All of this fails as well, getting these four
thrown in a SuperMax space prison where they eventually meet
the modestly named Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) who at
first wants to completely murder Gamora for her crimes against
humanity, but that smooth talking Peter talks him out of it,
and a tenuous alliance of five extremely suspect individuals
is formed.
The plan is to get this orb, get paid, and get out of
town. But this orb is really bad news, or at least it is
in the wrong hands. Lord Ronan is the wrong hand if
there were wrong hands, and now the mission, as it were, it to
save the universe since Ronan would surely see it
destroyed. Can a thief, an assassin, a moody talking
rat, a monosyllabic talking tree, and musclebound idiot make
this happen? Probably, but it's all about the ride.
Between the two of us, my colleague Lisa and I recently ranked
our Marvel Studios film, her going with The Avengers at the
top, and me choosing Captain America 2, with no. 2 on both
lists being a reversal of both of those, with both of us
placing Guardians of the Galaxy at no. 4. That's pretty
high considering there's not a legitimately bad movie on the
entire list. The truth of the matter is I couldn't
conceive of a scenario where I wouldn't enjoy this movie as it
had too much working for it even from the planning
stages. The director is James Gunn, who made Slither and
Super, and I loved both of those movies. I read the
comic as kid, and was semi-hoping, with the introduction of
the Kree and Xandar home worlds, that Captain Mar-Vell, A Man
called Nova, and Carol Danvers might not be far behind.
I was raised by the music chosen and the star is a regular on
my 2nd favorite TV show of all time. With all of that
going for it, I'm happy to say that 'Guardians of the Galaxy'
did not disappoint, not even a little bit.
Of course the action is great, it is a big movie with a
narrative that features an end game that is no less the
destruction of the very universe so it has some weight to it,
there are space battles, alien worlds, intrigue, genuine humor
and the movie rarely slows down for one to catch their breath…
which is probably a good thing because one probably doesn't
want to dwell on certain things too long… but all of that
aside, what made 'Guardians' work for me was the realistic way
that five individuals, who have no business being together,
were gradually assembled to create a legitimate team. A
family even. 'Guardians of the Galaxy' is a buddy road
trip that along the way, these buddies have to somehow save
the universe.
An action movie with an emphasis on community, a modern film
supported with music from a forty year old K-Tel album, a
movie that features a talking tree that said three words that
I'm sure Vin Diesel was very paid well for, and Marvel studios
still without their main properties, those being Spider-Man,
the X-Men and the Fantastic Four, making films with their 2nd
tier properties that still outperform and out entertain those
that are in possession of their main properties… put another
one in the win column.
Lisa's Take… Andy
Dwyer Grows Up.
If you haven't guessed from Chris's review, we are like
prime core audience for Guardians. We've watched enough to
make a list ranking the marvel movies (well, almost all for
me), so clearly we were going to be front and center for this.
Chris says from the opening music he knew this was going to be
awesome- I would argue from the trailer's use of 'Hooked on a
Feeling' (don't let the Ally McBeal's dancing baby spoil the
song) you knew you were in for something great- it's in the
song, I'm high on believing. Believing that Marvel can't go
wrong. Believing that what this world needs is another
rag tag bunch of aliens who find their softer side and save
the universe. And believing that Chris Pratt deserves to
be a leading man- Burt Macklin, eat your heart out. The crime
of why Chris Pratt isn't more appreciated has stopped, the
world is seeing the awesomeness that 'Parks and Rec' fans have
known for years. If you haven't seen Parks and Rec, please
stop. Don't continue reading this review, don't watch
Guardians. Immediately start watching Parks and Rec, and soak
up the philosophy of Ron Swanson. Bathe in the sheer energy
and life force that is Leslie Knope. And laugh at the
goofiness that is Andy Dwyer, lead singer of Mouse Rat who's
available solo for kid parties.
Watching this movie, it occurs to me it is like shopping for
clothes, we gravitate towards things similar to what we
already have. If we like plaid, we tend to gravitate to that.
And that is what Guardians is like, it is like that shirt you
buy, that you really really like, but is kinda similar to the
other 10 shirts you already have. There's absolutely nothing
wrong with that, comfort and familiarity is good. But what was
it about the movie that kept making me think this is so
familiar? Chris elaborated on the movie's great sound track,
for me the songs were familiar but it was something else that
gave me this sense of deja vu. And really, the director kind
of puts it all right out there, from the beginning sequence.
It is eerily familiar, our hero trying to take an object from
a pedestal that is booby trapped. All that was missing is one
giant boulder and snakes- the plane was waiting (technically
he is the plane, so there's that). What Indy taught
us, is that it is best to try and estimate the weight of
the said object to trick the booby trap, however such details
are inconsequential to Peter Quill. And Peter Quill isn't
trying to bring priceless artifacts to a museum for all to
enjoy. He's a Ravager, trying to get the highest price on
whatever item people are seeking. And in this unknown shiny
orb, he's hit the motherload.
This scoundrel like behavior from Peter is more akin to
another Harrison Ford character, stop me when this sounds
familiar. In a galaxy far, far away our hero earns his keep by
stealing and outrunning the authorities. His main priority is
looking out for himself. And he's cocky and conceited enough
to name himself Star Lord. Peter was able to talk his way out
of several sticky situations, something that Han would be
proud of, and something Andy Dwyer would never have been able
to lie his way through. All Peter was missing was the
big walking carpet - there's more than a little Han Solo to
Peter. Which is great, 'cause guess what this Parks and Rec,
Marvel Universe watching, reviewer is also a fan of? Yes, that
movie. So in the Venn diagram of things I like - this movie is
finding lots of intersections that are tailored made to be
liked and feel recognizable.
If Peter is Han, does it make Gamora Princess Leia? She too
has been raised by an adoptive family, in this particular case
though she was trained to be a killer, and diplomacy isn't
really her angle. Still she is the only female surrounded by
idiots, so she'll be Leia. And poor Zoe, painted blue in
Avatar, and green in this. Someone tell directors, she's fine
in her own skin! Groot and Rocket are the R2D2 and C3PO of the
group, inseparable. Rocket is the talker, although he is more
adept, coordinated, and trigger happy than C3PO, so perhaps
not the best match up. That leaves Drax, which he isn't really
Luke material. By default, Peter gets the leadership role of
Luke, but Drax's family was tragically killed leaving him
wanting revenge, something Luke knows something about. Perhaps
Drax is a better Chewy, a heavy enforcer, although really
everyone but Peter is an enforcer. And Peter is more
Luke, what with the developing father issues.
Now that the rag tag group of rebels has been formed, do they
have what it takes to go up against the mighty forces of
Ronan- a shoe in for the Darth Vader casting, he's even got
the similar head gear (if not asthmatic breathing) Which
leaves Thanos, the master pulling the puppet strings like the
Emperor . The rag tag team gets beaten up, pummeled into
space, and brought to the brink of death to keep the orb from
falling to Ronan or Thanos. But don't ever tell them the odds
- and off they go to save the world that has done nothing but
take from them. So with upmost love and care, I've elaborately
laid out how this movie feels familiar, and like all the
Marvel Universe movies before it, good wins out. Was that ever
in doubt? Stay tune for the second installment- where we find
out Star Lord's father…Every movie wishes it could be this
recognizable to its audience, with, ironically the least known
Marvel comic book heroes.
