Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

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We’re the fricking Guardians of the Galaxy!” said Rocket.

I am Groot,” said Groot.

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Every year since the launch of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 1, along with the first Iron Man (2008), Marvel Studio never stops producing their exuberant superhero films that always work best in box office. After MCU Phase 1 concludes its timeline with The Avengers (2012), these Kevin Feige’s men keep fastening their seat-belt and hitting the gas with Phase 2 (Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier). Simply, Marvel takes over the superhero flick slots with their lavish set-piece and high-energetic humor immediately after the dark and gloomy era of The Dark Knight Trilogy ends. Surprisingly, Marvel audaciously picks a franchise isolated from fans’ radar—Guardians of the Galaxy, based on Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning’s comic book is Marvel’s biggest gamble… that works.

It’s a gamble that works as attracting as Peter ‘Star-Lord’ Quill (Chris Pratt) dances on his Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and steals an orb believed to be an infinity stone (remember Loki’s Staff, Tesseract, and Aether)—an entity craved by Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace, Thranduil in The Hobbit) and Thanos (the one appears in The Avengers‘ post-credit scene, now portrayed by Josh Brolin). This Star-Lord is a human from Earth, absorbed by a spaceship and then living in other galaxy with a blue ravager, Yondu (Michael Rooker from The Walking Dead).

Away in Xandar, he gets involved in a fuss with an assassin—Gamora (Zoe Saldana),  a talking raccoon—Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and a living tree—Groot (voiced with only one clause by Vin Diesel); and ends up in a prison. Only their intergalactic fate knows those four rascals assemble along with a literal badass, Drax (Dave Bautista from WWE) to be our titular anti-heroes. Fueled by multiple motivations, our outlawed guardians won’t let the orb falls to the villainous Ronan the Accuser along with his assassin, Nebula (a baldie Karen Gillan from Oculus).

Surprisingly, Guardians of the Galaxy barely shows direct connection to other previous Marvel flicks (save for Thanos and Chitauri from The Avengers; The Collector and Dark Elf from second Thor; and other extraterrestrial Marvel stuffs). Fortunately I never expect Iron Man et al here ’cause the event depicted here takes place in a galaxy far far away from the earth—making it a Star Wars reminiscent (for me, Knowhere looks like Mos Eisley and Xandar looks like Coruscant, and don’t forget other splendor creatures). However, that’s not even a disappointment—the world of Guardians of the Galaxy is beautifully crafted with wondrous landscapes, fabulous ornaments and perpetual enthrallment, although most of them might not look natural.

I love every single action set-pieces and humors presented in the film, especially, anything related to Groot. This tree-like humanoid can always do anything the others can’t. Sometimes it becomes very comical but mostly it’s the real guardians; but I won’t forget that he’s a simple misfit with all “I am Groot” spoofs—proving that Vin Diesel is a real convincing voice actor. Albeit other characters have deeper background and they might be as funny as Groot, but, seriously what’s more fun than a tree-like actioner? Only, if the guardians band together, they can be a real band of witty outlaw. As I said before, Marvel successfully dominates the dominion of serious hero a la The Dark Knight with hyper-energized humors and actions. Director James Gunn, with resume for his cult body-horror Slither and his fake super hero Super, superbly makes this a real fresh and funny anti-hero film as well as a badass Marvel actions—without stripping off his signature.

Should I name the Guardians of the Galaxy‘s blind spot, I will nominate the film’s villains. Similar to Malekith the Accursed in the second Thor, Ronan the Accuser is never been a real threat; his Nebula is much the same. Both of them present no real danger to the guardians nor to Xandar. Only once Ronan’s Dark Aster looks very intimidating, but it’s not as menacing as it looks in the beginning. Fortunately, James Gunn saves Thanos in his lair, otherwise, he might just be as lame as other villains. Thanks to those puny menace, we can always enjoy laughing at our shameless guardians in action.

In the end, Marvel’s decision to put a band of misfits from the middle of nowhere in the edge of MCU Phase 2 is definitely an ace. Surprisingly, Guardians of the Galaxy poses a real threat to other 2 Marvel franchises (from different studios—The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past) released during the same summer blockbuster. With 2 surprisingly great franchises (remember the second Captain America), this year is certainly Marvel’s jubilation year.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)


Adaptation, Action, Sci-Fi, Adventure Running Time: 121 mins Directed by: James Gunn Written by: James Gunn, Nicole Perlman based on comic by Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning Starred by: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, Benicio Del Toro, Djimon Honsou

Stills and references: IMDb | Official Site


STOP HERE IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE FILM!

