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Posted August 6, 2014 by Yuri Mangahas in Movies/TV
 
 

10 Reasons Why Marvel Deserves A High Five for Releasing GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY!

(This editorial piece was written by our resident movie buff, Shayne Zalameda. The stage is all yours!)

Included in the Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe comes the less known but highly anticipated movie, the Guardians of the Galaxy. But what really makes this latest Marvel offering, tick?

1. Guardians of the what? Guardians of the Galaxy is a big risk for Marvel. With an estimated budget of at least $150 million, they’ve created a movie about a lesser known comic so, what gives? Aside from a director who’s never handled a project as big as this, it introduces a new breed of genre for the Marvel Comic Universe — the space opera– which puts it in line of Star Wars and Star Trek. As it turns out, the big risk is unexpectedly a good investment thus far because it is a refreshing addition to the space genre and admittedly one of the most enjoyable films of the year.

Initial reaction when Marvel announced the film

2. A-holes, assemble! There’s something twisted about a film featuring a league of space criminals. Their team is united by a series of unfortunate events and their selfish motives divide them. They exemplify the ups and downs of team work but despite and because of this, they all end up being adorable in the big screen.

Are you telling me that the fate of thirty million inhabitants is in the hands of these criminals?

3. The opening scene.This introduces us to the part that sticks with Peter Quill/Star-Lord –his last memories on Earth. We weren’t let in that far as to why he was chosen to be abducted by Yondu but one thing’s for sure, Quill’s scene with his mom is one of the saddest.

4. Nobody gets left behind. Every character seem to steal each other’s spotlight. Each have their fair share of quirks which makes every single scene good. The tongue in cheek humor or sometimes even the lack of it, makes it an unexpectedly good source of fun. And Chris Pratt as Star-Lord is really good. Director James Gunn seem to adore these five characters so much, it shows (and it’s infectious).

I AM GROOT!

5. Allowance for excitement build up. Some vital information were made just in passing and I’m hoping these will be explored further in the sequel, which will arrive three years from now.

6. Sweet soundtrack. Our hero, Quill, is a child of the 80’s. At the time he was abducted from Earth, included with him was what remained to be his only tie to his home planet: his cassette tape player and mixtape. Imagine him listening to the same set of songs for 20 years. Aside from his walkman being tough, the film’s OST also have some of the golden songs from the 70s and 80s decade such as: Come and Get Your Love by Redbone, Hooked On a Feeling by Blue Swede, Cherry Bomb by The Runaways, and I’m Not In Love by 10cc. Having all these in a single motion picture, one can’t simply help but be swayed and groove, just like Quill.

7. The action scenes. Impressive space shuttle combats and physical fighting scenes. Though the former is kind of reminiscent to Star Wars, I must admit that It’s. All. Good.

8. Pop culture reference Almost everybody gets this part. Need I say more? Kevin Bacon ladies and gents?

9. Cinematography 
The cinematography and design is visually stunning. The spaceship, the planets, up to the small details of the environment, all were dirty and pretty.

10. The post-credit tease.
WARNING: the next portion contains a brief description of the teaser.

After The Orb explodes, we were brought back to Knowhere, specifically inside The Collector’s place where we see him recovering. A dog in space suit comes and lick him in the face, to which someone from the back asks how he manages to let the dog lick his face like that. Camera pans to the character which appears to be Howard the Duck, another obscure Marvel character who is a good addition to Groot, the talking tree and Rocket, the talking raccoon. Howard the Duck is a flop movie from the 80s but there is a relative chance that he gets his own film in this generation. Or if not, hopefully he gets an expanded character in the sequel of Guardians.

Yuri Mangahas

 
Yuri is magnanimously juggling between two managerial jobs: A technical manager position for an advertising/copy-writing company, and an associate editorial position for a fashion and lifestyle magazine. Nevertheless, he still finds time taking photos and seeking for geek nirvana.