With ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2 kicking off the summer with a massive box office debut, it is safe to say we are going to have a huge season on our hands. In a new segment called Blockbuster Breakdown, we will be featuring the biggest summer movies that will be hitting the theaters each week and why you don’t want to miss it. So throw on some flip flops, grab some popcorn and sink into a big comfy seat because summer has arrived.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – AUGUST 1
Director: James Gunn (Sliver, Movie 43)
Stars: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista
Synopsis: A band of misfits race around the galaxy to keep a powerful orb from falling into the wrong hands.
Runtime: 121 minutes
Quote: “I am Groot.”
Review: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ proves they are more than just a bunch of a-holes, they are a group of losers with a bunch of heart.
The movie follows Peter Quill, a child who gets abducted as a young boy by a group of thieves. Several years later, he steals an orb that everyone is after for its immense power. Quill gets arrested and thrown in jail where he effectively meets Rocket Raccoon, Groot, Gamora and Drax who have their own motives to keep Peter and the orb around. They eventually form a band of misfits to keep the powerful stone in the orb out of the hands of Ronan and Thanos who want to destroy the galaxy.
Chris Pratt proves himself worthy of a leading man with his goofy humor, rugged action hero appearance and innocent charm but that’s not to say that each character didn’t bring anything to the table. Vin Diesel as Groot becomes the most likeable character with his limited vocabulary and innocence.
Bradley Cooper nails the voice of Rocket Raccoon and his aggressive personality that contradicts his fluffy appearance. Dave Bautista doesn’t understand metaphors as Drax which leads to some hilarious miscommunication. And Zoe Saldana is as bad-ass as ever as the green assassin Gamora.
The movie relies heavily on special effects to create visually stunning space battles and desolate alien worlds. It creates a comic book feel and never lets us forget not to take it too seriously.
‘Guardians’ scores the best soundtrack of the year comprised of throwback hits from the 60s and 70s. The music compliments the retro sci-fi vibe of the film and its pretty damn entertaining watching Pratt throw down the gauntlet in a dance battle with one of the galaxy’s most feared villains.
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ will make you feel like a kid again with its witty humor, superior action and big heart. It easily deserves the title of a summer blockbuster and Marvel’s best film to date.