Guardians of the Galaxy 3D Review

Rated PG-13 (Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Action, and for Some Language)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 1 Minute

Cast-

Chris Pratt-Peter Quill/Star-Lord

Zoe Saldana-Gamora

Dave Bautista-Drax the Destroyer

Bradley Cooper (voice)-Rocket Raccoon

Vin Diesel (voice)-Groot

Michael Rooker-Yondu Udonta

Lee Pace-Ronan the Accuser

Karen Gillan-Nebula

Djimon Hounsou-Korath the Pursuer

Benicio Del Toro-Taneleer Tivan/The Collector

John C. Reilly-Rhomann Dey

Glenn Close-Nova Prime Irani Rael

Josh Brolin (voice)-Thanos

Peter Serafinowicz-Denarian Saal

Sean Gunn-Kraglin

Christopher Fairbank-The Broker

Laura Haddock-Meredith Quill

Wyatt Oleff-Young Peter Quill

Gregg Henry-Grandpa Quill

Ophelia Lovibond-Carina

Alexis Denisof-The Other

Directed by James Gunn

Behold...the Guardians of the Galaxy!

Note: Screened on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13.

If you were to ask a random person on the street to name five comic book superheroes off the top of their head, chances are the answer would include iconic characters like Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Spider-Man, with the remaining spot either filled by Wolverine or Iron Man due to the actors currently portraying them. However, if you were to then ask this same person to identify the five characters on the "Guardians of the Galaxy" film poster, most likely you'll receive a confused and puzzled look—unless this random person happened to be a massive comic book fan, in which case you should start playing the lottery.

It was only two years ago when Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige announced at San Diego Comic Con that a "Guardians of the Galaxy" film was in active development but outside of Hall H, the news was met with a mixture of bewilderment and indifference. Some comic book fans even expressed doubt that such a project would connect with the mainstream, non-comic book reading audience and thus would not be financially successful due to the film's bizarre array of characters, which included a gun-toting talking raccoon and a giant humanoid tree. Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor had an easier time establishing themselves on the big screen as they each were given an individual film before teaming-up for 2012's "The Avengers" but "Guardians of the Galaxy" is facing a more uphill battle. It has to introduce five C-list Marvel characters and bring them together in a story that not only satisfies comic book readers but also doesn't alienate viewers unfamiliar with the source material. Enter director James Gunn, a Troma veteran whose idiosyncratic sensibilities proved to be a perfect fit for the type of film Marvel wanted to make. The end result is one of the best films from Marvel Studios and dare I say, of the year as well. Endlessly engaging and packed with spectacular visuals, "Guardians of the Galaxy" bursts with scrappy heart and witty humor thanks to its wonderfully charming cast and Gunn's confident direction. This is another fantastic addition to Marvel's growing repertoire, one that opens up an infinite number of possibilities for the studio. 'You're welcome,' indeed!

"Ain't no thing like me, except me!"

In 1988, eight-year-old Peter Quill finds himself abducted by an unknown spaceship following the death of his mother, Meredith (Laura Haddock). Twenty-six years later, an adult Peter (Chris Pratt)—now going by the codename 'Star-Lord'—has fallen in with an intergalactic group of outlaws calling themselves 'The Ravagers,' led by Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker). The Ravagers have been tasked by the Broker (Christopher Fairbank) to retrieve a mysterious Orb on the abandoned planet Morag but Peter decides to betray Yondu and takes the relic in order to collect the bounty on it himself. Unfortunately, there are others who are interested in the Orb as well. The Kree fanatic Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), angered by the peace treaty between his people and the Xandarians, sends Korath the Pursuer (Djimon Hounsou) to recover the artifact for his master Thanos (voice of Josh Brolin). In exchange, the 'Mad Titan' will destroy Xandar for him. When Peter makes a fool out of Korath, Ronan orders Thanos' adopted daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to find the human, unaware that the green-skinned assassin plans to betray him and sell the Orb to Taneleer Tivan, aka the Collector (Benicio Del Toro). Meanwhile, an angry Yondu puts a bounty on Peter, drawing the attention of Rocket Raccoon (voice of Bradley Cooper) and his tree-like companion Groot (voice of Vin Diesel). Peter encounters Gamora—as well as Rocket and Groot—while attempting to sell the Orb to the Broker. Their scuffle leads to them being arrested by the Nova Corps and sent to a supermax prison dubbed 'The Kyln.' While there, the group comes into contact with Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a revenge-fueled warrior who wants Ronan dead for killing his family. The quintet manage to break out of the prison in the hopes of collecting a massive payday for returning the Orb to the Collector but when the artifact is revealed to be a powerful superweapon, these five misfits and outcasts discover that they're the galaxy's only chance in stopping Ronan and his genocidal plan.

