Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Peter Quill), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), must rally the Guardians of the Galaxy on a mission to defend the universe and protect one of their own.

When Guardians of the Galaxy was first announced back in 2012 it was a title that took many by surprise. As the scrappiest group of outsider characters in the Marvel Universe, many had no idea what would occur when the untapped mad genius of James Gunn would be set loose when he finally brought this wise-cracking team to the big screen in 2014. And the rest as they say is history. From that first beloved film to the much-hyped sequel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, to appearances in the greater MCU with Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love & Thunder and even their own beloved Christmas special, the Guardians have won the hearts of fans the world over and many would consider this outlaw family to be the core heart of the greater MCU. Now in his final Marvel Studios film, director James Gunn brings out all of his love and passion for these characters and pours it all into the most rockingest comic book film you’ll see all year.

Unleashing nothing but pure creative force, Gunn takes his roster of Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Mantis, Nebula, Kraglin Obfonteri, Cosmo the Spacedog, Groot and Rocket on one crazy final voyage. And this is a picture that will knock you right back into your seat thanks to the level of awesone that is set to MAXX! With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 Gunn sets out to tell the final chapter in the mythos of this core Guardians team, and it’s a narrative that’s heavy on action, emotion and heart. And trust me when I say not a dry eye will be left in the theatre by the time the credits begin to roll. Every piece of this film has Gunn’s stamp of love on it, and you truly feel that he’s made this a family experience for the entire cast and crew with his dedication shining through in every moment of footage.

The Guardians of the Galaxy have been through a lot within the MCU, and Volume 3 throws them into a ringer with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) in the grips of a major depression at having lost the love of his life, Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), who in her new form wants nothing to do with him. But when disaster strikes and one of their own is threatened, Pratt’s Star-Lord has to pull it together and audiences are thrown into the do-or-die mission that moves forward at a rapid pace. Pratt finds his rhythm once again as Quill in this picture, and Gunn tests him with a script that changes up his relationships with key characters such as Saldaña’s Gamora and Karen Gillan’s Nebula. And it’s interesting to see what happens next. Saldaña’s newer Gamora is a real riot to watch on screen as well, and she’s riding roughhouse with this character.

With each new Guardians film, we’ve seen an ever greater cast of characters grow and evolve with their story, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is very much a family movie. Again Gunn throws his characters to the far corners of the universe and the usual bickering and tantrums follow. But these characters truly love one another and whenever they’re together nothing can stop them. Following Gamora’s departure to the Ravagers, its Karen Gillan’s Nebula who steps up in the ranks of the Guardians to provide the maturity that the team needs. Drax and Mantis’ back and fourth puppy love for each other continues, and both Dave Bautista and Pom Klementoff are again utterly hilarious together. Sean Gunn’s Kraglin Obfonteri again fumbles with his heroism, but eventually finds the courage he needs, while Maria Bakalova brings the perfect mix of presence to the ever-loveable Cosmo the Spacedog. And Groot well, we love Groot and Vin Diesel’s personality again shines through.

But all in all, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is the story of Rocket. And Gunn takes you on one incredible rollercoaster of emotions as his story plays out. Through flashbacks, we come to learn how Rocket became Rocket, and his is an utterly heart-wrenching origin that leads to plenty of raw emotions. And even though he suffers at the hands of the depraved High Evolutionary, there are also moments of pure love and light as Rocket’s previous family of friends are revealed. While I won’t go into too much detail, I will say that Rocket’s story will touch your heart in the most loving of ways, and Bradley Cooper’s care and performance in bearing Rocket’s soul to audiences is what gives this film its feeling.

The Guardians may have saved the universe countless times, but in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, they find themselves facing their most personal battle yet. Their foe this time around is a sociopathic, scientific narcissist known as the High Evolutionary and he has a seriously unchecked God complex. With vigour and glee, Chukwudi Iwuji gives a masterful performance as this deranged character, and his untapped ego and sinister mind make him one of the scariest ever villains to grace the realm of the MCU. There’s nothing redeeming or fanciful about the High Evolutionary and he’s one messed-up villain who deserves nothing more than to be taken down.

