Jess Parker

The latest instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s fifth phase has landed in the form of the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), the final entry in the franchise’s beloved trilogy.

Many fans have complained of a drastic decrease in the quality of Marvel releases, however, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 seems to be a saving grace in breaking the franchise’s stagnation.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 predominantly focuses not on group leader Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), who also answers to the moniker ‘Star-Lord’, but instead on humanoid racoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper). When Rocket’s life is in jeopardy, the Guardians must cross the vast expanse of space in search of answers from his past in order to save him. The narrative is raw and emotional, effectively contrasted with the expectedly sharp wit that has become synonymous with the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise.

Rocket’s backstory

This film does an admirable job of unveiling an untold backstory. The focus on Rocket’s past does not feel like a throwaway gimmick but a necessary detail that allows audiences to empathise further with one of the trilogy’s most prominent characters.

“One of its strongest assets is its evocative soundtrack”

Rocket’s trauma introduces a new, startling depth to the movie, with its depictions of animal cruelty and experimentation feeling unusually dark for this phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The somewhat gruesome scenes in the film feel apt for preparing fans for Marvel’s upcoming releases that will feature more mature age ratings, such as Deadpool 3, Daredevil: Born Again, and Blade. These are all projects which are likely to be rated R.

The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack 

As per the previous two entries in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, one of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’s strongest assets is its evocative soundtrack. Conveying a nostalgia for his brief stint on Earth, Peter Quill’s love for Earthly music is a constant throughout his adventures, with the film diegetically incorporating a new mixtape curated by writer and director James Gunn.

The film opens with a far more sombre tone than the previous two films, when compared with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1’s ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ or Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’s ‘Mr Blue Sky’ opening credits. An acoustic rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ plays across the speakers of the planet Knowhere, setting the tone of the narrative.

“The narrative is far more emotive that the previous films and, in turn, darker”

Earth music is key to the fan enjoyment of Guardians of the Galaxy. Not only does it spur on the franchise’s ludicrous action, but it also humanises the team’s only human character.

The action is rooted in Quill’s love for his deceased mother, the creator of his ‘awesome mix’, permanently attaching the film’s outlandish plot points to empathy that is jointly felt by audiences. ‘Creep’ is no exception. The song introduces the narrative as one that is far more emotive than the previous two films and, in turn, far darker.

Guardians of the Galaxy goes out with a bang

With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 completing the trilogy, it is not just the Guardians that Marvel fans are saying farewell to. James Gunn is jumping ship in an attempt to save the DC Universe and it is therefore anticipated that the Guardians will never again be seen together in the way that fans have come to know them.

It is a rare feat to retain a franchise’s momentum right up until the conclusion of a trilogy. Still, somehow Marvel has succeeded in providing fans with a suitably poignant end to a beloved story.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has struggled to find its feet in its fifth phase following the global successes of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. However, if Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is anything to go by, then Marvel fans can rest assured that there is still life in the old dog yet.

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Featured image courtesy of Alexander Andrews on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.

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