If the above synopsis for "Guardians of the Galaxy" makes your head whirl, don't worry because much of what I mentioned occurs in the first twenty to thirty minutes. Films set in outer space tend to face an immediate obstacle where every character, planet, and location needs to be introduced. One way to do it is through narration but that's not often very engaging for the viewer (see 2011's "Green Lantern" as an example). So what does James Gunn do? He simply dives right in and trusts the audience will be able to follow along with a minimum amount of hand-holding. Title cards helpfully identify new planets and locations while exposition is used only when necessary. It makes for an incredibly well-paced film with little to no fat, allowing the two-hour running time to breeze right by. It also helps that the story is largely a standalone affair, outside of a few instances where it sets up a handful of plot threads that won't be picked up on until summer 2018 or 2019. The only real complaint is that the narrative is structured around a familiar formula that goes all the way back to 2008's "Iron Man." A very powerful device or relic is introduced that the villains want badly for some destructive purpose and the hero—or in this case, heroes—have to prevent that from happening. Much of what happens in "Guardians of the Galaxy" won't be a surprise but damn, is it entertaining!

"Metaphor!"

A word of warning to viewers: if you're not onboard once the opening credits are over, then you should just get a refund because this is a silly film with a playful spirit yet it's also big and epic at the same time. In fact, "Guardians of the Galaxy" feels very much like an amalgam of 1977's "Star Wars" and Joss Whedon's television cult hit "Firefly" with its 'used universe' and scrappy characters. The script—which takes much of its inspiration from the modern iteration of the team introduced in 2008 by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning—may not stray far from the formula established in previous Marvel Studios' films but Gunn and co-writer Nicole Perlman manage to bring a lot of heart and humor to the characters. Following a poignant scene set in 1988, the film jumps forward by twenty-six years, where an adult Peter Quill is exploring an ancient temple on the planet Morag in order to steal a mysterious Orb that he hopes to sell for a pretty penny. Quill has built a reputation for himself as the legendary 'Star-Lord' but he's really just a glorified thief with endless charm to spare. I believe Princess Leia famously called such people 'scoundrels.' Abducted from Earth as a child for reasons unknown, Quill's only link to his home planet is the Sony Walkman that he carries with him everywhere he goes. Inside the portable music player is a mix tape—appropriately labeled Awesome Mix Vol. 1—that contains all the pop songs that Quill's mother grew up listening. In addition to providing the film with an amazing retro soundtrack, the Walkman and mix tape also serves as an extension to Quill's haunted past as he blames himself for the way things ended with his mother. That's what ultimately brings the Guardians of the Galaxy together as each member is haunted by something. Gamora had her whole life taken away by Thanos, Drax lost his entire family to Ronan, and Rocket is suffering from some major PTSD issues. The only 'pure' character is Groot. These selfish, cynical jerks may have met through pointless circumstance but they quickly form a bond because they're all damaged in some way and are looking to fill a void in their lives, whether they realize it or not. When these five misfits finally embrace their identity as a team, it feels right that these people would protect and die for each other. What took "The Avengers" five films to accomplish, Gunn does in only two hours and I have to say, that is some impressive work.

