Starlord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Baby Groot are back for Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, and I couldn’t be happier! The first Guardians instalment was definitely one of my favourite Marvel films to date, so the sequel certainly had a lot to live up to – and I’m glad to say it didn’t disappoint! The team is well and truly back with another wacky and witty space adventure. There’s a lot to talk about after watching this MCU new 2017 film!

Spoilers are everywhere here! If you haven’t seen the film yet then I recommend that you do, the essence of the first film is carried right through into this sequel and if you loved the first, then you will more than likely love the second! It’ll certainly have you laughing If you have seen the film, then here are my thoughts on…

The Guardians

I’d forgotten how much I’d missed this team of heroes. They all returned in impeccable fashion, especially the adorable Baby Groot. Chris Pratt was born to be Peter Quill and was just as awesome as ever. The new members of the team – Mantis, Nebula & Yondu – were all very welcome in my eyes. Especially loved Yondu in this one, he and Rocket escaping from Ravager prison has to be one of the most epic Marvel sequences to date.

The Villain(s)

I thought the Sovereign, and Ayesha, weren’t really that threatening when it boils down to it. I get that they were kind of an excuse for a large space battle and that we haven’t seen the back of them yet, but they were more comical than villain-like really. The snow scene where Ayesha’s roll-out carpet gets stuck is definitely a Sovereign highlight.

Of course, the true villain here was Ego (played by Kurt Russell). Just after Quill finds his long lost father, it quickly becomes clear that his Dad is some sort of psychopathic god – another happy family reunion! The story behind Ego’s hunt for power is pretty sinister and, for me, was completely unexpected. I think he was a great villain and one that could only be brought to life by the GotG universe!

The Plot

I thought the story was well balanced and pretty damn epic. The pairing off of characters during the main plot gave all the characters chance for development and plenty of screen time. There was certainly a lot of sharing when it came to stories of the past, but if anything, this just made the characters more lovable. I thought we got a whole lot more from Nebula in this film and I really started to feel for her character and what she’s been through.

In general, I thought all the separate storylines came together nicely and nothing felt forced or too unnatural. The momentum and stories from the first film were also present and regularly addressed throughout. The theme of family was a clear and strong message, and by all means, it seems as though the Guardians have the best damn family in the whole galaxy!

The Mix Tape

Meredith Quill certainly has some good music taste. From my reckoning, Guardians Of The Galaxy was one of the first superhero films to run a full alternative soundtrack, and they yet again pulled it off with Awesome Mix Volume 2! Although nothing will rival ‘Hooked On A Feeling’ or ‘Come And Get Your Love’ for me, I’d say Fleetwood Mac’s ‘The Chain’ and ELO’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’ are certainly up there when it comes to movie soundtracks.

The Comedy

Alongside Deadpool, I’d say the Guardians are certainly a pretty funny bunch (The first scene is just all kinds of amazing!). As well as the physical comedy and banter between the team, the film was never afraid to poke fun at itself and the superhero genre. Epic scenes can always be made that little bit better if someone gets hit in the face by stray debris during an important speech. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 never takes itself too seriously, which made me love the film even more.

The Guardians’ Future

As much as I love the Avengers and the prospect of an Infinity War, I don’t want the coming together of the Guardians and the Avengers to ruin anything. Watching this new 2017 film, I felt like I was watching something from the Guardians Of The Galaxy franchise, rather than a Marvel one. I really hope that thrusting this team of superheroes into the mainstream MCU universe doesn’t take away anything from the already well-established Guardians genre – but I guess we’ll have to wait to see on that one!

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 was an absolute delight to watch. Everything and anything the fans could have wanted shows up in this film. I’d say this sequel is equally as good as the first, so make sure you go and see it whilst it’s in the cinema!

Seen it? Let me know what you think in the comments below!