Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a superhero film based on the Marvel Comics superhero team Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s produced by Marvel Studios, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, and is the final installment in the Guardians of the Galaxy film trilogy, the sequel to Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). It is the 32nd film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and is written and directed by James Gunn. In the film, the Guardians embark on a mission to protect one of their own from the villain, High Evolutionary (Iwuji). I was anxious to see this final version of the Guardian trilogy, which in my opinion was the absolute best of the series. I loved it!
At their new headquarters on Knowhere, the Guardians of the Galaxy are attacked by Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), a Sovereign warrior created by their high priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki). Adam easily overpowers them, and for all intents and purposes, fatally wounds Rocket (Bradley Cooper). Nebula (Karen Gillan) manages to stab Adam, which forces him to flee. The Guardians attempt to revise their team member and friend but are unable to heal Rocket’s wounds. Due to a kill switch, made by the company Orgocorp, embedded in Rocket, the Guardians must find the key that will turn the switch off. They travel to Orgocorp’s headquarters to find the key and override code. In the meanwhile Rocket lies unconscious but is able to recall his past as a baby raccoon.
These events set the primmest for the remainder of the story. The special effects were outstanding and the back story of Rocket was heartfelt and very emotional. This film showed the closeness of the Guardian team and their determination to always be there for each other. The High Evolutionary was a complex man with child-like ideas and was quite the manipulator. Gamora (Zoe Saldana), due to her loss of memory in Vol.2 continues to be an issue that has to be addressed. Her very existence causes the audience to root for the reuniting of Peter and Gamora’s romance. The appearance of Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone) was a welcome site, while Groot (Vin Diesel) performed better than ever. The acting was excellent and believable, as was the story. You’ll have to see Vol. 3 to find out how it all ends or even if it ends. I really enjoyed Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3, it was very exciting and is currently playing in theaters, don’t forget to watch beyond the credits for more — Check It Out!
As of May 10, 2023, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 has grossed $145.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $220.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $365.6 million.
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 82% based on 319 reviews with an average rating of 7.2/10. The site’s critic’s consensus reads: “A galactic group hug that might squeeze a little too tight on the heartstrings, the final Guardians of the Galaxy is a loving last hurrah for the MCU’s most ragtag family.”
Who’s Who:
Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord:
The half-human, half-Celestial leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy who was abducted from Earth as a child and raised by a group of alien thieves and smugglers called the Ravagers.
Zoe Saldana as Gamora:
An orphan who seeks redemption for her past crimes, and was adopted and trained by Thanos to be his personal assassin. The original version of Gamora, a member of the Guardians, was killed by Thanos in Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and an alternate version of the character traveled to the present in Avengers: Endgame (2019); Saldaña reprises the latter role in this film, now serving as a leader of the Ravagers.
Dave Bautista as Drax:
A member of the Guardians and a highly skilled warrior whose family was slaughtered by Ronan the Accuser, under the instructions of Thanos.
Karen Gillan as Nebula:
A member of the Guardians, a former Avenger, and Gamora’s adoptive sister who, similarly to her, was trained by their adoptive father Thanos to be his personal assassin. Gillan believed Nebula was developing into a “slightly different person” with more levity as she starts to heal psychologically following the death of Thanos, who was the source of her abuse and torment.
Pom Klementieff as Mantis:
A member of the Guardians with empathic powers, and Quill’s half-sister.
Vin Diesel as Groot:
A member of the Guardians who is a tree-like humanoid and the accomplice of Rocket.
Bradley Cooper as Rocket:
A member of the Guardians and a former Avenger who is a genetically engineered raccoon-based bounty hunter and a master of weapons and military tactics.
Will Poulter as Adam Warlock:
A powerful artificial being created by the Sovereign to destroy the Guardians. Given Warlock is newly born from the Sovereign’s cocoon, he is “basically a baby” that “does not understand life very well”. Poulter believed there was “a lot of comedy” in someone just entering the world for the first time and “trying to develop his moral compass”, while also having “some genuine pathos”.
Sean Gunn as Kraglin:
A member of the Guardians and Yondu Udonta’s former second-in-command in the Ravagers.
Chukwudi Iwuji as the High Evolutionary:
A scientist specializing in creating hybrid creatures and Rocket’s creator, seeking to forcibly enhance all living beings into a “special race”. Iwuji described the character as “narcissistic, sociopathic, but very charming”, adding that there was “something very Shakespearean about him, there’s something very emotionally dark about him, and he’s a lot of fun on top of all that”.
Linda Cardellini as Lylla:
An anthropomorphic otter who is an associate and love interest of Rocket. Cardellini provided both the voice and motion capture for Lylla, having previously played Laura Barton in previous MCU media.
Nathan Fillion as Master Karja:
An orgosentry at Orgocorp.
Sylvester Stallone as Stakar Ogord:
A high-ranking Ravager.
Elizabeth Debicki as Ayesha:
The golden High Priestess and the leader of the Sovereign people who had Adam Warlock created to destroy the Guardians
FYI:
Gunn said in April 2017 that a fourth Guardians film could happen, though it would likely center on a new group of characters since Gunn planned to conclude the story of the team of the previous films in Vol. 3.
*** SPOILER ***
In a mid-credits scene, the new Guardians, consisting of Rocket, Groot, Cosmo, Kraglin, Adam, Phyla (one of the rescued children), and Adam’s pet Blurp, take on a new mission. In a post-credits scene, Quill eats breakfast with Jason.
[GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3 has been Oscar-nominated at the 96th Academy Awards for BEST:
visual effects — TOTALING 1 OSCAR NOMINATION]
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