One thing that I cannot stretch enough is how insanely fun "Guardians of the Galaxy" is. The humor never feels forced and it's oh so hilarious. This is by far the funniest Marvel film yet, with Gunn infusing the picture with a crackling sense of energy that harkens back to the aforementioned "Star Wars" and 1981's "Raiders of the Lost Ark." It almost feels old-fashioned in a way. The visual effects and the production design from Charles Wood are absolutely exquisite. Every shot pops with a vivid splash of color and the lived-in, worn-out world is teeming with life. The film also boasts a crystal-clear 3D conversion. Having seen both the 2D and 3D versions, I highly recommend going with the latter, a suggestion that I don't make lightly. Rocket Raccoon and Groot are both wonderfully realized, in addition to all the bizarre creatures and avant-garde fashions that Gunn packs the screen with. The sequence set on Knowhere is a particular highlight and the prison break from the Kyln is one of the most impressive set-pieces I've ever had the pleasure to watch as it deftly blends humor and action into one thrilling mix. The friction amongst the five characters nicely hints at the team that they will eventually form. Of course, there's also the outstanding soundtrack, full of 1970s pop hits like Blue Swede's Hooked on a Feeling, Redbone's Come and Get Your Love, the Runaway's Cherry Bomb, and Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's Ain't No Mountain High Enough. What's great is that these songs aren't randomly chosen. Each serves the story in one way or another, like 10cc's I'm Not in Love—with its line 'big boys don't cry'—perfectly complementing the heartbreaking opening scene where Peter witnesses his mother's final moments. Suffice to say, this is one soundtrack that you won't stop listening to.

The villains aren't as memorable as the good guys but their strong visual design makes up for it.

I don't know how Marvel Studios always does it but the casting in their films has been pitch-perfect, a trend that continues with "Guardians of the Galaxy." Chris Pratt is excellent as Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord. The actor is both charming and heroic in equal measure, with his assured performance capturing the character's bravado ways while also showing off a more sentimental side. Peter may be a womanizing douche yet he's also hopelessly romantic, a trait that I one-hundred percent identified with. It can't be an accident when he selects Elvin Bishop's Fooled Around and Fell in Love for Gamora to listen to. Speaking of Gamora, Zoe Saldana makes for a great foil for Pratt. Her character is the type of woman that can see through a man's bullsh*t yet she also can't help but be drawn to him. The film also allows Saldana to kick all kinds of ass, making for some intense one-on-one fights. The biggest surprise is Dave Bautista, who enthusiastically throws himself into the role of Drax and delivers some of the funniest lines in the film with his great timing and deadpan delivery. However, the characters that completely steal the show are Rocket Raccoon and Groot, voiced by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel. Cooper's stereotypical New York/New Jersey accent leads to some truly hilarious moments but the actor never forgets that Rocket comes from a dark place and he plays up the character's bitterness and pain with every line of dialogue. Although he's limited to saying 'I am Groot' over and over again, Diesel is just superb as he conveys so much heart and emotion despite only saying four words in the entire film. The villains, played by Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, and Djimon Hounsou, aren't quite as memorable compared to the good guys yet they remain appropriately menacing thanks to their strong visual design. Pace's Ronan exudes a sinister vibe while Gillan's Nebula is all rage and anger. Finally, there's Michael Rooker, who's obviously having a ball playing outlaw Yondu Udonta. Rounding out the talented cast is Benicio Del Toro as the Collector, John C. Reilly as Nova Corpsman Rhomann Dey, and Glenn Close as Nova Prime Irani Rael.

"Guardians of the Galaxy" won't be released until August 1, 2014 but reviews have been slowly trickling in and the reception so far has been phenomenal. It currently has a whopping 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics concluding that Marvel Studios' latest is ' funny, thrilling, full of heart, and packed with visual splendor.' When the film was announced two years ago, many viewed it as a risky proposition because it featured superheroes that were only known to die-hard comic book fans. Having seen "Guardians of the Galaxy" twice, all the questioning now seems rather foolish in hindsight. Marvel Studios often catches a lot of flak for not taking risks but 2014 proved to be a banner year for them, with April's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" shaking up the status quo while Gunn opens up a completely unexplored area of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I can tell when a director is passionate about the film he's making and it's clear that Gunn absolutely adored the material and most of all, the characters. "Guardians of the Galaxy," you've already said 'You're Welcome.' Let me offer a very belated 'Thank You' for providing me with one of the finest science-fiction movies I've ever seen.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5

"I look around, and you know what I see? Losers! I mean, like, folks who have lost stuff. Our homes, our families. And we're facing a threat that could destroy us all. But life is giving us a chance."