by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
We live in a world where information is a commodity. Everyone wants to be the first one to share new information with the world wide web. This fact makes the creative process for filming extremely challenging, as rabid fans will leak and share spoilers without any hesitation. In this age of spoilers, it is extremely pleasing to be shocked and surprised about the overall quality of a film. In this case, Guardians of the Galaxy manages to not only impress on multiple levels, but truly opens up a new universe of possibilities to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Who are the Guardians of the Galaxy? Star-Lord, Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, Drax The Destroyer, and Groot take center stage in this space-centric movie. If you don’t recognize any of the names, don’t feel too bad. Unlike Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, these characters only just came in to prominence in the comics in the last few years. Their obscurity actually helps to broaden their appeal, mainly since it gave Director James Gunn (Super) the ability to craft a story that would appeal to larger audiences, as well as help to set the stage for future outings into the large “universe” of characters in the Marvel pantheon.
We have heard that Guardians would be a different type of Marvel movie since the title was announced, but no one really knew what to expect. Marvel wanted to take a gamble and help to broaden their cinematic franchise with lesser-known characters, but no one could have predicted that their first Non-Avengers choice would be Guardians of the Galaxy. The Anti-Hero concept has been a long time staple of comics, so selecting Peter Quill and his ragtag group to hit the big screen before Black Panther, Namor, Doctor Strange, and others was certainly a surprise. Gunn has amazingly found a way to make these brand new characters interesting and entertaining enough to make Marvel announce a sequel date BEFORE the release of this film. Once you see Guardians, you will understand why. Gunn is going to be a big player in the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward, and I feel that this is the first step down a brand new path.
The film stars Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Star-Lord, Zoe Saldana (Star Trek) as Gamora, Dave Bautista (Riddick) as Drax, Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel (The Fast and the Furious) as the voice of Groot, Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) as Ronan the Accuser, and Karen Gillian (Doctor Who) as Nebula. Each and every one of these actors gets a chance to shine in the film, but the two most impressive performances go to Diesel and Cooper, who were probably the most shocking casting additions to the ensemble.
Visually, Guardians of the Galaxy is probably one of the most impressive installment in Marvel’s lineup. The character designs, settings, technology, and overall tone of the movie are unlike anything we have seen before. Nothing in this movie feels too far-fetched in design (even Rocket Raccoon), and you will believe that a 1980’s Walkman is one of the most important items in the universe. If possible, you will definitely want to experience this film in IMAX.
It is easy to equate the film to the overall feel of watching Star Wars for the first time. You really don’t know what to expect, and you will soon find that what you are watching is very special. If Gunn and Marvel can find a way to capture this element and reproduce it again with the Phase Three movies, then these movies will only get better and better. Make sure you see this movie in theaters, because if you don’t, you will be missing out on a fantastic experience.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives Guardians of the Galaxy 5 out of 5 Mix Tapes.
