MARVEL STUDIOS GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3 [2023] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Director James Gunn is taking no chances with this slick, mischievous, supposedly final third instalment of the Marvel Studios series!
In Marvel Studios ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ our beloved band of misfits is looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, and must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy as we know them.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 2023 Golden Trailer Awards: Nomination: Best Teaser Trailer. 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Award: Nomination: Best Music Supervision for a Trailer (Film) for Cynthia Daft-Blondelle and Heather Kreamer for “Official Trailer.” Nomination: 2023 Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards: Best Picture.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ [2014] writer and director James Gunn stated in November 2014 that, in addition to having the “basic story” for ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2’ [2017] while working on the first film, he also had ideas for a potential third film. Despite this, he was unsure in June 2015 if he would be involved with a third ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ film, saying that it would depend on how he felt after making ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2.’ In April 2016, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige, the producer of the Guardians of the Galaxy films, said a third film was planned for the franchise as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in “2020 and beyond.” In March 2017, James Gunn said there would be a third film “for sure. We're trying to figure it out,” soon adding that there were no specific plans for the film yet, but that Marvel would want to make it “unless something goes horribly — which is always possible, you never know.” James Gunn also reiterated that he had not decided whether he would be directing the film, and that he was going to figure out his involvement and his next project “over the next couple of weeks.” Part of James Gunn's reluctance to return to the franchise came from not wanting to work on it without Michael Rooker, whose character from the first two films, Yondu Udonta, died at the end of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2.’ The visual effects were provided by Framestore, Weta FX, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic, Rodeo FX, Rise FX, Crafty Apes, BUF, Lola VFX, Perception, and Compuhire.[181] Stephane Ceretti returns from the first film to serve as the visual effects supervisor,[182] while Fred Raskin returns from the first two films to serve as the editor, alongside Greg D'Auria, who returns from the Holiday Special. Additional editing was provided by Tatiana S. Riegel. ‘GUARDIAN OF THE GALAXES VOLUME 3’ had an early screening at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on the 19th April, 2023. The film premiered at Disneyland Paris on the 22nd April, 2023, and its North American premiere was held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on the 27th April, 2023. The film was released in several countries including the United Kingdom on the 3rd May, 2023 and in the United States on the 5th May, 2023. It was previously set for release on the 1st May 2020,[84] before it was dropped from that date. It is part of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was released in 3D, IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and ScreenX.
Cast: Chukwudi Iwuji, Bradley Cooper (Rocket voice), Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Vin Diesel (Groot voice), Austin Freeman, Stephen Blackehart, Terence Rosemore, Maria Bakalova (Cosmo voice), Sean Gunn, Sarah Alami, Jasmine Munoz, Chris Pratt, Giovannie Cruz, Will Poulter, Nico Santos, Miriam Shor, Noa Raskin (Baby Rocket voice), Linda Cardellini (Lylla voice), Asim Chaudhry (Teefs voice), Mikaela Hoover (Floor voice), Elizabeth Debicki, Judy Greer (War Pig voice), Reinaldo Faberlle (Behemoth voice), Sylvester Stallone, Tara Strong (Mainframe voice), Jared Gore, Michael Rosenbaum, Elan Gale, Molly C. Quinn, Gerardo Davila, Dee Bradley Baker, Zoe Saldaña, Hanna Pak, Jennifer Holland, Nathan Fillion, Kyle Mclean, Benjamin Byron Davis, Tiffany Smith, Joe Daru, Daniela Melchior, Jonathan Mercedes, Jonathan Fritschi, Diego Ward, Max Bickelhaup, Brandon Morales, Renae Moneymaker, Alexis Hadesty, Tara Warren, Candi VandiZandi, Grecia Balboa, Caleb Spillyards, Darla Delgado, Michelle Civile, Ken Lyle, Elodie Clarke, John William Wright, Autumn Griffin, Skylar Huntley, Randy Havens, Dane DiLiegro, Kai Zen, Sarah Anne, Yael Ocasio, Adelynn Spoon, Henry Heffernan, Brooklyn Skye Oliver, Scarlett Blum, Alejandro Estevon Angel, Emery Grilliot, Amelia Waters, Lloyd Kaufman, Seth Green (Howard the Duck voice), Christopher Fairbank, Rhett Miller, Natalia Safran, Murphy Weed, Michael Rooker, James Gunn, Pete Davidson, Jessica Fontaine, Karen Abercrombie, Gregg Henry, Adriana