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 unsuccessful.
I was not a fan of “Guardians of the Galaxy” when it was released in 2014. It was fun, but that was about it for me; it just didn’t hit the right nerve. When “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” came out in 2017, that film hit the right nerve. I loved that outing, and ever since, I have been eagerly awaiting Volume 3, and like its predecessor, it does not disappoint.
Marvel has been steadily declining since “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019, as none of their other movies have come close to that cinematic and visceral experience. While I enjoyed “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” as well as the two Spider-Man movies, they came nowhere near the spectacle that “Endgame” offered.
With James Gunn now the head of DC Films, it appears his involvement with future Marvel productions may be coming to an end, but if “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is his final Marvel swan song, that’s fine by me, as he has left with his head held very high.
With the Guardians now living on a rebuilt Knowhere, Peter (Chris Pratt) continues to mourn the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who Thanos killed in “Avengers: Infinity War.” Suddenly, their lives are turned upside down when Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), a genetically-engineered being who possesses incredible physical powers, attacks them and leaves Rocket (Bradley Cooper) seriously injured.
They learn that Warlock was created by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), the golden High Priestess and the leader of the Sovereign people whom the Guardians fought in “Vol. 2.” Warlock’s attack on them is a direct result of them having stolen valuable batteries belonging to the Sovereign people. At the same time, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), a mad scientist with incredible powers and intellect specializing in creating hybrid creatures and Rocket’s creator, is desperate to retrieve Rocket for his own nefarious needs.
With time running out for Rocket, the Guardians discover that he has a kill switch embedded in his chest. They travel to the Orgosphere to try and find Rocket’s file from his animal experimentation days, hoping it will save his life. After retrieving the file, they proceed to Counter-Earth, a near-duplicate of Earth where the High Evolutionary has greatly accelerated evolution and the passage of time. There, they come face-to-face with the High Evolutionary himself, but like before, there’s no need to worry as Peter has a plan to save the day!
Director James Gunn weaves multiple storylines seamlessly and gives us a glimpse into Raccoon’s heartbreaking past and the cruel and barbaric experiments conducted on him by the High Evolutionary. It almost feels like the characters in the movie know this will be their last outing and make the most of their time spent together. And we, the audience, know this will be the Guradians’ last adventure too, at least for now, so there is a constant air of melancholy hanging over the film, no matter how funny a scene or line of dialogue is.
While the finale is bittersweet, it also opens the door for new entries in the franchise, combining new characters with old, and with “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and “Avengers: Secret Wars” on the horizon, the Guardians could most certainly return together to take on new enemies. While Marvel’s Phase 4 was a complete letdown, here’s hoping Phase 5, which started with “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” and consists of “The Marvels,” “Captain America: New World Order,” “Thunderbolts,” and “Blade,” will elevate the series to new heights, reminiscent of the glorious Phase 3. I doubt Marvel will ever come close to recreating the success of Phase 3, but here’s hoping.
Available on Digital HD July 7th and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, & DVD August 1st
