The galaxy's band of marvelous misfits are back in this exhilarating and somewhat formulaic-but-funfilled sequel. Gags, laugh-out-loud one liners and obligatory Marvel twist(s) included. If you can get past all the pointless parts, it's a feel-good space spectacular that you can heartily enjoy from start to finish.  And you get a SUPER ADORABLE CRAZY CUTE bonus in the form of a super adorable crazy cute Baby Groot - you will be rooting for the cutest Marvel character ever created. Guaranteed.

James Gunn is back in the Writer and Director's chair after a stellar Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, which was loved by critics and audiences alike. It was the cheekier, younger space brother of the Marvel 'Phase One' films led by an extremely likeable Chris Pratt. If you've read any stories about Guardians 2 you'll know it doesn't stray too wildly from the comfortable chaos of the first. Hopefully you'll love it just as much. They still bicker, they still save galaxies and kick butt, plus there are different jokes but in the same vein (including an extended laugh about the name Taserface, and Peter Quill's breakdown of TV ratings).

The first film shed little light on orphan Quill's familial background and now we find out why. Quill discovers his long lost father is none other than Kurt Russell - or, rather, a god with a small 'g' called Ego with the ego the size of a planet. Who names their child 'Ego' anyway? Daddy's a Celestial, able to build and become *stuff* and now he wants to reunite with his son. The daddy issues are all over the film, but where will it lead? (Fun fact: Peter Quill used to pretend David Hasselhoff was his dad. N'aw.) At the same time, the gang are being hunted by these immaculate golden people who are too perfect to actually step foot in a spaceship and do it all virtually from their arcade. All because Rocket stole a bunch of batteries. They're hardly a scary threat, and I'm still a tad confused at their overall purpose in the first place. Oh, and there's also another side plot with the Ravagers. You can see why there's a common criticism lurking about on Guardians's lack of focus.

Other new characters include the empathic Mantis (Pom Klementieff), who can feel and manipulate emotions. I feel like she never really breaks through into the gang, except for providing light comic relief that's more pitying and makes you feel mean for laughing. And of course, there's the existing gang who continue to play to their strengths (eg. Rocket blowing stuff up and Drax with his one-liners). Yondu and his head fin and magic whistle dart also has a bigger role in this film, and we get to see more of Nebula and her backstory too. We all thought they might make Nebula an easy choice for Villain No.2 but there's more to her than Karen Gillan's troubled squints/stares.

Let's take some time to talk about that frickin' adorable Baby Groot. Whilst he could easily slip into the background in the first film, he's now the talk of town with his big doe-eyes and love for dancing as evidenced in the opening scene. And seeing the other Guardians parent him is oh so sweet. (I'm only half-convinced that Vin Diesel is actually Groot - he possibly sits in a vocal booth for an hour and walks out $1 million richer.) Props to the team for this genius idea; when we thought we'd lost Groot forever, turns out they had a new and improved plan all this time.


The highlights of the film - excluding ma hometree Groot - include the fantastic visuals and brave scenes (a slow-mo jump through space that will make your face do things even Snapchat filters cannot), the script that just keeps giving, and of course the music. The first soundtrack became my motivational playlist, and the second Awesome Mix references Fleetwood Mac, a lotta Sam Cooke, Cat Stevens and Electric Light Orchestra's Mr Blue Sky which I reckon is one of the best songs ever produced. Chris Pratt is another highlight, even though I imagine Peter Quill is Chris Pratt so if you think about it that's quite rubbish acting...

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 had a tough job from the start to replicate the freshness of Vol 1 whilst remaining fresh. The expectations were high but as long as you don't compare the two like for like, you shouldn't be disappointed. There is some sort of overarching unfocused plot throughout Guardians Vol 2. but ultimately it is all about family. Literal blood relative, adoptive, surrogate, or the dysfunctional family of former mercenaries...it's neatly wrapped up in a space superhero movie. Bar some unexpected cameos, it's pretty much what you'd expect...in the most entertaining way possible.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is in cinemas now.

Did you know?

If you're wondering why Kraglin (Yondu's second in command) looked so familiar, it's because he's Sean Gunn aka Kirk in Gilmore Girls! It took me forever to work it out, and he's also the younger brother of director James Gunn.

There are loads of post-credits scenes so stay til the very end - even after the lights come back on. One of them features a Miley Cyrus voice cameo, apparently.

Waiting for the next installment already? Avengers: Infinity War is released in 2018 and features all the Avengers, plus Doctor Strange and Spiderman, plus all the Guardians. Phwoaaar what a lineup. They're forming a super-super-team to take down Thanos.

Looking for a boost of British morale? Look no further than Their Finest, starring Gemma Arterton and Sam Claflin, for a dose of charm and drama. There's a whole host of bonus big British names like Bill Nighy, Richard E. Grant and Helen McCrory too. It's a charming film with a fun film-within-a-film during the Second World War Blitz. With Arterton and Claflin's finest acting on show, and a superb turn from Nighy, it's sure to raise your spirits. 