Leonard, Bonnie Discepolo, Clare Grant, Grace Gunn, Will Gunn, Sarah Allyn (uncredited), Thomas R. Baker (uncredited), Jerry Beharry (uncredited), Scarlett Bell (uncredited), James Clarke (uncredited), Olive Raine Cleope (uncredited), Finn David (uncredited), Sarah Dean (uncredited), Mark Joseph Felton (uncredited), Gregory French (uncredited), Christina R Gregg (uncredited), Keanu Ham (uncredited), Rowan Delana Howard (uncredited), Elbert Kim (uncredited), Michael Koske (uncredited), Aaliyah Luu (uncredited), C.J. Maxwell (uncredited), Andrew S. McMillan (uncredited), Zachary Ortega (uncredited), Jalen Peet (uncredited), Dennice Rivera (uncredited), Casey Shirley (uncredited), Sebastian Soler (uncredited), Liam Stuckey (uncredited), Analisa Wall (uncredited) and Ilara Phoenix Williams (uncredited)
Director: James Gunn
Producers: David J. Grant, Kevin Feige p.g.a., Lars P. Winther, Louis D'Esposito, Nikolas Korda, Sara Smith, Simon Hatt and Victoria Alonso
Screenplay: James Gunn (screenplay), Jack Kirby (Groot creator), Jim Starlin (Drax and Gamora creator), Larry Lieber (Groot creator), Stan Lee (Groot creator), Don Heck (Mantis creator), Steve Englehart (Mantis creator), John Buscema (Nebula creator), Roger Stern (Nebula creator), Sal Buscema (Nebula creator), Bill Mantlo (Rocket Raccoon creator), Keith Giffen (Rocket Raccoon creator), Steve Englehart (Star-Lord creator) and Steve Gan (Star-Lord creator)
Make-up and Hair Department: Abigail Bradley (Additional Make-up Artist), Adam Walls (Make-up Artist), Aida Scuffle (Make-up Artist) (uncredited), Alex Breijak (Additional Make-up Artist), Alex Burns (Additional Make-up Artist), Alexei Dmitriew (Make-up department head), Amanda Sprunger (Make-up department coordinator), Amber Michael (Special Make-up Effects Artist), Ann-Maree Hurley (Additional Make-up Artist), Andrew Wright (Additional Make-up Artist), Anna Daniel (Additional Special Make-up Effects Artist), Annalise Scaffidi (Additional Make-up Artist), Annie Tagge (Additional Make-up Artist), Bart Mixon (Additional Make-up Artist), Bianca Appice (Additional Make-up Artist), Cale Thomas (Make-up Artist), Carlton Coleman (Additional Make-up Artist), Cary Ayers (Additional Make-up Artist), Chloe Sens (Additional Make-up Artist), Crystal Gomez (Make-up Artist), Dana Bracewell (Additional Make-up Artist), Danny Wagner (Additional Make-up Artist), David Dupuis (Additional Make-up Artist), Derek Garcia (Additional Make-up Artist), Devin Shayla Morales (Additional Make-up Artist), Ellen Arden (Additional Make-up Artist), Emma Siate (Special Effects Make-up: Legacy Effects), Eric Garcia (Additional Make-up Artist), Ericka Comer (Additional Make-up Artist), Erin Chaney (Additional Make-up Artist), Fionagh Cush (Make-up Artist: Mr. Will Poulter), Gabby Grave (Additional Make-up Artist), Gabby Navarrete (Special Make-up Effects Artist), Haile Werntz (Additional Make-up Artist), Hailey Trifiro (Special Make-up Effects Artist), Hagen Linss (Additional Make-up Artist), Heather Benson (Additional Make-up Artist), Heather Galipo (Additional Make-up Artist), Heather Grippaldi (Additional Make-up Artist), Hugo Villasenor (Additional Make-up Artist), Ian Goodwin (Make-up Artist), Isabella Scuffle (Additional Make-up Artist), James MacKinnon (Additional Make-up Artist), Jane Galli (Make-up Artist: Mr. Chris Pratt), Jessica Paige Goodin (Special Make-up Effects Artist), Jessie Gambardella (Additional Make-up Artist), Jillian Erickson (Additional Make-up Artist), Julie Socash (Additional Make-up Artist), Jon Moore (Make-up Artist: Mr. Dave Bautista), Katie Middleton (Additional Make-up Artist), Kaylee Swisher (Additional Make-up Artist / Special Make-up Effects Artist), Kelsey Boutte (Additional Make-up Artist / Special Make-up Effects Artist), Kevin Kirkpatrick (Make-up Artist), Kim Ayers (Additional Make-up Artist), Laura Dandridge (Additional Make-up Artist), Lawrence Mercado (Additional Make-up Artist), Lex Marie Argento (Special Make-up Effects Artist), Lindsay MacGowan (Prosthetics design supervisor), LuAndra Whitehurst (Key Make-up Artist), Mark Garbarino (Additional Make-up Artist), Mark James Ross (Make-up Artist), Matt Sprunger (Make-up Artist: Mr. Dave Bautista), Megan Areford (Additional Make-up Artist), Michael Ornelaz (Make-up Artist: Ms. Pom Klementieff), Michelle Miller (Make-up Artist), Midian Crosby (Additional Make-up Artist), Mo Meinhart (Key Make-up Artist), Morgon Lindskog (Additional Make-up Artist), Myo Lai (Additional Make-up Artist), Nick London (Additional Make-up Artist), Nicole Sortillon Amos (Make-up Artist), Nix Herrera (Additional Make-up Artist), Rachel Bongard (Additional Make-up Artist), Ren Rohling (Additional Make-up Artist), Robin Pritchard (Make-up Artist: Mr. Dave Bautista), Sabrina Wilson (Additional Make-up Artist), Samantha Ward (Make-up Artist), Sandra Linn Koepper (Additional Make-up Artist), Scott Stoddard (Key Make-up Artist), Shannon Pitts (Additional Make-up / Make-up Artist), Shelby Michael Patton (Additional Make-up Artist), Steve Costanza (Additional Make-up Artist), Tana Medina (Additional Make-up