Catching up with Palisadians

The Post Goes Through Past Shows and Movies Featuring Locals

By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief

In between working and paying off a large debt to Tom Nook on “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” (this is the first video game I have played with any frequency in many years), I have made it a mini mission to get through the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

There are a few films left on my list, including “Avengers: Endgame” and “Captain Marvel,” so what better time than now to re-watch Palisadian Bradley Cooper star as fan-favorite, genetically engineered raccoon Rocket in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”?

Released in 2017, “Vol. 2” is the sequel to “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and marked the 15th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie, produced by Palisadian Kevin Feige, also features former Palisadian Kurt Russell.

The story follows the guardians—Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) and Rocket—as they embark on their second universe-saving mission.

This time, they take on Ego (Russell), a god-like Celestial and father to Quill, who lures him to his home planet to help him harness power to take over every planet in the universe.

Ego’s empath servant, Mantis, clues the Guardians in … and, well, you know how most Marvel movies end.

“Vol. 2” is one of my favorite movies in the Marvel universe, as it touches on many different themes, including a growing romantic relationship between Gamora and Quill and the complicated nature of losing one parent and being estranged from the other.

As per usual in a Marvel film, the writing is spot on. Hilarious jokes ensue, including Drax being overly blunt with his new friend Mantis, who, after years of spending her time with Ego and only Ego, is learning how to laugh and form friendships.

The film, much like the original “Guardians,” also has a solid soundtrack, with tunes like Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” and Sam Cooke’s “Bring It on Home to Me” playing while the group travels across the universe, earning a Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media nomination for a Grammy Award.

With a run-time of just over two hours, the film is rated PG-13.