Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 REVIEW: Love-letter to animation

This marks the return of Star Wars: Visions, which was released in 2021. It's a brilliant concept that allows animation studios from around the world to take their own stab at one of the biggest franchises of all time, Star Wars. While the first season had some stand-out moments ("The Duel" for example), it also had some forgettable episodes, making it an experimentation with mixed results. However, I was clearly excited when they announced Volume 2 because it opens the door for more creativity within the Star Wars universe. The new season starts with a solid episode that sets the path for the rest of the season.

This is a non-spoiler review.

El Guiri Studios is the first studio to contribute to Volume 2 with the fantastic "Sith". While I won't delve into the episode's details, I can say that it was brilliantly executed by using art to push the narrative and clearly demonstrating their understanding of the essence of Star Wars in a short amount of time. It's equally dark and colorful just playing with the balance in a smart way. I have no major criticisms of this opening episode, which immediately piqued my curiosity for the next short film.

The next episode, "Screecher's Reach," reflects some of the weaknesses of the previous season. It's not a bad episode at all, as it does have some cool horror elements, but it's definitely a step down in terms of storytelling compared to the previous one, which reminded me of the highs and lows of Volume 1. Nevertheless, it's still visually stunning and well-animated, making the series worth watching for fans of Star Wars or animation, even if it's not always successful. The episode is followed by another good but not great stop-motion episode. It's refreshing to see different animation styles brought to life, and "In The Stars" is a great showcase of the talent behind the camera. However, some of the episodes suffer from weak storylines and writing.

There's an extremely sweet, funny, and charming claymation episode titled "I Am Your Mother" that works perfectly as a love letter to our moms. It might not work for everyone but the comedic timing is genius, the execution was fantastic in my book. The episode includes great comedic moments, and it's evident that it was created purely out of love. It's sure to warm your soul.

It's not until "Journey to the Dark Head" that we get another truly fantastic chapter, which happens to be my favorite episode of Volume 2. Anime-Star Wars is a match made in heaven in this gorgeously crafted piece of art. The fight between light and darkness is beautifully brought to life with a poetic flow from the Korean studio, Studio Mir. It's also the best-written episode of the entire Star Wars: Visions project.

One technical aspect that stands out in almost every episode is the great work from the composers on the music. They all bring some heart to their Star Wars music, but once again, "Journey to the Dark Head" takes it to another level in that department as well. So much can be said about this one, but I won't spoil it. Hang on to your seatbelts.

"The Sith" and "Journey To The Dark Head" are clearly the standouts, as the rest of the episodes are not quite able to capture the magic of these two. However, there is still fun to be had with the French-influenced "The Spy Dancer," which incorporates elements of la belle époque in a space cabaret, and the CG-animated, Bollywood-infused train adventure "The Bandits Of Golak." Despite the different animation styles and themes, they manage to work well together.

They finish it with a magical episode ("Aau's Song") which reminded me of Kubo And The Two Strings with its use of music and stop-motion animation. It ends Volume 2 on a positive note with a thrilling adventure. Overall, the level of artistry mixed with homages to Star Wars is a successful recipe with every episode bringing their grain of salt to the melting pot.

Initial Ranking:

1) Ep. 5: Journey To The Dark Head (10/10)

2) Ep. 1: The Sith (9/10)

3) Ep. 4: I Am Your Mother (8/10)

4) Ep. 9: Aau's Song (8/10)

5) Ep. 7: The Bandits Of Golak (7/10)

6) Ep. 3: In The Stars (6.5/10)

7) Ep. 6: The Spy Dancer (6.5/10)

8) Ep. 2: Screecher's Reach (6/10)

9) Ep. 8: The Pit (5/10)

EDIT: Really important PSA about Chapter 5: Journey To The Dark Head, it needs to be played in the original Korean dub, NOT in English. I was so disappointed to see they play it in English by default, this was sent to us in the original Korean dub.

Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 premieres on Disney+ on May 4th

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Non-Spoiler) REVIEW: The Best MCU Trilogy Is Over

My favorite bunch of intergalactic misfits are back on the big screen to bring the trilogy to a closure with "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3," which also marks James Gunn's departure from Marvel after being appointed as big boss of DC Films. In a way, this feels like James Gunn's swan song to some of the most lovable characters he ever created. Before the first movie came out in 2014, there was a lot of talk that this could be the first Marvel flop because nobody knew those characters... and almost a decade after the first film's release, the third film arrives in glorious fashion, creating one of the darkest MCU films so far.

Synopsis: "Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful."

It's a family affair, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a very James Gunn-esque emotional trip with meticulously crafted action, a lot of humor and heart wrapping up an excellent trilogy with brio. Gunn is delving into its horror roots to deliver some of the most daring MCU moments and is not afraid to take some risks to tell his story. It's the most mature entry of the trilogy in my opinion and it's so ironic saying this about a film that doesn't shy away from genuinely funny toilet jokes. It also goes to some dark places and might not be suitable for kids but it's a hell of a ride.

I often scoff when critics come back from a Marvel Cinematic Universe film and describe it as "one of the darkest in the MCU" since it's difficult to surpass the bleak ending of Infinity War. Nevertheless, without revealing any spoilers, I believe this film ventures into genuine, dark territory and manages to convey a meaningful message. A beautiful execution of drama, humour and action packed into 150 minutes blockbuster that flies by like a spaceship in hyperdrive.

The DNA of this trilogy is also rooted in its carefully selected soundtrack from James Gunn's collection. Awesome Mixtape Vol. 3 did not disappoint, and I'm glad I refrained from listening to the music prior to seeing the film. Although Gunn borrows from Tarantino's use of music and needle drops, I always saw it as an homage, much like Tarantino borrows from other films. Ultimately, the film's terrific style and contagious love of movies and music make it a must-see.

I won't get into spoilers but this all starts with the opening sequence and I feel like this will dictate whether you're going to be on board with this film or not. In terms of special effects there's a certain sense of details that goes behind every frame that made it so refreshing to watch. I remember James Gunn tweeting about a sequence that he planned with an absurd amount of pages of storyboards for this film. After seeing it I totally believe it. The way he moves the camera to either convey emotions or comedy is always on point. And then, there's the action sequences... I'll leave it there.

It's fair to say that those characters are so likeable that we all have our personal favorites. Whether you're a fan of Drax, Groot, Rocket, Mantis, Nebula, Peter, or Gamora, you will most likely be more than satisfied with their treatment. The movie isn't afraid to take risks, and there's no surprise there considering James Gunn is the captain of the ship. In some ways, its audacity is so refreshing, especially considering the importance of concluding this trilogy. In my opinion, it is the best trilogy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I don't even have to think about it. Every member of the team is being taken care of with surgical precision, and while the movie has its issues, I couldn't care about any of them by the end.

Initial Score: 9/10

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 opens in theaters on May 5th