Review – Guardians of the Galaxy
Being a big Marvel film fan, I have high expectations for each of their new films, so of course, it was no different this time around. I’m not a comic book reader, though, so I don’t have the background knowledge of each character that others may be aware of. That being said, Guardians of the Galaxy is a pretty great watch no matter your Marvel knowledge.
‘Guardians’ does a lot of things right, and can stand up alongside all the other Marvel films released so far. The action sequences and special effects are superb (although I didn’t really notice the 3D) which is
especially important given that next to nothing occurs on Earth, which has been the primary location for the previous Marvel films so far. Their universe has expanded out into the galaxy, giving us new planets and races to see, and has the feel of a Star Wars inspired space opera in many ways. The humour in the film is also on point, and kept things grounded to prevent it from becoming melodramatic or clichéd. I found myself alternating between a racing pulse and hysterical laughter, and heightened emotions are always a sign of a good film. The soundtrack is also great, combining epic orchestral scores with the songs of “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” that are so important to Peter Quill and his earthly origins.
The characters had many great qualities, which is important when so many new ones were being introduced at once (unlike the Avengers who had stand-alone films first). The Guardians have all the qualities of heroes – bravery, intelligence, goodness – but are also selfish, aggressive and very
funny. They are not traditional heroes, but step up when it is required of them. I would have liked to know a little more about their back stories, seeing as I haven’t read the comics, and their character development was very predictable, but they were likeable protagonists. I think Chris Pratt as the lead, Peter Quill a.k.a Star Lord, in particular, is utterly fantastic, equally comedic and heroic, and key to what makes this film so great.
The villains of the story are also excellent. Ronan is utterly terrifying, and this exudes from every aspect of his demeanour – I particularly liked his first scene, where he appears to be dressing for war and we see his power and determination on display here, and throughout the film. Nebula is also a strong villain, fearsome and malevolent. Her character arc is interesting too, especially in comparison to her sister Gamora’s, and I’d like to see more of her progression in the future.
Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy is a thoroughly enjoyable film. Action, drama, humour and romance
are all present in a great roll call of characters, and the cinematic effects are flawless. It fits in with the existing Marvel films, but is definitely still unique and can stand on its own. And of course, it paves the way for more films in the future and drops hints about what they may have in store for us – something tells me we haven’t seen the last of Thanos by any means…
