There is something to be said about creating a hero movie from little known Marvel Comics characters that makes this the biggest and best of the blockbuster movies this year. One doesn't have per-conceived notions of expected character traits so everyone is new and open for discovery. The Marvel series debut in 1969 was followed up with the 2008 version which retains a few characters for the film. Unless you are a hardcore Marvel fan, most of this will be unknown. Screenwriter Nicole Perlman started the script in 2010 which went through a couple of drafts that were eventually completely rewritten by director James Gunn. This standalone film is set in the same Marvel Cinematic Universe will most likely see follow ups stories in the theaters and extended cuts when the DVD is released.
Chris Pratt beefed up for the role of Peter Quill who was kidnapped from his earth home in 1988 on the night his mother passed away. For 26 years he was raised with a group of Ravagers, space pirates, led by Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker). Quill steals a sphere artifact but is intercepted by the Kree Korath (Djimon Hounsou) who is a servant of Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). Quill manages to escape but soon Ronan sends the assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana) to go after him. Gamora the adopted daughter of Thanos, the Kree leader was trained as a weapon, but she is going to betray him for reasons that the Guardian understand and accept. When Quill tries to sell the sphere on the planet Xandar home of the Nova Corp which is in the process of signing a treaty with the Kree. A fight ensues between Quill and Gamora which attracts the bounty hunters Rocket (Bradley Cooper), a genetically-engineered raccoon and the humanoid tree, Groot (Vin Diesel). They are all captured by the Nova Corp police and sent to prison where they try to escape. They meet up with Drax (Dave Bautista) who wants to have his revenge on Ronan who killed his family. The sphere as it turns out is an ancient Infinity Gem of immeasurable power that destroys all but the powerful beings that wield it. Ronan wants it to destroy Xandar. Everyone wants the sphere including Yondu who offers Quill help if he promises the sphere to him afterwards. The Guardians decide the best place for the sphere is in the hands of the peaceful Nova Prime (Glenn Close).
Quill's only link to home is a portable cassette tape player filled with 80's top hit playlist which adds a great soundtrack to the movie. As well as the quick and funny dialogue of the characters. The running joke is that Quill wants to be known as Star Lord, but no one seems to get it right. Groot the tree can only say “I am Groot”, but Rocket seems to understand the different inflections in the way he says it. The action the special effects are all quite satisfying visually popping and for once it's great to see that another major US city is not destroyed in the final act. The story is sort of confusing at times as the viewer has to catch up with the political intrigue of another universe, the different kinds of technology and sometimes awkward names. But it's a movie that you will not mind seeing multiple times just to hear the dialogue you missed by everyone laughing so loud. Guardians is the best of the summer!
(Review by reesa)
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