Spoilers Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Grading & Discussion

[dahj]

The movie already opened in some parts of the world, so it's time for those who have seen it to reduce it to a grade. Upon the push of the button, commence the discussions!

Official Website | IMDb Page |Metacritic |Rotten Tomatoes |Wikipedia | Box Office

 

[Ethros]

Saw it last night at the midnight screening (or early this morning if you wanna be pedantic )


Little non spoilery review- I think it sagged a little in the middle perhaps, maybe around 20 minutes or so where it wasn't bad per se just seemed to drag on a wee bit. And then Ego's grand plan took kind of a while to unravel, and kept cutting between other scenes that I just kinda wanted them to reveal what was going on.

Now, I've started off with two negatives there mainly to get them out the way. As apart from those everything else in this movie was frickin awesome So many great jokes, performances, set pieces, characters, cameos, jokes and more jokes. I'd definitely say I enjoyed it more than the first and would easily put it in Marvel's Top 5

 

[Tosk]

I gave it a B+, but I mean no negative with that. I'm of the firm position that it can be both not as good as the first one, and still awesome. It wasn't an absolute home run, but I didn't need it to be.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I enjoyed it just as much, if not more than, the first and will probably go and rewatch it next week.

Monsters from the Ego -- the movie teaches a valuable lesson that Boltzmann brains are probably all narcissistic arseholes and shouldn't be trusted. Can't think of any current examples...

There was some great banter and in-jokes -- I likely missed more than a few. I recommend staying right to the end of the credits so you don't miss the teasers.

So who is more awesome -- the Hoff or Kurt Russell? I assume Adam is Adam Warlock, if so, he'll probably be in the crossover? I assume Groot will be back to full size again by then.

 

[KennyB]

I really really enjoyed it..........maybe more so than Vol 1. Like @Ethros stated there was a but of a slow point in the middle but it was a great flick............

 

[John Clark]

I enjoyed it, but I think the first was a touch better.

Spoiler: Just in case

I did like Kurt Russell in it and recognized Ben Browder straight off (though I was unaware he was in it) though it was only a small role. As I hadn't been looking for spoilers, I didn't know about Stallone either.
Teenage Groot might be interesting for the next one too

 

[MadeIndescribable]

I felt it was a bit predictable in places (can't do spoiler cover ups so I'll leave them for now), and some of the humour did go a little bit too far so as to be completely rediculous. I don't know whether I prefer it over the first one, it was definitely funnier, but the story didn't seem as imperative, until it really kicks in and the stakes just completely sky rocket.

Overall a brilliant film though, and definitely worth seeing.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I'm going again. I totally missed that Ben Browder played a bit part. Did the rumoured Nathan Fillion scene end up on the cutting-room floor or was that a prank all along played on us?

http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/gu...-nathan-fillion-cameo-deleted-scene-revealed/

 

[Tosk]

So who is more awesome -- the Hoff or Kurt Russell?

No disrespect to KITT's friend, but not even a contest. Kurt is winnah.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

The de-aging of Kurt was pretty slick. I didn't experience any uncanny valley like I did with Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy. Apparently, they used more makeup than CGI.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2017/04/29/hardly-cgi-used-de-age-kurt-russell-guardians-2/

 

[MadeIndescribable]

The de-aging of Kurt was pretty slick. I didn't experience any uncanny valley like I did with Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy. Apparently, they used more makeup than CGI.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2017/04/29/hardly-cgi-used-de-age-kurt-russell-guardians-2/

It was definitely better than Rogue Ones Tarkin as well. Didn't realise it was make-up, but it definitely shows that practical effects are often better than CGI, especially when HD magnifies all the flaws as well.

 

[Tosk]

I'd bet money right now that "not that much CGI" still amounts to them working on most of his face in every shot. It's almost standard now to tweak the make-ups in post. (Such as Crossbone's burnt face in Civil War.) Regardless, looked pretty good but (maybe it varies depending on face style) not quite as good as Pym in Ant-Man to my eye.

And it'd wanna be better than Clu and Tarkin. Those were both full CG replacements, as opposed to a 'youthening' of the real person's face.

 

[KennyB]

The de-aging of Kurt was pretty slick. I didn't experience any uncanny valley like I did with Jeff Bridges in Tron Legacy. Apparently, they used more makeup than CGI.

http://www.thehollywoodnews.com/2017/04/29/hardly-cgi-used-de-age-kurt-russell-guardians-2/

Ummmm no way that was make up. They even have a credit for Young Ego in the credits........I'm thinking our version of not that much and their version are not the same.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Saw it yesterday. Light, fluffy but fantastic fun.

I kept thinking that it was a live-action Futurama

 

[Mage]

Loved it. Funny, heartfelt, adorable, actionpacked. And as much as I love the whole connected MCU, I also really liked how this was pretty much standalone. Sure, a reference or two, but nothing that has to do with the whole Infinity Stones plot. Definatly chocked up at some points. Oh, and the opening sequence is GOLD!!!!

This is pure entertainment. I'm quite aware that many people will compare this with the first one. Don't. This movie wasn't made to be better or surpass the first. It just wants to entertain. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[Mudd]

Funny movie.

Russell CG not creepy like SW CG.

 

[Mudd]

I'd guess they used a young guy for 80s Ego other than for close-ups, and de-aged Russell for a few shots.

A lot different, and more successful, than fabricating a "performance" for a dead man.

 

[KennyB]

I'd guess they used a young guy for 80s Ego other than for close-ups, and de-aged Russell for a few shots.

A lot different, and more successful, than fabricating a "performance" for a dead man.

I actually thought Tarkin was fine. Leia could have been improved. My wife who is not a Star Wars fan was shocked when I told her Tarkin was CGI of an actor who had passed away years ago. The work in Volume 2 was better but a completely different beast. Westworld also did an amazing job with Anthony Hopkins.

 

[Mudd]

I thought Hopkins had a bit of the "Clutch Cargo" effect going on.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Not quite has good as the first one. But still had a good time. Would love to know where Groot got the toe from.