Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Directed by: James Gunn

Written by: James Gunn and Nicole Perlman

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Deasel (voice of Groot), Bradley Cooper (voice of Rocket), Glenn Close, etc.

By 2014, the MCU had become quite the successful, breakout franchise of Hollywood with an interconnected universe that pushed the superhero genre forward with a never before seen idea that seemed to be paying off all too well.  But sure, Ironman, Thor, even the Hulk seem to translate well with moviegoers...but would viewers be able to accept a whole new team of heroes that were probably the farthest thing from conventional superheroes??? O_o  Let's be real, before their debut, the Guardians of the Galaxy was one of Marvel's most obscure comic properties and anyone who WASN'T a comic book fan would answer with a resounding, "Who??? o_o" *Head scratch*  So needless to say before its release, James Gunn has a pretty huge undertaking with Kevin Feige wanting to make these completely unknown space saviors one of the newest and most promising characters of the MCU yet.  But luckily and quite successfully, the MCU train kept on getting bigger and more entertaining with the arrival of the galaxy traversing team that will do anything to protect their side of the universe from any major threats to it....but before they can finally do that during the film's climatic third act final battle, we are introduced to this very eccentric crew of soon to be outlaws on the run before getting mixed up in a galaxy ending plot by one of an alien race's most dangerous leaders.  Hard to believe after his hilarious days as one of the cast of the Office that Chris Pratt would become one of Hollywood's most undeniable new leading men....but here he is in all his humorous glory as Peter Quill aka Star Lord, an infamous thief supposedly throughout the stars who steals and sells to the highest bidder, Pratt excels surprisingly well in the role.  Every team needs their Tony Stark apparently as Quill is obnoxious, smug and overconfident in his skills after that brilliant opening credit sequence where he is confront and must escape a squad of Kree members out get the orb he is currently after.

What makes Quill work is how well James Gunn and Nicole Pearlman's script so excellently construct his character. During a heartbreaking pre-credit scene, we see Peter was just a young boy who was in the middle of losing his mom in the late 80s before being abducted by a crew of intergalactic bounty hunters called Ravangers lead by Yondu, Peter's unofficial cosmic father who raised him among his own after taking him from Earth. One thing that Guardians is known so well for is how exceptional its soundtrack is and how effortlessly is incorporated throughout the film, especially when Peter can't help but wipe out his classic cassette player to play his mom's favorite music growing up.  Who would have thought such 1970s staple tunes as "Come and Get Your Love" by Redfeather and "I Want You Back" by the Jackson Five would work seamlessly into a sci-fi superhero adventure flick but it really does enhance a lot of the visuals of the film by giving it this contagiously whimsical atmosphere that makes space look incredibly fun in the cosmic side of the MCU. :) Through Quill, we get that very human element but he has to grow out of his childish, egotistical, underhanded single-mindedness in order to eventually lead the Guardians during their first mission to save the galaxy.  There of course is depth in there, especially when having to STILL come to turns with his mother's death even 26 years after he last saw her alive.  They are very well handled and potent as well as the beginning of the unlikely romance between him and Gamora.  Zoey Saldana REALLY loves her sci-fi fantasy franchise bouncing from a new generation's Lieutenant/Communications Expert Uhura of the rebooted Stark Trek films to the green skinned, deadliest assassin in the galaxy, Gamora.  Saldana is a treat as always and commits to the role in all its action as well as moments of vulnerability from the unlikely adopted daughter of Thanos who will stop at nothing to get from under him by betraying him and using the sot after Orb to collect billions in space currency.  They call it "Units"! :P

I love Gamora in all her unpredictability and heroism when dealing with Quill and the other Guardians by being the one who is the most noble in wanting to stop Ronan when they all realize his devastating plan to annihilate the planet Xandar in hopes of conquering the galaxy as well as overthrowing Thanos himself.  She has great chemistry with Pratt's Quill, especially when his overly misogynistic behavior and lust ridden attraction to her makes her rightfully put him in his place.  But you can also see why the two would fall for each other, especially during a shockingly traumatic sequence of Quill risking his own life to make sure Gamora survives a brutal attack.  You can see that she brings out the most chivalry out of him by making him live for something more than just stealing and caring about his own self.  Then of course, there's Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, who plans his revenge on Ronan for killing his family once he aligns himself with his fellow guardians in their mission to escape prison and stop him.  Once again, Dave Bautista is undeniably awesome in the role; managing to make Drax an intimidating force to be reckoned with as well as the character with some of the funniest lines and interactions from the film.  I especially loved his interaction with Peter and Gamora by so unblushingly insulting them by referring to them as an idiot and a whore! lol  Of course, when it comes to the action, Bautista excels at them given his WWE background prior to stepping into the world of Hollywood.  But even as entertaining as Drax is, the most heartwarming duo of the Guardians is without a doubt Rocket and Groot! It's no wonder these two were the breakout stars of the Guardians despite being CGI creatures.  One a genetically engineered talking raccoon and the other a walking tree with those soon to be iconic three words he can only say "I. Am. Groot!"  It's just too hilarious their relationship as bounty hunters, especially Rocket being able to translate all of Groot's lines even though he is just saying the same one over and over!

