Deadpool & Wolverine Review

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     It's been a while since we got to experience a Marvel Cinematic Universe film at the cinema, the last film was The Marvels which released in November 2023. It's fair to say that since Avengers: Endgame (2019), the MCU has seemed a little directionless. This muddled directionless is due in part to stylistic choices, the introduction of numerous characters, the frequent release schedule of Disney+ shows, the loss of the core six and the multiverse. Like me it is likely that many will go into the cinema for Deadpool and Wolverine not knowing what to expect, luckily director Shawn Levy does a wonderful job at exceeding expectations. Providing us with an hilarious, violent and fun film. Deadpool and Wolverine breathes some much-needed new life into the MCU. Read on for my full review...there will be minor spoilers.  First things first, the first two Deadpool films, and all films that Hugh Jackman's Wolverine has appeared in were made by 20th Century Fox, and when Disney acq
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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 Review

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The Guardians are ready for one last ride, but are you? Don’t worry if your not, after all Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is more of a see you soon than a goodbye, but the marketing was very clever in its finality to have me a little worried. The MCU has had a turbulent few year's post Avengers: Endgame, often ambling along in what appears to be an aimless fashion. After Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and Thor: Love and Thunder I was ready to give up on the MCU, prepared to stop consuming every little piece of content. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever gave me hope and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 has ignited that hope. So, what did I make of James Gunn’s final MCU project? Read on to find out - there will be minor spoilers. 


Rocket (Bradley Cooper) takes centre stage during the "conclusion" of The Guardians of The Galaxy trilogy, a trilogy that has on the whole done a wonderful job of telling the stories of its characters. Even though some characters have had more exploration, the final film brings every character's arc to a close. The events of the film surround one main mission - saving Rocket. The journey we take on this mission is full of heart-warming moments, emotion, laughs, twists, high stakes and great music. We delve into Rockets past, his harrowing origins as a test subject, from a young age subjected to mutilation at the hands of the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). The Guardians that now consist of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Rocket, Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and Groot (Vin Diesel), rally to protect their friend. Gamora (Zoe Saldana) once again takes a central role throughout the narrative, yet at times it feels as if Gunn didn't really know how to include her after her 'resurrection' in Avengers: Endgame, it feels as if she is teetering between two paths, neither on one side or the other. The narrative cleverly wraps up an open storyline from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 by including Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) the golden High Priestess and her son Adam Warlock (Will Poulter). Despite the high number of characters, the film keeps a swift pace, never faltering in action or emotion. The Guardians trilogy as a whole is consistent in tone, pace and character development. 


Style wise Vol.3 delivers the expected action, music and laughs. The interactions between characters beautifully chaotic, mimicking true human relationships. Yet unlike the effortless matching of music, soundtrack and visuals in the first Guardians film, the seamlessness is not easily replicated. The music is used to frequently, the soundtrack placed on the backburner, the tracks feeling less punchy. Despite this the final song was utterly perfect, after all the emotion, the endings, the Guardian's go out dancing to the Florence and the Machine hit: Dog Days Are Over. Even after two hours of tears and stakes we were asked to embrace the endings and beginnings created by the narrative, and we willingly accepted the celebration. Style wise there are a few moments that felt too much - I.E the Orgocorp planet. Yet these did not detract from my overall enjoyment.



The age rating: 12A, is pushed to the very limit. I would argue that a 15 would have been more appropriate. Not just because of the use of a certain "F" word - which was pointless, and left me wondering what type of statement Gunn intended to make? If you are pushing for that word to be used it should make a statement, not just be thrown in because you can, why was it so important? But now is not the time for me to rant. Nonetheless, a higher rating should have been considered for the aspects of animal cruelty and mass genocide that are spread throughout the film. I wouldn't change any of those scenes, all necessary to the narrative and emotional connection created. But a warning is needed. 


Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is a fitting end for one of the MCU's strongest trilogy. I still marvel at the success and fame of characters that were underappreciated in the comics, if you cast your mind back to the pre-release of Guardians of the Galaxy, you'll remember the scepticism it met, only to be an instant hit. This is not a goodbye, but a see you later, A goodbye to Gunn but not to the characters he helped bring to life. I have no doubt that there is more to come from every one of these characters. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 is not the end but a beginning. 


What do you think will happen to these characters next? Let me know in the comments!


Thank you for reading xx 

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