Guardians of the Galaxy
2014, Marvel Studios
Marvel sure got this one right: a perfect blend of great casting, wildly different, original characters, irreverent humor, non-stop action, and terrific effects, plus a killer soundtrack to tie it all together. I confess the foul-mouthed, ill-tempered Rocket is probably my favorite of the bunch, with the police lineup the best bit. Direction is snappy, and production design is appropriately loud and eye-popping. It's a crazy fun ride you'll want to repeat.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2017, Marvel Studios
Everyone's back with more of the same—and in this case, more of same is perfectly fine. Thankfully they didn't tinker with the formula, and maintained the same high production standards. The title sequence is priceless, with Baby Groot dancing to ELO's infectious Mr. Blue Sky while the Guardians do battle with a giant space slug, and the Ravager funeral at the end is genuinely touching. Some critics didn't think it was as "fresh" as the first, but that's probably because we know the main cast now, so the focus wisely shifted to secondary characters such as Yondu Udonta (my fave this time around).
BTW, be sure to watch the gag reel in the extras. I'm a massive fan of outtakes, and this is a marvelous set; Sylvester Stallone delivers the Best. Line. Ever.
DKS 12/17/17
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
2023, Marvel Studios
Yes, somehow Guardians is getting better with each sequel. Sadly, this marks the end of the line for the gang, at least with James Gunn as director. I must caution anyone tempted to watch this who happens to be an animal lover: be prepared to have your heart ripped apart. Keep tissues handy! Because Volume 3 delves into Rocket's backstory, and it's a doozy. Jeez, I started getting teary-eyed five minutes into the film, and spent the majority of the remaining two hours dealing with serious waterworks.
DKS 10/11/23
GRUMPY OLD FART-O-METER® Rating: