Guardians of the Galaxy [Film Review]

James Gunn has done something DIFFERENT with the Marvel universe! Instead of going with the classic heroes going through their problems while being surrounded by ridiculousness, fighting in a highly boring way, Gunn has made a film that really knows what it's doing!

Something about the Marvel films has always annoyed me. None of them ever feel RIGHT. They all feel off in one way or another, or in many ways. The Marvel films up to this point, while crowd-pleasing, have been hollow and often contradictory (what the heck is up with Thor). But this is pure, unrestricted fiction. They don't try to put any bit of reality into it, they don't try to explain these phenomenally odd creatures. This doesn't even feel like it's part of Marvel, it's so good. This feels like just a really incredible movie.

The comedy throughout is brilliant, and actually works (unlike the comedy in Avengers, which left me very straight-faced). The comedy, much of which relies on a brilliant compiled soundtrack, in the movie called 'Awesome Mix Vol. 1', is absolutely perfect and adds an excellent spice throughout.

The characters, each individually incredible, are well structured and acted. Chris Pratt is of course the greatest of the cast (maybe it's because I've loved his performances on Parks and Recreation, perhaps I have a bias), and he acts with a good amount of flamboyance and attitude. Bradley Cooper excellently portrays a persistently angry raccoon, and Benicio Del Toro has a brief but tremendous appearance as what is described in the script (reportedly) as an outer space Liberace.

The action is pretty awesome, and incredibly well-filmed. The soundtrack is also well utilized with it, exemplified perfectly in a scene using the song 'Escape'. Chris Pratt grooves to music while taking out enemies in style, in his red-eyed helmet.

Guardians of the Galaxy is without a doubt my favorite Marvel film, partially because it's so disconnected from the universe I've rather come to dislike. It's fun, hilarious, incredibly enjoyable and smart. James Gunn is likely the best thing to come to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and he's now made a film that is like The Avengers, but good, actually comedic, and with great characters. I eagerly wait for the sequel, as long as it's got James Gunn and Chris Pratt.