GOTG Vol. 3 wraps up the best trilogy of the MCU in the most emotionally fulfilling way I could have hoped for.
These movies have always had the thematic heart of being about a group of isolated heroes collectively bonding together through their shared pain and loss. These characters become a family regardless of any blood relation. In Vol. 2, Peter appears to find the answer to his dream fantasy of not only finding his biological father, but having the…
Was not really sure how I felt about this.
Pros: Pedro Pascal's performance was the highlight. Also enjoyed how hard the film made me laugh throughout.
Cons: Pacing at times feels too slow, it'd be a much leaner film with about 15-20 minutes removed. The action and spy/thriller scenes occasionally felt pretty uninspired as well.
First 2/3 of this are wonderful, however the last act drags hard, the movie losing all the momentum it had been building up for the previous hour and a half. This superfluous last act that ties up the romantic story doesn't ruin the movie or take away from the incredible action choreography, but it definitely holds this entry back from being as good as Skyfall (which ends on an amazingly high point).
The Departed features a scene where "Gimme Shelter" by the Rolling Stones restarts three times in one scene. Three god damn times.
Leo's performance is nothing to write home about either. His only way to express emotional intensity is to yell. Jack Nicholson borders on self parody and there is some absurdly blunt symbolism towards the end of the movie.
But somehow it rises above all the flaws and stands as a thrilling piece of cinema that thoroughly engaged me from start to finish.
