Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 Movie Review

Article by Gabe Zia

Lazy Film Critic Movie Reviews

Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2

So after the first Guardians of the Galaxy came out in 2014 and completely changed the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a second one was sure to be well on the way. And now that it's finally here, I'm really glad to be able to say that I actually really enjoyed it. I know a few people who would be really nitpicky about aspects of it and pick really small things to make a deal out of and luckily i'm not one of those heartless people so I had a good time with this movie.

First off, the first thing I picked up on with this movie is how visually stunning it is. A lot of Marvel movies have been given a fair amount of flack for lacking in the visuals department, specifically in cinematography and color scheme. And while Doctor Strange made steps in the right direction, Guardians of the Galaxy volume 2 is a visual marvel (no pun intended) to behold. This film looks outstanding, the planets showcased look both creative and highly detailed in design, the color in this movie is really well captured and vibrant. It also looks great visually in other areas as well, the costumes and makeup are as outstanding as the last film, and the CGI is wonderful to look at.

One of my biggest gripes with the first Guardians of the Galaxy was the way James Gunn films action. While he's had plenty of experience with characters, world building, and dialogue (which lead the film to be as memorable as it was), it was clear this was his first time directing action sequences. But like all skills, they get better with practice, and this film shows that Gunn is nothing if not a director who knows how to take notes on his own work and judge his own work objectively to improve in the future. Even among filmmakers I really love, that's a rare trait, and it's why he's absolutely one of the best working today.

I think, especially with stuff like Guardians of the Galaxy, there's something to be said about self-awareness. When a film knows not only what it is but what it really should be. Sure, it's always great when a movie breaks convention and does something unexpected. But it's also great when a movie settles down and is what it is, and that's what this movie is. It doesn't try to be big, it doesn't try to bite off more than it can chew, it's a straightforward action movie with a personal axis for the plot. And I think there's a lot to be said about a movie that can just be itself without forcing itself to be everything at once.

Final Rating

Honestly, I had a lot of fun with this movie. It has it's imperfections and its flaws, and if I were a harder critic i'd probably be more harsh, but I had a good time with this one, and I'd be happy to recommend it if you're looking for a good time at a movie theatre.