My Thoughts on Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3

This weekend, my little Groot plushie and I headed over together to our local movie theater to watch our Guardians friends one last time on the big screen. I didn't really know what to expect heading into this film. We've had so much fun with them the past handful of years, and I was so sad that this will be the last time we see this particular group of Guardians all together. But every time we get a new piece of content with them, my love is rekindled for them so much. So, without further ado, SPOILERS for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 3 below...

Before I get into the details of this movie, I want to just say that overall I thought the movie was fantastic. What a beautiful way to end the Guardians trilogy and let us in on the backstories of even more of our beloved Guardians friends. As soon as the movie started I started to cry. Little baby Rocket had me weeping. Anytime they showed anything about Rocket's backstory throughout the movie, the tears would start again. He didn't deserve any of what happened to him, and it absolutely broke my heart watching him go through all of that. But god, what a well-written character he is. I have to say, I think this bumped Rocket's character up for me in terms of who my favorite Guardian may be. Though Groot still hits #1 in my heart ;)

I'm even tearing up just writing this blog thinking about some of the scenes. They would give me such a gut-wrenching reaction each time (specifically thinking here about the scene when Rocket's friends die and he starts crying. I was BAWLING.). James Gunn did such a wonderful job of telling the story and the details in a way that could get so many emotional reactions out of us, for sure. And overall it just gave Rocket such a full-circle character development that let us in to a lot of the reasonings why he interacts and talks with his friends in certain ways.

The High Evolutionary was such an interesting villain for this movie and the character just brought so much into the plot, especially with this craving that he had to get Rocket back. That he was the one who created Rocket and that he saw himself as this god-like figure because he wanted to make this perfect world. Absolutely terrifying, but also kind of similar to Thanos in a way as well. Though, Thanos' main goal was to just wipe half the universe out to make a utopia, whereas the High Evolutionary was more about just CREATING a whole new world for himself and his creations.

The addition of Adam Warlock's character in this film was AWESOME and I am so excited to get him in future films in the MCU! I only know a little bit about him from The Infinity Gauntlet (1991) comic run, but I think he is going to be so interesting, especially in terms of interacting with other pre-existing Marvel characters up until this point. I think for this film specifically, he was more used for comic relief and the extra antagonist plot line with his mother, so I am looking forward to seeing him become a more major part of the future of the MCU.

There is a ton that I really enjoyed about this film from the sets, the costumes, the plot, and lots more, but I think the only thing that really threw me for a loop with this one was the "death teasing" throughout the plot. Before going in, I was convinced that Rocket, Drax, or both, were on the possible death list for this movie. Especially since Dave Bautista said he was done making the films, and all of the film posters kind of teased Rocket's potential end (which we got the complete opposite of, thank GOODNESS). But it became kind of frustrating throughout the plot because someone almost died in like every battle scene. First it was Groot with his head being cut off, but then he was fine. Then it was Nebula being practically BLASTED through the side of that building, but then she was fine. Then it was Drax being shot through the chest, but then he was fine. Then it was Rocket, of course on death's door (literally seeing his friends) and then he was fine. And then Star-Lord straight up freezing to death in space, and he ended up surviving too. This is me just being a bit nitpicky here, but it was just too much 😂 almost every Guardian throughout the entire movie almost died at least once HAHAH.

It was also interesting seeing Gamora in this movie, not remembering any of her past life, but now a Ravenger? It wasn't what I was expecting of her character, so I thought that that was an interesting storyline for her (in a good way!). I was also super glad that they had her eventually warm up to Quill's character, but didn't have them in a relationship. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED them together in all the films leading up to this point and I definitely miss that. But if they had gone through the whole plot with her refusing to be in love with him only to then just literally fall in love with him at the end, I think it would have not sat right with me. So I'm really glad with how they approached their interactions and their relationship throughout the film, including both perspective changes for Star-Lord and Gamora. She realized that Star-Lord was a good person who wanted to look out for her, even if she didn't feel the same way about him relationship wise. And he realized that he had to let her go, and came to terms with that.

I don't know about all of you, but one of the scenes that got me the most was that scene at the end when Groot says "I love you guys" to the group before they all go their separate ways. I was SOBBING in the theater. I was in no way expecting that, and it absolutely destroyed me. And seeing all of them say goodbye to one another had me pulling the tissues out of my bag for sure. Drax and Mantis got me the most. Especially after seeing them together in the holiday special back last year, their friendship was so special and I am going to miss seeing them together on screen. Guardian Power Duo for sure <3

And we can't finish off the blog without talking about Peter going back to see his grandfather. I'm actually really glad that they addressed this because it's Lowkey been bothering me since the first Guardians movie HAHAH. The fact that he never went back to check on the family that he left once he had his own ship, even just to see what they were up to from afar, was something I really wanted to happen. And I know that for Peter, going back must have been so hard. That was the place he lost his mother, and he didn't understand that his grandfather had yelled at him because he was grieving the loss of his daughter. Mantis calling him out on that and pointing out that he should go back was such a great way to close out Star-Lord's journey (for now, as we know he's coming back because of that end-credit scene :p).

I'm for sure planning to watch this one again once I am emotionally ready (boy did I cry a lot LOL). I will miss our current Guardians friends, but I am so curious how the next group of Guardians will move us forward (and I love that Rocket is leading them <3 also so glad to know that Groot is still around. SWOL GROOT is an ICON and I LOVE HIM).

Thank you for everything, Guardians. You have brought so much joy to our lives, and I am so grateful for that. Until we meet again, and can fly together once more in the forever and beautiful sky <3.