Movie Review: Gaurdians of the Galaxy Volume III

 Movie Number 22 of 2023

The Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Volume III

The Cinema: Hoyts Victoria Gardens

Stars: 4

Hand on heart, my favourite Marvel creations are the Guardians of the Galaxy. They're fun, they're funny, their quirky and they are a family, and there's a lot of action - what more could you want in a film? 

Well, Guardians of the Galaxy Volume III does not disappoint - but it's a bit different to the other two films. 

Firstly, it's a bit more heartfelt. It's also a little bit darker. 

I won't be putting spoilers in this review, but will mention some activities from the other two films.

At the end of the second film, we see the Golden People being lead by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) being rather angry that the Guardians defeated them. So, it's payback time. Ayesha sends her son, Adam Warlock (Will Poulter playing the ultimate Mummy's boy) to fix some things. He's just a bit dangerous.

Compounding this, a new baddie, The High Evolutionary (played masterfully by Chukwudi Iwuji) who wants to get his hands on Rocket Racoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper). Rocket, it comes to pass, was one of the High Evolutionary's creations, and we get a lot of the back story of this over the film. 

And then there's dear old Starlord , or Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) to his mates. He's still mourning the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) from when Thanos killed her in Avengers: Infinity Wars, however, Gamora has come back, but remembers nothing of their relationship. Her sister, Nebula (Karen Gillen), seems to be doing a bit better, holding the fort and keeping Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff). Oh, and Kraglin (Sean Gunn) is back, still trying to master Yondu's whistling arrow. 

If you haven't seen the first two films this won't make sense, however, I went along with Barney, the Units and Teddie. Teddie hasn't seen the first two films and she really enjoyed it. As for the Units, they gave the film an eight out of ten, which for two grunting thirteen-year-olds is pretty goood. 

So, that's the starting point. As with all Guardians of the Galaxy films there's a lot of action - lots and lots of action. What this one has above and beyond is a heart-rending back story, as we find out just how Rocket became Rocket. I loved this bit. It's touching - so touching that this comes with a take some tissues warning. Then again, I cried when Yondu died. 

James Gunn's writing and direction are spot on as always. And, of course, the music is great, but they've graduated from the seventies and moved on to the nineties and naughties music. And yes, Starlord's walkman is still around, but we see the emergence of the iPod too. 

And lastly, there are some fabulous cameos in this. Some of them, if you blink, you'll miss them - link Kevin Bacon and Sylvester Stallone, but they are there. 

I'm a Marvel nut and I love Guardians of the Galaxy part three. I now have to get Teddie around so she can catch up and see the others. 

This is great fun, with a heart. 

Today's song: 

Sunday Stealing: Songs

 It's Coronation Night, and because of this I've got the telecast playing in the background. King Charles is our Head of State, rightly or wrongly (I blame John Howard for this. We might be a republic if it wasn't for his arsing around. ). The British do pomp and circumstance very well - although I doubt I'm going to have to wait another lifetime to see another coronation. At 74, we'll be lucky to get 20 years out of him. 

A pot of pumpkin, sweet potato and chick pea soup is cooking on the stove. Yes, Americans. Pumpkin and sweet potatoes make a decent savoury dish. And to the Brits reading this, no, pumpkin is not just food for pigs. 

Anyway, on with the questions, brought to you by Bev at Sunday Stealing. 

1. A song with a food name.

Peaches, by The Presidents of the United States. This is a great song to sing badly. 

This is not to be confused with the artist, Peaches song F*ck the Pain Away - which I like a lot too. But that is not about food. 

2.  A song with an animal in it

Little Lion Man by Mumford and sons. I love this song. It reminds me of a friend who's learning the banjo. But it's just a great song. 

3.  A song about a bird

Blackbird by The Beatles. Is there any better Beatles song? This is up there. Off the White Album. 

4.  A song about a dog

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin.  Not that this is about a dog, but it has the word Dog in the title. 

5. A song mentioning a cat.

There are far too many songs mentioning cats, but I love this one by Elton John. I mean, what do they mean about a Honky Cat? Does it smell?

