#i think about them going up to rocket and galactic and trying to bond so fucking much and it ends terribly

[cgear]

penny: oh teams from other regions name themselves after space stuff too maybe we can be friends maybe we can bond over a shared interest

team rocket and team galactic: *exist*

penny: 😶 nevermind

[flower-slut004]

You Owe Me Fifty Bucks (2)

Part One

Request: “ hey!! would u be able to do a benny x reader where they have a bet going on who will ask each other out first Ethan or sarah but in the process reader and benny develop feelings for eachother. i just want it to be fluffy and for them to have a little bit of pining. “

notes: Part two yall 🤍 (If you hate burgers pretend it's vegan one so sorry)

The following days were filled with Benny and Yn trying to one-up each other with leaving Ethan and Sarah alone with their feelings.

The more they did, the more time their own feelings were left with each other. The more Benny spent in Yn's car he began to enjoy pigging out on fast food as they discussed which marvel superhero would take down which Dc character in a heartbeat.

Benny would turn red and let out a small chuckle each time Yn looked over with her (Y/C/E) and snatch a fry from him. It didn't take a rocket scientist for the wizard to realize he had grown feelings for the sarcastic girl.

He grew to learn everything about her, her favorite songs, what she hates on her burgers, her favorite shows, Benny hates to admit he even knows her celebrity crushes which stirs jealously in his veins.

Benny was snapped out of his thoughts when he felt a tug on his ear. "Ow, what did you do that for?" he looked over at the girl as he rubbed his ear.

"Asked you a question and you didn't answer, how else was I supposed to get your attention" she rolls her eyes as she hands him a twizzler.

"A shove would've been better than a tug" he glares as he took the candy. "Do you wanna go to the movies? Sarah texted she's still at Ethan's" she asked as she wiggled her eyebrows.

"We're trying to get them together not make them teen parents" Benny gagged "What's playing?" he asked.

As Yn listed off the names of the movies, Benny couldn't help but stare at her lips. He watched as they moved as she spoke, completely ignoring the titles.

"Hey Weir, you're being weird" Yn poked his nose as Benny snapped out of it. "Sorry, can you repeat them again..." he rubbed his neck

Yn rolled her eyes as she repeated the titles as well as times. "Uh we can go to the one that starts in fifteen minutes to see that new sci-fi one"

Yn nodded as she bought the tickets "Great, let's go".

During the movie, Yn couldn't help but sneak a few glances his way as they watched the movie. Every time the two spent time together she couldn't help but want to spend more time.

She thought about how he always knew to bring her favorite slushie along with chips. She thought about how his lips would feel if she kissed him as he rambled on about star wars.

Yn huffed when she remembered the conversation Benny and the girl at the counter had. She hated how she batted her eyelashes as Benny ordered the food and how the two bonded over star wars references.

She made a mental note in her own head to learn about the galactic wars that Benny was so obsessed about later.

She didn't know what came over her but at the moment she wrapped her arm around his and lead him away from her.

Since that contact a few minutes ago, they haven't spoken a word and sat in silence watching the movie.

Although, both of them couldn't pay attention. They were thinking of each other. Soon the movie ended and the two were embarrassed to ask the other how they enjoyed the movie.

"So...um... Ethan texted...Sarah left his house" Benny sputtered out.

"and?” Yn asked as they walked closely together to her car.

“He asked her out….guess you owe me fifty bucks” he nudged her with a small smile.

“Oh… yeah right” Yn pulled out her wallet “Here you go Weir….” she handed him the money. Benny took the cash with a sad smile “Uh…so…guess we don’t have to hid together in my car anymore” Yn spoke up.

“Yeah…guess so” Benny repeated as they stood in front of her car. “Um…Yn…what are you doing after this?” he asked

“Nothing, I was just going to drop you off, why?” Yn looked at him.

“Oh…it’s just…I’ve been enjoying our time together and was wondering if you wanted to go to dinner with me…” He turned red as he watched for her reaction.

“I just got fifty bucks” he teased

“Yeah….I’d like that…. I mean going out to dinner with you not that you have my fifty bu-“ Yn was cut off by a small peck on her lips.

“Sorry…you were rambling and you were so cute….” Benny blushed.

Yn blushed back as she smiled “You have the fifty bucks now take me out for dinner Romeo” she rolled her eyes.

Benny smiled again as he pressed another kiss against her cheek.

[themattress]

Pokemon villainous plans from the games (core series + Masters) tiered.

E Tier: Team Flare - As dark and heinous as this plan was, there was literally no chance of it ever succeeding. Lysandre announcing it on a public livestream, AZ stupidly going toward Team Flare rather than away from them, Lysandre allowing you a chance to stop the Ultimate Weapon from being awoken, Xerosic having the choice to be a dick even if you chose correctly, the Ultimate Weapon taking a ridiculously long amount of time to power up, Lysandre telling you where the Ultimate Weapon is and letting you go down there to see it for yourself (upon which you stop it by rescuing the Legendary Pokemon powering it, causing Lysandre to remark “What a startling development! I never would've thought you were really a chosen one!"...even though he’d called you a chosen one on several earlier occasions!), Lysandre battling you with a lackluster team even when you now have a Legendary Pokemon on your side...there were so many variables where things could have gone wrong that even if things hadn’t played out the way they did, Team Flare’s plan would’ve been stopped some other way. It just wasn’t thought through very well at all, by them or by the game’s writers.

