Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

[MekaGojira3k]

[lhb412]

I had a feeling this would be great, but my expectations were exceeded. The Guardians of the Galaxy is very much like my other favorite comic-based films from the past decade, only for this one the generally audience seems to be just as receptive to it as me.

I went in expecting to have a favorite character, but it's impossible. The Guardians work so great together and I can't wait to see them in another film. We've all heard about how great Quill, Rocket, Groot, and Drax are (because they all are), but I also want to single out Gamora. By now I'm used to seeing Zoe Saldana in every big budget sci-fi epic released, but I feel she's never been more likable than she is here.

[Henry88]

'Guardians of the Galaxy' tops box office with $94M
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/20 ... e-with-4m/

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marvel2014a.htm
$160,400,000

[MouthForWar]

I can't stop thinking about how much I loved this movie. I love that its based on a property nobody has heard of and was so successful. I love that great character actors like Michael Rooker aren't only in great roles here, but have their own bad ass show stopping moments. I love that Marvel made a movie full of such bizarre ideas and characters. I love that this movie does the opposite of stuff like Masters of the Universe and Green Lantern where they start off in this great, imaginative universe and then just put everything on Earth (that almost NEVER happens anymore!). And I love that there's only one scene that takes place on Earth. I love that even though its in the MCU, they never feel like they need to crowbar in references to the other Marvel movies. I love that the post credits scene has a cameo from the star of one of the most reviled movies ever made. I love that this movie just throws the audience head first into a fully realized world with no apologies. Just great world building all around (which is also what I loved about Pacific Rim). It was funny and heartfelt and the Guardians themselves are all characters that I just fell in love with.

I just love this movie. Its a Star Wars movie if they still made good Star Wars movies.

This might top out at my favorite movie of the year. Some people seem to think this summer was a let down, but in a summer where we had new Godzilla, X-Men, Apes, Guardians, and Captain America films that all DELIVERED, as well as great small gems like the Rover, the Raid 2, and Snowpiercer, I simply don't get it. This year has been great.


I also love that this movie was directed by a Troma alumni (speaking of which, did anybody else spot the Lloyd Kaufman cameo?)

[MekaGojira3k]

This was an amazing summer for movies.
Now let's go watch this:

[Henry88]

[lhb412]

[Alpha OTS]

Its movies like Guardians and Pacific Rim that are turning me into a frothing Bay hater. As a huge Transformers fan I am fully realizing the movies I could have had. I didn't really care for Age of Extinction when I walked out of it, and now I'm completely certain that I hate it.

[jellydonut25]

[Benjamin Haines]

[lhb412]

[jellydonut25]

[lhb412]

... you don't need big stars to lead a Devil Dinosaur movie.

* maniacal laugh *

[tbeasley]

[MekaGojira3k]

As far as favorites are concerned I'd rank the MCU as
1. Guardians of the Galaxy
2. Marvel's The Avengers
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
4. Captain America: The First Avenger
5. Thor
6. Iron Man 2
7. Iron Man
8. Thor: The Dark World
9. The Incredible Hulk
10. Iron Man 3

Though 4-7 just jump around each time I do a re-watch of it all.

[jellydonut25]

For me, Thor 2 is the worst movie by a fairly wide margin. That I still own it and find it entertaining speaks to the MCU being a smashing success.

[Benjamin Haines]

[MekaGojira3k]

Thor: The Dark World is probably the weakest, but I just happen to like it more than The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 3.
I just really hate Iron Man 3. *shrug*

[angilas]

[lhb412]

Ranking of the Marvel Studios films so far?

Guardians of the Galaxy
Iron Man 3
The Avengers
Iron Man
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Captain America: The First Avenger
Thor
The Incredible Hulk
Iron Man 2
Thor: The Dark World

Most of 'em are pleasant enough, but aside from Guardians they haven't really stuck with me. I mean, I'm a big movie collector and GotG is the first one I've seen where I immediately looked forward to getting the Blu Ray so I can watch it whenever I want.

[DannyBeane]

So this today at the matinee. Groot was awesome. Loved the whole movie.

[jellydonut25]

I liked it. It's a Marvel movie though, through and through and through. That's not like a BAD thing, but it does keep it from being GREAT, imho. Without the MCU looming over its head this could have been something really extraordinary and special on its own.

It's good. And I'll let it simmer for a while before I rank it in the MCU or in 2014...but at the moment it feels like about #3 Marvel and #6 2014.

[lhb412]

[jellydonut25]

So I've slept on this...I think what this is, is a case of what Pacific Rim was for a lot of people last year. I had fun with it, but I'm not ready to call it the second-coming.

Unlike those people who didn't love Pacific Rim, though, I'm not going to be so cynical as to say it's not even a good movie or anything. It'll probably grow on me over time and worm its way into my heart (as I felt it doing at various times throughout its running time). I think the villain kinda sucks, and that'll hold it back from ever topping Avengers or Winter Soldier for me, but the heroes are introduced to us quite excellently, and I'll be there for future installments featuring these guys.

It's got some STARK similarities to Thor 2 that had me shaking my head and held it back a bit, I've got an issue with the score in that I felt it over-relied on the songs and didn't craft enough original composition of its own, and I thought Karen Gillan was god-awful (and also, seeing this movie was kind of an inconvenience for me, and I feel like I could and should have just waited a bit instead of rushing out and seeing it right before a trip up north with a 3-month-old baby), but Batitsta was better than I thought he'd be, Pratt has an endearing charisma, and of course the Rocket/Groot combo is great (I'm extremely lukewarm on Gamora, but then, she's played by Zoe Saldana so I'm not really surprised that she seems to lack personality), and Brolin as Thanos is an inspired bit of casting that's gonna ultimately pay off pretty well, I think.

If X-Men holds up for me, I think this will probably wind up somewhere around #6 or #7 on the year, which I think speaks to the quality of this year's movies...something that I think I'll ultimately end up really enjoying and rewatching a fair bit over the years is a #6 movie...

[Rodanex]

I absolutely loved this film. I totally fell in love with the characters, the dialogue was great, the story was a bit McGuffinish but still a lot of fun, and Ronan was an absolute badass and a great villain. I'm a fan of the cosmic aspect of the Marvel universe, and this movie really captured the feel of those books. I loved seeing Celestials, Drax, the Kree, Thanos, and the Nova Corps realized on screen. This is probably the most fun I've had at the theater in a long time...can't wait to see it again.