Spoiler free review of Guardians of The Galaxy
by William C Walker Jr.
Based off the massive box office haul most may have already seen Marvel Studios latest venture Guardians of The Galaxy. With critics singing the film's praises is it worth all the hype? My answer a resounding YES!!! I don't think anyone who's honest with themselves could have seen how good this movie was going to be. I mean even most comic book fans aren't that familiar with Guardians of The Galaxy. Add to the fact that after Captain America The Winter Soldier, I didn't think Marvel could even top that. Count this as the year that Marvel exceeded expectations.
The Story
From the opening scene where we're introduced to a young Peter Quill you can see how movie was going to be different. It's truly an emotional gut punch as you see a young boy have to deal with the lost of a parent. But immediately you're skyrocketed with young Quill into space. As much as I loved the Avengers and I love that movie, it starts a tad bit slow. It doesn't really get rolling until Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America meet. Guardians however from start to finish grabs your attention and doesn't let go. We're introduced to our Maguffin and mysterious orb which everyone seems to want. From the moment it's obtained by Quill we treated to some great action sequences. Escape from the planet Morag to street battle in Xandar, leading to the incarceration and escape from space prison The Klyn. The story just flows with really beautiful and epic action. Unlike any of the previous Marvel films it's the reveal of what the orb actually holds at The Collector's shop that shows how truly big and awesome the MCU is and the potential of where it can go. I don't know how much the script changed once James Gunn came on board, but the jokes are hilarious, the pace quick, and truly filled with some heartfelt feel good moments.
The Characters
What I think makes the story in Guardians so good are how unbelievably great these characters are. I mean Chris Pratt kills this as Peter Quill aka Star Lord. He's brash, heroic, and hilarious he's a man that grew up with alien outlaws and you just still see that 80s earth kid in him throughout. And the Black light joke still has me chuckling everytime I think about it. I've never actually been a huge fan of Zoe Saldana she's one of those actresses that I feel like literally plays the same role in every movie she's in. That doesn't really change here where again she's the badass warrior chick but it work, and she delivers some pretty funny lines. Dave Bautista is great as Drax where the character is supposed to be ultra serious with no sense of metaphors or sarcasm. Bautista's stiff delivery is pitch perfect and he nails it scene after scene. I've said Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper for last as Groot and Rocket because they seriously make this movie! I mean as much as I loved Chris Pratt as Star Lord Groot and Rocket make this movie. I remember I thought it would be incredibly stupid to simply here Groot repeat "I Am Groot" over and over again. But Diesel really did a great job changing his voice and making it like he was actually saying more. You could tell the emotion in each phrase solid work. Bradley Cooper kills this as Rocket from the moment he's introduced complaining of how a guy's bad haircut should be illegal or a baby needed help to walk. He just makes you laugh everytime he speaks, but the moment that seriously got me was when Rocket, Groot, and Drax got into a drunken brawl on Knowhere. As Rocket goes on a tirade giving a brief taste of his origins I defy even the hardest fanboy to not actually feel a small lump in your throat at the emotion that was displayed in that speech. Trying not to go too long here but gotta give major shoutouts to Michael Rooker's awesome Yondu who reminds Quill where he'd be with out him, and John C Reilly's Rohman Dey who was great as a Nova Corpsmen. And I know Marvel Studios get a bad rap in terms of the villains save for Loki, but Lee Pace's Ronan The Accuser was awesome to me. I mean seriously from his comic perfect design to his fanatic like personality and demeanor flat out awesome. Oh and no fan could not tell me that didn't think the small tease of Thanos was not AWESOME!!!!!!! Ready to see more from James Brolin "I will bathe the starways in your blood" !
Overall Guardians is well worth all the love it's getting from the critics and fans! It's a fast pace story with awesome characters, and visuals. I was trying to keep this review short but the visuals in this movie alone I could write paragraph after paragraph on. I won't say it's the perfect movie as much as I loved Thanos I would've loved to see a little more, and the post credits sting was merely fun no hints about Avengers 2 or any other sequels. But Guardians did exactly was Kevin Feige said it would do expand the MCU and if this is the first taste of that expanded universe I can't wait to see more!
