I just got back home from seeing this, phenomenal movie. Kept away from all news and reviews, only reading snippets and headlines that suggested this was in no way, shape or form better than the first one, and I couldn't understand where that thought comes from.
This movie is hilarious, manages to sneak a dose of something above pg-13 humor, it builds and solves mysteries from the first one while setting up new ones, the soundtrack though not as tight packed as the first one is still an integral part of the films storytelling, helping to enhance some emotional beats.
I loved that in between all the chaos we got to see character evolution and resolution for pretty much all the members of the Guardians, a little abusive on the whole 'our characters are super dicks but it's because a troubled past scenario' but still, clearly Gunn feels like this group of people he cared so much for deserve a proper closure leading towards Infinity War, making this movie feel despite its stake surprisingly emotional.
The stuff with Peter Quill, man, this guy is so amazing, his story has no right being as perfectly executed as it was, I was in tears with the whole Yondu thing, the crumbles Ego was leaving towards that big reveal and the shock of knowing he caused her mother's death feel pretty organic.
Rocket was the other highlight, he was handled with a lot more nuance than the rest, no speech required or a long reminder of his troubled past, but a quick sit down with Yondu was all he needed fully open his heart to the rest of the Guardians.
And Yondu man, Yondu is just, I get chills just thinking about it, I cannot even put in words how much I loved him, he's going to be remembered as one of the most memorable characters of the whole MCU when it's all set and done, mark my words.
I fucking love how this franchise has the ability to commit to a tone and be extremely recognizable (and influential) for it. Only two recent ones come to mind: Nolan's Batman and Raimi's Spider-Man. Now Gunn's Guardians.
I'm not even gonna bother to talk about Adam Fucking Warlock and some old school Guardians, (I hope a spinoff is coming) or the appearance of Uatus. Man, this movie had it all.
Third one, as per usual, won't probably be as good, but James, Sir, what a Space Opera you've given us.
Nope, you were not. It really bothered me, even if there had just been a mutiny. It just didn't fit the lighthearted way they were playing the scene off.
The whole point of that scene was to plant the seeds for an emotional bonding between two clearly disturbed and probably sociopathic individuals that have been severely misunderstood. I thought in that context it worked perfectly, like most of the movie.