Artist), Teresa Vest (Additional Make-up Artist), Tim J. Hays (Additional Make-up Artist), Trent Cotner (Additional Make-up Artist), Trudie Storck (Additional Make-up Artist), Vera Steimberg (Make-up Artist: Ms. Zoe Saldaña). Will Huff (Make-up Artist: Ms. Zoe Saldaña), Will Zuidema (Additional Make-up Artist), Ashley Pullins (Contact lens supervisor), Christina Gonzalez (Contact lens supervisor), Denise Adams (Contact lens technician), Diana Hansen (Contact lens technician), Jessica Nelson (Contact lens painter), Melinda Wellborn (Additional contact lens technician), Yuri M. Ramos (Lab technician), A.J. Horan (Additional Hair stylist), Amber Shani Hamilton (Hair stylist), Andrew Simonin (Hair stylist: Mr. Chris Pratt), Arthur Williams (Hair stylist), Cassandra Powell (Additional Hair stylist), Cassie Russek (Hair department head), Charmaine Balcerzak (Additional Hair stylist), Dawn Turner (Hair stylist), Dugg Kirkpatrick (Hair stylist: Mr. Chris Pratt), Gabby Suarez (Additional Hair stylist), Iesha Lee (Hair stylist), Janet Gibson (Additional Hair stylist), Jennifer Hodges (Additional Hair stylist), Jessica Mills (Hair stylist), John Tarro (Additional Hair stylist), Juliana Ononiwu-Brinson (Hair stylist), Kevin Haney (Additional Hair stylist), Lance Aldredge (Hair stylist), Leay Cangelosi (Additional Hair stylist), Linda Traxler (Co-key Hair stylist), Michael Moore (Additional Hair stylist), Monique Hyman (Hair stylist), Peter Tothpal (Hair stylist: Ms. Zoe Saldaña), Porcsha Zachary (Hair stylist), Rachael Johnson (Additional Hair stylist), Rachael Latham (Hair stylist), Raissa Patton (Hair background supervisor), Sakeitha King (Hair stylist), Sean Smith (Hair stylist: Ms. Karen Gillan and Ms. Pom Klementieff), Stephanie Fenner (Key Hair stylist), Suzanna Boykin (Additional Hair stylist), Tommy Dudley Jr. (Barber: Mr. Chukwudi Iwuji), Tressie Rochelle (Additional Hair stylist), Venus Fears (Hair stylist), Zachary Britt (Additional Hair stylist), Zarina Herrera (Additional Hair stylist) and Zoey Belton (Additional Hair stylist)
Costume Design: Judianna Makovsky
Composer: John Murphy
Cinematography: Henry Braham, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1 (Anamorphic)
Audio: English: 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
English Descriptive Audio: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Françoise: 2.0 Dolby Digital Plus Audio
Deutsch: 2.0 Dolby Digital Plus Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
Subtitles: English, Françoise, Deutsch, Netherlands, Dansk, Suomi, Norsk and Svenska
Running Time: 150 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: The Walt Disney Company
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: In the ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ [2023] James Gunn's trilogy ends with a big, brash blaze of glory. For his final outing with Marvel Studios intergalactic misfits, James Gunn delivers a thrilling movie is packed with stunning set pieces. The interstellar Guardians of the Galaxy gang are back in the third and final instalment of the hugely popular Marvel Studio franchise starring Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista and Zoe Saldaña.
Cinematic superheroes have been going through a rough patch lately. So it comes as a relief to report the trilogy-capping ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ achieves what it sets out to do, which is provide a stirring and audience-pleasing finale for a franchise that has proven to be one of Marvel Studios biggest and most unlikely success stories. Well, at least until the next iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy comes along.
Arriving six years after the last instalment, this edition begins in startling fashion. As we hear an acoustic version of Radiohead’s “Creep,” we see a drunken Peter Quill aka Star-Lord [Chris Pratt], obviously still mourning the loss of his beloved Gamora [Zoe Saldaña] collapsing into a stupor. It leads you to think that maybe this is going to be less an interstellar adventure tale than a harrowing addiction drama.
Not long afterward, Peter Quill aka Star-Lord is reunited with Gamora. Of course, Gamora is now an alternate version, since the Gamora he loved was killed by that pesky Thanos. The new, younger Gamora has little use for Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, which doesn’t exactly improve his mood as he vainly struggles, like a depressed high school student, to remind her of what they once had.
Peter Quill aka Star-Lord doesn’t have much time for moping, however, as the Guardians of the Galaxy must rally themselves to save their beloved Rocket [voice of Bradley Cooper], who’s at death’s door. This leads to flashbacks involving the fan-beloved Rocket raccoon’s backstory and his relationship with the film’s villain, The High Evolutionary [Chukwudi Iwuji] using his Shakespearean acting background to excellent imposing evil effect, who wants to create a new, higher evolved master race. As with most Marvel Studios villains, The High Evolutionary doesn’t really think he’s bad, merely misunderstood.
