Title: Guardians of the Galaxy

Year Released/Rating: 2014 PG-13

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper

Directed By: James Gunn

Written By: James Gunn. Nicole Perlman

Genre: Scifi Action

Star Rating:  5/5 stars

Where I Got It: Amazon rental

Trivia:

• When Dave Bautista found out he got the role of Drax the Destroyer, he broke down in tears, overjoyed at getting a Marvel comic-book role. He immediately signed up for extra acting classes in order to prepare for the role
• Zoe Saldana nearly broke Chris Pratt's ribs while filming a fight sequence. During training, Pratt and Saldana would wear protective gear so that they could actually hit each other. However, when the day came to film the actual scene, Pratt forgot to wear his protective gear and did not tell Saldana because he thought she would hold back if she knew. Saldana (under the impression that he was wearing the gear like he usually did) kicked him square in the ribs, which made Pratt fall to the ground. According to him, he had a bruise for the remainder of filming.
• According to James Gunn, Star-Lord's obscene gesture was an improvisation by Chris Pratt.
• Benicio Del Toro's uncredited cameo as The Collector in "Thor: The Dark World (2013)" was written to set the stage for the film. Benicio Del Toro described the Collector as "Liberace in outer space."
• Stan Lee's cameo was originally going to feature him as one of the Collector's boxed trophies, giving Groot the middle finger. Disney executives didn't like this and had James Gunn change it to Stan Lee being an alien Casanova.
• Josh Brolin is uncredited and in fact was the last person cast. He was offered the role while filming Everest (2015). He based the characterization of Thanos primarily on Marlon Brando's role of Kurtz in Apocalypse Now (1979).
• James Gunn's brother Sean Gunn was an acting double for Rocket Raccoon during filming.
• The Collector's residence is riddled with various species: a Chitari and Dark Elf (from previous Marvel space films) can be seen, a cocoon holding Adam Warlock, a cosmic being who became a member of the Guardians (the cocoon is seen empty in the post-credits scene), a dog in an astronaut in a CCCP's uniform (former USSR) who snarls at Rocket. This is Cosmo, a Russian dog who became a member of the Guardians (and is constantly on bad terms with Rocket), Howard the Duck makes an appearance in a case, and slime creatures from James Gunn's previous film Slither (2006).

Summary: A group of intergalactic criminals are forced to work together to stop a fanatical warrior from taking control of the universe.

Review:

Finally! Mom, the twins, and I finally sat down and watched this. I'm so glad I finally saw it. This was a great movie. Full of action, comedy, and great characters. I loved the subtle references to the other Marvel movies and characters. But the references weren't essential to understanding the film. Thank goodness! Starlord was amazing, but my favorite character by far was Rocket. My favorite scene was when he was drunk at the bar. That scene showed so much vulnerability and humanity from a CGI character. So great. I can't wait to see the second one.

Best Bits: 

• Groot: I am Groot. Peter Quill: Well that's just as fascinating as the first 89 times. What is wrong with Giving Tree here? Rocket Raccoon: Well he don't know talkin' good like me and you, so his vocabulistics is limited to "I" and "am" and "Groot," exclusively in that order. Peter Quill: Well I tell you what, that's gonna wear real thin, real fast, bud.
• Korath the Pursuer: Star-Lord! Peter Quill: Finally!
• Drax the Destroyer: I can barely see. [Groot releases glowing spores from his body to light up the way ahead] Drax the Destroyer: Where did you learn to do that? Peter Quill: I'm pretty sure the answer is: "I am Groot".
• Rocket Raccoon: [about Drax] Metaphors go over his head. Drax the Destroyer: NOTHING goes over my head!... My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.
• Rocket Raccoon: That's for if things get really hardcore. Or if you wanna blow up moons. Gamora: No one's blowing up moons.Rocket Raccoon: You just wanna suck the joy out of everything.
• Gamora: And Quill... Your ship is filthy. Peter Quill: She has no idea. If I had a blacklight, this place would look like a Jackson Pollock painting
• [Quill has just retrieved the prosthetic leg Rocket asked for in order to break out of prison] Rocket Raccoon: You actually got it? I was just kidding about the leg, I just thought it'd be funny!