D Tier: Team Rocket (II) - Well, they did succeed in mastering a special kind of radio broadcast to create more powerfully evolved Pokemon and took over Goldenrod Radio Tower in order to contact Giovanni. But they never get around to using any of those powerfully evolved Pokemon for themselves, and Giovanni never comes. It’s made worse in HG/SS, when we find out there was never any chance of Giovanni coming because a time-traveling you is currently defeating him in battle and breaking his spirit! The Rocket Executives’ pathological reliance on Giovanni to tell them what to do single-handedly ruins this plan

C Tier: Team Rocket - The plan to take control of Silph Co. and gain their tech (to capture Mewtwo, according to Let’s GO!) was successful up to a certain point: Saffron City was overrun with Rockets and Giovanni was right at the point where he was threatening the company’s president into conceding control over to him. But not accounting for a single powerful Pokemon Trainer coming in and beating them up was a pretty big miscalculation.

B Tier: Team Aqua & Team Magma - Their plans to awaken Kyogre (Aqua) or Groudon (Magma) were completely successful...the problem is that the end result was not at all what was intended, so the whole plan and the team that made it are rendered idiotic in retrospect. 

Aether Foundation, Team Skull, & Ultra Recon Squad - This was a highly dysfunctional alliance between forces more competent on their own, as Lusamine was on a completely different wavelength about how to handle Necrozma than the Ultra Recon Squad, and Guzma just blindly followed her without thinking of the consequences, and the exact opposite outcome of what they were trying to achieve happens: Necrozma nearly destroys Alola. The execution of the plan had been strong up to this point, so if only they had worked together more cohesively and Lusamine not had such a huge ego, things would’ve been different.

A Tier: Team Galactic - In D/P, the plan reaches the point where Dialga or Palkia is chained by Cyrus and about to destroy and remake the universe, but Cyrus ends up having shot himself in the foot by letting you release the Lake Trio and telling you exactly where he’ll be enacting his ritual, and as a result his plan falls apart when you arrive with the Lake Trio bonded to your heart. The plan is closer to success in Platinum thanks to Cyrus actually thinking ahead, and it’s only thwarted by something he couldn’t possibly have accounted for.

Team Plasma (II) - Much like Team Galactic in D/P, the plan is almost successful, but the leader shoots himself in the foot badly: giving his endgame away in a mad speech and then allowing you a fair fight with Kyurem just for his own amusement...and Kyruem’s not as tough as he seems to think it is, making you question if it even could have frozen all of Unova.

Team Break - Already this evil plan and the evil team executing it is shaping up to be very clever: made up of any random class of trainer wearing a mask which makes it exceedingly difficult to trace back to Lear even when he’s obviously behind it. But given Lear’s personality, you just know he’s gonna shoot himself in the foot by the end just like Cyrus and Ghetsis did.

S Tier: Team Plasma - Back when Ghetsis was more lucid, he crafted one Hell of a plan, and it was at the closest level of success to date before getting thwarted: N learning differently from how he was raised only pushed him to go even further to prove his way right, he had made Reshiram his partner, he had beaten Alder, Team Plasma had taken over the Unova League, and if the legend of the two Heroes ended in N’s victory there would be a mass releasing of Pokemon and Unova would change forever, with the world to follow. Your own convictions being stronger than N or Ghetsis’ was the only thing stopping it from succeeding.

Aether Foundation & Team Skull - This plan actually DID succeed. Lusamine ended up getting exactly what she wanted. Sure, it didn’t last, but it’s still impressive all the same.

Team Rainbow Rocket - Again, this plan was arguably a success, since even though Giovanni couldn’t take over the Aether Foundation even when right on the cusp of doing so, he backed off after being defeated because he’d stolen an Ultra Wormhole machine already, and thus can still amass an army of Pokemon from different dimensions just as he intended.

[greentrickster]

@someoddmix   #'back to your home universes if you want' OH NO. ;A; ARCHIE AND MAXIE

(turns on ‘Thnks fr th Mmrs’ by Fallout Boy)

@someoddmix  #wonder if Galactic Boss Cyrus will rationalize Trainer Cyrus' depression as just another example of how he's an 'inferior' Cyrus? #well an 'inferior' Cyrus capable of forming powerful bonds with people and pokemon

Interestingly, I don’t think GB Cyrus actually sees Trainer Cyrus as inferior so much as very alien. One of Cyrus’s core traits is that he’s felt (and sometimes been) very lonely, I think, probably a combination of being an introvert, never being able to meet his parents’ expectations no matter how hard he worked, and that he does suffer from depression (at least, this is how I read him). And isn’t it so much less painful to find an outside cause for something that’s hurting you, rather than an internal one? What if it’s not his fault, what if it’s just these awful emotions and this flawed human spirit that are causing problems - all problems, not just his?

Except now he’s faced with a man who is, for all intents and purposes, him, with the key difference being that he lacks GB Cyrus’s memories (and traumas). And it’s shaking him hard. Because here is the secret: both Cyruses look at each other and see their fears made flesh. The fear of once more becoming a cold, uncaring person who would destroy everything to achieve his goals. The fear that maybe it’s not emotions or the human spirit, maybe it’s who he is as a person that has lead him to being rejected and alone most of his life.

But the thing that makes Cyrus so interesting as a character is that he’s also a fighter; he’s been through a series of events and encountered difficulties that would lead (and has led) a lot of people down a very dark personal path. And the path GB Cyrus is on is messed up and dangerous and harmful, but he’s also going down it to his full power, because he is certain that he can fix this, that there is something better to be had, if he just works hard enough. Combined with his often nihilistic attitude, it makes him a very interesting, engaging character, especially if you’re a person who grew up lonely for whatever reason.

