What's So Fun About This Movie
I really enjoyed every moment from start to finish of Marvel Studios' newest arrival to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The movie reminded me of what escapist, science-fantasy should be: fun, action-packed, adventurous and an all-around journey to strange worlds and civilizations. In my opinion, GotG is one of the best comic book movies to ever been adapted to screen. In fact, it's one of the better sci-fi movies of its kind to come along in a good twenty years. Thanks to James Gunn who directed and co-wrote the story. Thanks for making the Awesome Mix Tape Vol. 1 (and vol. 2) soundtrack make sense and the perfect plot device. Thanks to Chris Pratt for delivering one funny and well-acted performance as the lovable scoundrel Peter Quill aka "The Legendary Star-Lord." For landing his first major film role as a leading man, Pratt really delivered. In fact, everyone did.
As for the rest of the cast: fantastic! Nods to Dave Bautista for his "glorious" performance as Drax the Destroyer. As reported by Bautista in several interviews, he really busted his butt to land this role. It was also a role that could have been a weak link in the on-screen chemistry of the cast members and another knock to wrestlers (former or otherwise) being cast as important characters in big budget movies. Remember the awful Bane from the Joel Schumacher Batman and Robin movie? Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket made me forget who voiced them. Their characterizations, face-capture and voice performances really humanized the two, "thick as thieves" bounty hunters. To round out the five, Zoe Saldana's Gamora really highlighted what she does best in these kinds of movies. My wife often tells me, "I love it when the girl gets to beat them up;" and beat them up she did. This is nothing new for Saldana with movies like Avatar, Pirates of the Caribbean, and two Star Trek movies (as Lt. Uhura) under her belt.
Additionally, Yondu was gritty, and I love it. Michael Rooker's (AMC's The Walking Dead) performance was pitch perfect for how he wanted to portray the character. I worried that a bow and arrow in space would come often as disingenuous, but the effect worked sans bow. Rooker's whistling was eerie as well as deadly. Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser was also a villain well-played; which leaves us with Nebula. Karen Gillan's space-assassin was a star-turn for the once-companion of a Time-Lords.
Overall, I really enjoyed this Guardians of the Galaxy. It has repeat viewing quality. There's so much story packed in it, but James Gunn does a great job of keeping the threads taut. Am I going too far as to say Guardians of the Galaxy is this generation's Star Wars? The comparison is already being made. If Marvel and Disney continue to treat this property right (unlike several properties like Sam Raimee's Spider-Man and Tim Burton's Batman), then hello pop cultural phenomenon. Is it possible that Guardians of the Galaxy will far exceed what Avengers was able to accomplish two summers ago?
What's Not So Fun
Star-Lord...
Who?
Who?
Djimon Hounsou is a good actor, and I've enjoyed his performances in a lot of movies. He's come a long way as an actor. He also did a good job as Korath the Pursuer. However, here's my problem with his being cast in this movie. It is a problem that Marvel Studios and Disney will either need to address or one with which actors and actresses in their movies must get comfortable. That is the difficult task of being re-cast in a different Marvel movie as a different character. I really hoped that if a Black Panther role was ever created, it would be Djimon Hounsou. He is in my mind T'Challa, Prince (King) of Wakanda. However, he has since appeared and now met his demise in a Marvel movie that is part of its Cinematic Universe. Based on their model, could Hounsou be re-cast as another character? I'm not sure. Idris Elba, for example, is another actor whom I believe have the ability to portray Black Panther in a movie. His titular role as the BBC's Luther is a good example of this. However, he already portrays Heimdall in the Thor movies. If I could get off topic for a moment...
A very long time ago it was rumored that Wesley Snipes wanted the role of Black Panther...badly. However, he gave excellent performances as Blade in the Blade movies. Blade is an example of a Marvel movie outside of the Cinematic Universe. It would not have been far-fetched that had a Black Panther movie been optioned and brought to screen, Snipes would have been Black Panther. Fast-forward fifteen or more years, and Snipes is back to action-movie making with his appearance set for Expendable 3. If they ever needed to cast T'Chala's father T'Chaka, I believe that role should be meant for Wesley Snipes. End Tangent.
The Punch-Line
Go see Guardians of the Galaxy! It is a must-see movie event to be enjoyed in a theater. I give it four stars.
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