Rocket’s story, which also involves numerous other adorable animal characters that should gladden the heart of toy manufacturers, forms the heart of the film, which really swings for the fences in its efforts to combine pathos, irreverent humour, and lots and lots of action into its ambitious mix. Writer/director James Gunn — who got fired after ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ over some controversial tweets, only to be rehired thanks in large part to the campaigning of the loyal cast members, would make a compelling drama in itself — doesn’t fully succeed in tying all these threads together into something coherent.
And the storyline is too complicated by far, with so many things going on at so many different times and places that multiple viewings are practically necessary to keep it all straight. And since the film aims to bring the trilogy to a close, rest assured that there are so many cameo appearances from past and subsidiary characters that the shoot must have felt like a high school reunion.
Nonetheless, this edition largely succeeds like the other ones, thanks to the chemistry of the main ensemble, who have grown into their characters with relaxed ease. The interplay among them is frequently delightful, especially between the mind-controlling Mantis [Pom Klementieff] and the big Drax [Dave Bautista], who come across like alien versions of Laurel and Hardy. Karen Gillan’s Nebula is more acerbic than ever, and Vin Diesel’s Groot has grown up to be a much bigger tree, although his vocabulary hasn’t improved very much. And Kraglin is played by Sean Gunn (the director’s brother).
Among the many antagonists on hand is Adam Warlock [Will Poulter] the artificial being created to destroy the Guardians of the Galaxy, who clearly has issues with the villainess Ayesha [Elizabeth Debicki], who looks even more striking in gold face paint). Will Poulter plays the role with an enjoyable mixture of physical menace and baby-like befuddlement, but he ultimately fails to make a lasting impression.
This instalment really ups the ante in terms of practical and make-up effects, as well as in world-building, including the COUNTER-EARTH, which resembles a 1950’s-era suburb populated by bizarre humanoid creatures of which Rod Serling would have approved. When Peter Quill aka Star-Lord and his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy land there, it results in some of the more surreal moments in any Marvel Studios film as well as some hilarious throwaway gags — including one in which Nebula’s inability to open a car door prompts Peter Quill aka Star-Lord to utter the first “Fuck” heard in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s but one of many comic moments that have become a particular trademark of the Guardians of the Galaxy series, some of which are so stupidly silly that you feel like a kid laughing at them. I’m still chuckling at the ridiculous exchange among the Guardians of the Galaxy over which buttons to press on their spacesuits to properly communicate with each other, with Peter Quill aka Star-Lord’s confusion resulting in everyone overhearing his pathetic attempt to win back Gamora.
‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ film is wildly imaginative visuals are another plus, with the proceedings feeling so bizarrely trippy at times it’s as if James Gunn is aiming to create a midnight cult classic rather than a blockbuster superhero film. James Gunn distinctively anarchic style is on full display here, which makes you wonder how he’s going to tone it down when he tackles such iconic characters less suitable for irreverent humour as Superman upcoming new film.
All in all, Marvel Studios’ ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ is the perfect ending to James Gunn‘s trilogy – a funny, emotional ride which gives every character a moment in the spotlight and concludes their storylines in an immensely satisfying way. If this is the last time we see the Guardians pf the Galaxy, this is a fitting concluding to this brilliant space franchise.
The degree to which you’re going to enjoy ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ will largely depend upon how personally invested you’ve become in these characters over the years. Because the movie really is meant to be a send-off rather than an adventure that will make you fall in love with the Guardians of the Galaxy for the first time. To that end, Guardians of the Galaxy does manage to send its eponymous heroes off in a way that feels thematically “right” for a trilogy that’s always been about misfits.
Near the end of the film you get to see some very emotional scenes especially with Rocket and I also shed a few tears of some of the emotional scenes I viewed. At the end of the film with the end credits, they give loving memory to James Gunn, Sr., Chris Reynolds and Chris Shaw. On top of all that, there was a surprise notice appears right at the very end which says that the LEGENDARY STAR-LORD WILL RETURN!
