​FILMS

guardians of the galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy (Science-Fiction/Action/Adventure): 73 out of 100: A critical and commercial success, this is the ultimate popcorn movie. It was a movie that this viewer had been itching to see but it fell a little below expectations. It's a solid film but definitely not a terrific one like other 2014 blockbusters such as "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and "X-Men: Days of Future Past".

 

What lets down "Guardians of the Galaxy" is the less than stellar emotional depth of the characters. Many of them just seem to be caricatures that engage in wisecracks. After a while, this banter wears a bit thin.

 

The action scenes are well-executed, assisted by top quality, albeit an overabundance of CGI visual effects. Well-known actors like Glenn Close, John C. Reilly and Benicio Del Toro make appearances but they are overshadowed by the main cast, especially Chris Pratt as the 'hero'. If you like golden oldies, you'll enjoy the soundtrack which mainly features songs from the 1970s, with the soundtrack playing an integral role in the film.

 

It's not the perfect US summer blockbuster film I was hoping it to be, but it is still a fun and enjoyable film, nevertheless.

Starring Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana and featuring the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel
(121 minutes)
Parental advice: Violence
Additional scene during or after credits: (Spoiler ahead) Yes, after the credits there is a scene featuring Howard the Duck (remember the 1986 turkey?) who did not even appear in the film.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bz0QOOT9Hk (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Thursday 7th August, 2014)