But I digress. In previous months I had read, with some interest, people discussing concerns about a Guardians of the Galaxy movie. The comics were fun without being silly but, in the greater Marvel comics to cinema universe, GotG isn't up to the level of Thor, Iron Man, X-Men, Spider-man or Captain America. That seemed to be a consensus of many online informal chats leading up to the release of the first trailer of the movie.
The trailer was hilarious and entertaining, but also positioned the movie just right. What a treasure trove awaited the fans. Judging by debut weekend box office numbers, many, many fans took in Guardians of the Galaxy and loved it. I did, too. One person remarked "It's basically Raiders of the Lost Ark in space." Sure, but it's also parts Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and all the exuberant sci-fi comics, movies and TV shows from my childhood (well, mine anyways) that were swashbuckling, daring, edgy but not overboard in any particular way.
The casting is almost pitch perfect. The special effects, action set pieces, cinematography are beautiful and don't look so overly CGI'd or gaudy (you hear me, Spider-man?!). As with most comic adaptations, it's the little things that make a big impression: Peter Quill's/Star-lord's memory of his mother kept alive by songs you know and will be humming for weeks. Quill's devil-may-care attitude. A better look around The Collector's collection, a longer look than in Thor: The Dark World. ESPECIALLY in the post-credits, which is almost a jab at DC/Warner's fumbling around with comic cinematic adaptations. Baby Groot. Rocket pouring his torn, jagged heart and soul out after a drunken fight with Drax. Yondu's redass personality (a perfect fit for Michael Rooker, long a fan of the comics character). Drax with his heart of gold and despair. Gamora's ass-kickingness that briefly disappears when she's almost won over by the charms of Quill. Lee Pace bringing the pain as Ronan the Accuser. Josh Brolin growing clearer and clearer (in the Marvel movie universe) voicing Thanos. Hell, even with her villainous character Nebula, I've grown more in love with Karen Gillian. It's all there in its splendor.
Guardians of the Galaxy is one of those comic adaptations that perfectly makes fans out of those new to the material. But it doesn't dumb things down for the hardcore fans. The audience could connect, in a sense, with this bunch of outcasts, misfits and criminals. I loved Captain America sequel, I was fine with the Thor sequel, and from the sounds of things, Avengers 2 will be tremendous. I'm worried about what's happening with Ant-Man, how Marvel bungled that in the wake of Edgar Wright's departure. But with James Gunn, the Guardians are in the right hands. I hope to see it again soon, and eagerly await the sequel.
