Co-written with Margaux Poupard.
Samir: Considering the crop of summer blockbusters this summer, I had little expectation that I would find GOTG so enjoyable. I’m normally such a bitter cynic and critic about these films, but something about the idea of a hot Chris Pratt compelled me to watch. And I’m glad I did. At least for free.
Margaux: As someone who will openly tell people I have never seen The Avengers and don’t particularly care for Marvel movie offerings, though I understand the appeal – I’ve drank up the Guardians of the Galaxy Kool-Aid. And couldn’t be more jacked-up about it.
It probably has a lot to with this being one of the more progressive superhero movies, the first Marvel franchise movie to be written by a woman and boast an indie (and sometimes extremely graphic) director, James Gunn. That was enough for me to be looking forward to GOTG this summer, especially considering (like you said) the theater offerings as of late.
Samir: And progressive without being too maudlin or self-appreciating. One of the things liked best about the movie was that it didn’t take itself too seriously. While I’m not a fan of settling for low expectations, a Hollywood production that aims to entertain and doesn’t make giant waves about some generic United Colors of Benetton message to gloss over it’s plot holes or to artificially manipulate our emotions to make us give a shit about what happens to the characters. Also, can we acknowledge what a crazy thing it is to watch a James Gunn-directed picture after watching his work on the first season of the dearly-departed VH1’s Scream Queens??
Margaux: Or even watching Super. I can’t believe the same man directed such a seriously crowd-pleasing romp – in the words of Stefon, THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING.
Except the very-Disney beginning that felt forced upon Gunn, in retrospect of the tone and plot of the movie as a whole. But it felt like that scene didn’t even end up mattering much because when we’re re-introduced to Peter Quill (or Star-Lord), it’s like we’re treated to the genuine introduction of how we’re meant to see Chris Pratt’s character.
Pratt, by the way, the most charming leading man – pack it up Ryan Gosling.
Samir: Never say that about Ryan Gosling! He will always melt my butter with a single gaze and removal of shirt (and pants). Speaking of which, after Pratt’s jaw-dropping shirtless selfie, I expected to see a lot more of that bod-only major disappointment was the lack of male objectification in this movie. But I digress – despite the hoaky execution of the set-up with the dying mother at the beginning, I thought the payoff was actually quite effective, the collective gasp from the theatre when he finally opens that box! But I thought he was just a little shit when he wouldn’t hold his mother’s hand as she was dying.
Margaux: I usually find hipsters and their ironic love of cassette tapes to be truly obnoxious, but the clever use of Quill’s bond with Earth and his Mother, represented in “Awesome Mix Vol. 1,” works really well here. It helped move the story along in way that felt very natural and was a wonderful callback scattered within the movie. Even if I doubt there being a cassette player space, considering I couldn’t find now on Earth if I tried.
Samir: It also gave a decent excuse for the 80’s soundtrack. I was a little wary when he danced his way through his first scene while listening to his precious portable tape-player (this movie’s version of Indiana Jones’ hat), but once his fighting was worked into the choreography, I had to like it. Like a space-age white-man version of Capoeira.
Margaux: That’s another thing I enjoyed about GOTG that I don’t usually in action/sci-fi films, fight scenes. The choreography of the fights (and there were a lot of them) were shot clearly and conscience – keeping your focus on the action and not allowing your attention to slip away.
Samir: And it helped that it was fun to hang out with these characters and you really rooted for them. They genuinely felt like a bunch of rag-tag outcasts banded together. The underdog factor felt genuine with this mix of aliens and experiments gone wrong. Like Rocket Raccoon! By far my favorite character in the movie.
Margaux: Rocket Raccoon and Groot – you couldn’t see it in the dark, but I teared up at the very end when Groot enveloped the group in his spindly branches. I also thought that, effect and character-wise, Rocket and Groot were the heart of the this movies fun and the source of a lot comic relief. “Oh lookit at me, I’m a baby – I’m so cool. It’s not cool have other people help you walk!” – Rocket Raccoon.
Samir: Aww, Groot, that was some impressive voice acting AND CGI-work, on both of them. With the same line, “I am Groot,” he conveyed so much emotion in the movie. And the movement and detail on his vines, leaves, branches for limbs and wooden face really brought to life the crazy idea that a talking and walking tree could be a character.
Margaux: Lee Pace’s Galaxy-Hitler villain made the most of his screen-time, making what could be cliche-ish, bad guy dialogue into some Hamlet-level drama. The way he’s introduced to us, bringing down a hammer on a Xanderian’s skull, seemingly draining his blood for some TBD use – you know this dude is total dickhead and will be causing some shittier problems for our gang.
Samir: And Karen Gillian (who looks like a bald, blue cyborg version of Rachel Leigh Cook here) as his accomplice too -I really wanted to hate these performances, but somehow I actually bought into their petulant villainy and just wanted to see them vanquished. I have loved Lee Pace since his turn as Jaye’s brother on Wonderfalls, and then on Pushing Daisies. It’s nice to see him getting so much high-profile work. Though it seems an odd trend that directors cast him in roles requiring elaborate makeup and costumes. Guess we’ll have to watch Halt and Catch Fire to see him in sorta regular human clothing.
Margaux: Well, he’s 80s businesswear, but at least Pace isn’t wearing the castoffs of 300’s villain character.
Samir: Well I wouldn’t necessarily complain about that if it happened 😉
Margaux: Haha, I’m not – just wish we’d seen more of that beautifully evil face.
Moving on from our love of Lee Pace before this becomes a petition to bring back Pushing Daisies or advocate for Pace on Hannibal.
Zoe Saldana, I thought, was a great yang to Pratt’s ying – or whichever way you wanna look at that. She’s come quite a way from stubbing out a cigarette with her ballet pointe in Center Stage – Saldana is now the go-to leading lady for blockbuster action/sci-fi and I’m not complaining.
Samir: When Gamora says that she doesn’t dance my first thought was “Haven’t you seen Center Stage?!” But I hear your point. It’s a good thing she bounced back from that dreadful Rosemary’s Baby remake that soiled our televisions.
Margaux: Let’s agree to never speak of those horrible two hours on NBC ever again. As far as I’m concerned, it’s been forgiven and forgotten now that I’ve seen GOTG.
Samir: And at least she gets to camp it up doing a range of different characters, Michael Rooker was just straight-up Merle from Walking Dead, but with a snazzy grill and some blue face paint. Even the accent was the same! Still, he was another example of a potentially hackneyed character that didn’t just follow a straight formula; he wasn’t all villain, but not all good. Mostly leaning towards villain, but I actually liked him and wanted to see more of him, and his arrow.
Margaux: I thought space-Merle served his purpose in the film but probably enjoyed his sidekicks “uh-huh” and “you heard the man!”, amiably played by Scott Gunn, more than Space-Merle. Judging by his parting words after the concluding fight scene, which I won’t give away, I’d assume you’d see more his character in the next Guardians movie.
I did think that with the Space-Merle character, they did funny bit that action movies are often at guilty of; the constant over-stating of why the hero should be grateful (usually a weird reason) to the sorta-villainous character for keeping them alive all this time. Quill calling out Space-Merle in their confrontation before attempting (and then succeeding) in defeating Ronan, was one of the many times when Pratt’s comedic background really sold the moment.
Samir: Grifters and con-men are always welcome additions to action movies – with their compromised morality and single-minded purpose, they keep things moving at a humorous, speedy clip. Quill certainly realized he needed him but didn’t have to forgive him or become besties to work with him. So there is still some animosity to be worked out there for sure.
Margaux: Guardians of the Galaxy was smart and well-paced, clocking in at exactly 2 hours, and that is impressive in a world where every movie is minimum 3 hours. You laughed, you nearly cried (if you are me), and most of all, you really rooted for and related to these characters. They left you wanting more but didn’t bring up the lights until all the questions they had posed in the beginning, were answered at the end. To paraphrase an old screenwriting teacher, they got the damn train up that hill and it was very satisfying ride.
Samir: Oh, that terrible world where terribly edited screenplays make 3 hour naps of action movies. Every cell in my body was crying out for sleep, and yet this film kept me thoroughly awake, and for a hollywood action movie, that is an impressive feat indeed! And I felt no shame at liking this movie, another huge feat! Don’t fret-I actually teared up a bit too – funny I always feel the most for non-human characters – Rocket’s speech about being an experiment and Groot’s parting words, definitely made me a little misty. I’d take that ride again I think.
Margaux: I would happily pay for that ride again (in IMAX though) – Guardians of the Galaxy deserved the praise of Movie of the Summer. Five motherfucking stars.
Samir: Damn Sister from another mister- I will normally save my 5 stars for a masterpiece, but for these purposes, in terms of the summer blockbuster- it is def a 5-star picture, unless the check doesn’t clear then it’s back to 4 stars.
Margaux: Or you don’t receive that FREE Rocket Raccoon hoodie, complete with hoodie/earbuds…
Samir: THE must have fashionable garment for the sci-fi nerd this summer 🙂
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