Guardians of The Galaxy commentary (spoiler free)
Marvel's last superhero movie of 2014 closes the year with a bang! What was a huge risk seems to have paid off big time for the studio, who put the launch of the cosmic part of the Marvel Universe on the shoulders of relatively unknown characters (They were to me at least, the only exposure I had was the Universe toy set they launched a few years back)
It begins in 1988 with a very young Peter Quill being abducted by an alien ship right after seeing his mother succumb to cancer, then after twenty some odd years we see him fully grown and working as a sort of Indiana Jones/ Han solo thief from space acquiring a strange silver orb...the contents inside set in motion a whole bunch of events including getting jailed, stealing a man's prosthetic leg and - in true Rocket Raccoon fashion- "Oh yeah" seeing one of the big baddies in the Marvel Universe!
I have been wondering why this movie works. first of all, it doesn't take itself seriously, and incredibly: IT'S FINE! it works, it connects, there are TONS of humor throughout the entire flick, and in most cases in the moments where you least expect them! Even though is a new galaxy, a new universe that we are unfamiliar with, the pop culture references made by Peter Quill, who was a child raised in the 80's makes the movie totally relatable. Jokes including John Stamos and other stars of the 80's are easily one of the things that connects us to him and makes us care... He is one of us.
And that is the reason why it works -I believe- ,we care more about this group of misaligned misfits than the whole plot of "saving the galaxy" and other mumbo jumbo with the Nova Corps, the Kree and the Reavers. The villains are well played, Ronan (Lee Pace) and Nebula (Karen Gillen) are evil and creepy but is really not about them, it's about the guardians, about how you care for their bond and how in about 2 hours they have become a team much like the Avengers without the egos. Well played Mr. Gunn, well played.
Chris Pratt (Starlord/Peter Quill) is funny confident and coky (not to mention a womanizer who loves to get jiggy with some alien races) Zoe Zaldana's Gamora is cold but at the same time has a heart of gold inside, Rocket (voiced brilliantly by Bradley Cooper) delivers the sarcasm and the other percent of laughs we so much need and I must say his scenes are one of my favorites. I see a barrage of kids asking for Raccoon merchandise (Hope you stocked enough of them Hasbro) Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel when he is not driving cars and wrecking third world countries) provides the warmth and tenderness the team needs, but don't think him harmless: That tree ain't messing around! he can be kind and gentle but it can also slay you with one branch. Finally Drax (Dave Bautista) surprises us with a character not too far from "The animal" (his character in the WWE) except that this time, it has a soul, it has a code, and you frankly get to care for him. Many wrestlers turned actors are pushed against the ropes in Hollywood, but not this time, not for Mr. Dave Bautista.
In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy exudes confidence, from the Soundtrack (Oh, the soundtrack) to the dances at the beginning, it tells you immediately that you shouldn't be worried, Feige and company got this! Sit back and relax. Enjoy the wild trip ahead. Your universe is secure.
Oh and stay tuned for the after credits scene....This one is a shocker!
Guardians of the Galaxy opens in theatres nationwide today.
-Chris "Hunter" Diaz-
It begins in 1988 with a very young Peter Quill being abducted by an alien ship right after seeing his mother succumb to cancer, then after twenty some odd years we see him fully grown and working as a sort of Indiana Jones/ Han solo thief from space acquiring a strange silver orb...the contents inside set in motion a whole bunch of events including getting jailed, stealing a man's prosthetic leg and - in true Rocket Raccoon fashion- "Oh yeah" seeing one of the big baddies in the Marvel Universe!
I have been wondering why this movie works. first of all, it doesn't take itself seriously, and incredibly: IT'S FINE! it works, it connects, there are TONS of humor throughout the entire flick, and in most cases in the moments where you least expect them! Even though is a new galaxy, a new universe that we are unfamiliar with, the pop culture references made by Peter Quill, who was a child raised in the 80's makes the movie totally relatable. Jokes including John Stamos and other stars of the 80's are easily one of the things that connects us to him and makes us care... He is one of us.
And that is the reason why it works -I believe- ,we care more about this group of misaligned misfits than the whole plot of "saving the galaxy" and other mumbo jumbo with the Nova Corps, the Kree and the Reavers. The villains are well played, Ronan (Lee Pace) and Nebula (Karen Gillen) are evil and creepy but is really not about them, it's about the guardians, about how you care for their bond and how in about 2 hours they have become a team much like the Avengers without the egos. Well played Mr. Gunn, well played.
Chris Pratt (Starlord/Peter Quill) is funny confident and coky (not to mention a womanizer who loves to get jiggy with some alien races) Zoe Zaldana's Gamora is cold but at the same time has a heart of gold inside, Rocket (voiced brilliantly by Bradley Cooper) delivers the sarcasm and the other percent of laughs we so much need and I must say his scenes are one of my favorites. I see a barrage of kids asking for Raccoon merchandise (Hope you stocked enough of them Hasbro) Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel when he is not driving cars and wrecking third world countries) provides the warmth and tenderness the team needs, but don't think him harmless: That tree ain't messing around! he can be kind and gentle but it can also slay you with one branch. Finally Drax (Dave Bautista) surprises us with a character not too far from "The animal" (his character in the WWE) except that this time, it has a soul, it has a code, and you frankly get to care for him. Many wrestlers turned actors are pushed against the ropes in Hollywood, but not this time, not for Mr. Dave Bautista.
In the end, Guardians of the Galaxy exudes confidence, from the Soundtrack (Oh, the soundtrack) to the dances at the beginning, it tells you immediately that you shouldn't be worried, Feige and company got this! Sit back and relax. Enjoy the wild trip ahead. Your universe is secure.
Oh and stay tuned for the after credits scene....This one is a shocker!
Guardians of the Galaxy opens in theatres nationwide today.
-Chris "Hunter" Diaz-