@someoddmix​   #worse that he formed bonds and it didnt help!!! ;A; WEH #'I'm not depressed' HEAVY SILENCE. oof. OOF #very respectful way to bring up depression and all that with Galactic Boss Cyrus #there's no feasible way they could convince him he does have depression #byt leaving the tools there for him and giving him knowledge can still help

Thanks, I was trying to be! It can be such a fine line with characters like Galactic Boss Cyrus in regards to getting them enough information and a situation where realization and change becomes possible without infantilizing them in the process. Cyrus is canonically very smart and a fully-grown adult, so I do my best to keep true to that in his interactions.

But ye, there’s a big reason that he’s fighting harder against what he’s learned than Archie and Maxie have been, he’s built so much of his life and who he is around his beliefs, and he’s not being asked to tone it down so much as do a 180 (or at least 90) degree turn on them. That’s not easy, even for someone whose brain isn’t going, “Yeah, you just don’t get to be happy.”

On the plus side, Cynthia’s genuine interest in talking to him because he’s, in a way, someone she genuinely misses, and Blue being willing to come check up on him, make sure he’s had food (and making sure it’s food he actually likes) and being able to talk about depression while also accepting Cyrus’s statement that he doesn’t have it... that has an impact. I really don’t see Cyrus as a guy who’s used to being cared for or having kindness directed at him.

He doesn’t acknowledge that this is why he ends up back in the living room area to help with the Rainbow Rocket situation, sitting on the opposite end of the sofa from his interdimensional counterpart, not even to himself, but it is.

Galactic Boss Cyrus is left with his thoughts for awhile while everyone else is getting to the bottom of what’s going on with Rainbow Rocket and how to use the fact that they’ve coerced Maxie and Archie to their side to their advantage, and it’s… hard. To acknowledge that there’s a version of himself who seems capable of forming powerful bonds with both people and pokemon, when he himself has never seemed able to, and, worse, that maybe… he had formed a few bonds of his own, but somehow didn’t realize, and that it didn’t… help.

He doesn’t realize he’s gotten lost in his own thoughts until Blue’s in the kitchenette talking to him, asking him if he likes eggs of all things.

GB Cyrus: Why?

Blue: ‘cause our Cyrus tends to skip meals if he’s feeling depressed and no one reminds him.

GB Cyrus: I’m not depressed.

Blue: ……..

GB Cyrus: I’m not.

Blue: Okay, you’re not. Still, when’s the last time you ate?

GB Cyrus: (the silence of ‘I genuinely can’t remember but like hell I’m admitting it’)

Blue: Cool. Do you like eggs and how do you like them?

GB Cyrus: …scrambled.

Blue: Cheese or ketchup?

GB Cyrus: Both. Why do you care?

Blue: I’m nosy. And a gym leader/pokemon professor, it’s a job combo that turns you into such a parent. Especially when you accidentally adopt. I LOVE MY SON, BY THE WAY!

Trainer Cyrus, from the living room area: I’M NOT YOUR SON!

Blue: (to GB Cyrus) He’s going through a rebellious phase, you know how it is.

GB Cyrus, who never went through a rebellious phase due to desperation for parental approval and does not pick up on the fact that this is an ongoing joke between Trainer Cyrus and Blue: No.

This ends the conversation for a bit (purely because Blue decides to be respectful and not pry), long enough for the eggs to be finished and consumed.

Blue: Hey, so, important question. When’s the last time you can remember being happy?

GB Cyrus: Emotions and the human spirit are the cause of all strife and must therefore be eradicated.

Blue: …..

Blue: …it is so much darker hearing you say that than reading about it on your Pokepedia page.

Blue: Also, not saying you have it, but just heads-up: severe depression can seriously impede a person’s ability to connect and feel connections with others. Makes it hard to open up enough to accept and feel safe to return them.

GB Cyrus: Why do you insist on bringing up depression.

Blue: ‘cause our Cyrus has it. Doesn’t mean you do, of course, alternate universes and all that, but just in case.

Blue: Anyways, come on, we’re figuring out what to do about Giovanni and seeing about potentially getting you guys all back to your home universes if you want.

[sholiofic]

Maybe something post gotg1 in which Peter has to fake his death for a job, and isn't expecting much of a response from Yondu because he's already severed those bonds, but...?

Also posted on AO3: Plankton Thieves of Uzebi.

(I love this prompt, and I swear I meant to write something super angsty for this, but ... uh ... it wandered off in this direction instead.)

–

Good jobs were hard to come by these days – all the more, Yondu thought, when you were tryin’ to dig your way out of a four billion credit hole. Not to mention Stakar and his 99 cursed Ravager clans had been prosperous lately, which meant they’d squeezed Yondu’s boys out a lot of the more profitable sectors.

So the Eclector’s crew were scraping by, skimming cargos from merchant vessels and hunting bounties, for the most part. And yeah, Yondu knew there were murmurings among the crew, knew more than a few blades were being sharpened for his back. Wouldn’t be the first time, wouldn’t be the last. Staying alert for someone trying to shove a knife between your shoulders was everyday business when his business consisted of running a pirate gang composed of thieves, thugs, and mercenaries.

(And if he sometimes thought of the days when he’d had a better class of thugs to call his own, well, those days were gone. His crew still had a backbone of solid, loyal people, and the good days would come around again.)

In the meantime, he spent a lot of hours alone in his quarters, skimming through the galactic newsfeeds and finding jobs to send his boys out on. It was Quill’s name that caught his eye – not a surprise, wouldn’t be the first planet the kid was wanted on, and it was pure curiosity that made him start reading it (just keeping tabs on the little bastard, see what he was up to these days). It took him a couple of lines to realize he was reading an obituary.

