PG-13 2hr 2 min Action/ Fantasy
I need to start this off with a disclaimer: I’m a HUGE fan of these characters. The Cosmic heroes are my thing. When I first heard they were going to adapt the Guardians for the big screen, I was cautiously optimistic. I’d been burned before , Green lantern broke my heart, but this was Marvel Studios, they hadn’t disappointed me yet. Initially deemed as a risky endeavor, this looked like it was going to have an uphill battle from the start. With that in mind I closely monitored every detail as it unfolded. As the Marvel / Disney Hype Machine throttled into high gear, I let the excitement overtake me and I actually forgot the misery that was my Green Lantern cinematic experience. It wasn’t until I was sitting in that darkened theater last night that I started to get nervous again. Would I be let down again? Well let me shoot straight with you:
NO. FLARKING. WAY*
This movie was phenomenal! My personal favorite comic book movie to date! It’s not without fault ( I’m looking at you after Credits scene ) but I was glued to the screen the entire time, aside from the 3 minute pee-break I was forced to take during what my buddies tell me was the “most hilarious: part of the film ( “and I need that guy’s eye” ) So on to my honest mostly spoiler-free review of Guardians of the Galaxy:
This isn’t your typical Marvel movie. This is definitely a bona fide big budget Space Opera but it’s so much more than that. This movie is a gold mine of goofy humor and sci-fi action… and heart a lot of heart. You are made to care about these characters almost instantly. The opening scene is a real tear-jerking heart wrencher for D’ast* sakes! The main cast are smartly written three dimensional characters. These are ordinary ( by comic book standards ) people that are realistically flawed and pushed into extraordinary situations. You quickly come to care about them, you’re invested in their journey.
What a journey it is! Adventure, dramatic tension, exotic locations ( Xandar!, The Kyln!!, Knowhere!!!! ) , Epic Space battles, Dance-Offs ( No, really. ) and the Nova Corps. The character and environment designs were outstanding, the villains instilled a real sense of danger. Ronan radiated a sense of fear and all kinds of bat shit-crazy and then there was Thanos…. His brief appearance was enough to whip the audience into fangasm!
This film was a cosmic comics fan’s dream come true. It shattered all of my expectations. It was a nearly perfect movie with the perfect mix of fun, action and heart. It gets a 4 ½ stars instead of a perfect 5 only because I was severely disappointed with the after credits scene.
Final Thoughts: Go see this movie, you will not be disappointed! I’m heading out again this weekend for at least one more viewing!