Directed by: James Gunn
Casts: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Release Date: 30 July 2014
Expand your galatic horizon and enter the outer rim of all things Marvel with the epic space adventure Guardians of the Galaxy, the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to fully take on the cosmic side the world we have come to love. Enter Peter Quill/Starlord - a human who was abducted into space as a kid, Gamora - stepdaughter of titan warlord Thanos, Drax the Destroyer - a skilful fighter with a zest for revenge and the fun duo of bounty hunters Rocket Raccoon and Groot. Being outlaws themselves, they must ban together to put out the real evil - Ronan the Accuser, who has set out for galaxy conquest.
Praises: This is definitely MCU's biggest gamble to date, a make it or break it film that many see will either launch MCU to the next phase of achievement or finally put an end to their long winning streak. The concept is stars apart from what we've seen churned out over the years since Iron Man, and though we know space journey is inevitable given Thanos's appearance in the end credits of Avengers we still doubt whether MCU will actually be able to go into the unknown and emerge victorious.
And indeed they did. GotG boosts so much fun; not only it's refreshing but rejuvenating. By now fans of MCU have become so accustomed and complacent with what they get from Iron Man, Thor and Captain America films leading to Avengers that I know for sure, without some new spins things could get stale relatively soon. It's a risky but necessary gamble for Marvel since not knowing how warm the fans' reactions will be and I for one, am glad it pays off well.
Let us for a moment forget about Tony Stark. Or Steve Rogers. James Gunn introduces us to a world where we still know Hulk exists somewhere but we can safely cast that aside and indulge in something totally different. It's akin to bringing in the fun of both Star Wars and Star Trek into the MCU, juicing them all up for a fresh intergalactic spin. The storytelling is filled with giddiness-goodness; many tensed-up moments intercepted by a "the-hell-with-it" response that left me cracking up on my seat. As the storytelling of the MCU shift gears toward the darker rim of things, it's nice to actually be able to sit back and indulge in some adventurous-comical fun.
The real charm, however, lies within its primary casts. Each of them is written in such a way that they're interesting as an individual, but the real fun begins when they realise they need to work together to survive. Each of them has a dark past that shaped them into who they are and their differences couldn't be any more apparent. On top of that, each has their own agenda to follow through. The whole process of sacrificing their own interests for the greater good and coming together to form an "unlikely family" is gratifying, by the end of the film I left the cinema feeling whole - entertained and complete. That may sound corny but trust me, James Gunn know how to piece them together well enough.
I believe, hands down, the ultimate show winner here is Groot. Yes, the single-line-speaking, bulking tree-humanoid alien. Groot is certainly the most innocent among the bunch, a gentle nature spirit who believes in protecting his friends no matter the costs. What makes him so special is the pureness of his heart. He's like an overgrown baby, strong yet gentle and untainted. Yes. Untainted, that's the word. Get your tissues ready cause his little arc in the story will leave your eyes wet.
Last but not least, the music. GotG boosts a mix of catchy 1970s' tunes which still rings in my head whenever I think about the film long after I watched it. Finally, a modern film with real, good music.
Honorable mention: Michael Rooker did a fantastic job as Yondu, the bounty hunter who abducted and subsequently trained Quill when he was a child. I love how true to the comic his character is, and hopefully he's here to stay in future instalments. Also, the ending credit cameo (which I shall not reveal details) is such a troll.
Complains: As great as everything I have mentioned above, GotG ultimately suffers from underused, one-dimensional villains. Nebula has potential to be the most ass-kicking villainess MCU has yet to see, however, she's heavily underdeveloped and was more of a plot device than a character with actual weight. As for Ronan the Accuser, he's the stereotypical war-monger space tyrant that has no layers of complexity to his character or motives. An angry, open-book alien that might come across as scary to kids, but really, he's just a bad boy who can't handle big toys.
Rating: 9.1/10
Hit or Miss: You don't know fun until you have watched Guardians of the Galaxy. Hit.
The real charm, however, lies within its primary casts. Each of them is written in such a way that they're interesting as an individual, but the real fun begins when they realise they need to work together to survive. Each of them has a dark past that shaped them into who they are and their differences couldn't be any more apparent. On top of that, each has their own agenda to follow through. The whole process of sacrificing their own interests for the greater good and coming together to form an "unlikely family" is gratifying, by the end of the film I left the cinema feeling whole - entertained and complete. That may sound corny but trust me, James Gunn know how to piece them together well enough.
I believe, hands down, the ultimate show winner here is Groot. Yes, the single-line-speaking, bulking tree-humanoid alien. Groot is certainly the most innocent among the bunch, a gentle nature spirit who believes in protecting his friends no matter the costs. What makes him so special is the pureness of his heart. He's like an overgrown baby, strong yet gentle and untainted. Yes. Untainted, that's the word. Get your tissues ready cause his little arc in the story will leave your eyes wet.
Last but not least, the music. GotG boosts a mix of catchy 1970s' tunes which still rings in my head whenever I think about the film long after I watched it. Finally, a modern film with real, good music.
Honorable mention: Michael Rooker did a fantastic job as Yondu, the bounty hunter who abducted and subsequently trained Quill when he was a child. I love how true to the comic his character is, and hopefully he's here to stay in future instalments. Also, the ending credit cameo (which I shall not reveal details) is such a troll.
Complains: As great as everything I have mentioned above, GotG ultimately suffers from underused, one-dimensional villains. Nebula has potential to be the most ass-kicking villainess MCU has yet to see, however, she's heavily underdeveloped and was more of a plot device than a character with actual weight. As for Ronan the Accuser, he's the stereotypical war-monger space tyrant that has no layers of complexity to his character or motives. An angry, open-book alien that might come across as scary to kids, but really, he's just a bad boy who can't handle big toys.
Rating: 9.1/10
Hit or Miss: You don't know fun until you have watched Guardians of the Galaxy. Hit.