6. A song listing a character from Wizard of Oz.

Oh, a hard one. But we have this song about a Lion... which gets stuck in your head. You can thank me later. Wimohweh...  No self-respecting lion would sleep through this. 

7. A late night driving song. 

If I'm driving late at night I try and listen to something a bit edgy and loud with a beat. Something I can sing along to.  The Pixies are great or late night drives, as are The Pogues and AC/DC. And remember, Shane McGowan is still alive somehow. Must have the same genes as Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones. 

8.  A song from a movie

I watched The Breakfast Club a few weeks ago. You can't hear this song without thinking about the film. This was a hard choice for me. I could have put the whole of the soundtrack to Grosse Point Blank in here. Love both of these films. (Simple Minds, Don't You Forget About Me).

9. A guilty pleasure song

Please don't tell anybody I love this song. Love, love, love it. I have fond memories of rolling into Apollo Bay in a convertible with this blaring over the radio. (The Blood Hound Gang - The Discovery Channel Song).

10. A song about friends

There's so many songs about friends to choose from. But I like this one. (Bill Withers, Lean on Me)

11. A song that is about summertime

This song might not be about summer per se, but if I think of a song about Summer, this is it. It reminds me of the beach, playing beach cricket and swimming at Silver Sands beach. It's a very Australian song.  (Dragon, April Sun in Cuba).

12. A song that needs to be played more on the radio

We have a radio station at our local Coles Supermarket, which plays all sorts of amazing songs while you do your shopping. You often see people singing along. I would love to hear this over Coles Radio. It would be funny. IYKYK.  Here's a link to the Wikipedia page. Look at the section marked "Call and Response. You are Australian if you do not do this, they might take your passport away. It's in our genes. Here's a link to what happens live. Any self-respecting Australian has to sing the call and response. As I said, it's genetic. (The Angels, Am I Ever Going to See Your Face Again).

13.  A song about drugs or alcohol

This is my ringtone. Not many people know that this is about Anthony Keidis' struggles. (Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Under the Bridge).

14. A song you would sing at karaoke

I don't think I'd ever sing karaoke again, but I'd probably do something like this - because it's short. And nobody knows the lyrics anyway. :)  (Blur, Song 2)

15. A song from year you were born in

I never knew this came out in 1968 - well the original did. Gotta love her. (Aretha Franklin, Think)

Today's song: 

Binge Watch: Queen Charlotte - A Bridgerton Story

 The Series: Queen Charlotte - A Bridgerton Story

Streaming Service: Netflix

Time Investment: Around 7 hour (6 Episodes of just over an hour)

Stars: 4

Bridgerton is my guilty pleasure. We all need one, and Shonda Rhimes, who is responsible for Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice, among other series, of course I was going to watch this. 

I've binged watched this over the last few days, as this is often the best way to take in these shoes. Complete immersion. 

So - what's it like?

If you're a Bridgerton fan, you'll love it. The costumes are there. Some of the sex is there - but it's not as racy as that first season. The witty comebacks - also present. The music is also there - modern pop songs by Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys set to classical music, just as was done in the other series.

It's all there. 

And what's it about? 

Well, this looks at Queen Charlotte's early married life. For those in the Bridgerton know, Queen Charlotte (played in Bridgerton time by Golda Rosheuvel, and in the early days by India Amarteifio) is the wife of Mad King George. She was a German princess hand picked for the role. At seventeen, she's shunted across to England to marry into "The Firm", where she encounters all sorts of problems. These are compounded by the King's mother, Augusta (Michelle Fairley) who is trying to keep her son's condition a secret. 

In the background Agatha, Lady Danbury (Played in Bridgerton time by Adjoa Andoh, and in the olden  days by Helen Coathup) is a young woman married to a horny old bloke. She's miserable, not that her husband cares. He has his heirs - she's done her job. 

And there's a young Violet Ledger (Ruth Gemmell, and her younger self is played by Connie Jenkins-Greig) soon to be Bridgerton, about to come out to society. 