Peter Quill, hero of the Battle of Xandar, was confirmed dead in a rare Krylorian sharknado, a local weather phenomenon in which severe localized winds sweep up oceanic predatory fish in a whirling spiral of death. Quill was attempting to rescue a boatload of orphans from a sudden storm when his body was obliterated beyond recognition –

Yondu’s first reaction was a feeling akin to being kicked very hard in the stomach. If he were willing to examine that feeling a little more closely, there might be a whole lot of feelings underneath there that he was refusing to give too much thought to.

His second reaction was a suspicious squint at the screen.

–

“Good plan, huh? Good plan!” Peter declared, poking at the screen while flashing a triumphant grin over his shoulder at his erstwhile crew.

“Excellent plan!” (Drax, followed immediately by, “What plan?”)

“Terrible plan.” (Gamora. She thought all his plans were terrible, so nothing unusual there.)

“I am Groot!” (Tiny, shrill, and cheerful.)

“Pass the biphasic decoupler, wouldja?” (Rocket. Not listening.)

“Guys! Come on! We can’t operate easily in Uzebi space because they’re one of the most bureaucratic planets in the entire Hoffed Confederacy, papers and retinal scans for everything, and I’m wanted there, but not if I’m …” He flicked his fingers lightly across the screen. “Daniel Hasselson, Terran purchaser of rare biological specimens. No relation at all to Peter Quill, who died a week ago on Kryloria in a freak accident. The important thing is, Uzebi doesn’t keep retinal scans or DNA on file for dead people. And we can waltz off with a shipload of Uzebi psychic plankton, which are dead cheap here because they’re a pest species, but are incredibly expensive –”

“And illegal,” Gamora added.

“… and frowned on by the morality police –”

“– also the actual police –”

“– in the Nova Empire, where they’re regarded as an illicit drug.”

“Due to being an illicit drug.”

“Gamora,” Peter said, “if you have a problem with the plan, just say so. I mean, the way I see it, we’re doing them a favor, taking a biological pest off the hands of the Uzebi, by purchasing it through totally legal channels –”

“And then becoming drug dealers in one of the few places in the galaxy that we are considered heroes rather than wanted criminals.”

“Only because that’s the only place it’s worth any money. And,” Peter added, grinning, “it is worth a lot of money.”

Rocket waved a paw in the air. “I’m in.”

“I thought you would be.”

“I am Groooot!”

“I … have no idea what that means, but I’m guessing it has nothing to do with the current topic.”

“He wants to be moved closer to the sunlamp.” Rocket straightened up, brushing grease off his palms, and rotated Groot’s pot. “There ya go, little buddy.”

“Anyway, see? Good plan? In, out, what could possibly go wrong –”

–

“This,” Gamora yelled at Peter, “was a terrible plan!”

“There’s no need to shout!” Peter covered his ears with his hands, as if it made the slightest difference. “I can hear you just fine if you don’t talk at all. I can also hear every single –” He scowled at Drax. “If you have to go so bad, just go!”

“I prefer not to defecate while departing a planet’s atmosphere. There are sudden pressure changes which can cause –”

“Aargh! Stop!”

Rocket had very discreetly skulked off to the farthest corner of the Milano, which made absolutely no difference whatsoever, since it was not a large ship and most parts of it were equally far from the cargo hold, currently full of barrels of psychic plankton.

“I am starting to see why these tiny beasts are considered a pest species,” Gamora groaned, pressing her fists to her temples. “Peter, what is that monstrous thing you are thinking of?”

“It’s an elephant,” Peter said between his teeth. “From Earth.”

“I assumed it was some manner of oddly deformed Earth animal, but what bearing does it have on the present situation?”

“None!” Peter said triumphantly. “None whatsoever! On Earth, it’s what we think of when we’re trying not to think about – oh, fuck – Gamora, I swear that wasn’t your, I mean, any part of you – ow, Gamora, that’s my ear, I need that –”

—

They ended up jettisoning the psychic plankton cargo just outside Uzebi orbit because there was no freaking way they were willing to go through a twenty-jump journey to Nova space like this.

As the plankton barrels tumbled gently above the planet’s seven small moons, freezing rapidly in the utter cold of space and extinguishing, one thread at a time, the psychic warp and weft that had been woven between the crew, Peter looked up. He thought he’d felt, for a moment, a quick flicker of profound relief and annoyance and possibly just a bit of pride.

He couldn’t imagine where it had come from; there was no close traffic. They were all alone out here, away from major Uzebi shipping lanes and headed as quickly as possible for the jump point.

Some of the sources he’d read while he was researching this job had suggested that the plankton, in sufficient concentrations, were capable of establishing psychic connections to loved ones anywhere in the galaxy, but that wasn’t possible in this case since everyone he (loved) cared about was here on this ship, and anyway –

Anyway, it was gone now.

[furederiko]

♪ I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy. To be calm when you've found something going on. But take your time, think a lot. Why, think of everything you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not... ♫ (Cat Stevens - "Father and Son")

NOTE: I've tried to keep this review free of spoilers as best as I can. Nevertheless, it might still contains hints towards one, whether intentionally or not. So please proceed cautiously with that thought in mind.

When the first "Guardians of the Galaxy" movie was released three years ago (my oh my, how time flew by soooo fast!), it undeniably explored the story of self-proclaimed 'legendary outlaw' Star-Lord, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and his poignant connection to his late loving mother Meredith (Laura Haddock). A bond so special, that eventually ended up leading him to discover 'a family', in form of his unlikely misfit-friends: assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana), who is trying to get out of her ruthless Mad Titan Father's shadow; savage slayers Drax (Dave Bautista) who's filled with vengeance for the lost of his wife and daughter; bounty hunter Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), who is a product of illegal animal experimentation; and his companion, the sentient plant Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), who is the last of his kind.

