Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3: finally a step in the right direction

After a long while finally we received a truly good MCU movie that brings interesting storytelling, compelling characters, surprisingly comedic moments and great action scenes together: Guardians of the Galaxy 3. This movie is a spectacular turning point in the quality of movies that were released in the past couple of months that came as a very pleasant surprise. This movie is extremely good for many reasons but can be boiled down to pretty much two things: focus on beloved characters and their backstories that intertwine seamlessly to the current plot and of course the one of a kind director that is James Gunn.

Character growth and emotional arcs are present all over the movie and feels perfectly incorporated alongside the action-packed superhero narratives. The personal journeys of the principal characters, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and Nebula, are explored in greater detail in the third film, with Rocket's backstory being even more so with constant flashbacks and a deep tie to the movie's villain. Guardians of the Galaxy 3 adds layers to the characters' storylines and emotional depth by examining their pasts, relationships, and internal struggles, not shying away from the sadness and pain felt within the characters and showing it to the audience both subtly and very explicitly. The story seen here is amazing and truly lets this genre of cinema shine in a way that it doesn't feel like a brainless superhero movie, giving us characters to care about who can be relatable to the viewers.

Speaking of story: The popularity of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise can be greatly attributed to James Gunn's vision and direction, which are both distinctive of the genre and cinematography in general. After his brief leave of Marvel Studios, Gunn ended up returning to direct Guardians of the Galaxy 3 and what a relief this was for fans of the previous two movies that wanted to see the proper end of the trilogy. His reappearance guaranteed continuity and consistency in the trilogy's plot, humour, and tone, enabling him to wrap things up on his terms and realise his vision.

After watching it myself I can say with absolute certainty that everything that made the other two movies great were present and increased to a very high degree to make this both one of the most memorable movies in the year and until now, by far, the best movie released by the MCU this year. My recommendation cannot be expressed enough to anyone who enjoys good music, an interesting plot and a roster of great actors doing some amazing work.