The Guardians of the Galaxy

                Let me be the first to say that Marvel Studios has really been keeping their a-game going! After the MASSIVE disappointment that was “Iron Man 3” (sorry guys), the films after have been getting better and better. I’ve already mentioned that “Winter Soldier” was my new favorite of the “Avengers” series, but now that moment has changed. Ladies and gentleman of Planet Earth and movie goers alike; I give to you…“The Guardians of the Galaxy.”

                Space outlaw and ravager, Peter Jason Quill (aka Star Lord), acquires an orb to sell off the markets of Xandar. When he encounters Gamora, an alien servant of Thanos; Rocket and Groot, two bounty hunters; they are arrested and meet up with Drax the Destroyer. Now the unlikely group of misfits have to find out the mysteries of the orb and stop Ronan the Accuser from getting it, and destroying the galaxy. This film has just about everything that makes a film pure enjoyment. I don’t think I can recall having this much fun with a film like this, to where I felt like a kid again, watching a comic book film in the theater for the first time. And for a film about a team coming together to stop an evil force, this film not only surpasses “The Avengers” and “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” but puts those films TO SHAME!

                Chris Pratt delivers the performance of his career as Peter Quill; after his work on “Parks and Recreation,” he has managed to go from the chubby side character, to a full blown action star in a comic book film. Hell, even the producers were impressed with his performance, since they fully admitted that whether he was in shape or not, he was awesome. His chemistry with the other Guardians really adds to the moment, whether it’d be funny or serious, he’s got it strong. Zoe Saldana also manages to rival with Pratt, in terms of performance; if “Star Trek” and “Columbiana” proved anything, it’s that she’s got the chops for an action lady of this generation. The interactions she has with Quill are really investing, as they work off of each other, since both have parallels amongst their lives. Dave Bautista as Drax also adds some greatness to the film, despite him being my least favorite of the Guardians; not that he was bad, far from it, but just that everyone else was better than him. But hey, that’s just my opinion though.

Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as Rocket and Groot, what can I say? The two characters work off of each other so well, that you actually feel their brotherly bond throughout the course of the film. They’ll both stick up for each other, and it works for the duo of a big hulking muscle and the smart-aleck strategist. Cliché, but they manage to make it work to their fullest.

                Lee Pace as Ronan was just an excellent villain, and he manages to give off the strong intimidation of the tyrant that the character is. His presence and his actions really give off the feeling of chaos brewing in his eyes, like he’s just ready to step up from right-hand-man and crack at any moment. Other big name stars like Benicio del Toro, Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, Karen Gillian, Josh Brolin, Michael Rooker from “Slither,” and Djimon Hounsou also give off great supporting work, adding to what was already a great cast, making it even better.

                The film was written and directed by James Gunn, who is best known for “Slither,” a film which I still consider to be one of the best effects films of the past decade. While he hasn’t had the best track record in terms of writing, aside from one or two projects, this film manages to put him back on the green for me. And I have to talk about the action scenes in this film, which are some of the best I’ve seen this year, and the climax adds so much more to it. For a film I had below-average expectations for, it still manages to surprise me.

                Overall, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a must see film, and I can’t wait for it to come out on Blu-Ray. I’m sorry, but I don’t think we’re going to top this film for Phase 2, unless “Age of Ultron” pulls a miracle. It’s the best film of the “Avengers” series, and I don’t think I could recommend it higher than what I’ve said. I mean, after seeing some of the mediocre blockbusters released this summer, this one feels like a breath of fresh air.

Rating: 10/10