In "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2", the time has passed only a mere few months. But although the team is new, they have spent a good amount of time with one another for a while now. After saving the galaxy on Xandar, the Guardians of the Galaxy have become a household name under the protection of the Nova Corps. They've since accepted odd-jobs and the likes from various customer, and gained benefits from them in return. So one could hardly call them a 'mission'. LOL. During a death defying 'job' on the Sovereign, things turned sour between them and the planet's cold arrogant queen, Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki). An unexpected situation that forced them to be on the run from their fleet. But Peter soon has a bigger but personal thing he needed to solve: the arrival of an unexpected figure from the past. His father, namely Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell), who has returned to Peter's life, alongside his obedient empath-assistant, Mantis (Pom Klementieff).

Yes, as has been widely reported, the movie's theme was about Father and Son. But it went beyond that, because the bigger theme was really about family. Amidst all the irreverent and occasionally rather-raunchy-ish humor, the bright-colored galactic spectacle painted with eye-popping visuals, and the non-stop fun of actions and thrills, the centerpiece of the movie was none other than the characters themself. The various personalities, which we got to know even deeper and personal this time around. So when the first movie ended with the question of "Something good, something bad?"... the answer turned out to be, "A little bit of... personal". And that's where audience's opinions are likely to be divided.

"Vol. 2" was more concerned in focusing on character's story, and the relationships between each Guardians. Which might be the reason why it might not work with everyone. I've read in several outlets, that some, if not many, critics were calling this to be "plotless", or "doesn't feel as fresh as the first". To a certain extent, they did have a point. After all, to each their own, right? With that said, I sincerely think that people who has deep feelings for their family, whether in form of their parents, siblings, child, and others, would be able to relate to this movie a lot better. Why is that? As I said, this sequel focused more on personal character growths and developments. Thus we got to see what made Peter lost in words, what ticked off Gamora, what caused Drax to laugh uncontrollably, the true reason to Rocket's shenanigans, and how Baby Groot managed to steal the scene everytime he showed up. More than that, we got to see another side of Nebula (Karen Gillan), and also Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker) that we haven't seen before. In case you forgot, all of these characters were painted on a broad stroke the last time we saw them. So it's here that we finally got to see their 'true colors'. What their hearts were really whispering beneath those facades of bravado. We didn't even need Mantis help to figure that out.

Problem is, there are people who expected spectacles over feelings, and bigger bombastic action over subtle emotions. Perhaps because they thought drama is dull and boring? Who knows. Perhaps they are surprised when the characters they thought they knew, turns out to be not as good/bad as they might seem? It's a possibility, because accepting facts can be hard. What I'm trying to say is, this approach might not work for everyone. And that's why some people did not, or failed to get the point of the movie. In my personal opinion, it's instead these small heartfelt moments that were exceptionally meaningful in "Vol. 2". They were the ones that really matters, because it's the driving force behind the character's actions. In fact, if you're not at all moved by them and how they've become through the course of this movie, I don't even think I should consider you to be a good person. Then again, is it because these group of audience don't like it when a movie is retelling their own struggle and pain? Too afraid to admit the reality that it's a mirror of what they've been through? Hmmm...

Not saying the movie was perfect. Nope. Nothing is. Back in 2014, I said that one major issue in the first movie was its classic 'Lost in Translation' problem. This time, the sequel repeated itself in that department. A lot of those 80s to early 90s references were lost during my viewing, particularly to the younger audience who I presumed to be millenials. It didn't draw out genuine laughters from the crowd like it's supposed to. I could even properly attest to this, because I went to see it with a nephew (who's finally old enough to see it now), and some of the jokes went pass his head because he just didn't get it. Older audience (like yours truly... *cough cough*) who have been through that period, would easily have a blast, because they would know what the movie was talking about. It was obviously made worse for international audience as well, because their knowledge of the material would be limited at best. For example, our country was lucky enough to have seen "Knight Rider", so all the fun nods towards that action show made a lot of sense. But other bits like "Cheers"? Nope.

While the first movie was compact, swift, and tight, this sequel did drag on a bit during the 2nd arc. As I've pointed out, it focused more on drama, so clearly there'd be more intimate scenes filled with dialogues and exchanges. The kinds that challenged the strength of your heart, and tested your ability to hold back tears. Thus making you lost or distracted in a pool of emotion every now and then. The absence of several characters from the first movie was also felt, but you would discover plenty of other surprising characters in their place. Some looking familiar, some are not... and in a way, this ended up becoming an issue as well. These Marvel-related ones? I believe only those who are familiar enough with the comics would be able to understand. Even the actors who portrayed these amazing cameos, would not be familiar to a younger, modern eye. Last but not least, no matter how you see it, the movie is once again a space opera. Even if it takes more risks and goes even outlandishly geeky than before, those who are already not fond of the genre? I doubt they're going to like it.

If I have to (unfairly) compare it to other Marvel Cinematic Universe sequels, then this ranked slightly above "Avengers: Age of Ultron", but definitely not at the heights of "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". It's indeed the funniest and most hillarious of them all, that's for sure. There were bits that did feel like "Age of Ultron", but I could see how this one would easily work better with audience, particularly general ones. In a way, "Vol 2" was basically the antithesis, the reverse scenario of "Captain America: Civil War". This is a character-driven movie that told a story of a family who became a much stronger unit, which was the exact opposite to what recently happened to the Avengers. Suffice to say, a different metaphor of a dysfunctional family. Which would make it more interesting when the two teams cross each other's path in "Avengers: Infinity War" next year.

