The Marvel Universe goes cosmic.

Rating: 10/10 (2 August 2014)

Initially I had low expectations for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, a comic book movie built around a group of Marvel Comic's D-listers, but they won me over with a series of great trailers that really sold the movie. And for once, the steak was better than the sizzle, because GUARDIANS is everything a great summer blockbuster should be and more.
What makes GUARDIANS so great:
Start with great characters played by perfect actors. While GUARDIANS story is noting new-a group of ragtag misfits and losers have to save the universe, its the who that's doing that matters. Chris Pratt in a star making performance,is Peter Quill, kidnapped from Earth as a child and now in the employ of a bunch of cosmic bounty hunters. Zoe Saldana is the green skinned Gamora, and deadly assassin and adopted daughter of the tyrant Thanos. Dave Bautista is the truly literal minded Drax the Destroyer, a brute out to get revenge for the massacre of his family. Then there is Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel as Rocket and Groot, a trash mouthed, gun slinging raccoon and a walking and talking tree respectively. Rocket and Groot might be the finest blending of voice acting and CGI ever, as these two charge through the action as fully realized characters. Very impressive since Groot has only one line, "I am Groot," which he repeats with changes in inflection to get across what he's saying.
A terrific script by director James Gunn and Nicole Perlman, with plenty of rat a tat dialogue that perfectly defines the principle characters, such as Quill's smart mouthed bravado, Rocket's growling snark and Drax's utter literalness. There is also plenty of heart and soul, never once does it stray camp territory or parody.
Great special effects that take the Marvel Universe into the heavens of for the first time: we get to see the Kree and Xandorians, The Collector's lair, a Kree prison in space along with the head of a dead Celestial. There is an appearance by one of the crystals from the Infinity Gauntlet, which our heroes must keep from falling into the hands of more than one villain. The action scenes, and there are plenty of them, are as good as anything in THE AVENGERS.
A great supporting cast that includes Lee Pace as Ronan the Accuser, the chief bad guy, along with an un-credited appearance by Josh Brolin as Thanos. John C. Reilly and Glenn Close are Kree officials, Benicio Del Toro is The Collector, while Stan Lee makes his now familiar cameo; some where in there is Nathan Fillion. And Michael Rooker seems to be doing Merle Dixon in Blue Face as Yondu, Peter's not so happy boss.
A wonderful soundtrack of 70's oldies courtesy of the tapes Peter's mother made for him as a child before he was kidnapped; there's no way I can dislike a movie with "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone played over the opening credits.
Best of all, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY brings back a real sense of fun to the summer blockbuster; as good as THE DARK KNIGHT, AMAZING SPIDERMAN, any one of the X-MEN movies were, they all had a big halo of angst around their heroes. I'm not complaining, that's who they are, but it's nice to spend some time with some comic book guys who are clearly having a blast at being who they are.
As for the after credits scene, lets just say that one of the greatest crimes of 80's cinema gets a reprieve of sorts.