Friday, August 1, 2014

Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

IMDb

Title: 
Guardians of the Galaxy

Distributor: Marvel Studios (Disney)
Director: James Gunn
Writer(s): James Gunn (written) and Nicole Perlman (written)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, and Karen Gillan
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.
Running Time: 121 min
Synopsis:After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter Quill, a half human/half alien is now the main target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser. To help fight Ronan and his team and save the galaxy from his power, Quill creates a team known as the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to save the world.


What Others Are Saying?

Rotten Tomatoes: T-Meter: 92% "Fresh", Top Critics: 87% "Fresh", Audience: 96% "Like It"

Metacritic: Critics: 76 out of 100, Users: 9.2 out of 10
MRQE Metric: 76 out of 100
My Review

Source Material: Based on comic the book series created by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

Entertaining Value

  • Action Elements: Enough action to keep your action-philes out there excited.
  • Comedy Elements: A lot of one-liners that will crack you up.
  • Dramatic Elements:  There is a hint of drama here and there. This film is action-comedy with a lot of sci-fi elements.
  • Sci-Fi / Fantasy Elements: Its based on a comic book, but its not your typical comic book film. Its more of an action-adventure in space.
Cinematic Value:
  • Acting and Dialogue: 8: Seeing some of the names on the cast list I was a bit concerned to say the least, names like Dave Bautista and Vin Diesel. Vin Diesel voices a nine foot tall tree like alien that only has one repeated line of dialogue, "I'Am Groot" Dave Bautista known for his "professional wrestling" plays Drax, the Destroyer, who is a very muscular barbaric alien hell bent on getting revenge on those who killed his family. These non- thespian actors were cast for appropriate roles, that was a giant step in the right direction. Lets move onto the talent then, Chris Pratt is known for his comedic roles primarily, Park and Recreation does a great job as Peter Quill aka Starlord. I like the fact that Pratt based his character off Late 70's early 80's action-adventure heroes like Han Solo and Marty McFly. Zoe Saldana is your go to gal for any leading female role in a Sci-fi film. Bradley Cooper voices Rocket, which was a perfect choice. Michael Rooker known for his role in The Walking Dead as Merle Dixon play the same basic role in this film as Yondu Udonta. There are a lot of great actors rounding out the cast: Lee Pace as Ronan, Karen Gillan as Nebula, John C. Reilly as Corpsman Day, Glenn Close as Nova Prime, Benicio del Toro as The Collector.
  • Art Direction: 9: The thing I liked the most about the art direction was each location had a unique feeling. The Xandarian planet ruled by the Nova Corp has a shiny future feeling to it, while "Knowhere" Had a rustic slums feeling. I like it when films have many different environments with vastly aesthetic differences.
  • Cinematography: 8: The action in the film was well shot. I liked how the film brought me along for the ride without making me feel sick
  • Direction: 9: James Gunn is more known for his writing, penning screenplays like, Scooby-Doo, Dawn of the Dead (2004), and Slither. Guardians of the Galaxy wan't Gunn's first time in the director's chair but it's his first time with a film of this magnitude, and he kills it.
  • Editing: 8: The pacing was good
  • Screenplay: 8: I think you could take this story out of the MCU and it could stand alone as a great space-action-adventure. I like that the story was basically a group of misfits turning into epic heroes. It was nice that every character had a significant back-story. I also liked that the main protagonist was kind of a bumbling idiot who showcase heroism only when the galaxy, which he lives in, is threatened.
  • Sound and Music: 9: The soundtrack of the film is the soundtrack that plays in the main protagonist, Peter Quill, head/ Walkman. Having this as the soundtrack brings us, the audience, into the film. It also gives an outlook on what's going on in Peter's head.
  • VFX: 10: Two major notes on the VFX: Rocket and Groot. The filmmaker did an amazing job giving these two character a wide range of emotions, especially with Groot, who doesn't say much.
Overall: 8.5: I recommended this film for a great summer action-adventure. This is a film I would see a few times in theaters, if I had the funds to do so.