When it comes to Marvel Studios movies, I don't think I can stop talking about it. So I need to exercise self-restraint, otherwise I might end up spoiling all the juicy details. With that said, I'm going to wrap off this review now. To be honest, I had a hard time wrapping my head around this movie the seconds I've finished seeing it, because it's... tough to put it into words. But afterwards, as I spent the time deep in thoughts, understanding about the core message of it all, I finally saw the light (literally too, because it was raining when we got out, so the sun was out! LOL). Yes, the movie had great action scenes that would thrill and entertain every audience young and old. Yes, it was colorful, whether in visual or comedy, with the risk of getting your face all exhausted due to changing expressions too much. But I won't get tired of repeating this over and over again: it's the roller coaster layers of emotions that truly counts. It's the character moments that would no doubt make you relate and connect to them, and probably react in a deeper personal manner. The exact element of 'sorcery' that Marvel Studios have been using to wow us all these years. The sequel is a great continuation that will let you know closer of these a-holes, as many of the questions left hanging in the first movie will be answered, probably in a surprising way too. If I can quote a particular sentence from a wonderfully-written review, "It's everything you want, but not what you expect".

This movie arrived 10 years after my Dad departed to the other side. Is that a coincidence? It might be so, but I'm a firm believer that things happen for a reason, so I can almost see it as fate. Similar to Ego's situation with Peter, my Dad could be considered a workaholic, more occupied with work than his sons. Thus I'd always wished to spend more time with him. Which was why "Vol 2" hit me pretty hard, and felt undeniably very personal to me. As soon as I arrived home from the theatre, I asked my mom about a certain steel wristwatch. It was the one my Dad gave me when I was much younger, the one I would proudly wore everywhere I go. Mom kept this item all these years, eventhough it has stopped working for such a long time. I never did change the battery, because I've migrated to a new one, the one I bought with my own money back then. A proof of growing up, one might say. But now that I have it in my hand again, I'm going to make it work once more. And I'm going to proudly wear it again, because it's a symbol of a father's love for me. It's one of the simple things that reminded me, that despite his limited time with me, my Dad was there for me, and I was loved. James Gunn, Marvel Studios, and their small movie called "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" has helped reminded me about this crucial but forgotten fact. To rekindle myself with the respect and love to my Dad, because I would never come this far without the warmth of his presence. For that, I give them my deepest gratitude. With a sincere hope, that we will be treated with another emotional journey, when "Vol. 3" arrives a few years from now...

Overall Score: 8,3 out of 10 PS: True to Gunn's own word, there are FIVE mid/post credit scenes in this movie. Don't worry though, eventhough most are included just for fun, they are effectively placed so that staying through the end credit is actually FUN. Nope, I'm not kidding. I think this was the first time ever in the MCU, I've experienced that. There's one particular that would get you really excited for "Vol. 3". Also, you can even spot three special cameos during the roll! One from this movie, one from the first movie, and one from... upcoming Marvel Studios movie. Don't miss them out!

[briangroth27]

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Review

I enjoyed this and definitely had a good time, but I think the hype got to me and I left a little whelmed rather than absolutely loving it. Vol. 2 has a better main villain than Vol. 1 and good character development all around, but it also has unfunny minor villains in a subplot that goes on too long and I wanted more out of Ego.

I loved that Guardians Vol. 2 embraced comic booky colorfulness and the medium’s "anything can happen” sensibility! These movies are totally unafraid of going big and weird by incorporating the most obscure & outlandish Marvel ideas and they should be celebrated for that. I’ve long thought there’s very little that wouldn’t work on screen, and these movies prove the key to pulling it off is going all-in without pretending you’re too cool for the craziness. I also loved that this was entirely standalone. I really hope the MCU’s Phase 4 is just standalone movies for each of the characters, building up their little worlds and casts instead of getting bogged down with crossovers or starting another too-long arc like the Infinity Stones has become. The MCU as a whole should take a few notes from these films as they go forward!

Full Spoilers…

Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Vin Diesel (Baby Groot), and Karen Gillen (Nebula) were all in top form here, bringing all the fun you’d expect from their characters to the forefront (and Baby Groot comes very close to stealing the show several times!). There was a great deal of character development for everyone, particularly the Guardians' continued growth as a family (families being the movie’s theme). Gamora and Nebula’s sisterly relationship got some solid exploration here and was one of my favorite parts. I’m glad we got to the root of their issues rather than just watching a series of fights, and their familial bond with each other was much more interesting and powerful than their relationship with their father, Thanos. I’ve seen this pointed out elsewhere and it’s worth mentioning here too: the movie never treats their adopted siblings relationship as less important than the biological relationships in the movie, which is important. I would've liked a little more from Peter and Gamora's burgeoning relationship, but I enjoyed what we saw of it here. Gamora seeing the potential for Peter to become just like his father (and her’s) and dealing with that instead of the immediate turn to saving Peter from Ego (which felt very fast, considering she’s the one who wanted to go with Ego in the first place) would’ve helped flesh out where they were in their almost-dating situation.

At first I didn't like Rocket stealing the batteries just because "that's who he is"—I felt no sympathy for their being chased because he was clearly in the wrong and the Soverign didn't seem evil at any point—but the reveal that he was trying to push the team away was surprising and worked well. This also made Rocket fighting with Peter over the piloting duties seem more like another attempt to distance himself instead of character regression. Dave Bautista was good as Drax, though I thought he was funnier in the first movie, as his species’ completely literal take on everything seems to have turned into “points out the obvious,” which is not the same thing and wasn’t funny to me. I also felt his laughter sounded forced. However, I enjoyed his unorthodox romance with newcomer Mantis (Pom Klementieff) and his story about meeting his wife was surprisingly touching. Mantis was fun, adding a spacey yet sincere flavor to the Guardians’ off-kilter chemistry that blended with the rest of the characters well. I have a really difficult time buying into Yondu (it’s the accent; the southern dialect destroys the idea that he’s a space alien immediately), but I liked that he ended up being Peter’s “real” father.

