Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 [GOG3] is by far the best film in the trilogy. With an exceptional soundtrack, heartfelt and emotional undertones, and a plot that was superb, GOG3 should go down as one of the best films of 2023. 

Set in 2027, approximately two years after the events of Marvel’s The Avengers: Endgame, GOG3 opens with the main cast living and taking care of the “planet”- actually a Celestial’s severed head that is described in Marvel’s Eternals– “Knowhere.”

This reconstruction of “Knowhere,” however, is disrupted when Adam Warlock, played by Will Poulter, an artificial being created by The High Evolutionary that possesses incredible strength and speed, arrives. 

From there, the plot takes off. Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, is mortally injured, and the film begins with the rest of the crew setting off to find the person responsible for the security system inside of him that prevents the use of med packs. 

Written and directed by the previous director of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, James Gunn continues to set the bar for his films, as well as Marvel as a whole, higher and higher.

Besides the slight hiccup that was Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Gunn’s skills as a writer are like none other. 

The plot of GOG3 was nothing like any of the other currently/new released films that Marvel has been producing. GOG3 brought viewers back to the “golden age” of Marvel, and it is a show-stopping film that rightfully deserves the high praises it has received.

The High Evolutionary, played by Chukwudi Iwuji, is perhaps one, if not the most, frightening antagonist of the Marvel universe. While he isn’t the most powerful, physically, The High Evolutionary is terrifying because he is intelligent and human-like. He portrays the individuals in society who push the boundaries of science and technology too far for the sake of creating a “perfect” world. 

His entire backstory, as well as its interconnectedness with Rocket and the rest of the Marvel universe, is superb. Because of Gunn’s direction and Iwuji’s performance, The High Evolutionary has opened doors for what Marvel can do with their villains. 

The writing was solid. Each part of the film was well thought out, and Rocket’s backstory was exceptionally crafted. Likewise, the conflict between Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt, and Gamora, played by Zoe Saldana, was unlike any other. 

With a unique past between these two, Pratt and Saldana managed to perfectly capture the one-sided feelings between their characters. This isn’t a surprise, however, as Saldana’s work in Avatar: The Way of the Water as Neytiri was one of the most intense performances of all time. 

Saldana has again found the bar and surpasses it by miles. Her ability to capture the essence of Gamora, while at the same time making her an entirely new character was impressive. She truly understood the differences between the Gamora that the Guardians knew and loved, and the Gamora from an alternative timeline that came to stay. 

Very few Marvel movies have brought the emotion and tear-jerking moments that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 delivered. Rocket’s backstory as a whole was incredible. It sparked questions of how far humanity would go for the sake of a “more perfect” life, and what it means to find your family. 

The visuals surrounding his backstory were also well-done. The production of the “Humanimals,” the humanoid and animal cross-breeds, were horrific and disturbing, but they served a well thought out vision that was the High Evolutionary. These depictions truly made the audience understand all that Rocket has survived, and why his personality is very deflective and putting off others’ compassion. 

It wouldn’t be a Guardians of the Galaxy film if it did not have an excellent soundtrack, and volume 3 did not disappoint. With 80s, 90s, and 2000s hits like “Creep,” “No Sleep ‘Till Brooklyn,” and “The Dog Days Are Over,” each piece of music seemed to perfectly capture the essence of the film and its characters. 

Collectively, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 was an impressive film. It captured all the elements of the original films while still bringing something new to the table. The performances by the cast were unforgettable, and overall the film gave hope that Marvel’s “golden age” is long from over.