The reason these two work so well is that despite them being CGI characters, they are brought remarkably to life by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.  Brady brings so much charisma and charm to rocket that you can completely see why anyone would love his character. Clearly calculating and intelligent but willing to sacrifice his morality for anything and everyone except for Groot.  Their relationship is soooo touching, especially during the final moments of the film where you think they will never see each other again.  I can't believe Vin Diesel was paid millions to say three words over and over for an entire film...but Groot works because oft he genuine emotion he puts behind those words.  It's all about delivery and you can definitely tell what emotion Groot is trying to convey each time he speaks.  It's no wonder Rocket can understand him and make such a great team! :)  Not to mention, Groot's particular skill set provide some unforeseen brutal action sequences as well as stunning visuals throughout the film. :)  Outside of the Guardians themselves are the aforementioned Yondu, leader of the Ravangers and Peter's surrogate father that raised him in the ways of thievery.  While we don't get much from their relationship here besides some quick backstory, Michael Rokker is a malicious joy in the role and the end of the film sets up more animosity between them as MCU moves forward; setting up the inevitable sequel. :)

I suppose I should talk about Ronan, the Accusor, our main villain but outside of that unexpected scene of him confronting Thanos, there is nothing really to talk about.  Honestly, he's yet another problematic MCU trait when it comes to how weak, forgettable the villains are.  Sure, it's great to be introduced to larger than life aspects of Marvel through the cosmic side of the comics with the Nova Corps and the Kree, Ronan is basically your typical "wants power and destruction for the sake of power and destruction"! -_-  Yes, it's also to get from under Thanos as well like Gamora but once he finds out like the Guardians that the Orb is actually housing one of the infinity stones, his motivation is just all power hungry and destroying the galaxy because now he has the power to overthrow anyone that stands in his way.  His end is nothing to really talk about outside it is a touching moment where the Guardians officially save the world using the infinity stone and also reveals more about Peter's origins as he is not only human but half of a celestial being that the Nova Corps tell him he is apart of.  Hmmmmmm.... Also, I can't forget about Nebula, the other daughter of Thanos who manages to make it out alive and escapes from the Guardians even after trying to help Ronan defeat them.  Honestly, I wish she was the main villain giving the film more emotional stakes with Gamora now having to face-off with her sister just to become more powerful than Thanos.  It's clear these two women have A LOT of history being raised by Thanos as well as so much emotion between them when they're on screen together.  Karen Gillian, even through all that prosthetic make-up sells so much emotion and passion in the role.  No wonder she is the most interesting non-hero of the movie that was brought back to further the plot with the Guardians as well as Thanos himself. 

By going full speed ahead with exploring the space frontier of the Marvel universe, James is able to showcase lots of visuals reminiscent of classic sci-fi epics like Star Wars with battleships and spacecrafts battling in the sky as well as the mesmerizing space odyssey of the cosmos with such places like Knowhere, which is literally the severed head of a Celestial the size of a planet!!!  We also get to know more about the infinity stones and their creation after the birth of the universe as well as seeing the mythic Celestials, intergalactic space gods who forged the infinity stones as well as using them to wipe out vast civilizations that they saw were unfit.  It for sure broadens the scope of the MCU by giving us A LOT more at stake than just Earth or the 9 realms being portrayed in the Thor films.  It feels rightfully in this world by answering some questions casual, non comic fan viewers might have about the world they are seeing before them as exposition is shown more than just told.  

Yikes! O_O  It's also nice to have other Hollywood A-Listers in supporting role, even tho they can be severely small like Djimon Hounsou as Korath, a lead henchmen of Ronan, John C. Riley as one of the noticeable members of the Nova Corps and even Glenn Close as the leader of the Nova Corps who is desperately trying to keep the planet of Xandar safe as well as protected from the Kree.  But either way, every actor makes the most out of their roles in a film that has a tremendous likability about it that introduces to us literally otherworldly character that while spectacular in nature, they come off as far too relatable and human than you might think. And I think that what made "Guardians of the Galaxy" yet another triumphant success despite this being their riskiest entries in the MCU.  Everything feels like a grand, beautifully realized action adventure piece throughout the stars but its the fact that we care so much about these 5 ragtag team of outcasts that makes the film come together so wonderfully by the end credits. :)

"As the first major film to lead us into the world of space and cosmic deities of the Marvel comics, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is by far one of the richest and most remarkably fun first films of a franchise within a franchise that is the Marvel cinematic universe.  With incredibly constructed visual effects as we follow a jaded bunch of misfits attempt to cash in on an infinity stone but ending up becoming the galaxy's greatest team of protectors outside the Avengers, solid performances throughout from onset to voice acting and humor as well as emotional depth that feels earned with almost every entertaining moment, this is an superbly done blast from start to finish with a  soundtrack that will NEVER cease to warm your ears of timeless music that strangely fits this star studded space odyssey meets intergalactic war epic." :)

                                                                                                                                                                    Final Film Score: A-