Guardians of the Galaxy thread 2 ... Great movie, or best blockbuster of the decade?

[Howdyphillip]

I am still pumped up about seeing this, and I think that later in the week, I will be going back to see it again in the theatre. Watching a movie twice during its release is something that I haven't done in years, but if there will ever be a movie to do that with again, this one was it.

[Grand Moff Mithrandir]

I'm definitely going to watch this in cinema again. The last time I watched a movie in cinema multiple times was TDKR(I know it fell flat but I'm a huge batman fan).

Also, I've been humming & whistling Blue Swede's "hooked on a feeling" all weekend, I just can't get it out of my head.

[Galactus]

I saw it, I liked it. It had a very "Gonzo space opera" feel that I haven't seen in a while (almost 5th Element-ish)

Also, they're totally setting up a Nova movie :P

[Liffguard]

Saw it today. It was a lot of fun. Very funny, with a good mix of dialogue and visual humour. Loved the final stand-off with the main villain. Good pacing with minimal exposition or infodumps beyond what was absolutely essential to understand the story.

[Galactus]

I was rather impressed by how much of the universe they managed to fit in without making it infodumpy.

[Jack Bauer 24]

Best blockbuster of the last decade.

[CyanidePie]

Just left. Most fun I've had watching a movie since I was 9 and watched Jurassic Park. Funny, action-packed, at times touching, and downright just good.

I like that they didn't go the easy and lazy route by referencing the rest of the Marvel CU and instead let this thing stand on its own two feet.

This is why Marvel is the king, because they're willing to take risks like this where DC is not.

[Liffguard]

This is why Marvel is the king, because they're willing to take risks like this where DC is not.

Reminds me of this.

I was rather impressed by how much of the universe they managed to fit in without making it infodumpy.

Pretty textbook example of showing not telling.

[Galactus]

And Rocket worked well, too.

EDIT: "No raccoons or tree-creatures were harmed in the making of this movie." :p

[Ixodes]

I'm probably going to set up direct deposit between my bank account and Marvel. If it has Marvel written on it, I'm seeing it and probably going to take the family with me. I wish they would have applied this formula to Hollywood decades ago.

What a fun movie. Spent the afternoon arguing with my kids which one was better, Rocket or Groot. I then realized we were arguing over pixels thrown up on a screen. What a great combination of writing, technology, and talent that our favorite part of a film doesn't exist. The 12 year old comic book reading version of me never imagined that Hollywood could get it so right.

[williamjm]

I saw it earlier today. I thought it was a very entertaining film, although I'm not sure I'd necessarily agree with the 'best blockbuster of the decade' description, just from this year I'd rank Winter Soldier and Edge of Tomorrow ahead of it at least. I think I'd agree with much of denstorebog's review from the previous thread, it was a good film but not perfect. The villains were adequate, but they could have done with a bit more screentime and characterisation. I liked Nebula, but she felt a bit of a missed opportunity, one of the reasons Loki is the best Marvel villain so far is because he interacts so well with his brother and they hinted at having a similar relationship between Nebula and Gamora but didn't explore it that much, a bit more time spent on it could have benefited both Nebula and Gamora's characters.

I think the film deserves a lot of credit for making a CGI raccoon and a CGI tree into interesting and likeable characters, especially when Groot only has a vocabulary of five words. Drax was also a more interesting character than I expected. At times it was a very pretty film, I liked the design of the alien worlds (aside from Zandar, which was a bit dull although maybe that was the point?) and the spaceships. The action scenes were also great, although like most 3D films the 3D didn't really add much.

Reminds me of this.

Very true, and when they do try to do something a bit different they end up with something like Green Lantern which is a much worse attempt at space opera than GotG.

[White Walker Texas Ranger]

Also, they're totally setting up a Nova movie :P

I was hoping to see Glenn Close as Nova Prime fly up and kick some ass, but it seems like they made the Nova Corps a high tech military/police force instead of a bunch of superheroes powered by a mystical energy source. It's understandable that they wanted the movie to feel more like a space opera than superhero movie.

Still, as a minor nitpick about the movie: If Nova Corps can barely hold off a rogue terrorist splinter of the Kree empire, then how did the war last 1000 years?

[awesome possum]

Still, as a minor nitpick about the movie: If Nova Corps can barely hold off a rogue terrorist splinter of the Kree empire, then how did the war last 1000 years?

I don't now if I'd say they could barely hold them off. They were given a day or so, if not less, of advance warning of the attack and were doing just fine until Ronan used the gem.

[AndyBaelish]

Going to see it again tonight.

I'm not going to pretend this was a world shattering movie. It is a very simple plot that has been done hundreds of times. The villain is bland.

.... And that's all I can think of. Honestly, I judge movies on how much I'm entertained. And this movie accomplished that in spades.

Every single character (aside from Ronan and Nebula) was fantastic. Fantastic visuals. Hilarious writing. Awesome soundtrack. Kick-ass action. Awesome cameos.

They let James Gunn have freedom to do what he wanted, and it shows.

It had the benefit of being one of three movies I've seen this year (Godzilla and 300: Rise of an Empire), so it is easily the best movie I've seen this year. Maybe that's not a lot of competition, but I think after the dust settles it will still be my favorite of the year.

Edit for my phone having a fit.

[White Walker Texas Ranger]

I don't now if I'd say they could barely hold them off. They were given a day or so, if not less, of advance warning of the attack and were doing just fine until Ronan used the gem.

Before Ronan used the Gem, their fighters formed a net that kept the big ship from landing, but left the fighters free to suicide bomb the capital city. And how did they only have a day's warning of Ronan attacking their capital planet? I guess it would make sense if it were some type of stealth ship.

[Galactus]

I was hoping to see Glenn Close as Nova Prime fly up and kick some ass, but it seems like they made the Nova Corps a high tech military/police force instead of a bunch of superheroes powered by a mystical energy source. It's understandable that they wanted the movie to feel more like a space opera than superhero movie.

Still, as a minor nitpick about the movie: If Nova Corps can barely hold off a rogue terrorist splinter of the Kree empire, then how did the war last 1000 years?

Yeah, I was expecting the same thing. Would have been awesome.

[Fez]

Another awesome thing, Michael Rooker's character. He just looked like he was having so much damn fun the entire time. I don't usually go for effects either, but that whistling arrow thing was really cool.

As for as the villains go, Thanos was disappointing. Nebula and Djimon Hounsou's character were standard henchpeople, so I was fine with them. Ronan wasn't super compelling, but he still felt reasonably threatening, and I don't need every villain to be sympathetic.

[sologdin]

was slightly disappointed by the glib presentation of ronan. thanos was basically a tease, building up our blueballs for a full gauntlet story.

[Jack Bauer 24]

Lee Pace was awesome as Ronan.

[Stannis Eats No Peaches]

Thor 2 and GotG spoilers:

At the end of Thor 2 didn't they give that film's MacGuffin (don't remember it's name) to the Collector? Does he still have it as of the end of GotG despite the explosion? Is it one of the infinity stones? Lots of questions I know. :p