A part of me doesn’t want to write this review, because it means that one of Marvel’s best series is coming to a close. But, just like they entered, our ragtag team of thief-turned-heroes went out in a bang. 

Released May 5, the thrilling finale of the MCU’s most beloved family, “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is a bittersweet masterpiece that instantly makes its way onto the long list of Marvel classics. The captivating original follows a team of misfits that come together to save the universe and become family in the process, which the third volume echoes in a tragically beautiful way. 

The movie kicks off in a somber light where Rocket Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) walks around while humming to music and finds his best friend, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), drunk and grieving the loss of his girlfriend’s memory. After an attack leaves Rocket in critical condition minutes later, the Guardians journey to face the High Evolutionary in a mission that, if not successful, could mean the end of the Guardians as we know them. 

Like its predecessors, “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” has amazing CGI, costumes and music. Whether it be alien creatures or a journey through space, the special effects team outdid themselves with their hyper-realistic sci-fi world. Like the last two films, the use of music in this movie  outshone the other technical aspects, and the soundtrack is one to play on loop for the coming months.

Special effects aside, it was the characters themselves who stole the show, bringing fans with them on a rollercoaster of emotion. 

Each character was three dimensional and real, and it became clearer and clearer as the film went on that they were a family — a stark comparison from the beginning of their journey. The Guardians constantly make fun of each other and crack jokes, yet none take away from the emotional beats of the movie. Pratt steals the show with his acting, and every Guardian wears their heart on their sleeve as they dove deeper into Rocket’s past. 

Compared to the mediocre recent additions to the MCU in phases four and five, this movie was like a breath of fresh air. It was a perfect parallel from the start of the Guardians’ journey, as the gang of rogues finally stop running — this time letting Rocket take center stage and face the demons he hid from the Guardians and fans the past few movies. The writing was heartbreaking and the acting outdid itself, leaving the audience with vivid memories of some of the most important scenes in the MCU’s fifth phase.

An artwork in every way, “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” was the ending that came too soon, but the one the Guardians deserved. It gave closure to each hero in their own somber way, and definitely gave the galaxy something to remember them by.