Sadly, ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ is the last of the brilliant Marvel Studios space franchise, which is both sad and satisfying in one fell swoop. Director James Gunn does a wonderful job tying up all these well-loved characters’ and the stories. Things get did get pretty emotional at times, but there’s always some comic relief just around the corner, but in a very good way. But most of all, I really enjoyed ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ and I love how things have been wrapped up so nicely for all the different characters that hopefully will be seen in other Marvel Studios movies.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3 MUSIC TRACK LIST
CREEP (Acoustic Version) (Written by Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien, Colin Greenwood, Thom Yorke, Phil Selway, Albert Hammond, and Mike Hazlewood) [Performed by Radiohead]
CRAZY ON YOU (Written by Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson, and Roger Fisher] (Performed by Heart]
IN THE MEANTIME (Written by Royston Langdon) [Performed by Spacehog]
SINCE YOU BEEN GONE (Written by Russ Ballard) [Performed by Rainbow]
REASONS (Written by Philip Bailey, Charles Stepney, and Maurice White) [Earth, Wind & Fire]
DO YOU REALIZE?? (Written by Wayne Coyne, Steven Drozd, Dave Fridmann, and Michael Ivins) [Performed by The Flaming Lips]
WE CARE A LOT (Written by Chuck Mosley, Roddy Bottum, Billy Gould, Mike Bordin, and Jim Martin) [Performed by Faith No More]
KOINU NO CARNIVAL [From “Minute Waltz”] (Written by EHAMIC) [Performed by EHAMIC]
I’M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS (Written by Harry Carroll and Joseph McCarthy) [Performed by Alice Cooper]
SAN FRANCISO (Written by David Appelbaum, Colin Dieden, Matthew Di Panni, Katie-Jayne Ear, Josh Hogan, Michael Vincze, Christian Hand, and Spencer Gongwer) [Performed by The Mowgli's]
POOR GIRL (Written by Exene Cervenka and John Doe) [Performed by X]
THIS IS THE DAY (Written by Matt Johnson) [Performed by The The]
NO SLEEP TILL BROOKLYN (Written by Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin) [Performed by Beastie Boys]
DOG DAYS ARE OVER (Written by Florence Welch and Isabella Summers) [Performed by Florence + The Machine]
COME AND GET YOUR LOVE (Written by Lolly Vegas) [Performed by Redbone]
I WILL DARE (Written by Paul Westerberg) [Performed by The Replacements]
BADLANDS (Written by Bruce Springsteen) [Performed by Bruce Springsteen]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – The Walt Disney Company presents us the film ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ with a lovely looking Blu-ray image. It’s quite striking and colourful with also being pretty sharp and crisp. Fine details come through with natural ability and the computer generated visual effects hold up very well under this 1080p high resolution scrutiny. Depth of field is strong and easily lends itself to 3D qualities even on a 2D presentation. Blacks are deep and natural. The film comes with some nice shading and impressive detail shown within the shadows and patterns/textures on surfaces or garments. Colours pop right out here and the film utilizes many vibrant ones in its palette. Purples are strong, golds look very refined. The Orgocorp scenes are probably the highlight of the whole transfer with a lot of good bright colours on space suits and the whole world being vivid. The awesome sounds come in handy with the massive explosions, displays, fire, blaster glows and more. Skin tones are natural and consistent throughout the film. Facial features and textures, even those on aliens as well as the prosthetic make-up effects impress with such detail and never unveil any of the strings behind the curtain. It’s all fluid and realistic.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – The Walt Disney Company brings us the film ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ and features a full, deep, and potent 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio track. The Bass sound begins immediately, rumbling the around the room and delivering a stunning scaled up audio mix. Ship engines, guns, and punches never fail. Each delivers a satisfying burst, and the range remains exceptional throughout. Once the volume is adjusted, this is a wonderful track that is as much fun as the film itself. The front soundstage is wide and expansive, with excellent stereo separation. Surrounds and heights are used to immerse the viewer even further, as sounds move seamlessly around the room as needed.. Action scenes flawlessly leap between channels, tossing any necessary motion in every direction. Surrounds activate at a consistent pace, and the killer soundtrack fills the soundstage whenever utilized. It’s about time the Marvel Studios series got it right on the button.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: The Imperfect, Perfect Family [2023] [1080p] [2.38:1 / 1.78:1] [11:08] With this featurette, we get to view the evolution of the Guardians of the Galaxy through the cast and crew’s passion for each other and the entire franchise. Join this tight knit “found family” as they leave behind a legacy and recount their best memories wrapping up this epic trilogy’s final film and talk about each other’s characters and how they bonded with this with this third Marvel Studios space trilogy and how they have grown in their characters. We also get to view some clips from the 2023 Marvel Studios film and also get to view some exclusive behind-the-scene filming. Contributors in include: Chris Pratt [Peter Quill / Star-Lord], Karen Gillan [Nebula], James Gunn [Writer/Director], Dave Bautista [Drax], Zoe Saldaña [Gamora], Kevin Feige p.g.a. [Producer], Pom Klementieff [Mantis[ and Sean Gunn [Kraglin / Young Rocket].
Special Feature: Creating Rocket Raccoon [2023] [1080p] [2.38:1 / 1.78:1] [9:25] With this featurette, Director James Gunn talks about bringing Rocket raccoon to life and how personal the character is to him. Uncover footage, the research and development of the visual effects process, and the inspiration for Rocket through conversations with cast and crew. We get to see how creative they were when creating the iconic star Rocket for the Marvel Studios 2023 film. Once again we get to view some clips from the ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ movie and also get to view some exclusive behind-the-scene filming. We also get to hear a few people talking about the loveable character Rocket raccoon and how was conceived from a small baby raccoon and also hear about the back story on how Rocket raccoon was brought to life in the third film. Once again we also get to view some clips from the 2023 Marvel Studios film and also get to view some exclusive behind-the-scene filming. Contributors in include: Zoe Saldaña [Gamora], James Gunn [Writer/Director], Sean Gunn [Kraglin / Young Rocket] and Chris Pratt [Peter Quill / Star-Lord].
Special Feature: Gag Reel [2023] [1080p] [2.39:1] [5:59] With this featurette, we get to view the usual scenes a montage of flubbed lines, missed cues, dancing, laughter, and more on set in what they thought was hilarious funny at the time of filming the scenes we did not get to view in the Marvel Studios 2023 film and to me I personally thought they were not at all very funny and totally boring.
