[FILM REVIEW] GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3 Review (2023)

July 17, 2023July 17, 2023 Dave Asim Chaudhry, Austin Freeman, Benjamin Byron Davis, Bradley Cooper, Canada, Central Coast Radio, Chris Pratt, Chukwudi Iwuji, Daniela Melchior, Daria Delgado, Dave Bautista, David Griffiths, Dee Bradley Baker, Elizabeth Debicki, France, Gerardo Davilla, Gregg Henry, Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3, James Gunn, Jared Moore, Jasmine Munoz, Jennifer Holland, Judy Greer, Kai Zen, Karen Abercrombie, Karen Gillan, Lee Griffiths, Linda Cardellini, Lloyd Kaufman, Maria Bakalova, Michael Rooker, Michael Rosenbaum, Mikaela Hoover, Miriam Shor, Molly Quinn, Murphy Weed, Nathan Fillion, New Zealand, Nico Santos, Noa Raskin, Pom Klementieff, Randy Havens, Reinadlo Faberille, Rhett Miller, Sarah Alami, Sarah Anne, Sean Gunn, Seth Green, Stephen Blackehart, Sylvester Stallone, Tara Strong, Terence Rosemore, The Phuket News, The Popcorn Conspiracy Radio Show, Tiffany Smith, USA, Vin Diesel, Will Poulter, Zoe Saldana

Summary: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own – a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.

Year: 2023

Cinema Release Dates: 4th May 2023 (Australia), 3rd May 2023 (Thailand), 3rd May 2023 (UK), 5th May 2023 (USA)

VOD Release Dates: TBA

Country: USA, New Zealand, France, Canada

Director: James Gunn

Screenwriter: James Gunn

Cast: Karen Abercrombie (Grandma Quill), Sarah Alami (Sssaralami), Maria Bakalova (Cosmo (voice)), Dee Bradley Baker (Blurp), Dave Bautista (Drax), Stephen Blackehart (Steemie Blueliver), Linda Cardellini (Lylla (voice)), Asim Chaudhry (Teefs (voice)), Bradley Cooper (Rocket (voice)), Gerardo Davila (Fitz-Gibbonok), Benjamin Byron Davis (Bletelsnort), Elizabeth Debicki (Ayesha), Darla Delgado (Neelie), Vin Diesel (Groot (voice)), Reinaldo Faberlle (Behemoth (voice)), Nathan Fillion (Master Karja), Austin Freeman (On Set Groot/Phleltik Guard), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Jared Goore (Krugarr), Seth Green (Howard The Duck (voice)), Judy Greer (War Pig (voice)), James Gunn (Lamb-Shank), Sean Gunn (Kraglin/Young Rocket), Randy Havens (Till), Gregg Henry (Grandpa Quill), Jennifer Holland (Administrator Kwol), Mikaela Hoover (Floor (voice)), Chukwudi Iwuji (The High Evolutionary), Lloyd Kaufman (Gridlemop), Pom Klementieff (Mantis), Daniela Melchior (Ura), Rhett Miller (Bzermiktokolok), Jasmine Munoz (Hoobtoe), Will Poulter (Adam Warlock), Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord), Molly Quinn (Molly Ravager), Noa Raskin (Baby Rocket (voice)), Michael Rooker (Yondu), Terence Rosemore (Xlomo Smeth), Michael Rosenbaum (Martinex), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Nico Santos (Recorder Theel), Sarah Anne (Latti), Miriam Shor (Recorder Vim), Tiffany Smith (Orgocorp Host Friniki), Sylvester Stallone (Stakar Ogord), Tara Strong (Mainframe (voice)), Murphy Weed (Murf), Kai Zen (Phyla)

Running Time: 150 mins

Classification: M (Australia), G (Thailand), 12A (UK), PG-13 (USA)

OUR GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3 REVIEWS

Dave Griffiths’ Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 Review

Grab the tissues because you are going to need them for this one. With so much talk that the last couple of Marvel movies have had no ‘heart’ director/screenwriter James Gunn (The Suicide Squad) bucks that trend with Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 – a film with so much emotion and heart that audience members will find themselves crying from time and time and shows a director that was obviously completely in love with the project that he was working on.

This third (and if you believe Marvel final) instalment of the Guardians franchise begins with a sombre mood. Star-Lord (Chris Pratt – Jurassic World) is a constant drunken state and his deals with the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana – Avatar) – yes, she is back from the dead but has no memories of them being together which for him is an even bitter pill to swallow.

Meanwhile Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper – Silver Linings Playbook) is in a weird funk as he dwells on what the Guardians once were while Drax (Dave Bautista – Blade Runner 2049), Nebula (Karen Gillan – Selfie), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel – Fast & Furious) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff – Olboy) continue to build Knowhere as a home for the Guardians and the people they look after.

Kraglin (Sean Gunn – Gilmore Girls) and Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova – Bodies, Bodies, Bodies) have their own little disagreement going but help when they can – especially as they both try to build their supernatural powers.

The Guardians are snapped out of the moods they are in though when Knowhere is suddenly attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter – We Are The Millers) under the direction of The High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji – John Wick Chapter 2) and the resulting attack leaves one of the Guardians lives in danger. Star-Lord then finds himself having to snap out of the drunkenness to work with the entire team to try and save his friend’s life.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 is as vastly different to anything else that Marvel has been doing recently then any could imagine. James Gunn takes the film into some dark territory as it explores topics including loss, grief, and animal torture. That may sound extreme, but they are all topics important to the plot here especially at it deals with the things that Star-Lord and Rocket have been through in their lives.

What is so impressive with those scenes is that it feels like Gunn has forgotten that he is directing a comic book movie and instead brings real emotion to the film. Not only are some of the scenes so emotionally challenging that they are likely to reduce the audience to tears, but they also allow for some brilliant performances from the cast.

Chris Pratt really rises to the challenges thrown at him during this film and his emotional performance is evident in some of the key scenes. Likewise, Dave Bautista rises to the occasion as Drax must come to some harsh realisations throughout the film – while this is also potentially Karen Gillan’s most important film in the MCU as Nebula gets a lot of screen time throughout the film.

This film also possibly delivers one of the best fight sequences of the MCU when the Guardians find themselves in battle in the hold of the ship. They come together nicely, and it feels like Gunn morphs into Quentin Tarantino as he delivers a particularly, yet beautifully creative fight sequence, that sees the Guardians blast and slice and dice their way through their enemies. Credit must be paid for the unique ways that Gunn uses Rocket and Groot in the sequence. It is truly one of the best scenes we have ever seen in a Marvel film – and uses a kick-ass song to make it even better.

There is very little to suggest going into Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 at just how good the film is going to be. Somehow though everything comes together for this one – a brilliant screenplay from Gunn and his team of writers, his directional style allowing for action and emotion and a cast that seem to bring their best in what maybe some of their final times playing the characters that many cinema fans have come to know and love. This clearly one of the best Marvel movies ever made and it is film that fans of the series will want to watch over and over.

David’s rating Out Of 5

Lee Griffiths’s Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 Review

Lee’s rating Out Of 5

Average Subculture rating Out Of 5

Other Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 3 Reviews:

You can read our review of the film that ran in The Phuket News here – https://www.thephuketnews.com/guardians-vol-3-gets-emotional-arrives-with-wow-reviews-88041.php

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