With each new entry in the Guardians of the Galaxy narrative, James Gunn has worked to elevate the intensity, drama and action of the franchise. And he revs up the decibels with Volume 3. Bold in scope, and jacked to the core, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 packs in a whole heap of action onto the screen and the audience will have to remember to breathe. This is a film that rushes forward at every moment, and no spare frame is left off of the screen as the Guardians go to work. But while the action will elevate your adrenaline it’s the film’s thematic touchpoints of what it means to be a family where Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 truly finds its feeling, and you’ll need a good source of tissues because you’ll be on the verge of tears by the time that the credits begin to roll.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is James Gunn’s last MCU hurrah and it’s an utterly spectacular vision of the universe’s greatest bunch of misfits. This is an incredibly special film to witness and it’ll carry you away into the forever and beautiful sky.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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Watch the first trailer below:

Here’s the official synopsis:

Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Peter Quill), still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), must rally the Guardians of the Galaxy on a mission to defend the universe and protect one of their own.

Described by James Gunn as the concluding chapter of his Guardians of the Galaxy saga, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 looks to be a film of big drama and emotion as the Guardians take on their most personal mission to not only save the universe, but each other as well.

James Gunni throwing everything of himself as a filmmaker into this project, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is ready to take audiences to the furthest uncharted sections of the cosmic side of the MCU yet. And it’s going to be very exciting to see what happens with this film.

Within the world of the MCU, the Guardians of the Galaxy rank as my favourite characters of all time, and I’m extremely excited to see how this movie shapes up and the surprises and action that awaits. While this teaser trailer does move fast, audiences get a closer look at new threats that are posed to the Guardians who include the sociopathic nemesis of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji), along with the cosmic force of Adam Warlock (Will Poulter).

The heart and crux of this teaser trailer is also focused around the character of Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) who has become an integral part of the MCU, and I’m certain his appearance and performance in this picture will result in plenty of tears. Just watching this teaser trailer I can feel the emotion and I have no doubt that its about to be a very heavy watch.

Get ready for one hell of a final ride when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 arrives in cinemas next year on May 4, 2023.

Images: Walt Disney Pictures

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Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot engage in some spirited shenanigans.

Everyone who knows me knows that The Guardians of the Galaxy are my favourite part of the MCU with James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 ranking as my all-time favourite MCU film. Now in a very special presentation for Disney+, all-star creative James Gunn presents fans of the MCU with a very special present in the form of The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. And it is a riotous bit of holiday fun, delivered as only James Gunn does. Having purchased the off-world hub of Knowhere from The Collector and taken Cosmo The Spacedog into their ranks, The Guardians of the Galaxy are adjusting to a post-blip life, but their leader, Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is rather down and despondent due to the loss of Gamora. Seeking a way to cheer him up Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) decide to throw him a Christmas party with a very special gift. And that’s where the fun begins.

Taking inspiration from the legendary Star Wars Holiday Special, James Gunn brings fans a great bit of festive cheer with this very special presentation and it’s completely wild. Dave Bautista’s Drax and Pom Klementoff’s Mantis are the perfect odd couple as they take a road trip to Hollywood and get a crash course on the festive season. And hilarity ensues. With Bautista’s pitch-perfect sense of dry comedy and Klementieff’s over-the-top enthusiasm, things get crazy quickly and we see the two of them hanging out on The Hollywood Walk of Fame, hitting up a nightclub and tracking down a very special present in the form of the legendary Kevin Bacon! It all hums together perfectly, with Gunn’s unique sense of tone and quirks and you’ll be in a fit of happiness with this feature.

Gunn is in his element with The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special, and his sense of creativity is on fire with this production. His writing and knowledge of these characters are just incredible and along with the hi-jinks, we also get some great new worldbuilding elements. These include a newly formed Guardians of the Galaxy who are now in control of the celestial world of Knowhere, and the introduction of Cosmo the Spacedog, a frequent background character in all the Guardians films who is now brought to life by Maria Bakalova, and whose psychic powers are a little bit bewildering for Rocket (Bradley Cooper). Groot (Vin Diesel) has now graduated from teenager to young adult and he’s getting bulky fast so watch out there.

