GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Review; "Not Only One Of The Most Awesome Marvel Movies Yet, But Also 2014's Best"

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Review; "Not Only One Of The Most Awesome Marvel Movies Yet, But Also 2014's Best"

Guardians of the Galaxy is finally out in cinemas, but is it really Star Wars for a new generation of another Green Lantern? Well, it's certainly not the latter and easily one of Marvel's's best movies...

Review Opinion
By JoshWilding - Jul 31, 2014 11:07 AM EST
Each of the Marvel Studios movies are so good that it's easy to declare each new release their best yet, but in the case of Guardians of the Galaxy, it might just be true! Whether or not it's better than The Avengers is a conversation for another day, but the James Gunn helmed movie is certainly right up there with it as one of the greatest comic book movies of all-time. All the credit goes to Gunn for that as there are countless scenes which simply would not have worked in the hands of a less capable director. Though it's packed full of hilarious moments and perfectly timed one-liners, dismissing Guardians of the Galaxy as a comedy would do it no justice, as you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat stunned by the incredible action sequences (or possibly with tears in your eyes) just as much - if not more - than you do laughing.

Chris Pratt cements his status as this generation's Harrison Ford/Han Solo as Star-Lord and is in many ways the most likeable Marvel leading man to date. Zoe Saldana's Gamora is also great, and the material she gets to work with here is a hundred times better than her two Star Trek appearances. However, of the live-action members of the team, it's WWE Superstar Dave Bautista who really steals the show. His line delivery is impeccable, and Drax easily gets the most laughs, despite being both sympathetic and a scary force of nature. You may be expecting Rocket to be your favourite character, and while he is fantastic, it's Groot who you'll really fall in love with! Both are incredible CGI creations, and Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel are the perfect choices for their respective voices. How much the latter does with just "I Am Groot!" is as surprising as everyone's been saying during the build up to the release of the film.

The focus is very much on the team, so the villains not being as well developed as some of the previous Marvel ones is easy to forgive. We know their motivations and that's ultimately enough, and Lee Pace's Ronan the Accuser is easy to hate, something which is all that's really needed. The supporting cast is excellent, though it would have been nice to see more of Glenn Close as Nova Prime and John C. Reilly as Rhomann Dey. Of course, that's what a sequel is for, and plenty of seeds are planted here for just that. A certain bad guy who we last saw in The Avengers' mid-credits scene makes only a brief appearance, but boy is it great. Josh Brolin's voice is perfectly suited for Thanos, and we can't wait to see what comes next for the Mad Titan in the MCU

In terms of story, Guardians of the Galaxy isn't always the most original, but both the tone and structure are vastly different to previous Marvel movies. The team is brought together far more naturally than in The Avengers, and while the plot is fairly simplistic in the sense that it revolves around stopping a bad guy unleashing a dangerous weapon, there are enough great character moments and twists and turns along the way so that it never feels like we're on familiar ground. As witty and funny as the movie is, Guardians of the Galaxy also has a hell of a lot of heart, and it makes for a unique two hour experience. The special effects are top notch, the soundtrack is downright amazing and the after-credits is fantastic fun, even if it doesn't set up a future movie...or does it?!

James Gunn has taken a group of characters that the majority didn't care about two years ago and made them guaranteed fan favourites in a movie that's not only one of the most awesome Marvel movies yet, but also 2014's best.

34334q
NOVA TV Show Confirmed By Kevin Feige; Lead Character And Planned Release Window Also Revealed
Related:

NOVA TV Show Confirmed By Kevin Feige; Lead Character And Planned Release Window Also Revealed

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Star Dave Bautista Says He's Struggling To Find My Place In The DC Universe
Recommended For You:

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Star Dave Bautista Says He's "Struggling To Find My Place In The DC Universe"

DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

1 2 3 4 5
citizenofgotham
citizenofgotham - 7/31/2014, 12:06 PM
woot
Mercwitham0uth
Mercwitham0uth - 7/31/2014, 12:07 PM
This pleases me.
SpideyQuad
SpideyQuad - 7/31/2014, 12:07 PM
"whoop whoop"
arkhamknight24
arkhamknight24 - 7/31/2014, 12:07 PM
Can't wait to see this movie. Sounds and looks amazing. Awesome review!
KillerOfSaints
KillerOfSaints - 7/31/2014, 12:09 PM
CAN'T WAIT!
yossarian
yossarian - 7/31/2014, 12:11 PM
How long before someone calls Josh a Marvelite?
EhMaybeSays
EhMaybeSays - 7/31/2014, 12:12 PM
@MarkyMark
I concur, CA had a superior thematic
Humperdink
Humperdink - 7/31/2014, 12:12 PM
Not Just One Of Marvel's Best, But Also One Of 2014's

grif
grif - 7/31/2014, 12:12 PM
predicted cap2 as movie of 2014 and so far it is. waiting for the bluray on this one.
antman73
antman73 - 7/31/2014, 12:14 PM
guys, I have to wait till 22 october to watch it in my country, so bless you that can see it tomorrow...
MarvelFan15
MarvelFan15 - 7/31/2014, 12:15 PM
Hey, Josh, after seeing Guardians of the Galaxy, do you think it will become Marvel's next worldwide billion dollar hit.
sicknimon
sicknimon - 7/31/2014, 12:15 PM
GOTG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Humperdink
Humperdink - 7/31/2014, 12:17 PM
@grif

This can't be better than Cap 2, can it?
If it is, I'm going to be in complete shock.

I wasn't sure it would even be good but the reviews are almost all praise.
batz11
batz11 - 7/31/2014, 12:17 PM
Yep, definitely Cap 2, Apes and Edge are my favs this year, hope GotG will get added for me, I'm sure it will...
Carl
Carl - 7/31/2014, 12:18 PM
5 stars? its as good as the godfather?
batz11
batz11 - 7/31/2014, 12:18 PM
F.UCK, I'm not gonna see it now, dropped below 90%...anybody want my tickets?

WaffeX
WaffeX - 7/31/2014, 12:19 PM
Ronan the destroyer? Lol
Humperdink
Humperdink - 7/31/2014, 12:19 PM
@MarvelFan15

500-600 million.

It could do $700 but I think it might be a stretch for a new property like this.
Not that it wouldn't be a good movie, but the other Marvel films that did a billion had build up from other films that helped established them.

No way it could do a billion.
Maybe a sequel could, who knows.

BaneSmash
BaneSmash - 7/31/2014, 12:19 PM
I hope it's good! I didn't like TWS........ Yes you can stone me to death!
ManDeth
ManDeth - 7/31/2014, 12:21 PM
People are getting too caught up on every new CBM. Any time a CBM doesn't suck everyone claims it the greatest ever made. No way it's a 5 star film. It's a 3.5 at best.
MercwithMouth
MercwithMouth - 7/31/2014, 12:21 PM
I tend to disagree with most of Josh's reviews... but I think we'll be on the same page this time.
batz11
batz11 - 7/31/2014, 12:22 PM
Oh right, Ezio, forgot DOFP, that was way up there for me, just below Cap, I wasn't very impressed with Godzilla, and I LOVE the character and old monster movies, hoping the sequel will deliver for me...
Starfox
Starfox - 7/31/2014, 12:23 PM
Totally saw this coming! My top 5 anticipated films have been like this since January:

1. Interstellar
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
3. Godzilla
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
5. X Men: Days of Future Past
Spideysense44
Spideysense44 - 7/31/2014, 12:24 PM
Holy shit only 5 hrs to go
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 7/31/2014, 12:25 PM
Nothing will beat Dawn of the Apes
batz11
batz11 - 7/31/2014, 12:26 PM
I kid, I kid...I could care less about RT, but yeah, this movie is getting WAY better critical reception then I even thought it would, I was thinking maybe 75-80% max, Gunn must of killed it, can't wait!
TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan
TMW1987ProudProWrestlingFan - 7/31/2014, 12:27 PM
The movie is absolutely astonishing! Gunn has nailed everything perfectly!

Great dialogue, Awesome humour used at the right time, Tremendous interaction between characters & that THANOS scene! This is a film where you could say everybody's favourite is going to be Rocket, but after viewing, I think you'll have reasons for liking the whole team, every scene from every character just sucks you in. Just a perfect movie.

I salute James Gunn for a really well made & well put together film. Bravo!

And even though this is so good, I'm already looking forward to the sequel & can't wait for things to be expanded upon.

Just keep those eyes peeled & watch out for all the references, macguffins, easter eggs & things that link back to previous movies & for what's to come.

I hate ranking & ordering films, but of the Marvel Studios releases so far, in no particular order Avengers, CA:TWS & GOTG are at the top of the pile!
1 2 3 4 5
View Recorder