Directed by:
James GunnCinematography:
Ben DavisCast:
Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close (more)VOD (4)
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Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy finds space adventurer Peter Quill the object of a bounty hunt after stealing an orb coveted by a treacherous villain, but when Quill discovers the power it holds, he must find a way to rally the quartet of ragtag rivals hot on his trail to save the universe. (Walt Disney US)
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Reviews (20)
The plot rides on the wave of traditional comic book clichés, there’s the die-hard bad guy who wants to wipe out the galaxy and a bunch of oddballs trying to stop him. But the ubiquitous self-deprecating humour takes this tale up a level of fun, as do a bunch of likeable characters who have each picked up an extra bucket of charisma and whose fates keep you interested. James Gunn has capitalized well on his Troma beginnings, and he handles the wisecracking bizarre characters with aplomb and with humor that doesn't feel awkward or hammy. And tell me, is it possible not to love a film in which the protagonist is willing to put his life on the line to save his beloved prehistoric Walkman? I myself once, many years ago, as a poor student, bought my first Walkman with the last money I had saved and was happy as a pig in shit, so I understand Chris Pratt's feelings :o) And it wasn't even a gift from my mother.
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The comparison of film and a rollercoaster perfectly suits Marvel blockbusters. The standardised products from the shared workshop of the Marvel Studios and Disney divisions attract viewers with a spectacular ride, which is, however, constructed in a completely mechanical way. Just as fairground machines differ from each other in their effect on one’s emotions only in their scary murals, extravagant names and number of flashing lights, Guardians of the Galaxy is absolutely identical to, for example, Big Hero 6. The narrative construction and dramaturgy, i.e. the rails conveying the audience to the individual emotional hoops and loops, are exactly the same; they differ only in their particular twists and turns. This is most striking in the conclusion, when, immediately after the spectacular climax comes an emotional twist that transforms the given film into a tear-jerker. Distinctive directors are hired for Marvel flicks solely for marketing purposes in order to help create the impression that the individual films are different, but in practical terms, their contribution has the same weight as the authorship of carnies who paint unlicensed portraits of pop-culture icons on midway rides.
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At first, I thought: another Marvel movie that’ll get lost in the mix. Then I read some enticing articles about it and slowly but surely, I was beginning to inconspicuously change my opinion of it. In the end, I was only truly convinced at the moment when I watched the movie at a cinema. This Marvel movie isn’t mediocre at all and most importantly, it’s different from all the other superheroes they keep shoving down our throats all the time. It takes place in space, it has a bunch of alien races, a talking raccoon and an overgrown tree. It’s fun, amusing and it has an amazing CGI that makes you feel like you’re in space with them. Plus, it offers Dave Bautista, a wrestler whose door to Hollywood was forever opened by this movie, in my opinion. And I’d love to see him again. All of these points are connected by originality and humor that has managed to tell this two-hour story with ease. And I wouldn’t have guessed that length at the cinema, not even after twenty minutes of contemplating. It was amazing! I’m just so pleasantly surprised and I can’t wait for the sequel.
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I am Groot – and that's great. Complaints about the fact that Guardians of the Galaxy turned out to be just an "ordinary" Marvel movie can be attributed primarily to the extensive media massage all around, which deprived us of any surprises. It is difficult to imagine a stranger situation than when the main blue-black villain is faced with a group consisting of an 80s fanboy, an unfunny fighter, an unpredictable talking raccoon with a machine gun, and a tree in the foreground. And, of course, it's another pursuit of the devilish stone that can destroy everything. Because why not, when all the teams, villains, and artifacts successfully merge into one pile a few years later in the spectacle called Avengers: Infinity War. However, for now, the Guardians are struggling as a cohesive group with an incredibly positive song-filled soundtrack, shockingly self-assured direction by James Gunn, and an opulent finale that dazzles with every new idea, even in a relatively small space. I usually don't find pure space journeys particularly enjoyable, so this exception is all the sweeter.
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Guardians of the Galaxy take advantage of the fact that people love galactic soap operas and don’t worry about the rest, and it is given to them because they belong to the Marvel universe. In other words, one thing is not true of this film: it really is not subversive. The film always smirks slightly at the right time, but that doesn't change the fact that it takes full advantage of the potential of cosmic heroic sagas and Marvel hubs. Its humor is similarly superficial as the choice of 70's musical hits, but it works as a well-trodden galactic sitcom with excellent characters, and even in serious moments it seriously entices as a "superhero" spectacle (it got to me 2 times with the pure essence of heroic pathos, only to then laugh at myself along with the heroes). It's touchingly childish, yet very adult self-aware. And calculated to the last detail. When it comes to Marvel films, they simply know. Years ahead of the competition. [75%]
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