Special Feature: Deleted Scenes [2023] [1080p] [2.39:1] [8:27] With this featurette, we get to view the following eighty deleted scenes from the 2023 Marvel Studios film ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ and here is what we get to view: A Bit Much; A Lending Hand; Drax's Analogies and Metaphors; The Perfect Society; The Search for 89P13; Annoyed Peter; A Burning Escape and Knowhere After the Battle.
Special Feature: Audio Commentary by James Gunn [2023] [1080p] [2.39:1] [000:00] With this featurette, we get to hear this in-depth audio commentary by Writer/Director James Gunn and as soon as the Marvel Studios 2023 movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ movie starts we are introduced to James Gunn and welcomes us all and says it is very sad that this film is the last of the three Marvel Studios space franchise and also says this has taken up much of his life and it is sadly the end of an era. James Gunn also says, it is interesting doing this audio commentary, because every time he has done these types of audio commentaries in the past six or seven films, and usually he has done the audio commentary for previous films long after the film has been released on a Blu-ray disc, whereas this time it is totally different, and he is actually watching this 2023 movie now it has been completed and is interested how people will react to this particular audio commentary. James Gunn says that one of the big reactions to this Marvel Studios 2023 movie is the story about baby Rocket and he has really liked the flashbacks of the story of baby Rocket’s evolution, and what James Gunn wanted to do is partly in the present day and partly in flashbacks and have the two stories merge. James Gunn thinks the special effects of the large hand grabbing baby Rocket raccoon is a really great visual effect, especially by the Framestore’s teams in London, Montreal, Vancouver and Mumbai who have worked on the two previous Guardians of the Galaxy films and feels what they have done is totally spectacular. James Gunn talks about the great songs you get to hear in ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ that he also so loved putting all the songs in the previous two Guardians of the Galaxy movies, James Gunn starts to now talk about the main group of actors in the ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ and how they have changed and grownup overt the three Marvel Studios films. We find out from James Gunn when Nebula carries out the actor Chris Pratt blind drunk, well in fact it is an exact replica dummy of Chris Pratt and to me personally it looked really lifelike and informs us that it weighed about 35lbs and talks about the company that has made these life size dummies for all of the three Guardians of the Galaxy movies. James Gunn now talks about the massive film set we are viewing and says it is the biggest set ever built, and also the biggest film ever shot and built on the biggest sound stage ever. James Gunn now says that he feels the character Rocket in the ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ film is Rocket’s movie and feels he is the closet to the Guardians of the Galaxy space film franchise, and that is the main reason why James Gunn wanted to direct all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies. Now James Gunn talks about the character Nebula and has had a massive upgrade to her body, and Rocket helped with Nebula’s upgrade gradually through all of the three Guardians of the Galaxy movies, and helped Nebula to become more human and also make some of her machinery attached to her body more powerful. James Gunn now wants to talk about the young Rocket in a cage and with the other genetically altered animals and of course mentions tit is was all done with CGI special effects, but all the camera angles are real, and of course all the genetically altered animals are all performed by real actors crouching on the floor with items on their clothing so to give the Framestore people to work on creating the amazing special effects, and the Walrus genetically altered animal James Gunn says it was performed by a young guy from England. At around 23:14, James Gunn talks about the appearance of my old friend the actor Sylvester Stallone who again appears Marvel Studio 2023 third movie and was in the ‘Guardian of the Galaxy Vol.2’ movie and feels Sylvester Stallone is a big hero to me for a very long time and is very supportive of all the Marvel Studios films. James Gunn now talks about actress Zoe Saldaña who plays Gamora, who is back in this third film, but now a totally bad ass character this time and enjoyed writing for the actress Zoe Saldaña character for this Marvel Studio 2023 third movie and there are no rules for her character Gamora and brings rough anger to her character in this third movie, and her big feature for Gamora is her relationship with Peter Quill aka Star-Lord, and again Gamora is totally now with a different group of bad ass family. James Gunn now says this ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ film was the most easy movie to edit and feels it is because it took him a whole year in 2022 to write the script for this 2023 movie, so while writing the script, was actually editing the film in his mind and all aspect of the movie and all the different scenes he was imagine in his mind. But on the other hand, James Gunn says we were at the time going through the COVID pandemic, so caused lots of serious problems when shooting the actual movie, but again, on the other hand again, editing the movie was so easy and very fluid, but as to the movie itself, there was a very dark edge to the film and loves all the animals that get experimented on in that special glass chamber, but on the other hand feels the actor Chukwudi Iwuji who plays The High Evolutionary is extremely cruel and vindictive, but is played by a fantastic actor and feels the character is doing whatever he wants to these innocent animals for his own reason, which you have to watch the movie to find out what his motives are for messing about with the genetic experiments towards these poor animals, and now The High Evolutionary now finds out how intelligent baby Rocket is and does not like it one bit and really hates and detest baby Rocket in finding out that baby Rocket is now more intelligent than The High Evolutionary, and as you watch the rest of the movie, you will find out The High Evolutionary was to do some really nasty experiment on baby Rocket to make him less intelligent than The High Evolutionary, and is so petty and vindictive towards baby Rocket, but of course near the end of the movie The High Evolutionary finally gets his comeuppance and I cheered when this happened. When we see the group