Page 14 - aruba-today-20230509

A14 PEOPLE / ARTS
Tuesday 9 May 2023
All creatures great and small in ‘Guardians 3’

By JAKE COYLE populate a copy of planet
AP Film Writer Earth. As the Guardians
When Peter “Star-Lord” seek to infiltrate his realm,
Quill, while inspecting a “Vol. 3” repeatedly flashes
murky extraterrestrial re- back to Rocket’s experi-
gion, pressed play on ence with the High Evolu-
Redbone’s “Come and tionary: his transformation
Get Your Love” in the first from raccoon, his joyful ex-
“Guardians of the Galaxy,” perience with other experi-
it would have been hard to mental creations and his
imagine that James Gunn’s harrowing escape.
space opera would ulti- It’s telling that in this
mately lead to something “Guardians” swan song
as sincere, poignant and that Gunn centers Rocket
kinda cornball as the trilo- and less so Quill, whose fa-
gy-ending “Guardians of This image released by Marvel Studios shows, from left, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Groot (voiced ther-son drama dominated
the Galaxy Vol. 3.” by Vin Diesel), Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Dave Bautista as Drax, Karen Gillan as Nebula “Vol. 2.” (Here, he’s mostly
But as Gunn has showed in a scene from “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” in save-my-friend mode
over over the course of Associated Press when not wrestling with the
these increasingly soupy and show off its brash jug- strike these solemn notes, or is quickly sent into emer- heartbreak of this version
sci-fi spectacles, the ge- gling act. Yet whatever this reach for such last-chapter gency mode. Adam War- of Zoe Saldaña’s Gamora.
netically spliced DNA of sweet, surreal sci-fi shamble poignancy in “Vol. 3” is de- lock (Poulter), an artificial Thanks to some “Avengers”
his chaotic, cartoonish is that Gunn has created, batable. being created by the High events, she no longer even
cosmic vision is a double everyone here seems to I’ve always liked these films Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth knows him.)
helix of opposites. Breezy believe ardently in it. And at their most cartoonish. Debicki), comes careen- These are foremost ep-
‘70s rock papers over ex- for even a movie that sends Donning a degree of self- ing into their lair, leaving ics of orphandom about
treme violence. Cynical a golden-hued Will Poulter importance is probably the Rocket (voiced by Brad- distinctly un-superhuman
exteriors cloak sentimen- shooting through space to most Marvel thing about ley Cooper and played in characters. Mother and fa-
tal emotions. A ragtag the tune of Heart’s “Crazy this “Guardians.” Gunn’s motion capture by Sean ther figures float in and out,
group of outcasts, more on You,” that earnest belief films which, unlike most of Gunn) on his deathbed. To while the Guardians attract
so than even the cast of goes a long way. the comic-book studio’s re- save Rocket, a cyberneti- one forlorn figure after an-
“Fast and the Furious,” talk The song, though, that kicks leases, are both written and cally enhanced raccoon, other. In “Vol. 3,” it’s both
a lot about “family” and off “Guardians of the Gal- directed by him have al- the Guardians must hur- comical and even a little
“friends.” Against the odds, axy Vol. 3” is not an upbeat ways stood out for their dis- riedly resuscitate him with stirring just how far empa-
“Come and get your love” one. Radiohead’s “Creep” tinct lack of Marvel house his original programming. thy reaches for all of God’s
has turned out to be a legit casts a sour mood over the style. “Guardians 3,” unfor- This means traveling to and Marvel’s creatures.
invitation. Guardians, who we find in tunately, has contracted a the lab he was created in Gunn has taken a woebe-
“Vol. 3” is a messy, over- a lethargic state of disarray touch of “Endgame” gran- years before by the High gone B-team or C-team of
stuffed finale. But you rarely in the spaceport Knowhere diosity. Evolutionary (a sensational comic book oddballs and
question whether Gunn’s following their 2017 “Empire The group including Star- Chukwudi Iwuji, an all-time cast them into a cosmic
heart is in it. Sometimes Strikes Back”-esque second Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax the Marvel villain), a Doctor tapestry of weirdos and
it spoils some of that ef- chapter. Destroyer (Dave Bautista), Moreau sort who’s been misfits, ranging wildly in size,
fect by trying too hard to Whether “Guardians of the Nebula (Karen Gillan) and toiling to craft a “perfect” shape, color and dancing
juxtapose tonal extremes, Galaxy” is best suited to Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) race of hybrid creatures to ability.q

Review: Lovano’s trio is post-free jazz

in a chamber setting

By STEVEN WINE same time. “All Twelve,” framed by
Associated Press Look elsewhere for swing, an angular, edgy melody.
The latest album from saxo- torrents of notes or chord Graceful interplay drives
phonist Joe Lovano’s Trio changes. There is momen- the romantic sax-piano
Tapestry has almost no tum to the music, however, duet “Le Petit Opportun,”
pulse but plenty of heart as the trio pushes jazz for- and Lovano’s golden ten-
and soul. ward, using silence as an or tone is especially mov-
“Our Daily Bread,” released instrument to build space ing on “One for Charlie,”
Friday, is post-free jazz in a between the players and a slow, sad solo in tribute
chamber setting, and ab- what they play. The result to the late bassist Charlie
sorbing despite the lack of is a set of tunes that float, Haden.
a bass or beat. Lovano’s undulating and unhurried, On the final cut, “Crystal
eight original compositions creating a mood of reflec- Ball,” Crispell falls into uni-
leave plenty of space for tion but also liberation. son with Lovano, whose last
individual explorations by Lovano’s minimalist medi- note is perhaps the album’s
the sax man, drummer Car- tations include the flow- longest, as if he’s reluctant
This image released by ECM shows “Our Daily Bread” by Joe men Castaldi and pianist ing and lyrical title cut, to let go. This challeng-
Lovano’s Trio Tapestry. Marilyn Crispell, even when which almost finds a steady ing music is worth lingering
Associated Press
they’re all playing at the rhythm, and the chromatic over.q