Guardians of the Galaxyarrived as a breathing place of fresh zephyr in 2014 and it was universally adore , but the continuation , Guardians of the Galaxy Vol . 2 , was more divisive . Since James Gunn was evoke from the threequel and then rehired after he ’d call for on another job , we’ll have to wait a few age to see anotherGuardiansmovie .

Unfortunately , this means that despite all the unresolved plot threads involve the Guardians fromAvengers : Endgame , for a while , their first two solo movies will be all we ’ve got . So without further delay , here are 5 thingsGuardians Of The Galaxy Vol . 1did better thanVol . 2and 5 things thatVol . 2did well .

Vol. 2 - Villain

As great asVol.1is , it ’s another injured party ofthe MCU ’s “ villain problem . ”Ronan the Accuser is an incredibly bland scoundrel . He ’s propel by the desire to be a risky guy and not much else .   In scant , he is n’t very interesting .

Vol . 2 ’s villain Ego , on the other hand , has a personal joining to the hero , as all great villains do . And we can realise his motivating . He ’s so ego - engross that the rest period of liveliness in the universe disappoints him and he wants to make over the humanity in his own image . That ’s much more interesting than Ronan .

Vol. 1 - Pacing

The firstGuardiansmovie has a focused tale starting with   its opening panorama , where Peter Quill ’s backstory and defining flaw are established . to boot , the movie ’s central MacGuffin is introducedand all the main characters are play together with a common goal almost immediately .

Meanwhile , Vol . 2takes a while to get give out . A peck of the first act revolve around the Guardians ’ dealing with the Sovereign , and their plotline feels tacked on . For one thing , the   sequel could ’ve been a circumstances more streamlined without them . Slow pacing is n’t always a bad matter , but in thisGuardiansmovie , it is .

Vol. 2 - Strengthening The Characters’ Relationships

While the firstGuardiansintroduced the titular grouping as a team , the 2d one developed them into a kinsfolk . The original indicate usthe easy alchemy deal by Rocket and Grootand inaugurate Peter Quill and Gamora ’s “ Will they , wo n’t they ? ” romance , but the second one strengthened their relationships .

The generator ofGamora and Nebula ’s rivalryis revealed , we see how tragical childhoods made Quill and Gamora a consummate match , Rocket watch to grow from Yondu ’s error , and the Guardians learn responsibility from taking care of Baby Groot .   There ’s a great deal going on in terms of character .

Vol. 1 - Humor

BothGuardiansmovies are funny , but more of the jokes in the first one ground than in the second one . Rocket trying to say Baby Groot which clit to constrict on the detonator is an good example of a bit that down , but there are enough more examples of bits that do n’t ( here ’s looking at you , Taserface ) .

A passel of the comedic moments inVol . 2seem forced , too . It was like James Gunn see that audiences responded to the humor inVol . 1 , so he crammed too much of it intoVol . 2 .

Vol. 2 - Soundtrack

Peter Quill ’s mixtapes   are awesome soundtrack , but in terms ofmatching medicine to fit , Vol . 2narrowly beatsVol . 1 . The first one has pitch - perfect moments like Quill dancing to Redbone’sCome and Get Your Loveand the Guardians arrive on Knowhere set to David Bowie’sMoonage Daydream .

However ,   the sequel has good moments , like Eruca vesicaria sativa fox the Ravagers set to Glen Campbell’sSouthern Nights , the Guardians ’ arrival on Ego ’s planet set to George Harrison’sMy Sweet Lord . And of row , Peter yelling “ You should n’t have killed my mom and squished my Walkman ! ”   while Fleetwood Mac’sThe Chainplays .

Vol. 1 - Drax’s Character Arc

The firstGuardiansintroduced Drax the Destroyer as a complex character . He was a badass warrior reeling from his family ’s deaths , ride by his desire for vengeance . In the 2d one , he was reduced to a laughing inventory .

There were dramatic moments that touched on his disaster , like when Mantis feels his emotions while he conceive about his daughter , but on the whole , it ’s just silly instant like   bragging about his “ excellently vast turds . ” Drax is lovable in both films , buthis ontogenesis was more interesting and congruous in the first one .

Vol. 2 - Theme

The composition ofVol . 1aren’t   clear . It ’s about Peter Quill moving on from his female parent ’s death   and not being   a selfless hero   for the the great unwashed close to him , but the patch does n’t colligate to these approximation in a compelling way .

The 2d one , however , does a better job of connecting themes to diagram . It ’s a movie about fatherhood , as Quill comes to terms with his biologic father being evil , his adoptive father not being as bad as he remembers , and the broader realisation that elevate child under any circumstances is knotty . The patch reflect this in a meaningful way .

Vol. 1 - Peter Quill and Gamora’s relationship

Vol . 1did a skillful job of conveyingPeter Quill and Gamora ’s family relationship . Beautiful moments like Quill introducing Gamora to music or when   lay on the line his life in the vacuum of space just to save her introduce Quill and Gamora properly off the bat aspossibly the most interesting and lovable duet in the MCU .

The second one has some more touching moments between the two , but it does n’t get beyond observe “ some unspoken thing . ”Vol . 2was just a stepping rock betweenVol . 1andInfinity War , the movies that really make grow Quill and Gamora ’s relationship .

Vol. 2 - Final moments

compare toVol . 1,the last moments ofVol . 2leave   an unforgettable feeling on viewers . The first one ended with the Nova Corps thanking the team for saving Xandar and sending them off into their next risky venture . It leave behind you excited for a sequel , but not inevitably cogitate   about what just happened .

Conversely , Vol . 2ends with Yondu ’s funeral . Quill reflect on who his substantial father was all along , the Ravagers give Yondu a proper send - off , and Rocket sheds a split , all set to Cat Stevens’Father and Son . It’sa much strong closing .

Vol. 1 - Freshness

This one might not seem reasonable toVol . 2with it being a continuation and all , but it did n’t find as fresh asVol . 1 . Remember whenGuardians of the Galaxyfirst came out ? It was a wildly refreshing change of pace .

Here was a moving-picture show set in the same universe ofThe Avengersthat took us to cryptical space , introducing us toa talking Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and a wisecrack raccoon . By the time the sequel twine around , it just felt like more of the same . It was still great , but it   was n’t as much of an effect as its predecessor .

NEXT:10 Reasons Guardians Of The Galaxy Is The MCU ’s Best Solo Franchise

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