The themes encountered here run along the marriage and happiness and status and race. 

Yes, race. This is where the real history gets a bit murky. 

Is this historically accurate? 

Hells no. But that's okay. They've put a disclaimer right at the front of the first episode. 

So, is this a bit of a revisionist history?

Absolutely. That they bring in the black cast members and say that in marrying Charlotte, black folk are now equals - this is a good thing. It also shows the early struggles these families are prone to, and how tenuous their position appears to be. 

It also looks at George III's madness. As those up on their history know George III was prone to bouts of madness. Whether he was bi polar, or this was an effect of his porphyria, poor George didn't have a good time of things, but Charlotte managed to find a way to help him through. 

On the other side of this, in the updated Bridgerton times, we see Charlotte struggling with her eleven children, who've all managed to remain childless (okay, legitimately childless) and unmarried. And she wants somebody to continue the line - as all good queens do. 

Oh, then there's the help. The footmen, who are having a relationship - which would have taken them to the gallows at the time. They're lovely. As is the Pomeranian, which appears to be the butt of a number of jokes. 

Is it worth watching? 

Absolutely. It won't be for everybody. It won't be for history purists. But if you like a good yarn, something racy in a prescribed world where things are a bit freer, then go for it. It's escapism at its best. 

Today's song: 

Today's Dad Joke

 After working with one particular colleague at my last job, I've grown used to a daily enslaught of dad jokes. 

Dad jokes are a thing, it seems.

Normally, they are clean enough to relate at work without offending anybody. 

Zingers like, What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?" "Sofishticated.

Or, a skeleton walks into a bar and says, 'Hey, bartender. I'll have one beer and a mop...

Yeah, bad.

Or you get the ones from the latest Ted Lasso episode. 

There are the slightly dodgier ones, which you think twice about sharing on Teams. Jokes like, I've just watched a documentary on marijuana. I think all documentaries should be watched this way.

Or, It's okay if your phone autocorrects 'fuck' to 'duck.' You're still using fowl language.(That one probably wouldn't get through the work sensors - then again, we're pretty conditioned to obfuscating letters when required. 

Or this one. Gonorrhea would have been a great name for diarrhea medicine...

Anyway, tonight's zinger came from the gym. We had our last in person session with Cleo. We've taken possession of her kettle bells - a 12 kg and an eight kg one in the boot of my car waiting to be brought upstairs. Not in the mood tonight. I'll do it over the weekend.

Anyway, tonight's Dad joke comes from Cleo and Jay. 

What do you call Mexican Firemen?

Jose and Hose B.

Think about it...

Today's song: 

Baby Steps

 I've made it to the gym.

I've made it to the gym twice this week. 

Which is a bit of a miracle, but it is also a start. 

I've also seen Cleo, but after around eight years of being our trainer, tomorrow is our last session with her as she's moving to Spain on Sunday. We've been seeing her at another studio in the next suburb for the last few years. We're going to miss her. She's been a great trainer and a good friend, however, we'll be seeing her online as she'll train us once a week from home while she settles into life in Barcelona (lucky cow)

Last night I did around half an hour of weights.

Tonight, half an hour of gentle cardio. 

It's a start. 

It felt good. 

Hopefully the anxiety I've been feeling when I think about Pump class will abate soon. It's the noise and the crowded room I don't want to face. 

As with everything, baby steps. 

I don't want to write any more tonight. Nothing to say. 

Today's song: 

A Date with the Dietician

 I have an Alicia in my life. Monday afternoons she calls and checks in on me like an overbearing partner. 

Alicia is my dietician. She's paid to call me. 

I'm pretty sure after these first couple of weeks of teething she's going to become the bitch from hell, but at the moment, she's okay. Very nice. But most monsters will start out this way. 

I remember seeing a naturopath a few years ago who made me give up gluten, dairy, caffeine, sugar and alcohol cold turkey. I was ready to rip her head off, especially over the coffee. Strangely, five years on, I've never gone back to the caffeine and try to keep the others to a minimum. 