But while hi-jinks and science-fiction lore are fun, it’s the presence of the legendary Kevin Bacon, Peter Quill’s childhood hero of the 1980s where The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special finds its heart. Cast as a fictionalised version of himself, Bacon is kidnapped by Drax and Mantis as a ‘gift’ for Quill and after a brief misunderstanding, he’s able to show Quill and the rest of the Guardians what the true meaning of Christmas is really all about. In a wide-eyed musical number, Bacon lets his voice be heard and you’ll certainly feel the love and have that stirring of that Christmas feeling by the end of this presentation.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special is an exceptional watch and it’ll give you all the warm fuzzies and make you very happy for Christmas. Got get the family together, put on that sweater and have fun with this very sweet film.

Image: Walt Disney Pictures

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So says the brand new TV spot for James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, which is amped up with a rocking beat and plenty of kick ass footage. Check it out below:

Not only do we get to see some great new fooatge including Dave Bautista’s Drax completely losing it, and Vin Diesel’s Baby Groot messing around with Peter Quill’s walkman, but we may just have an insight into the third track for the eponymous Awesome Mix Volume Two.

If anyone would be rocking out to David Bowie it would of course be Star Lord himself, and Gunn appears to have selected the late rocker’s thumping track ‘Suffragette City’ from his legendary 1972 LP The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars for inclusion in the film.

Gunn has openly admitted that he entertained discussions about casting Bowie in the film before the singer’s tragic death in 2016. While it’s sad that we never got to see the multi-talented artist appear in a Marvel film, it’s a great tribute from Gunn to include such a wicked song in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. 

The film will arrive in cinemas on April 27 in New Zealand and Australia, and on May 5 in the US and UK.

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Check it out below:

This fifty-eight glorious seconds is packed with plenty of exciting details including Gamora holding one massive plasma cannon, a new introduction to Mantis, Nebula freaking losing it, the team up of Peter Quill and Yondu, and of course plenty of tag team action from Rocket and Baby Groot.

Director James Gunn is also teasing us again with the Awesome Mix Vol. 2 soundtrack, with this extended spot being set to Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’.

We’re eagerly counting the days until the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 which will be released in cinemas on April 27 in New Zealand and Australia and on May 5 in the US and UK.

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Here’s the synopsis:

Following their initial defeat of Ronan and encounter with an Infinity Stone, the Guardians are struggling to keep their new found family together, while half-human/half-alien adventurer Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) searches for his real father.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 appears to be taking audiences back to familiar territory with great action mixed with comedic and heartfelt moments. The teaser highlights a few of these including Quill and Drax (Dave Bautista) discussing Quill’s love life and his inability to measure up to Gamora’s (Zoe Saldana) high standards.

The new teaser also showcases a look at a strange alien world and appears to be focusing more on Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker) and his Ravagers.

Although he doesn’t make an appearance in the teaser, Hollywood legend Kurt Russell is set to take on the role of Peter Quill’s father, Ego the Living Planet, and will no doubt have a big role to play in the film. Newcomer Pom Klementieff will also appear as Mantis, a follower of Ego who will have a central role to play in the Guardians.

Elizabeth Debicki, Tommy Flanagan, Nathan Fillion, and Sylvester Stallone are also set to appear in the film.

We can’t wait to see what James Gunn has cooked up this time when Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is released next year on May 5, 2017.

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Boyhood

Twelve years in the making, Richard Linklater’s Boyhood was met with near universal acclaim upon its release this year. Intimate and unassuming, Boyhood chronicles the childhood of a young boy (played by Ellar Coltrane) through a series of vignettes shot twelve months apart with the same actors.

The genius of this film is its realism and the joy Linklater takes in honouring the little moments which form the rich tapestry of life. This is not only the best film of the year but also a cinematic masterpiece that will stay with you for a long long time.

