The film was by far the most uncertain and risky move by Marvel Studios. Fortunately, the bet was accurate.

Rating: 8/10 (2 March 2020)

Continuing the films of its second phase in theaters, Marvel, finally, opens its space saga and has everything to create a franchise of the most fruitful for the company. It is interesting to follow the passion of James Gunn - who also writes the script alongside Nicole Perlman - bringing many of the characteristics of two important cinema halls: space adventure, in the best "Star Wars" style and the wild adventure of "Indiana Jones" ". Guardians of the Galaxy, truth be told, were never first-rate Marvel characters, just like Iron Man. They have never enjoyed the same prestige as the Fantastic Four, X-Men and others. Only with the new formation of the space team in 2008, the characters returned to the attention of their publisher, causing the comics to win new readers until this adaptation for the big screen. With characters not so well-known to the general public, excessive jokes, as well as a very cool narrative on terrestrial heroes, the film was by far the most uncertain and risky move by Marvel Studios. Fortunately, the bet was accurate.
Here, heroes are not presented as heroes, but as wanted criminals who inadvertently meet and connect. One needs the other for the least altruistic reasons possible, but it doesn't take long for this collection of individuals to start operating as a team, especially when they realize that the safety of their piece in the universe is threatened by a terrible villain, Ronan - The Accuser (Lee Pace), who wants to devastate the planet Xandar, home to the space force of the New Troop. The actions are linked together organically through the actions of Quill, Rocket, Drax, Groot and Gamora. At this point, we can already observe the interesting care to balance the presence of his characters on screen, without losing the excessive focus on Quill. Even Groot or Drax, normally silent, are displayed in greater depth.
The most captivating are the characteristics of the characters and how they relate to each other. Gomora has a trajectory that goes from Thanos' adopted daughter and Ronan's ally to a traitor who will do anything to save the galaxy with new friends. Peter Quill, the Star Lord, is a sought after looter and the closest he has to a family is Yondu Udonta (Michael Rooker) who abducted him from Earth years ago. Rocket and Groot complement each other and have a fantastic interaction. If Rocket is a genetically modified, smart, talkative, sarcastic raccoon, Groot is a being of very limited vocabulary, but he is strong and fearless. When everyone gets together, they find support and companionship and become friends to fight for, a true family that no one had ever had before.
In commanding this story and seeing the ability of director James Gunn to create an original film without inheriting many of its characteristics, including that of other Marvel characters. The most we can see in a more explanatory way is at the moment the characters are arrested in Xandar, when the characters' running record is read. Besides, the characters are already established in that universe and little by little we get to know and care about each one of them. In fact, the chemistry between these characters is certainly the key point that drives the narrative.
In addition to Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana appearing spectacular on the scene, it is important to highlight Vin Diesel speaking Groot's sparse words and, especially Bradley Cooper, who created a voice with intonation, sarcastic and priceless. An excellent dubbing job. Benicio Del Toro, as The Collector, Djimon Hounsou as Korath, Ronan's right-hand man. Karen Gillan as Nebula, John C. Reilly as Corpsman Dey and Glenn Close as Nova Prime complete the majestic cast. Lee Pace incorporates Ronan, a villain who poses a real threat to the Nova Empire and makes the story take off, proving to be an interesting opponent to the group of heroes.
Exploring other galaxies, the production freely uses and abuses to create new universes, with its monumental and colorful architectures, bold and peculiar costumes, futuristic and super technological spaceships and beings of all types and colors. Without a doubt, the film has the best photography, costumes, makeup and production designer to date in the Marvel universe. James Gunn manages to combine the different and mesmerizing look in a script filled with acid and natural humor, in addition to highly creative scenes of uninterrupted action, culminating in an indisputable formula. Among the action scenes we can highlight that Peter Qill finds the orb and has to flee from Ronan's men at the beginning of the projection; when the guardians are known to generate fun and creative scenes of chase through the streets of Xandar; all scenes in the Kyln maximum security prison; and the phenomenal battle between Raiders, the Krees commanded by Ronan, all the Forces of the New Empire and the Guardians in the final act.
I also highlight the exquisite soundtrack. Amid weird names and colorful alien skins, viewers have the figure of Peter Quill, the only human on screen, as their foothold. Taking advantage of the time when Peter Quill was abducted from Earth in the late 1980s, he remains with the object he carried when he was taken and which was given by his mother: m walkmen, highly popular in the decade. On the soundtrack, classics from the decade Peter grew up, like "Hooked on a Feeling", "Moonage Daydream", "I Want You Back", "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough ". The desire is to leave the room and search for the trail on the internet. It is nostalgic and one of the key ingredients of the narrative. The way the songs fit into the scenes is thought out in detail.
James Gunn fulfills his role of delivering a masterful film, which presents the Guardians in an irreproachable way to the general public. A film of countless artistic references, which spares no effort to entertain the public. It's two hours of pure action, humor and epic scenes, which marks a firm entrance into Marvel's cosmic terrain.