Re-Porter Blog SMS 2023: Guardians of The Galaxy Pre-Release Post

I’m almost certain that if anyone told you that a movie starring a talking raccoon and a talking tree was going to be a successful blockbuster, there is a high chance that you would be laughed out of the room. Well, who knew that the folks at Marvel and James Gunn would deliver that and so much more? As we are now on the precipice of saying goodbye to this galactic band of misfits, it’s incredible to see a team that started as C-list characters in Marvel’s Comic portfolio become some of the most beloved characters in modern cinema and pop culture. 

It is a testament to the genius and earnest passion of one James Gunn. Before the MCU became a gold standard in pop culture, Guardians of The Galaxy was viewed as the latest in a line of experimental projects where Marvel was taking risks and expanding their universe in vastly diverse ways. Gunn had a keen eye for finding the beauty in things and people that get overlooked. Guardians of The Galaxy was a known series in comics but with behemoths like Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and the Hulk, it is easy to see why this team was not looked at as major players in the heroverse. So you can imagine when Guardians of The Galaxy was announced, a lot of people were skeptical and even convinced that this project would not be as beloved or received as well as the other MCU entries including the critically acclaimed Captain America: The Winter Soldier just 5 months prior. The beauty of Gunn is his ability to add heart and humanity to chracters regardless of their look or background. 

Each character in Guardians has such incredible layered depth to them that makes them more than a band of low-life criminals. Peter Quill is a cocky and wise-cracking con artist who deep down feels the weight of trauma and guilt of losing his mother and not having a father. Gamora may be a fierce assassin and warrior. But she is also very compassionate and has a heart of gold but is, unfortunately, a product of the environment she was raised in. Drax is brash and brutal but has such a sensitive soul underneath and is loyal to the end. Rocket is rude, sarcastic, and incredibly crass but that is simply due to the pain and torture he has endured from the moment of his birth in multiple senses of the word. Each character has so many redeeming qualities despite having so many things about them that make them unlikable. Combine that with Gunn's writing and character development and you have a diverse group of individuals that feel real and organic. 

The actors deserve tremendous credit for the job they've done in creating them as well. Chris Pratt was 
looked at as the funny guy from Parks and Rec but he turned himself into a more than capable leading man and one of Hollywood's elite talents. Zoe Saldana was already establishing herself as the queen of sci-fi with her roles in both Star Trek and Avatar. Her becoming the fierce daughter of Thanos in this cosmic adventure made her one of the top eschelon actors in pop culture. Dave Bautista had a tall hill to climb being the latest in a line of wrestlers turned actors. But he rose to the occasion and in some ways set himself apart from the others with his incredible screen presence, comedic wit, and emotional versatility. As for Rocket, Bradley Cooper brought this character to life in a way that made him feel so real and more than just a visual gimmick alongside his talking tree counterpart. Add the additional contributions of Pom Klementiff, Karen Gillan, and Michael Rooker as Mantis, Nebula, and Yondu and you have a truly incredible cast of characters that add so much to this spectrum of the MCU.  

Even when put alongside the bigger players of the MCU in both Infinity War and Endgame, they add so much to those films while being their authentic selves. Seeing Thor, Groot, and Rocket's comradery shine in the 2nd act culminating in one of the most iconic moments in The Infinity Saga is still a chill-inducing sight to behold. Seeing Gamora's backstory and her willingness to sacrifice herself to protect her family from the monster that raised her made the Vormir scene even more emotionally torturous. Starlord, while a lot of fans loath him for his hand in Thanos getting the upper hand on Titan, his loss of Gamora adds to the psychological torture he's endured his whole life between losing his mother and his surrogate father Yondu. Even Nebula became incredibly layered as she truly broke free of Thanos's programming to become someone capable of forging a path that is her own. The Guardians' involvement in both Avengers films was one of the many elements that made those films so beloved by fans. To think this band of misfits could stand side by side with the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Black Panther, Thor, and Spider-Man and not feel out of place is a true testament to how seriously Marvel cares and values Gunn's contribution to these characters and what each of them brings to the table. 

I never thought in a million years that this franchise would bring so much value to my life and the MCU. A lovable band of misfits that have captured the hearts of millions of people to become one of the MCU's crown jewel teams and one of the biggest pop culture juggernauts of the 2010s. From the moment they appeared on screen, they captivated audiences everywhere and I'm happy to say we've been hooked on a feeling for them ever since. Not bad for a bunch of a-holes.

I hope everyone is ready and prepared for one last ride wwith Starlord and company. To everyone seeing this weekend, enjoy and have a rockin good time!!!