MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Marvel Studios has done it again with another outstanding entry to its Cinematic Universe!! 2014 has really been a huge year for Marvel comic-based movies with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past scoring big in the box office. This time, Marvel Studios attempts to introduce a team mostly unknown by the mainstream public, making it one of it's riskiest film since Iron Man. But a movie about an epic and colourful space adventure with an old-school 70s vibe to it and a talking raccoon carrying a machine gun, who would want to miss it?
Simply put, Guardians of the Galaxy is about a the unlikely alliance of a group of criminals, each with their own agendas, to save the galaxy against an all-powerful adversary, Ronan the Accuser, who plans to destroy it using a powerful orb.
What I am surprised by this film is that it uses a style practically unused by any other comic-book movie. It is colourful, upbeat, retro, witty, and it could be considered a comedy more than it is a thriller. Director James Gunn really nailed the tone of the movie, creating a spectacle that is entertaining in both its comedy and action. The plot is also great as well. Marvel Studio has been coming up with great stories with its films but the writing for this film is exceptionally incredible because they not only able to bring together the Guardians of the Galaxy, a ragtag team of misfits with different agendas, they are also able to introduce numerous supporting characters like The Collector, Yondu and Nebula and weave them seamlessly into the plot with each having their moment to shine.
The actors were really great in this film. Chris Pratt was perfect for Star-Lord as he brings a lot of comedy into the character, making him a lovable goof-ball. I also love the choice of Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot. It must have been a great challenge for Vin Diesel to bring so much life and expression to a character only through the use of three monosyllabic words. James Gunn mentioned that Rocket to him was the heart of this film but I felt that Groot was the one who stole the show. He is unexpectedly funny and simply adorable at times.
Being thoroughly entertaining, there weren't many downsides to this film. However, one has to constantly pay attention to understand what is going on in the film, for they do not make use of any form of monologue to share details about the storyline or the cosmic universe but instead plant them through dialogue between the characters. Also being a very colourful film, some of the action scenes in space gave me a sense of motion sickness but it's a minor issue.
In all, Guardians of the Galaxy may be one of the best films released this summer and it is definitely one to catch. I am totally excited for the sequel as well as the crossover between Guardians and The Avengers, even though it probably won't happen any time soon.
