly trippy SFX. And, whatever you do, don’t leave before the credits roll!
// IAN TAYLOR
Previewed at Event Cinemas, George Street, Sydney, on Thursday 20 April.
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STARRING
Chris Pratt
Zoe Saldana
Bradley Cooper
Kurt Russell
DIRECTOR
James Gunn
SCREENWRITER
James Gunn
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
M
RUNTIME
137 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
April 27, 2017
Chris Pratt
Zoe Saldana
Bradley Cooper
Kurt Russell
DIRECTOR
James Gunn
SCREENWRITER
James Gunn
COUNTRY
USA
CLASSIFICATION
M
RUNTIME
137 minutes
AUSTRALIAN
RELEASE DATE
April 27, 2017
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