Flick Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

08/07/14 11:27:20 AM

If you want to make a different superhero movie, you need four things: a twisted fusion of action and comedy, different plot style, never-much-heard before characters, and a nostalgic soundtrack list.

Cause I think that formula comprised the recognition that Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy earned. Prior to watching this 125-minuter, I have seen a lot of movie reviews and true enough — they gave this thing a high-rated scores. Even the legitimate critics from Rotten Tomatoes are counted, considering that GoTG was not a very serious-mattered picture in the first place.

Let's face it: unless you are a sick hardcore Marvel fan, you haven't heard much of the Guardians of the Galaxy. In fact, when Batista returned to the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), I found details about him portraying Drax the Destroyer and at first I was like... “Drax the what? Wow. Not even in my childhood dreams would I heard this name at all!”

And to be frank, GoTG appeared like they're under the radar. So underground, the news about this flick —which was on the verge of filming—came during the hype of another epic Marvel movie Iron Man 3. So in other words, we can only ask: “What the fuckin' hell's the Guardians of the Galaxy?!”

But it was the soundtrack that attracted me the most. I wouldn't watch this movie until I noticed that Motown-slash-chillax rock-like sounding “Hooked on a Feeling,” by the band Blue Swede.

Looking on its poster make you feel like as resemblance of those vintage action series, specifically, Star Wars. And talk about misfits turning into heroes, aye? I know: this type of character plot was nothing new in our civilization. But heck, they just made it unique with that crew comprised of a maniac, an assassin, two thugs (one's a trash-talking racoon and the other's a buffed tree which can only utter three words: “I am GROOT!”), and a junk thief (oh, sorry, that's a bounty hunter!) getting their act together in a very ridiculous fashion. Some of them are up for the money while the others aimed revenge: all against one similar enemy in Ronan the Accuser.

GoTG would actually take you to a trip back to a late-1980s scene where Peter Quill was abducted by a space pirates known as the Ravagers for seemingly unknown reason. (But of course, this mystery would be resolved soon.) I admire the way things got started for the older Qull though, with Redone's 1974 hit Come and Get Your Love playing on the background. It seem to made me put in a good vibe to watch the flick the same way Eiffel 65's Blue rocked Iron Man 3 (with the difference, of course, is that the latter played only its introductory part).

Along the way, Quill (the almost three-decade old Earthling-slash-Racager-slash-self-proclaimed "StarLord," legendary outlaw) met Rocket (a highly-genetical-slash-trash-talking raccoon) Groot (huge tree who could only speak three words: I AM GROOT), Gamora (adopted daughter of super-villain Thanos), and Drax the Destroyer (human name: Arthur Douglas; a revenge-seeking maniac whose anger level is so high that even the anger management courses don't seem enough to cure it), in their quest for either two things: money out of the so-called Orb, and retribution against the flick's featured antagonist Ronan the Accuser.

Post by Dave Bautista (Batista).

One of the numerous scenes from the movie Guardians of the Galaxy(Video credits: Yahoo! Movies / Dave Buatista's Facebook Page)

After seeing the movie, I can only came with few words, err, few paragraphs to tell.

Chris Pratt's antics, though awkward in a deeper aspect (why would you dare a shit and dance in front of your nemesis?), were somewhat entertaining. And thank God for an abrupted love themed-scene. Nicely done, Gamora.

I think it was another breakout job done for Dave Bautista. His portaral for Drax, for me, earned him the second standout dude in the movie, just behind nothing but an angered, passion-driven raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper.

If you asked me on which character am I seeing the most (just like a Bogart the Explorer's question to director James Gunn), I'll say it's Rocket. That raccoon had a very bunch of ideas in mind. The problem though is that he's driven by both passion and anger, just like Tony Starks or Iron Man's humanized alter ego (well, I’m a fan of both).

Though of course, I could also relate to Quill's character, or let's say it's StarLord for having the pursuits of his life despite doing it in not-so-typical fashion (we can't say it's illegal anyway), and having that comic antics to break things off; and to Drax as well for being a passion-driven destroyer whose indecision sometimes leads into his own shares of danger. Still, i'm more of the Rocket overall. Haha!

Fighting scenes were well choreographed, plus the ambiance of the setting's very different from the previous ones we used to see. It's like a huge mess or, oh sorry, combination of post-apocalyptic scenarios, technology-driven environment, over-usage of CGI graphics, and overall galactic set-up. Though of course, we can't deny any scenes which are obviously, a trademark Marvel production such as Stan Lee's cameo; and signs of a typical action superhero picture like those last fighting scenes which were always situated at the top of the city.

And how can I forget the soundtrack? The cassette title already said it best: AWESOME MIX! Thanks to those epic tracks Jackson 5, Blue Swede, Red Bone, The Runaways, The Five Fairsteps, etc. Plus Peter Quill's pop culture knowledge could give you some mind food aside from using Kevin Bacon as another reference bar.

What makes them perhaps another different Marvel movie is the utilization of genres. Overall, they were action-comedy, but they also have bits of tear-jerking moments. Maybe, some peeps from the Metro Manila Film Festival should peek in on how to perfectly blend them. I just loved the way they make use of their wits even in the highly-intensified sequences.

In addition, perhaps if there are some things that we did not see in this movie (like Thanos' lack of screen exposure, other characters like Adam Warlock, Phyla-Vell, Mantis, etc.), the second flick (which are scheduled to rock theaters worldwide July 2017) might make it up for you.

Plus. I saw this movie again in iMAX theater and found it somehow impressive: vivid images, thrilling scenarios, you name it.

With the GotG's emergence, expect an action-packed Phase 2 ahead for the Marvel superhero movies.

dorkly.com

P.S. Best line of the movie goes to Vin Diesel for recording “I am Groot” for a lot of times. Speaking of which, here's something to leave you with—the dancing baby version.

Post by Dave Bautista (Batista).

The verdict: 9.1/10

Guardians of the Galaxy stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and featuring the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. Also starring Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio del Toro. 

Guardians of the Galaxy the movie was based on the same titled-book comprising the team of characters made in 2008 by Dan Abnett and Andy Lannig. This movie was made possible by producer Kevin Feige; screenplay writers Nicole Perlman, and through direction of screenwriter-director James Gunn. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

(info credit: Wikipedia)

Author: slickmaster | © 2014 september twenty-eight productions