A Reel 10: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

“I am going to die surrounded by the 

biggest idiots in the galaxy…”

 

This month marks the 10^th anniversary of Marvel Studios’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. 

 

Directed by James Gunn and serving as the 10^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY followed the adventure of a team of galactic misfits; Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), and Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), who team up to prevent a hostile force from acquiring a devastating weapon. 

 

Development of GUARDIANS was announced by Marvel producer Kevin Feige at the San Diego Comic Con in 2012. Marvel would be adapting the comic title as a way of expanding its vast cosmic universe, which had been hinted at in their previous films (AVENGERS and THOR). Nicole Perlman was initially hired to write the script, which was later taken over by James Gunn when he was hired as director. 

 

In addition to the principal cast, GUARDIANS would assemble an ensemble supporting cast; Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillian, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Benicio del Toro, and Glenn Close. The film also had cameos by Josh Brolin as Thanos, along with Alexis Denisof as Thanos’ vizier, “The Other”. Filming began in July of 2013 and would complete in October. Tyler Bates would provide the score, and the soundtrack would be packed with pop hits from the 1970’s and 1980’s. 

 

On release, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY would be met with high acclaim from critics and fans. It would finish as the third-highest grossing film of the year. At the 87^th Academy Awards, it would be nominated for Best Visual Effects and Makeup & Hairstyling. It would spawn two sequels, and the primary cast would appear in future Marvel films. 

 

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In the Spring of 2014, this Blogger attended Wizard World Philadelphia. At that glorious convention and celebration of all things cool, there was a panel with future star Dave Bautista. Since this was a few months before GUARDIANS would be sprung upon an unexpecting world, the full auditorium didn’t quite know what to make, or to expect of Dave or his upcoming movie that would make him and his co-stars…stars. After all, the GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY were far from household names in the superhero business…but when the dust settled a few months later, the world had changed. 

 

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was a fun, and delightful romp that set a new tone for superhero films. Humor played a central role, and the rapid-fire, endless wit and jokes had audiences sitting there with a big dumb grin on their faces from start to finish. And despite the yuks, the film had a ton of heart. The soundtrack influence, filled with classics of the 1970’s and 1980’s, became a cultural phenomenon. The characters clicked with audiences, became instant household names and cultural icons, and the MCU expanded into the far reaches of the galaxy in a blink. There were many turning points and milestones in the MCU in their first 11 years, and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY was the one that turned the hardest. 

 

 

“We are Groot…”