Kurt Russell could not have been better-cast as Peter’s biological father Ego and I liked what we got of his absent-father relationship with Peter. That Peter gets an unlimited source of power and uses it to play catch with his dad for the first time worked very well. However, I wanted more from Ego, both in terms of imaginative uses of an entire planet fighting the heroes (and how Peter would’ve used the power to make weird stuff) and in his character and relationship with Peter. They could've played with Peter acknowledging he was a womanizer like his father, what his place in the universe is if not shaping it like his dad, etc. The revelation that Peter's father was a (lowercase g) god felt uncharacteristically underplayed by Peter too. True, the discovery of his father should and did take precedence, but he doesn't have a smartass or cocky response to the situation? The weight of that power and potential responsibility doesn’t affect him at all? Gamora isn't going to roll her eyes at him being a literal “gift from the gods?” No one comments more on how weird it is that they're talking to a god or standing on the planet he built himself (and from himself)? I'm all for characters rolling with weird things, but that's pretty extreme. Also, the reveal that Ego was evil came too fast (I was jaw-droppingly SHOCKED at just how evil, though). Gamora didn’t think to connect Ego to her own father, who wants to be a god? Yondu’s unorthodox parenting could’ve played a role in Peter’s defiance of Ego too (or at least allowed him to see that something wasn’t right with how Ego was treating him), rather than just blind fury. On the other hand, I didn't think they would, but they gave planet Ego his face!!

I thought the Rocket/Baby Groot/Yondu vs. the Ravagers subplot was by far the weakest part of the film and wouldn’t have minded seeing it cut entirely in favor of more Ego. In a galaxy full of weirdness and a set of films starring a talking raccoon and a sentient tree, space pirates and mercenaries feel decidedly bland and mundane. The Ravagers, led by Sylvester Stallone’s Starhawk, came off as goofy rather than threatening and felt like a step backward for the franchise. They were a necessary bit of world-building in the first movie, explaining who Peter Quill had become after leaving Earth, but now feel like Gunn and Co. are falling back onto the tried-and-true (and overused) mix of humanoid galactic thieves, mercenaries, and bounty hunters you can find in any space adventure. The Guardians themselves are all those things (in addition to being heroes), so why are we spending so much time with their less-competent and unfunny cannon fodder counterparts? While they give Yondu his own family to squabble with, there’s just so much more out there. Baby Groot’s “scavenger hunt” largely saved this plot, but just barely. Yondu and Rocket bonding was worthwhile too, but that and the Groot fun could’ve happened under different circumstances (on Ego looking for Peter, preferably). If this were a TV series, so much focus on the Ravagers and Starhawk’s crew (who are—plus Yondu—apparently the original comics’ Guardians of the Galaxy) would be fine for an arc, but in a film with limited screentime, I'd like to see new things. I want the Guardians to go as weird as possible.

Some random thoughts: -I continue to think the Guardians are a more heroically-written team than the Avengers: in the first one, they didn't need the death of someone personally connected to them to make them heroes and put an end to their infighting (the impending death of trillions if they did nothing was enough) and here, the infighting is actually largely just Rocket's attempts to push them away rather than character regression for drama's sake.

-If Peter's been immortal all this time, that explains how he was able to go suitless in space at least twice in the first movie (and how he could survive holding the Infinity Stone). I like that even though he turned out to be a born-better “chosen one” who finally inherited Ego’s godly DNA, that “specialness” was erased here, leaving him as just a guy.

-I wish Nebula'd stayed with the crew.

-I can't wait for Teen Groot!

-I liked the Sovereign. That they engineer each member of their species for a specific role was a cool, original idea.

-Stan Lee’s cameos felt like we saw the same thing twice.

-I hope Cosmo the dog gets to "speak" (he's telepathic) in Guardians 3.

Despite some rushed development in Ego’s plot and a Ravagers subplot I didn’t like, Guardians Vol. 2 was a lot of fun! It felt like hanging out with old friends again and I’m excited for more. I can’t wait to see how the team will interact with the Avengers in Infinity War, but I’m also excited to dive back into the weirdness of their solo adventures in Guardians Volume 3!

If you haven’t seen this yet, go before it leaves theaters!

[greentrickster]

@someoddmix  #ooohh Lucas and Cynthia's conversations about Cyrus must be interesting #and I bet it's nice for Cynthia to have someone to talk to about how different Cyrus is now. wild #oof if Cynthia or anyone else had happened to find him when he was still trying to re-learn everything... #OOF THAT WOULDA BEEN BAD

It is nice to talk to him, but Cynthia also has to be a little careful with it, since she’s the adult in this situation - she can lean on Lucas a little, but for heavier stuff she has her own therapist (me? pushing my pro-therapy 20always agenda? nooooooooo, I would never-).

Also for someone else finding Cyrus, I think in most instances it would have worked out reasonably, with the stipulation that Red and Blue really were the best people to have taken him in for this AU, and the agreement that anyone in Sinnoh finding him would probably have led to a much sadder AU overall. Cyrus would still be in the same base state he was when he arrived back in the pokemon world, but he probably wouldn’t be in as good a space or have such a strong community behind him.

