By Elysia Jelena Villadarez

Official poster of “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Official poster of “Guardians of the Galaxy”

“Hooked on a feeling; I’m high on believing . . .” is part of the lyrics of the song “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede, which was made memorable when it played in one of the scenes of the latest Marvel rendition, Guardians of the Galaxy. Indeed, watching the action-packed science fiction film will get you hooked on a lot of emotions, taking you to an exciting rollercoaster ride of humor and drama. Guardians of the Galaxy has the markings and success of a proper Marvel movie, with its breathtaking effects, witty dialogue, unique (bordering on outrageous) plot, and tendency to insert comedic moments in times of seriousness.

Gamora, soldier and assassin

 The protagonists, antagonists, and minor characters can be safely described as properly round characters. In the two hours of the movie, several minutes are dedicated to showing the different facades of the characters. The writers also spent some time depicting the diversity of cultures between the races of the planets, creating a wonderful clash and mesh of personalities. The little gestures themselves show their motivations and reveal their way of thinking.Directed by James Gunn and supported by Marvel Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy is about a ragtag group of misfits that, by some ulterior motive or another, ends up cooperating with each other to save, not only a world but, the entire galaxy. The plot revolves around an orb, which Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) steals in the hopes of selling it at a high price. The swift and cunning Gamora (Zoe Saldana), along with a trigger-happy talking raccoon named Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and a simpleton tree called Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), enters the scene with all the theatrics of money-loving mercenaries. Drax (Dave Bautista) comes in later on, with his gruff and straightforward personality and the tendency to take metaphors literally. Together, they must prevent the orb from falling into the hands of Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace), a terrorist who works for the Mad Titan, Thanos (he appears in the after-credits scene of The Avengers). In their mad dash across the galaxy and different planets, a bond of friendship forms among them — one formed through humorous situations, dramatic revelations, and sassy comebacks.

Drax, a.k.a. The Destroyer

The heroes themselves are not particularly selfless, helpful, or heroic. They initially come together for self-centered reasons that do not necessarily include ‘saving the galaxy’. However, their mindsets change later on.

The overall plot and back stories are cliché on the surface but astoundingly original in execution. There are some surprising twists to some of the known maxims of action and sci-fi films that will either leave you gaping in shock or laughing at the ridiculousness of them. Some examples include: the poor bad guys never finishing their dramatic monologues, truly distracting distraction techniques by Quill, and the tendency for supposedly dramatic situations to fail hilariously. The whole movie is fast-paced, with one situation transitioning into another until the ultimate climax is reached.

Partners Rocket and Groot

Although there are some continuity errors and a confusing after-credits scene, it is safe to say that Marvel Studios has once again outdone themselves with this one, taking major risks with their characters (the concept of a gun-toting talking raccoon and a muscular moving tree seems so ridiculous when put out of context) and casting. The audience expects its upcoming sequel to be just as entertaining!               Perhaps the best aspect of this movie is the interaction and relationship of the characters. The sassy retorts and dialogue will leave you wanting for more. The scenes also have a predilection to shift dramatically in mood. One moment, you’re chuckling over the antics of the heroes; and the next, you’re blinking back tears at the tragic back story that is being revealed. Truly, comedy and angst have never been mixed so well before this film.

Sources:

Guardians of the Galaxy (IMDb): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/

The Hollywood Reporter: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-marvel-explains-characters-682171

IGN Entertainment: http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/09/guardians-character-poster-rocket-and-groot