Guardians of the Galaxy Review

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers!

Plot Summary: A group of criminal misfits put their differences aside in order to save the universe and become the guardians of the galaxy!

Review: I wouldn't go as far as calling this the modern day "Star Wars," but it is pretty damn close to it! And, well, let's be honest, modern day "Star Wars" isn't worthy of calling itself "Star Wars." What makes GotG such a surprise success is the great balance of humor, interesting characters, and fun action. Furthermore, after the slew of Marvel movies that all take place on Earth, GotG offered fans a glimpse of the wider universe at hand. However, what's truly impressive is the storytelling ability to introduce these new characters, settings, and plot elements while never overwhelming the viewer AND tying in with the Earth-based story line.

Starting with what works I have to begin with the comedic aspects. The jokes are a bit on the cornball side, however, their timing is what makes the humor enjoyable. More precisely, the film knew when to be serious and when to have its jokes. This is something the sequel did not fully understand, but we'll get to that. While GotG is not on "Deadpool's" level of over the top gags, the filmmakers understood the audience well enough to include your casual humor for the kiddies as well as things for the adults. Of course, presenting said jokes are the likable characters themselves. Despite being set up as criminals, and potentially killers, they are a band of goofballs you can't help but to root for; besides, they do redeem themselves one way or another. I think this degree of goofiness is important to understand since there's a major contrast between the GotG team and, say, the Avengers lineup. Another thing I want to note is how hot Zoey Saldana looks as Gamora--the hottest green chick in the galaxy! Oh, and then there are all those babes in the background on Xandar. Who are all those little chickadees?! Plus the pink girls and Nebula--who would have thought a bald, blue android-girl could be so damn sexy.

See...this is what I'm talking about. Gamora looking hot as we are treated to a random, sexy extra on Xandar. I'm serious, in the background of like every scene on that planet there is some vixen lurking.

It's not just amusing characters and situations that make this film work--GotG has fantastic action scenes and commendable pacing. What caught my attention was the variety to the action that was, again, reminiscent of "Star Wars." You get the opening fight, the awesome street brawl on Xandar, a prison escape, a space battle, and the final battle against Ronan and his minions which includes a heist-esque sensation. Factoring in the character banter between set pieces, the audience loses track of time and becomes completely engrossed with the events; that two hour running time is never felt. Not to be completely overshadowed, the settings for these action scenes are each unique and introduce world-building ideas for fans to pick up on. It's always cool to see aliens and the worlds they come from; there is just something about the imagination involved.

As much as I loved this film, I will acknowledge its faults. The general consensus is that Ronan was not properly developed as a villain, and I fully agree. The annoying part is that I think he was deliberately diluted as a character so as not to compete with Thanos in the mind of the viewer. You have to understand from the studio's perspective they automatically assume the general audience is retarded and treat them as such. To be honest, they aren't entirely wrong in this regard, but that's neither here nor there. So stupid Disney is going to assume that viewers will confuse Thanos and Ronan if they don't do something drastic to separate them...like killing one off before we learn anything about him...just like Darth Maul. Hmmmm. What they should have done was make Ronan this relentless villain after the GotG. Take the time to explain why he's such an asshole and wants an infinity stone. More importantly, he should have survived the fight and retreated for a later moment. Have the final scene reveal that Ronan is nothing more than a crony for Thanos which would actually hype Thanos up even more since you'd establish Ronan as a huge badass only to discover he's afraid of Thanos. You'd actually develop two characters at once through this method rather than the moronic way it's presented. Hell, Thanos just looks like a lazy bitch in each movie sitting in the same chair staring off into oblivion. The general audience doesn't know how powerful Thanos is...you have to show them. Argh.

Overall, GotG is an amazing movie that properly balances a lighthearted tone with solid, sci-fi action. The characters are likable in a snarky kind of way, and you become engaged by their coming together as a team; they are certainly the underdogs. The inclusion of a late '70s/early '80s garnish to the production, due to Star-Lord's obsession with the music, also creates an interesting dynamic within the film's structure and stylistic choices; you know I love that shit! Sure, there are a few shortcomings along the way, but GotG manages to be one of Marvel's best movies yet. There is essentially something for every audience to enjoy here.

Notable Moment: When Star-Lord tries to have a dance-off against Ronan. This scene is randomly stupid, yet, it's Gamora's reaction that really makes it funny.

Final Rating: 8/10