GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 2

US, 2017, 136 minutes, Colour.
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillen, Pom Klementieff, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan.
Directed by James Gunn.

To write a review of this adventure for the numerous fans would be a waste of energy. They thrilled to the first film, most are very happy with the second. Rather, this is a review for those who are not fans of the Guardians of the Galaxy or who do not understand who they are and what they are about.

This is material for a children’s audience and, probably especially, for adult children who delight in the characters, the special effects and action, the jokey repartee, the blend of the serious and the comic. These films are, via writer and director James Gunn who obviously is enjoying himself with the stories, the outlandish aspects of the characters and their adventures, playing with all the special effects, as even some of the more serious reviewers have said; a lot of fun for the fans.

The origins of the film are in Marvel comics (and creator, Stan Lee, has a cameo as usual, and reappears at the very, very end after all the credits). Speaking of credits, there are quite a number of inserts into the final credits with all the characters – and promise of adventures to come.

In the first film we saw the team of Guardians putting some order into the universe. On paper, they seem the least likely of Galaxy guardianship. Peter Quill, Chris Pratt, does seem to be some kind of superhero, half human and half galactic, with a sense of ironic humour. Then there is the green-coloured Gamora, Zoe Saldana (changing from her blue in Avatar), something of a superhero type, joining Peter in action, attracted to him but suppressing any desire to express this, labelling it as “unspoken�. Drax, Dave Bautista, is a giant -like hero, not always quick on the uptake, but generous in going into action.

One of the stars of the show is Rocket, rather fox-like, but mistaken for all kinds of other animals, which he rather resents. He is voiced by Bradley Cooper. His cheeky, something of a rogue, stealing batteries from a high priestess at the opening, rather flexible in his attitude towards the truth, not above slinging off at everyone. Then there is the mini-material doll, Groot, with all the limitations of small size, childlikeness, able to make a few sounds rather than words (although Vin Diesel is credited as the voice of Groot and Diesel non-fans will think that Groot is much more lively and personable than any of Diesel’s screen characters, including all the Fast and Furious films). Sylvester Stallone, oh. Though he is better at the end and during the final credits.

For the first half of the film, older audiences may wonder why they are sitting there and whether they should leave all the shenanigans to the younger audience. However, there are intimations of father-son clashes. Defying belief, Kurt Russell is made up near the opening as a young man in the 1980s, but later, we see him as he more ordinarily is, although he is Ego, with superhuman powers, his own planet, seeking a son who has powers like his – finding them in Peter Quill. Actually, Kurt Russell is pretty good in the role of Ego.

All is not as it seems, Peter has been brought up by another rogue of the planets, Yondu, quite a substantial role for character actor, Michael Rooker. He turns out to be the true father-figure who is prepared to sacrifice himself for his son.

Another of the clashes is the sister-sister struggle between Gamora and Nebula. And, with more clashes, there is a gold-plated priestess with her own space vehicle and attendants, Ayesha, played by Elizabeth Debicki.

This may not explain Guardians of the Galaxy or its appeal but it indicates something of how the film is made and how it comes across. And early box office results indicate that fans all around the world love it.

1. The popularity of the comics, the film versions? Marvel comics? Fantasy and imagination? The impact of volume 1? Volume 2?
2. The characters, the range of planets, the worlds? The range of characters, humans, hybrids, animals? Good? The appeal? Appearances, make up? Eccentric characteristics? The actors?

3. The guardians of the Galaxy, the first film, the Galaxy in order, their particular roles? Their abilities, action?

4. Introduction of Ayesha, her appearance, gold, priestess, serene, majestic, her style, her voice, vehicle? Her associates? The mission? The batteries? Rocket stealing the batteries? Her pursuit, interventions?

5. Peter Quill, hero, in action, his friends, the teamwork? His love for Gamora, unspoken her stubbornness in not admitting the Love? His origins, the mystery, search for his father? Yondu bringing him up?

6. 1980, the young couple, Ego’s appearance, the picnic, the tryst, the music? The relationship, conceiving Peter? The memories? Yondu as perceived by Peter? His role as a father? His followers, the reactions, the siege, his lieutenant changing loyalties, helping him? With Rocket, the escape?

7. Ego, 1980, his own planet, his paradise and the visuals, the colour? The music? Encountering Peter? Gamora and her suspicions?

8. The father-son relationships, Ego and Peter? Peter to be his successor? The discovery of the energy in his hands? Power? The promises, the relationship? The contrast with the Yondu and his being a true father?

9. Gamora, suspicions, helping Peter, clashing with the Nebula? The fights, their working together, the dangers, reconciliation?

10. The truth about Ego, his monstrous character, imprisoning Peter? His being confined? Groot, Drax explaining the buttons on the explosive, Groot getting them wrong? Eventually going into the maze? Ultimate success? Gamora and Nebula and their efforts? Scaling the heights? Rocket and the batteries? Yondu and the escape, his having to sacrifice himself, his achievement?

11. Peter fighting his father, clashing with Ego? The time, the explosion and Egos disintegration?

12. The final confrontation with Ayesha?

13. The final credits, the introduction of further scenes? The cameo of Stan Lee and his talking – and his reappearing at the very end, post-credits?