Film review: Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 – Does lightning strike twice?
To say 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise hit is a slight understatement. Many had predicted Marvel’s gamble to sink the studio with its unknown characters and very unique sense of style, but it ended up being one of the year’s best films grossing nearly $800million. Three years on, director James Gunn returns…
To say 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy was a surprise hit is a slight understatement. Many had predicted Marvel’s gamble to sink the studio with its unknown characters and very unique sense of style, but it ended up being one of the year’s best films grossing nearly $800million.
Three years on, director James Gunn returns with the plucky group of space stars. But can lightning strike twice? Or have the Guardians had their time to shine?
Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) struggle to keep their newfound family together as they desperately try to unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage in the outer reaches of the galaxy.
To our cast of space vigilantes, James Gunn has thrown in a few new personas and fleshed out some secondary characters, resulting in a film that rivals Avengers: Age of Ultron for the amount of people jostling for screen-time. Unfortunately, Volume 2 also suffers from many of the same problems as its earthly stablemate.
The biggest joy of watching Guardians 2 is seeing those secondary characters getting their chance in the spotlight. In particular, Michael Rooker’s Yondu makes a massive impact throughout the running time and is a highlight throughout. Elsewhere, Karen Gillan’s villainous Nebula gets a similar treatment, though not quite to the same extent.
Moreover, the team we have all come to know and love is on fine form, even if they are split from one another for the majority of the film. Chris Pratt is probably the biggest star in Hollywood at the moment and he looks like he’s having the time of his life. However, it’s not Star Lord that shines brightest this time around. That honour goes to Dave Bautista’s Drax.
The addition of Kurt Russell as Pratt’s father, Ego is an ingenious piece of casting and his ‘pet’ Mantis, played wonderfully by Pom Klementieff steals the show in every scene. Her brief moments with Bautista are where the film really succeeds.
Another witty script crafted by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman ensures that Guardians 2 is absolutely hilarious. Some of the one-liners are absolute corkers and it often outdoes its predecessor, raising the bar very high for future Marvel projects in the process.
To look at, Volume 2 is pleasant if unspectacular. Colourful? Yes. Detailed? Not so much. With so much going on at once, it’s easy for the film to feel overwhelmed with some of the CGI being downright poor. The opening scene in which our heroes battle a hideous octopus-like beast, whilst fun to watch, isn’t crafted to the same level as its predecessor’s introductory sequence. The finale is a little anti-climactic, unfortunately falling into the same pitfalls that so many big blockbusters do nowadays – needless and frankly ugly CGI.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 is another accomplished film in the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, like Avengers: Age of Ultron, it suffers from its predecessor’s popularity and is overstuffed with too many characters elbowing for screen-time.
Unfortunately, the new approach the first film took has disappeared a little this time around. Because Volume 1 was such a delightful change from the rest of the crowd-pleasing blockbusters, Guardians 2 was bound to be a bit of a disappointment.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2 rating: 7/10
An avid lover of all things film, Adam Brannon has grown up with a huge passion for cinema that can be traced right back to his favourite childhood movie, Steven Spielberg's smash hit, Jurassic Park.
After graduating from the University of Lincoln with a degree in journalism, he now writes film reviews for his own website, Movie Metropolis and for the Press Association.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A 48-year-old man who police believe is now living in Leicestershire is wanted over an indecent images offence that happened in Lincolnshire.
Lincolnshire Police are appealing for information to help locate Darryl Faulkner, who has a tattoo on his neck.
He is wanted in relation to a disclosure of private sexual images offence.
Anyone who has seen him or has any information regarding his whereabouts should contact police on 101 or via email at [email protected] quoting reference 21000020888.
Alternatively, it can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online here.
The Prime Minister said “itwillnotbepossibletoreopenschools after the Februaryhalfterm,” with the hope to bring pupils back from March 8.
Boris Johnson also told MPs that UK nationals and residents returning from “red list” countries will be placed in a 10-day quarantine in government-secured accommodation, such as hotels.
He explained in the House of Commons on Wednesday: “Ouraimwillbetostartagradualphasedapproachtowardseasingtherestrictionsinasustainablewayguidedbytheprincipleswe’veobservedthroughoutthepandemic,beginningwiththemostimportantprincipleofallthatreopeningschoolsmustbeanationalpriority.”
He added: “Itwillnotbepossibletoreopenschools after the Februaryhalfterm.”
This comes after COVID-19 deaths surpassed 100,000 on Tuesday.
Mr Johnson also outlined new measures for travellers to the UK.
He said: “Icanannouncethatwewillrequireallsucharrivalswhocannotberefusedentrytoisolateingovernmentprovidedaccommodation,suchashotelsfor10dayswithoutexception,theywillbemetattheairportandtransporteddirectlyintoquarantine.TheDepartmentofHealthCareisworkingtoestablishfacilitiesasquicklyaspossible.”
Study Group’s International Study Centre at the University of Lincoln will close this summer, with formal redundancy proceedings understood to have begun.
Study Group is an external provider who specialises in pre-degree and pre-masters programmes to support students coming to the UK to study.
Brighton-based Study Group, has been in partnership with the university since 2010, but the contract is ending and is not being renewed so the centre will close on August 31, 2021.
The option was given by the university, who are working on offering alternative provision, to go through a tendering process and this was not taken up by Study Group.
It is understood that formal redundancy proceedings will affect around 15 to 20 Study Group employees.
However, Study Group did not provide an answer when questioned about the number of employees or the redundancy process. Instead, it said it is working with staff directly to discuss their roles and next steps.
The centre currently teaches the international year one programmes in business and management, engineering, computer science and media. There is also teaching for international foundation years.
The closure will mean the Lincoln ISC’s last student intake was in January 2021 and any due to start in September will be offered alternative provision.
The Lincoln centre will close only once current students have completed their pathway programme by August 31.
A spokesperson for Study Group said: “We appreciate that this news may be unsettling to our current cohort of international students studying at the Lincoln ISC.
“However, we would like to take this opportunity to emphasise that this news will have no impact on current students studying at the Lincoln ISC.
“We will continue to deliver our pathway programmes at the Lincoln ISC in the same way, supporting current students to achieve their education goals and progress to the university programme of their choice at the University of Lincoln.
“Study Group is working with staff directly to discuss their roles and next steps considering the Lincoln ISC closure. We would like to thank our staff for their exceptional commitment and unwavering professionalism and support at this time.”
A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “The university is planning to develop its own internal suite of preparatory programmes to enable it to be more flexible to the needs of international students and to manage the quality of teaching and learning.”
Whatsapp