of the Guardians of the Galaxy floating in their different colourful space suits, James Gunn says that the different colourful space suits were based on the different coloured spacesuits in the film ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ which he really loved the movie. James Gunn now wants to talks about the Cinematographer Henry Braham, B.S.C. and is the third movie that James Gunn has worked very closely together with Henry Braham and also feels Henry Braham is a totally brilliant Cinematographer and also informs us that sometimes they use special small cameras that can get up close in very cramped space and especially very close up to the actors, but also move the camera around in a very organic way, and does not feel like a hand held camera and that you do not get that feeling like being sick on a boat when you are watching the movie and was totally fantastic for us shooting the film, and feels things have advanced greatly in camera technology. James Gunn says when he was directing ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ he wears a microphone and tends to yell at the actors in telling them what he wants them to perform in front of the camera, he also yells at the cameraman as well at the same time, and is sort of sitting off stage, so there is some distance from the actors and cameramen. James Gunn now talks about the character Groot, who is of course voiced by Vin Diesel and when Groot says, “I Am Groot,” and feels there is some sort of telepathic component to his character, so that when he says, “I Am Groot,” and it is a sort of bond with him and that is why Groot has been able to communicate with some of the Guardians of the Galaxy over the three films in what he is saying, but right near the end of the movie we get some extra words come forth from Groot, which I thought was really cool. When the Guardians of the Galaxy land back on Earth and they eventually make it to one of the houses, James Gunn really praises the Production Management Designers what they have done inside the house which he feels is really good, and also praises the Costume Designer Judianna Makovsky who he felt had done a fantastic job, and really loves the Guardians uniforms, which is based on the Guardians of the Galaxy comic books and really gave great texture to the uniforms and a reality to them and again it was all down to the genius of Judianna Makovsky and her team. When we get to around 1:14: 30, James Gunn now talks about the real story behind Rocket raccoon, and we find out how he turns out to be a really nasty creature because of how badly he was treated when he was baby Rocket and especially by The High Evolutionary, and in the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3,’ Rocket raccoon is starting to become his real self, and we see Rocket to really outsmart The High Evolutionary nasty evil character, and that we see Rocket is able to get out of his cage and release his other three close animal friends that he has bonded with so much, and Rocket is a bit of a kleptomaniac and has been stealing different electronic items from the Guardians of the Galaxy spaceship, but when Rocket opens up both cages, sadly something really nasty happens to his other three close animal friends, but Rocket is able to escape the nasty evil The High Evolutionary who turns up to try and stop them escaping and especially tries his hardest to thwart Rocket’s escape to freedom, and despite the very sad ending to his three close animal friends, as Rocket has to move forward to achieve his goal in life, and James Gunn thinks this part of the movie is really very dark and totally heart breaking what we get to witness, but we finally see Rocket becoming stronger and really fighting for his life and survival to go into the future and beyond, and is now showing his true vengeance for injustice by The High Evolutionary. When we get to 121:00 James Gunn talks about the character Nebula [Karen Gillan] and says a lot comes out in this scene we get to view in this Marvel Studios 2023 film, where Nebula is unable to except anybody’s weakness and will not except for her own weakness, but also says that they also have a problem how the view themselves, whereas Nebula, she is not the one forgiving herself for any shit she has done before in the previous two Guardians of the Galaxy films, and also feels Peter Quill aka Star-Lord and even Rocket have also major problems on how they view themselves, and James Gunn feels Drax is the only one he thinks has had problems and traumas when he became an adult and slowly his personality has stabilised in this third movie, and a much more happy go lucky guy. When we see Rocket in heaven meeting his very dear friend Lylla [Voiced by Linda Cardellini], and because he is slowly dyeing and going into the light, but of course Peter Quill aka Star-Lord fights to get the item he needs to revive Rocket and of course eventually Rocket is brought back to life because Peter Quill aka Star-Lord was stubborn enough to not let his lifelong friend die, but James Gunn says that this is the crux of the movie and this is the reason he wanted to create the movie for baby Rocket and especially Rocket to the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. As we are nearing the climax of the Marvel Studios 2023 movie, James Gunn says that when he showed the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ to a preview audience, they thought the rebel band of the Guardians of the Galaxy, the audience thought it was the demise of the Guardians of the Galaxy troupe in what they were viewing with massive explosions happening around them all with The High Evolutionary ship slowing being destroyed with massive explosions of the destruction of his gigantic spaceship and we see the Guardians of the Galaxy releasing all of the Star Children to save them from being experimented on by The High Evolutionary, and James Gunn feels the movie has a joyful ending, and the definitive part of the movie, where Rocket is facing who he really is and is about to rescue the rest of the experimented animals by the evil The High Evolutionary, and James Gunn feels that is Rocket’s destination at this point in the movie, and we get to see a really wonderful emotional scene in the film where Rocket rescues all of the other baby Raccoons locked in the cage and the same one when he was a baby Raccoon, and Rocket sees where he came from originally before being experiment on and finds out he originally came from North America on Earth as there is a metal plate attached to the cage showing him that information, and you see Rocket getting very emotional as he rescues all of the baby Raccoons with tears running down his face, and at that point the evil megalomaniac The