"We're just like Kevin Bacon."

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2014)

Going into this movie, I had no idea what to expect. I had never heard of these heroes before, and I had little to no expertise based on the trailers and footage I have seen. I saw these footages, and I thought to myself, "This is either the greatest idea ever put to film, or the stupidest thing I've ever seen". However, I decided to turn my analytical brain off, and I give the benefit of the doubt.
This is what I got when I walked out of the theater: it's a sprawling space opera with a sort of interesting characters, a fun sci-fi romp through diverse and interesting worlds, wildly inventive action sequences, and an almost non-stop barrage of humor and fun. The Guardians themselves are a bizarre assembly of losers and misfits, with the CG-created Rocket and Groot providing some of the most emotional and human moments of the film, and it's all brilliant. In fact, they practically steal the show. This shows that Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel should do more voice- over work in their acting careers.
I give credit where credit is due and first-time blockbuster director James Gunn did a great job. Gunn is mostly known for directing "art-house" and hipster films; however, in his first attempt at a blockbuster, he does a great job at realizing his vision for this world, because rest assured, this film wouldn't have been nearly as good with someone else at the helm.
So, maybe you never heard of Guardians of the Galaxy (like me). But I can tell you that this movie is a sum up of all this: a colourful, tongue-in-cheek fun, purpose-built for grown-up lovers of kitsch '80s science-fiction. Now for the next movie: they team up with The Avengers.