By Renee’ Collins
Rating: 5 (Out of 5 Reels)
In the far reaches of space, an American pilot named Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of a manhunt after stealing an orb coveted by the villainous Ronan (Lee Pace) (IMDB).
Those not familiar with the Marvel comic Guardians of the Galaxy would probably approach this film thinking it is just another in a series of boring and predictable science fiction stories but they would be dead wrong on that account. Writers James Gunn and Nicole Perlman expertly weave an intricate web of characters that have enormous depth which quickly draws the viewer into this film. Just enough is revealed about each character to understand where they come from and their motivation in regards to the plotline. As more and more is revealed it is impossible not to become vested in these characters because each a unique and feeling individual, yes, even the computer generated ones.
It is a wonderful thing to see actors who fit their characters perfectly and bring them to life and the choices here are superb on all levels. Chris Pratt as Peter Quill is easily able to bring out humor as well as seriousness of his character when needed and this role will catapult him into mainstream Hollywood. Many will recognize bad ass Zoe Saldana as Gamora from her previous roles in other action blockbuster films like Avatar, Star Trek, Colombiana and The Losers just to name a few. She can easily and convincingly switch from seductress to warrior in the blink of an eye. Other notable actors who add to the richness of this film are Bradly Cooper voicing Rocket, Lee Pace as the villain Ronan, Kjimon Hounsou as Korath, Glenn Glose as Nova Prime and Benecio Del Toro as The Collector. Some of these characters are not on screen for long but make it count because of the excellent writing, makeup, costumes and their acting ability.
Guardians of the Galaxy is a spectacular addition to its genre and most sci-fi junkies will look forward to the next installment which hopefully will be helmed by James Gunn again. Paying full price for this film on the big screen in 3D will not disappoint and is highly recommended.
Rating: 5 (Out of 5 Reels)