Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (2017)

 

James Gunn directed and co-wrote the movie; the film’s opener with a baby Groot introduction began just after the first movie wrapped and was in the works for 2 years, with the director choreographing and wearing the motion capture suit for months in advanced before principal photography began with the sequel.  Having all the lead actors blurred in the background in a big fight scene; becoming a musical interlude with Baby Groot interacting with the guardians as he is listening to Quills awesome vol. 2 mix song of Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra.

The Largest theme of the movie is about family, the first installment saw the guardians are loners who forge a family bond amongst themselves into becoming this group. We see that Rocket re-learns  this lesson of family and acceptance by the most unlikely source. The mystery of Peter Quill’s lineage is answered , and how he was able to hold an infinity stone in his hand without perishing is answered, and the sisterly rivalry between Gamora and Nebula  finally gets settled. We also learn that Yondu was sold into slavery and that Sakar rescued him resulting in Yondu joining his adopted family as a ravager whereupon Sakar became like a father to him.

A comic book re-iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy was released from 1990 to 1994 with the Guardians existing in the 31st century and one of their founding teammates was Yondu. Who bares a large fin plate on his head.  Jump ahead 20 years to 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy hits the motion picture theatres, with rave success. According to the director, the film takes place 3 months after the events of the first Guardians, we have a flash back of Peter Quill’s parents back on earth in Missouri 1980, and then 34 years later present day. The Guardians have taken a job protecting precious batteries for a civilized race from an alien energy draining monster. In its sequel, Yondu now appears like the image of the 1990's comic and spoiler alert, becomes an honorary member of the Guardians as well as an original Ravager.  

Mantis the lone liaison of the living Planet Ego joins the team, and offers a potential relationship with Drax the destroyer.   In the original Guardians we the audience were introduced to another celestial like Ego. Named Nowhere; the collector who lives inside the head of Nowhere, the lower g god has become a place where beings mine for precious material.  

Sakar played by Stallone fostered Yondu until Yondu's betrayal; the theme of fathers and sons would become the most prevalent underlining story arc throughout this film between Ego, Quill to Yondu.   This movie marks the 15th film in the marvel cinematic universe,  It was the 8th highest grossing film in 2017; Star Wars the last Jedi took top spot; Disney still won, because Beauty & the Beast Live Action re-make took second spot and  Thor Ragnarok was 9th. Giving Disney 4 slots of the top 10 films of 2017, and 13 movies that have earned 1 Billion dollars at the box office at this point.

For those with technological interest, this was the first film shot with an 8k resolution camera; the Red Weapon 8k. and shots inside the cockpit was filmed with a stabileye which as it is promoted by the film's Director of Photography Henry Braham "So small that you can get it in there next to the actors".  The Director James Gunn has claimed on record he had a great relationship with Disney on creating both Guardians 1 and 2. Disney allowed him plenty of creative space, the only blowback as he phrased it was putting in a Warlock teaser because fans felt that the character would appear in Avengers: Endgame.

For clarity, the fin attached onto Yondu (last name Udonta) head is called a Yaka Arrow controller, hence the weapon . Yondu Udonta uses to impale his multiple victims is called a Yaka Arrow. The arrow was created by Centaurians. a blue skin alien like Yondu himself who is Centaurian.  In an episode within season two - Agents of Shield. Lady Sif tells Coulson there are 6 species of aliens that are blue skin when Coulson asks after encountering an alien at the Guest House (GH).

The Alien beings are Kree, Interdites, Levians, Pheragots, Sarks, and Centaurians.