Scriptwriter Catrin Cole (Arterton) finds herself employed by the Ministry of Information (not Magic, sorry) to help write a script that will bring hope to a nation at war. She's hired to add a woman's touch, which in turn leads to the finding of a woman's voice. Despite the slightly off-key Welsh accent, she's absolutely a character to root for as she navigates the scriptwriting process and filming. Some have billed this as a rom-com, as Sam Claflin plays handsome but sometimes condescending co-writer Tom Buckley and there's a decent amount of chemistry. Problem is, she's married - gasp! Fear not, it's actually not that kind of film and "rom-com" is a misleading label. There's a load of drama and, given it's set in the middle of a terrible war, it's not a smooth journey. I'm less a fan of the romantic side of it since it feels like a slightly disjointed addition to the film.

Let's talk about that film-within-a-film. It's a Dunkirk rescue mission (inspired by a true-ish story) led by two local girls who become accidental heroes. But naturally, a drunk uncle character is needed - enter Bill Nighy as has-been actor Ambrose Hilliard and drunk Uncle Frank. Hilliard is hilarious, but it's Nighy who shines and steals every scene he steps into with his rockstar persona - you shouldn't like him at all but Nighy makes it tricky to comply. A behind-the-scenes look at the film industry is also fascinating, with Director Lone Scherfig unafraid to poke fun at actors and also show home truths (such as the everyday sexism and political drivers), even if they are exaggerated for comedic effect. We get to see snippets of this film and it's so bad that it's good. Thankfully the real deal film is much better. After all, Buckley tells us "film is real life without the boring parts."

Their Finest isn't always 100% believable but what is most authentic is the journey of Catrin Cole. There's one scene where her husband Ellis (played by Jack Huston) is trying to persuade her to leave London because he can't look after her financially, and she places a great big lump of money on the table and calls it "rent". She's talented and determined, and watching her find her purpose is a revelation. Gemma Arterton shows us all the emotions she can muster in an understated sort of way and it's hard to imagine any other actress playing the role. Even an actual Welsh one. Sam Claflin is also a solid bet too, adding depth to his performance even if his character could do with more of it (depth).

My main critique is when Their Finest officially takes on too much and also taking too much time. At nearly two hours long, it waits until towards the end where the entire story seems to confusingly flip to another one, and suddenly "The End" could well be another four hours down the line. It loses smoothness and clarity. Is it a drama? A romance? A comedy? A war drama? It's possible to produce a well-rounded, jam-packed movie, but unfortunately Their Finest falls short at executing it well. Even if it means very well.

Bar the weird (but actually quite full-circle) ending, Their Finest is a wise and wisecracking film that should uplift you even if there are some tears along the way. It's not just a girl-meets-boy story and romance - it's got far too much substance. It tackles feminist issues head-on and don't forget that Bill Nighy performing ridiculous vocal warm-ups is itself a pretty compelling reason to buy the cinema ticket.

*Shoutout to the FDA for the invite!*
Their Finest is in cinemas now.

Letters from Baghdad is a new documentary centred on Gertrude Bell, whom you may not have heard of, but she was actually a woman of history and great importance. A British adventurer, archaeologist and political powerhouse, she helped shape modern Middle East in the 1900s, particularly drawing out the boundaries of modern-day Iraq. Pairing the narration by Tilda Swinton (who also serves as Executive Producer) with Bell's own letters and archival footage, this is a fascinating look at a history that is very current indeed.

It's interesting that this documentary has been made for the big screen - and not just for TV on a Sunday evening. It allows for an hour and a half of letters worth to be narrated and depicted, but from the off it's missing expert commentary that could make more sense of its historical context and also link it directly to affairs today. Instead, maybe the choice of cinematic production purposely moves it away from 'another TV documentary' feel. There's also the use of actors recreating the opinions of other historical figures such as author Vita Sackville-West, by posing in an interview set-up that makes it feel like an educational short film at a museum.

As usual, Tilda Swinton is great but that's hardly surprising. We're brought into the adventures of Bell in her own words, and what works really well is how it has been produced and put together with never-seen-before reels. For me, it's an insightful part of history I wouldn't have otherwise known much about. Perhaps it can serve as a starting point to go on to research more, especially as the political nature is addressed, but not developed; Bell was right when she said "it's the end of the order we're accustomed to."

"If you don't mind, I'd rather do this than be in London. It's more worthwhile on the whole..." And what a fascinating woman Gertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell was. It's worth noting there has already been a film adaptation of her life (2015's Queen of the Desert) with Nicole Kidman starring as Bell and a supporting cast of James Franco, Damian Lewis and Robert Pattinson. Even that wasn't enough to save it from negative reviews so Letters from Baghdad will probably fare much better. But maybe we'll have to wait some more for a Gertrude Bell film that will go down in history.

Letters from Baghdad is in UK cinemas from 21st April.