Guardians Of The Galaxy

What does it take to the save the galaxy? Five criminal misfits, a whole lot of firepower, and one very cool mix tape. Director James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy took the world by storm with its larger than life heroics, and laugh out loud comedy in a film that was a major shake up for the Marvel Universe. Every single frame of this hit is perfect, marked by the passion of its director and cast. When the chips are down, and only thing that can save the universe is a dance off, you better call the Guardians of the Galaxy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHUBlv5_K8Y

Edge Of Tomorrow

One of the most adrenaline pumping films of 2014 was Edge Of Tomorrow, which threw audiences back in their seats and bombarded them with countless shells and explosions. Tom Cruise’s Bill Cage went from loser recruit to mechanised badass, and suffered multiple hits on screen (and at times very comedic death scenes). With Edge Of Tomorrow, you never knew what would happen next, and the shocks and action filled the screen until the very last frame.

The Lego Movie 

On paper, The Lego Movie should not have worked – branded entertainment films rarely do, let alone ones about plastic building blocks with no clear narrative attached to them. However every frame of this irreverent film by writer-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller is a delight.

The Lego Movie is beautifully rendered, impeccably paced, consistently funny and oddly profound. This is a lovingly constructed film that embraces creativity and the art of creation – an absolute triumph.

Jodorowsky’s Dune – Sam’s Guilty Pleasure 

Regarded as the greatest film never made, Alexandro Jodorowsky’s adaption of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece Dune would have revolutionized cinema and taken its audience on the most amazing ride of their lives…had one roll of film actually been shot. This touching documentary showcases Jodorowsky’s true passion and hunger to enchant an audience through the power of storytelling, and takes you through everything from his groundbreaking ideas for production design to the film’s legendary cast which would have included David Carradine, Mick Jagger, Orson Welles and Salvador Dali, to the film’s soundtrack which Pink Floyd had been hired to compose. Jodorowsky’s Dune is a marvelous tribute to the power of cinema, and the way in which it moves audiences.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgvgS_s9DPU

The Grand Budapest Hotel – Shawn’s Guilty Pleasure 

Grand Budapest Hotel finds master storyteller Wes Anderson at the top of his game, delivering what may be his best film to date. Each frame of this film has been meticulously constructed with the resulting effect being a film that is so beautifully realised that it truly needs to be seen to be believed.

While the cast boasts the likes of Jude Law, Edward Norton, and Tilda Swinton, it’s Ralph Fiennes portrayal of Monsieur Gustave that truly stands out. Fiennes attacked the role with relish and provided us with a timely reminder of just how gifted a performer he is, as well as how underrated he is as a comedian.

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A thief, two thugs, an assassin and a maniac: five degenerates who are the last people you’d ever expect to be heroes. When space outlaw Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), steals a mysterious orb he’s in for more trouble than he could have ever thought. Inciting both the rage of his boss, the space pirate Yondu (Michael Rooker), and the radical Kree warlord, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), Quill finds himself with a bounty on his head, and is soon locked up with bounty hunters and best buds Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel), the deadly assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), and the marauding Drax (Dave Bautista). Forced to work together, this crew of rebels make their escape, and discover that Quill’s orb is something far more dangerous than they could have ever imagined. With nowhere to go, and half of the galaxy hunting them, these ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ decide to make one last desperate stand against Ronan and his evil forces in order to save the galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy is simply phenomenal. No mere comic book movie, this is a compelling space opera with some of the most outlandish and cool characters you’ll ever see on film. Director James Gunn was given trust over these outcasts and he delivered. Gunn crafts a story about a rag tag group of loser outcasts, people that nobody in the galaxy cares about, all of whom have faced unbelievable loss and horror, but through extraordinary circumstances come together to not only form a team, but a family, and who for the first time in their lives get the chance to do something greater than themselves. Whereas the Avengers are heroes in and of themselves, the Guardians only work together, separately their nothing more than criminals and outlaws, but together they can be heroes. Gunn’s passion for these characters and their incredible universe is felt in every frame of film, which the audience absorbs through some kind of visual osmosis. If you don’t know who the Guardians are when you enter the cinema, you will by the time you leave, and you’ll be guaranteed to want more.

Leading this group of rebel outlaws is Peter Quill, the self-styled StarLord played with complete awesomeness by Chris Pratt. Quill is an old fashioned swashbuckler, a rebel with no fear of danger, a swinging ladies man, and the all around coolest cat in the galaxy. Quill, who was abducted from Earth by space pirates The Ravagers when he was a child hasn’t had the easiest life. Through grit and determination he has survived in the universe, and is now trying to steal a piece of it for himself. Pratt pulls off Quill’s mercenary swagger with ease, he’s a modern day Jesse James, complete with laser guns, duster jacket, and a very cool helmet, but while Quill’s a guy who can look after himself in a brawl, it’s usually his quick wit and ability to run with the situation that get’s him out of trouble. It’s Pratt who set’s the tone for Guardians of the Galaxy in the first fifteen minutes of the movie, and he doesn’t disappoint. He’s clearly having a ball with this character and it’s awesome to watch.

Then there’s Zoe Saldana as Gamora, a deadly assassin and the adopted daughter of the mad titan Thanos. Like all the Guardians she’s got issues, and is the initial consciousness that leads them on the path to becoming heroes. Let’s make this clear Gamora is no damsel in distress, she’s one kick ass chick who can rough it up with the boys, while kicking their asses in the process. Saldana has serious poise and grace and brings this to Gamora, and there’s a deadly elegance to how she swings her blades. Saldana is great to watch on screen, and she definitely digs Gamora.

Dave Bautista is Drax. There is no way to dispute this. A hulking marauder feared by all for his ferocity and strength, Drax also carries a tremendous pain that fuels his need for vengeance. Stumbling in with the Guardians, he’s ultimately the one who unites them, as he’ll have no one hurting his friends. Bautista, like Pratt and Saldana was again a wild card entry, and went through an exhaustive audition process to obtain this coveted role, but like all those involved it was his clear passion for the character of Drax, and the desire to make him his own that won him the role. With passion comes power, and Bautista knows a lot about this. Anyone who take’s on Drax will invariably get crushed, and he’s one mean fighting machine. Dave Bautista is Drax, and there’s no other way we’d want it.

And finally we come to Groot and Rocket, all around best buds, and the dual heart of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Firstly there’s Groot, the last of his kind, and who has one very memorable catchphrase, which goes something like “I Am Groot”. It’s Vin Diesel who brings this incredible and unique character to life, and he does a terrific job, again you feel his passion for this character onscreen. But you can’t have Groot without his out of control best friend Rocket, a feral, and very angry genetically enhanced raccoon, who while rough around the edges is actually a hero in waiting, and get’s all the best lines and screen time thanks to Bradley Cooper. It’s also these two who create the most heart felt and tear jerking moments of the film, which will have audiences welling up.

Guardians of the Galaxy also has a compelling supportive cast. Firstly there’s Lee Pace as big bad Ronan the Accuser, a fanatical Kree warlord, who swings his mighty hammer with psychotic enjoyment and who has no value for anyone he considers lesser than himself. Pace really lets loose with how terrifying Ronan is and his presence clarifies just how needed the Guardians are. Karen Gillan is pretty frightening as the morbidly jealous Nebula, and Djimon Hounsou is one ferocious hunter as Korath.

One particular standout is Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, the blue skinned bandit leader of the Ravagers. Rooker is the only person who I could see as Yondu, and he really delivers as this cantankerous old space pirate, and Quill’s semi adoptive father and role model. Yondu has a particular love/hate relationship with Quill, and his weapon of choice: a whistle-controlled arrow creates a menacing silence whenever he levels it at anyone. He’s one badass character. There’s also Benicio del Toro as Taneleer Tivan, also known as the Collector, who has an amazing, yet creepy alien zoo, and who with a thoroughly crazed appearance and slightly morbid intentions is one to watch out for. And finally in a very cool cameo appearance, which will define the Marvel Universe, Josh Brolin makes his entrance as Thanos. Nuff said.

Guardians of the Galaxy is an emotionally dramatic, action-packed, extremely funny full on film, complete with its own kick ass soundtrack. It’s so much fun, and while some might see it as a mere Marvel superhero movie, it’s actually something more, something bigger than it was originally intended to be, just like its five main characters. If you want a good time out then head to the movies, strap yourself in, and prepare for one awesome trip across the galaxy.

Image source: Walt Disney Pictures.

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