TRIVIA: There’s a post-credit scene involving The Collector and Howard the Duck.

TRIVIA: In The Collector’s “Museum”, there are so many cameos from other Marvel comics or other franchises. I only notice Carina, Cosmo the Space Dog, Howard the Duck, and a Dark Elf.

TRIVIA: I saw Stan Lee portraying an old man whom Rocket calls as a “pervert.” I also saw James Gunn’s brother, Sean Gunn (who also acts as Rocket in filming—read it once in a magazine) portraying one of Yondu’s ravager.

TRIVIA: I read a “No raccoons or tree creatures were harmed in the making of this film” statement during the credit. Yeah, Rocket and Groot are all CGI creatures.

TRIVIA: I also read an article with sufficient information about Guardians of the Galaxy’s Easter egg HERE!

15 responses to “Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)”

  1. Summer Movie Guide 2014 | sinekdoks

    […] Guardian of the Galaxy | IMDB | Review |  […]

  2. Yusti Item Avatar
    Yusti Item

    Absolutely agree with you!! This movie is good.. 😀

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Good, like only good, Sir?

      1. Yusti Item Avatar
        Yusti Item

        from 1-10, i must say 8.5 for this movie… 😀
        pardon me for the incorrect vocabulary there…this movie should be great, good is not enough…
        Definitely will watch it again.. 😀

        1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
          Paskalis Damar AK

          Yeah, cant wait for the sequel on 2017 😀 Hopefully I’ll be as young as I’m now

  3. Tri Fajar Avatar
    Tri Fajar

    Keren nih film dan berasa tanpa beban aja karena tidak ada ekspetasi berlebih, maklum komiknya aja kan gak seterkenal komik marvel lainnya. Boleh dibilang MENGEJUTKAN KEREN.

    1. Paskalis Damar AK Avatar
      Paskalis Damar AK

      Sleeper-hit yang udah terprediksi 😉

  4. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) | sinekdoks

    […] Soldier brought conspiracies involving S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA into spotlight, then the penultimate, Guardians of the Galaxy was the wild horse; enough to call them the grittiest phase so far in the shared universe. […]

  5. Ant-Man (2015) | sinekdoks

    […] finally approaching, not as an A-lister Marvel Superhero, not as anybody, but I saw it coming. Guardians of the Galaxy made it, why don’t I give Ant-Man a […]

  6. Naga Api Avatar
    Naga Api

    cek video ini, untuk lihat daftar koleksi museumnya The Collector (ada howard the duck, chitauri, alien bermata satu, dll) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-VurhV8eo

  7. Monthly Roundup: August 2015 | sinekdoks – Movie Review

    […] But, first let’s rewind to August in 2013, where I reviewed one of the best Danish movie ever made, The Hunt by Thomas Vinterberg; then to 2014, where I reviewed one of Marvel’s best punch-drunk hit, Guardians of the Galaxy. […]

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    […] a little alienating. Be reminded that this is not the first time Kree race made appearances in MCU; Guardians of the Galaxy‘s big-baddie, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), was an elite member of Kree’s cavalry. It […]

  9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) – Review | sinekdoks – Movie Review

    […] surprise that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 falls flat in its attempt to live up the virtuoso of Marvel’s biggest gamble; what’s surprising: it still makes an awesome fun-tertaining space bravura centering on […]

  10. Suicide Squad (2016): Semoga bukan suicide mission untuk DCEU | sinekdoks – Movie Review

    […] yang lebih lite. Dunia yang dihadirkan Ayer bagaikan hibrida nihilism a la Deadpool, keunikan Guardians of the Galaxy serta olok-olokan untuk Avengers (atau bahkan Justice League?). Kedengarannya memang sangar, […]

  11. Suicide Squad (2016) – Review | sinekdoks – Movie Review

    […] Marvel’s irreverent humor. It’s a hybrid world of nihilistic spasms a la Deadpool, quirkiness of Guardian of the Galaxy and a mockery to typical hero-assemble trend. It sounds badass; it feels menacing; and it looks […]

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