High Evolutionary suddenly appears in a very manic rage and does not want Rocket to win, and suddenly the tables are turned on The High Evolutionary as Rocket gets to be more powerful and stronger and shows The High Evolutionary that he has lost the fight, and The High Evolutionary gets well and truly blasted by Rocket and his very powerful gun, which The High Evolutionary did not expect, and of course The High Evolutionary is totally shocked and finally gets his justified comeuppance at last, and I personally thought felt it was the most satisfying aspect of the film, and showing that Rocket is now 100% in control of his destiny in life and the future. But because the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters turn up to help Rocket defeat the evil The High Evolutionary and we get to see Gamora peel off the face of The High Evolutionary and it is a really horrible disfigured face, because James Gunn says that the The High Evolutionary had done a lot of experiments on himself thinking he would become even more of a perfect human being. At 2:17:05, James Gunn says, he feels this part of the film for him was really, maybe the greatest moment he has ever had on a movie set, when we see Groot and Rocket getting up and dancing together with a particular song being broadcast all over the spaceship, and then we see all the Star Children and all of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters dancing madly as well and you get to see them having a lot of brilliant fun. But at Chapter 30 we see Peter Quill aka Star-Lord back on Earth visiting his lost relations he has not seen in a very long time and is here to meet his Grandfather and it is a very emotional scene in the film when the Grandfather gives Peter Quill aka Star-Lord a great big hug, and it is now 40 years since he last met his Grandfather until now. At 2:20:12 James Gunn says, “Oh Boy, it is not easy to talk for that long, and sitting here all by myself, but I appreciate you guys listing to me.” On top of all that, he goes about praising certain people who have worked with him and they were Nikolas Korda, Kars P. Winther, the sound guys at Skywalker, and talks about the cast who are listed on the end credits in their appearance in the ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ 2023 movie, and of course talks about all his favourite songs that can be hears in the movie, and suddenly we the group of the Guardians of the Galaxy characters in the desert scene sitting on some rocks talking about their adventures, and suddenly Rocket wakes up a giant Groot as some wild animals are racing towards them that they are going to battle with, and James Gunn says Rocket in this extra scene has been reflecting on his life so far and everything he has been through and what these group of people mean to him personally, and reflects on who he is, where he has come from and where he might be going to fly off into the future on a another fantastic journey. James Gunn finally says, that he really wanted to have a way of acknowledge all of the other movies that we have all been through with the three Guardians of the Galaxy space franchise films, and now it is an end of an era, and so we decided to do it through these photos in the end credits, of scenes in all three Guardians of the Galaxy space franchise movie, and see different moments that men most to James Gunn, which he feels was a joyous emotional part of his life being involved with all of the actors that appeared in all three Guardians of the Galaxy movies, and on top of all that, James Gunn working with everyone that was so supportive to the three Guardians of the Galaxy films, which he is so appreciated so much, and also praises the people who worked very long hours on the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3.’ James Gunn also praises Stan Lee who was involved with the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.1,’ because he was such an inspirational person, and it was so sad when he passed away, and again so enjoyed working with such a legend. James Gunn mentions the actor Kurt Russell we see in a photo in the end credits and says what a hero I got to work with on this series of movies and also praises other marvellous actors he got to work with on all of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies over the years. Kames Gunn mentions a photo of his Mum and Dad in the end credits, and mentions his Dad sadly passed away a couple of years ago and dedicates the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ to his Dad, and praises his Mum who is still around, and also mentions at the end of the credits we get to view the whole Guardian gang in one wonderful great photo. Also there is a great surprise, we get to view a short end to the film with Peter Quill aka Star-Lord having his bowl of cereal at the breakfast table with his Grandfather who is reading a newspaper, and Chris Pratt spoke to James Gunn about doing a movie with Peter Quill aka Star-Lord trying to adapt to life on Planet Earth, and James Gunn says he would like to see this movie. As I said, we see Grandfather reading The St. Charles Post newspaper and if you look quickly you will see the headline “Alien Abduction: Kevin Bacon Shares All.” As we come to the end of this legendary audio commentary with James Gunn, he says, “Anyway, I love you all, and thank you so much for sticking with me, love you.” Well to sum up this audio commentary with James Gunn, will I thought it was a really extra special audio commentary and a very fascinating, insightful and intelligent audio commentary, and I personally learned a great deal about the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ and it is a definite must listen audio commentary and James Gunn is such a joy to listen to, and definitely gets a five star rating from me.
Finally, I feel the degree to which you are going to enjoy the movie ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3’ [2023] will largely depend upon how personally invested you’ve become in these Guardians of the Galaxy characters over the last two Marvel Studios movies. Because the movie really is meant to be a send-off rather than an adventure that will make you fall in love with all of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies so far. To that end, Guardians of the Galaxy space franchise does manage to send its eponymous heroes off in a way that feels thematically “right” for a trilogy that’s always been about misfits finding themselves with the help of their found families and marching to the beat of their own weird drums. In the End, Rocket Raccoon is the ultimate Star of ‘GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 3.’ Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