We had our first check in yesterday. 

It was interesting.

She asked me what I thought about the process. 

Truthfully, I found the whole thing of photographing what you eat and thinking about how you feel about it all fucking confronting. 

And yes, some of this has a bit to do with my current mental state at present, which is a little on the fragile side, but to actually articulate what you're thinking when you're eating, or about to eat, is hard. I mean, eating is something you do. Sometimes you do it for pleasure, sometimes for energy, other times for boredom and stress. 

It wasn't so much the recording, but what I was thinking at the time when logging all of this. 

So, I told her this. 

It seems it's not an unusual thing to think like this. 

But that is why I've enlisted the help of Alecia - to help reassess my relationship with food. 

She was pleased with many of my choices - she could see them - I'd photographed everything I'd eaten in the week, down to the choc tops I downed at the cinema to the toast I'm partial to at 3.30 p.m. when I'm bored.

The other thing I jotted down was the sweet cravings I get at around 10 p.m. which I try my best to ignore. 

And her fruit challenge. I managed to have some sort of fresh fruit on six of the seven days. I still feel strange about fruit. If somebody isn't there to cut it up for me it just doesn't taste right. 

We also worked out I'm a lot more social than I think I am. I was out all of Saturday - and part of Sunday. And Friday night. And Monday lunch. And Wednesday lunch. Yeah. 

It's about making good choices. 

For the next week it's more of the same. Get comfortable with recording everything I eat. Look more into the things I'm feeling when I'm eating. Keep up with the fruit. I have a box of grapes to take to the office tomorrow. 

And lastly, start taking an iron tablet. After receiving some blood test results, it was found my iron was a bit low. I'm not anaemic, but my results were just out of range. The sooner I start working on this, possibly the sooner my general malaise and occasional dizziness I've been experiencing when going from horizontal to vertical might abate. 

And we're food shopping twice a week, rather than my regular once a week. This way, I can buy fewer veggies and keep them fresh. 

She's also been complimentary about my seeking out a mental health plan with the G.P. It needs to be done. But that is a job for next week. This is something that won't be a quick fix. 

For now, it's a matter of one foot in front of the other, one bite at a time, even if I get triggered writing about what I'm eating. I just have to learn to deal with it. 

Today's song: 

April Check In - May Goals

 It's that time of the month again. Goal setting day. 

April wasn't what I wanted it to be, but still, it's good to put these things out there. 

My April goals went like this: 

1. An hour of exercise every day. 

This didn't happen - though I got some exercise in every second day. With my mental health being a little on the fragile getting into a crowded, noisy pump class just wasn't happening. It's okay.

2. Read four books over the month. 

This didn't quite happen either, but I blame Charles Dickens for this. 

I finished two books - Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan and Song of the Sun God by Shankari Chandran. 

And I'm 85% the way through Charles Dickins' David Copperfield - Richard Armitage is reading it to me by an audiobook. It's nearly 900 pages long. That's two normal books. 

I don't feel bad about missing this goal - nearly there. 

3. Save $2000.

Done. Pity it's all going on bills this month. 

4. Write some fiction at least 20 days over the months. 

Alas, no. Struggling with anxiety is not conducive to writing fiction. 

5.  Have somebody over in my flat. 

It didn't happen, but I did invite somebody over, so that is a start. 

6. Stretch more

This happened on a couple of occasions - wish I'd done more if it. 

So, what goals am I setting myself for May. 

1. Be kind to myself. 

Something this hard patch is teaching me is that listening to myself is a good thing, as is being kind. 

2. Exercise and stretch daily. 

I'm not setting time goals, I just want to do more of this. It makes me feel good. 

3. Read four books over the month. 

This is pretty standard. As David Copperfield will be finished by the end of the week, I'll be back on track with reading. 

4. Stick with what the dietician says to do. 

I had my first check in with Alecia the dietician. Things are going to be okay. Recording everything I eat is confronting. I have to trust the process. 

Today's song: