We all reach an age where a dream is our plan.
“I’ll live in a castle.” “I’ll marry that man.”
“I’ll dazzle that girl with an overpriced ring.”
But plans are a transient thing.

And little by little, our fantasies dim,
Our goals and ambitions grow cynically grim,
As reveries dwindle to traces.
It’s harder to hope in
Some window to open
With doors slamming shut in our faces.

We all have a trauma of dreams unfulfilled,
Of sand castles planned with no chances to build
Or rugs pulling out when we’re on the upswing,
For plans are a transient thing.

Although we all wish many things to undo,
All wishes aren’t false when they fail to come true.
Some comfort may be close at hand.
Where planning falls short,
We can find our support
In the good things we couldn’t have planned.
_____________________________

MPA rating: PG-13

Leave it to James Gunn to drop one of the best recent Marvel movies before jumping ship to rescue DC’s cinematic endeavors. The Guardians of the Galaxy have always seemed a little bit more separate from the main storyline of the MCU, even though the familial ties with Thanos brought them in league with the Avengers. As far as the three solo outings for the spacefaring team of Starlord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel), plus Nebula (Karen Gillan), Mantis (Pom Klementieff), and others, they have gone about their intergalactic adventures without being overly tied to Marvel continuity, and many would say they are better for it. While Infinity War and Endgame may have thrown a wrench in Gunn’s initial plans for this threequel, he makes the most of his motley space crew to deliver a satisfying conclusion.

It’s easy to miss with all the cracking of skulls and jokes in the first two films, but perennial jerk Rocket Raccoon has remained a mystery up to this point, with a few hints at some traumatic past but little else. Finally, this third film gives him the spotlight, offering what might be the most tragic backstory of any Marvel character, along with an equally despicable villain in the High Evolutionary (the excellent Chukwudi Iwuji), a god-complexing scientist intent on perfecting life and society with little regard for the “lower life forms” he creates along the way. When this maniac sets his sights on capturing Rocket, the Guardians are forced into desperate measures to save his life.

First off, I was relieved that Vol. 3 actually built on the loose threads left in previous films, like the other Gamora left over after Endgame and the revenge plan of the Sovereign leader (Elizabeth Debicki) creating Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). It might have been nice if they weren’t secondary plotlines, but I’m glad they weren’t dropped the way Mordo’s villain buildup was ignored in the second Dr. Strange film. That is more of a concern the wider the MCU continuity spreads. In addition, it’s amazing how well-balanced the script is, giving every character their moment to shine, whether it’s the subtle bond between Rocket and Nebula (the only two Guardians who weren’t snapped away by Thanos) or Drax proving he can do more than fight and act dumb. Plus, it was nice to see Gunn favorite Nathan Fillion finally get a role in the MCU. In addition to the character work, there’s no shortage of outstanding, large-scale action, with better CGI than other recent Marvel entries and one tracking-shot fight scene that is a highlight of the whole franchise.

The question then is how this third film compares with its predecessors, and I’d probably consider it the best of the three. I wasn’t immediately a huge fan of the first film when it came out, but I’ve warmed up to it quite a bit, and the Vol. 2 was great fun, despite overemphasizing its own humor. In contrast to the lightweight Holiday Special on Disney+, this one takes itself much more seriously considering the grave stakes involved, and it boasts yet another fantastic soundtrack (I was ecstatic over the inclusion of Florence and the Machine). It manages to be funny without laughing at itself too much while also being the MCU film most likely to garner tears. Simply put, it’s a near-perfect capstone to the Guardians story and a satisfyingly emotional send-off for the characters and for Gunn’s involvement in the MCU. On the downside, its violence pushes the PG-13 rating, which also includes the MCU’s first needless F-bomb; while others online are rooting for the MCU’s shift into R-rated territory, I am staunchly in favor of it remaining at least somewhat family-friendly. Still, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 flies higher than any other Marvel movie in years. Time will tell if Gunn can deliver similar results for DC, but he certainly left a legacy at Marvel.

Best line: (Lylla the otter) “You still have a purpose here…. There are the hands that made us, and then there are the hands that guide their hands.”

Rank: List-Worthy (joining the other two)

© 2023 S.G. Liput
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