@someoddmix #;A; aaawww weavile! his ace and oldest partner! even if they dont remember

^U^ What can I say? Some bonds are stronger than memory. :)

@someoddmix #AAAWW RED'S TEAM! COMMUNICATING THROUGH WEAVILE! MY HEART!!!!!!! #Red is the epitome of the 'I dont have enough hands to pet them all!' thing. but in this case he doesnt have enough arm to hug them all ;A; #;A; Snorlax! Charizard! Pikachu! pfft Venasaur

Yeah, Red’s just a sobbing mess under this pile of massive pokemon (and pikachu), and Blue’s calmly taking blackmail pictures. >u>

@someoddmix  #glad to hear Cyrus' first League Season goes well overall! the blip in the middle notwithstanding #pffft love the idea that the gym trainers and peple of Viridian are just like #so he used to be the leader of Team Galactic in Sinnoh. at least he wasnt part of Team Rocket! Giovanni was an ASSHOLE!

Turns out trying to destroy and remake the universe has less impact on the local community and economy than a pokemon mafia does - who would have guessed? ;) Seriously, though, that is one of the big reasons why Giovanni’s still so strongly remembered and disliked even over twenty years after his defeat, some of his influences are still being felt.

For Red and Blue, it’s how Mewtwo’s still dealing with his existence and Blue ended up becoming a gym leader at age eleven. For a lot of people doing the gym challenge, they had to wait until the next season to try for their Earth badge because Giovanni was only there for a very brief period that season and all his trainers were also part of Team Rocket, and when they eventually did go for it the gym was being running by Blue and a bunch of new trainers who hadn’t really done this before. (And Blue was doing all this on top of starting his path to become a pokemon professor!) It was a really weird transferal of power, and it took a few years to get everything running smoothly.

A lot of trainers in the region got their pokemon, TMs, and other such things stolen and never got them back, many businesses lost money due to having to pay fees to keep Team Rocket from going after them, Silph Co. was a hot mess for awhile after Rocket’s break-in, and that led to a region-wide disruption on the production and shipping of various goods, including pokeballs. Team Rocket had the simplest plan and motivations, but in many ways their influence and the problems they caused spread the widest, probably because their intentions were so relatively simple.

Not to mention, Cyrus and most other Team bosses tried to go something and failed. But for a long time? Team Rocket was winning, sheerly because nobody could stop them and Giovanni was really good at keeping things running. They weren’t dramatic, but they were absolutely a threat.

(Also, this isn’t to disparage any of the other Teams, their plans, or what they did in the series, this is just taking a look at their potential long-term effects. Special shout-out to Team Magma and Team Galactic for ‘You’re so smart yet so stupid, I like that in a Team,’ and Team Skull for ‘Y’all are stupid, I like that in a Team’!)

@someoddmix #yeah just poke-google yourself Cyrus! lmao. useful

Cyrus: (pulling out phone) I’m going to google myself.

Blue: (materializes out of nowhere and smacks the phone out of his hands) Absolutely not!

@someoddmix #he may be physically 41 but he did have a pretty hard memory reset. and I bet it's nice to have so many people looking out for him! #pffft who needs canon when it's inconvenient? lol

XD Yeah, basically! Cyrus has powerful “‘I’m forty-one’ ‘You’re twelve is what you are’” energy going on now. If it weren’t for the fact that he really does look his age, it’d be super easy for everyone to forget that he isn’t just someone’s genius younger brother (and they still treat him like that for the most part anyway). And it’s annoying sometimes, but you’re also right, it’s nice to have a community like this to lean on, especially after he learns about his past. :)

@someoddmix #JGJSKJGJD CODE RED MEANS EMERGENCY IN OTHER PLACES HAHAHAHA #CODE NOPE FHKAJFJ GREAT CHOICE BLUE! #ah yes. today's designated distraction  duty #jgkakf Cyrus absorbing the weirdness of Viridian. love it!! #it's his new hometown after all =)

(lies down on floor) Okay, you can’t- you can’t just hit me with stuff like “it’s his new home town,” I’m delicate-!!! (clutches my bulbasaur and sobs because it’s his new hometown-!!!)

Oh gods, I just realized.

Cyrus, before all (waves hand at entire AU) this, probably either had several degrees, or at least enough accumulated knowledge to equal several degrees, considering he’s supposed to be a genius. And now all of that’s just… gone. Like, the potential’s still there, he’s still incredibly smart, but he has to learn all of that stuff all over again.

I mean, imagine waking up one day, no memories, and discovering that you’re pretty good at tinkering around with machines. And then someone tells you that you used to have a PhD in Engineering. And you don’t remember any of it.

That’s Cyrus right now. And on the one hand, he is enjoying the learning process, this is all very interesting! On the other hand, he knows, in his heart, that there is no way that he’s ever going to go through higher education again (because academic trauma has staying power, yo). So technically he has a couple fancy titles, but he can’t actually claim them. It’s genuinely disappointing. He probably could have figured out how to do inter-dimensional phone calls without Giratina’s help if he still knew all that stuff! It wouldn’t be worth turning into a miserable mess again to get it back, but still (small pout of absolute tragedy). Yes, he likes having the giraphone and is grateful for it, but still.

What Red takes away from this: So wait, you don’t remember anything you learned in school? Not even history and stuff?

Cyrus: Considering that I learned it before landing on your mountain…? No. I do not.

Red: (bright-eyed and bushy-tailed) Okay, so, in the Beginning, Arceus created Blue-

Blue: (his ‘Red is about to be a smartass’ senses tingling) Red, you’d better not be-

Red: And then, a few minutes after creating Blue, Arceus created me, and I beat Blue in a pokemon battle-

Blue: WHO BEAT WHO IN A BATTLE, LOSER?! PREPARE TO PUT YOUR POKEMON WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!!

(Blue has gotten so much more chill over the years, and they both respect the heck out of each other as people and trainers, but they’re also still first-class rivals and will battle at the drop of a hat if provoked.)

Meanwhile Cyrus goes back to reading up on recent history on his giraphone while using Gyarados as a backrest.