Movies we adored: Guardians of the Galaxy

Rarely, when the expectations are very high, you’ll get what you expect and paid for. This time it all turned out swell and fine.

(The following is 100% plot spoiler free, but it does mention some feels & character details.)

Guardians of the Galaxy is a bubbly, happy film. Our favourite thing about it is how smoothly it flows between solemnity and absolute giggles. Just when you think “awjeez here comes the cheesy superhero movie scene,” it takes the complete opposite direction within seconds and makes you regret you ever doubted.

Chris Pratt is an extremely likable man as he is, but the volume of his likability skyrockets during the genius opening and first scene of the movie: first, our heart breaks for tiny Peter Quill. Next, we just wanna be like him: the dorky cool guy who jams his way through sticky situations and makes us laugh while doing it.

And then there’s Zoe Saldana. It took me a while to realise what a great character Gamora is. She grew up among evil, yet managed to break out to fight for good and kicks everyone’s butt physically. This pleases me. Zoe pleases me.

I won’t even go into detail about what makes Rocket and Groot so amazing. You’ll see. You’ll see and you’ll understand. They’re beautiful characters. I could just watch Groot movefor all eternity and never get bored, and that’s just the visual side of him.

Dave Bautista‘s Drax the Destroyer is hilarious. Lee Pace‘s natural, majestic charisma makes Ronan the Accuser a very believable, yet oddly, slightly vulnerable baddie, whereas Doctor Who‘s Karen Gillan as Nebula is the total (amazing) opposite of goofycute Amy Pond.

But as huge fans of The Walking Dead we got massive kicks out of Michael Rooker‘s Yondu. It was like Merle Dixon got thrown across space and time to taunt our hero with his southern accent and snarky smirks. So, so good.

However, even after the utter joy that this cast delivers with their bonkers performances, I found myself hoping for more screen time for Benicio Del Toro and Djimon Hounsou.

But I guess expanding this movie into three hours was out of the question. Not that we would’ve minded.

-Tiia

Guardians of the Galaxy on IMDb
Director: James Gunn
Release date: 31 July 2014 (UK)