Review by John Delia, Sr.
Kicking off into hyperspace Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 turns up the action and the comedy in this science fiction action adventure now on Blu-ray, DVD and 4K Ultra HD. It’s been nearly 3 years since the first one hit the big screen and that one was amazing, but I was extremely happy with this next chapter that blew me away. The production quality on the Blu-ray outweighs that of the first taking audiences into a future filled with imaginative aliens and a vast fantasy universe.
Whether you are an action junkie, a Marvel Comic fan or just want to escape into another world beyond the stars, this film has it all. It’s a fun roller coaster ride into space with a band of do-gooders that have their own brand of heroism.
Set with their band of brothers that include Peter “Star Lord†Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) the team finds themselves in trouble once more. They’re on the run when Rocket steals some extra special batteries from the devious high priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) of planet Sovereign.
Being attacked by the Sovereign army of high tech killers that use computers to send their drones after their enemies, the crew of the Milano must maneuver their ship into unknown territory to avoid being obliterated. With their backs to the wall, Peter turns to his arch nemesis Yondu (Michael Rooker) for help, but the cost puts a crew member in mortal danger. So begins a duel to the death with Peter finding help from a strange source that includes a family member from his past.
The story gets a lot of help from the CGI department taking the audience into a galaxy filled with planets and satellite moons. There are so many interesting aliens that it’s hard to center on one group. I especially like the new arrogant universe inhabitants called the Sovereigns. Also the return of Gamora’s sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) really spices up the film as well. Even Sly Stallone gets into the act for a cameo as Stakar Ogord and later Curt Russell shows up towards the finale kicking off answers to who really is Quill’s biological father.
But, the stars of this show are the crew of the Milano as they protect the universe from factions that would destroy it. If you saw the first chapter then you know this crazy squad of space heros that roam the universe looking for trouble that usually finds them. This time, a special new alien gets added to the gang, Mantis (Pom Klementieff). Totally loveable from first meeting, she can turn on her powerful powers that set the crew of the Milano on their ear if need be. I like Pom and it looks like she’s going to be a permanent fixture for the guardians. You’ll be seeing her as Mantis in Avengers: Infinity War slated for release in 2018.
BONUS FEATURES:
The special extras on the Blu-ray are over 80-minutes of exclusive, never-before-seen bonus materials. Included are behind the scenes with the movie’s diverse, dynamic cast of misfits and inspired team of filmmakers as they debut an all-new original music video starring David Hasselhoff and special guests, hilarious outtakes, deleted scenes, audio commentary by director James Gunn, and more.
“Guardian’s Inferno†Music Video – David Hasselhoff and special guests put on a galactic ‘70’s disco party.
“Deleted and Extended Scenes†Adolescent Groot Extended, Memorial to the War on Xandar, Kraglin and Quill talk tunes, Mantis and Drax Feel the Badness Extended.
“Outrageous Gag Reelâ€
“Bonus Round: the Making of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2†A 4 part behind the scenes look at the making of the film includes – In the Director’s Chair with James Gunn; Reunion Tour: The Music of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; Living Planets and Talking Trees: The Visual Effects of Vol. 2; and Showtime: The Cast of Vol. 2
“Audio Commentary with writer/director James Gunnâ€
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content. Some of the language gets a little harsh, the violence bloody (or whatever oozes out of aliens) and some of the aliens can be a bit scary for the very young. Be cautious when deciding to allow immature children see the film as it does have some scenes that are inappropriate for pre-teens.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A mighty and good sequel for Marvel Comics lifeblood.
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Tommy Flanagan, Laura Haddock, with Sylvester Stallone, and Kurt Russell
Directed and written by: James Gunn
Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Marvel Comics
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content
Running Time: 2 hrs. 16 min.
Video Release Date: August 22, 2017
Original Theatrical Release Date: May 5, 2017
Language: English (changeable to English Descriptive-Audio, Spanish or French)
Reviewed Format: English Blu-ray/DVD
Audio: Blu-ray- DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1/ DVD- Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: 1080p HD Widescreen, Aspect Ratio 2.40:1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Number of Discs: 2 Discs Combo Pack+ Digital Movie Code
Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Released in: DVD, Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, 4K Ultra HD
The comments within this review are the critic’s expressed opinions.