Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II, mini movie review

Rating: A-

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. II!!!  A movie full of epic space mayhem, flashy battles, and stellar 70's music.  Honestly the first movie was quite a pleasant surprise.  There's a talking raccoon!!  It seemed poised for disaster, but it was full of a lot of fun with great characters, plot, and action.  This second installment lives up to the first movie.

Peter Quill and the gang are back, baby Groot in tow, saving the galaxy as they rock out.  Along the way they pick up some new friends and foes.  Ayesha is the leader of the Sovereign race, genetically superior golden people with a bad taste towards theft and an awesome battle system.  Mantis is an alien with special abilities and a total sweetheart.  Peter meets someone who sheds light around where he comes from and why he exists, aka how is it Peter was able to hold an infinity stone in his hand without dying?

This second Guardians of the Galaxy is simply a rocking good time balanced with humor, action, and good music.  The new characters add a lot to this imaginative world.  I was afraid I wasn't going to care for Mantis, but she's a really enduring character and I like how she interacts with Quill's crew.  Yondu and Nebula are also back, adding interesting depth to the story and what it means to be a family.

Also Kurt Russell plays Ego.  There's a flashback scene with a younger Kurt Russell and the CGI is incredible!  Leaps and bounds ahead of Tron: Legacy which showed a young Jeff Bridges.  Technology has come so far, though CGI Leia at the end of Rogue One is still creepy, not CGI baby creepy from a certain (*cough* Twilight *cough*) movie, but still creepy.  Young Russell is impressive.

And I Love Baby GROOT!!!!  AHHH the cuteness!

See Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. II if you loved the first.  (If you haven't seen the first you will want to find a copy, as the first movie is referenced at times without deep explanation.)

MPAA: Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language, and brief suggestive content.

P.S. I like the music in Vol. II over Vol. I.