Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.5

Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray Movie Review

"Ain't no thing like me, 'cept me!"

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown December 6, 2014

If you would have told me at any point in the last five years that two of the best comicbook films of all time, two of Marvel's finest offerings, two of the highest grossing movies of 2014 and two of the most entertaining and satisfying surprises of the year would be Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, I would have either laughed in your face or dismissed your optimism with a skeptical "we'll see." And yet here we are. Guardians, a hilarious romp through the weirdest, wildest, most colorful corners of the galaxy, following the... um... weirdest, wildest, most colorful team of superheroes ever brought to life on the big screen, is a massive success, a fan favorite and a critical darling. Winter Soldier, a tense, dramatic conspiracy thriller that somehow makes its strangest comicbook elements work wonders, is a masterfully conceived and executed sequel that takes Captain America -- and, along with Guardians, the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe -- in a bold, exciting direction. Both are outstanding films. Both boast astonishing confidence, production design, action and visual effects. Both are terrific fun. Both represent a brave new world for comicbook movies. And each one for completely different reasons.

Which is Marvel's crowning achievement? How do you even compare the two? Answer: you don't. Other than ranking the films by personal preference, it's a fool's errand to pit Cap, Black Widow and Falcon against Star Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket and Groot. You sit back, think to yourself it's good to be a geek, soak it all in, and wait for the inevitable Avengers: Infinity War crossover. Love 'em both. Watch 'em both again and again. Enjoy each one on its own terms.

So while it's easy for the conversation to turn to "which Marvel movie wins?," let's just focus on Guardians of the Galaxy, a big ol' blast from start to finish, with an energy, spirit of fun and wry sense of humor that makes for one of the most surprising, exhilarating, effective and memorable summer blockbusters in recent memory. (It cooks! It cleans! It exhausts adjectives!) I purchased more Guardians theater tickets than I care to mention (it's a bit embarrassing actually) and I loved every second of every viewing. Wickedly rewatchable, it's the Marvel gift that keeps on giving, with more thrills, laughs and easter eggs per minute than any coherent, functional actioner should dole out, much less master. There are minor quibbles to be had, sure -- perfection is, after all, in the eye of the beholder -- and Guardians certainly isn't for everyone. But those incapable of enjoying Marvel's latest are, ahem, in objective terms, heartless cynics or fiercely stubborn Marvel dissenters who've sold their souls to high-brow cinema and general misery. As my good friend Rocket would say, "You just wanna suck the joy out of everything."

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy expands the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the cosmos, where brash adventurer Peter Quill aka Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) finds himself the object of an unrelenting bounty hunt after stealing a mysterious orb coveted by Ronan (Lee Pace), a powerful Kree warlord with ambitions that threaten the entire universe. To evade the ever-persistent Ronan, Quill is forced into an uneasy truce with a quartet of disparate misfits: Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon; Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid; the deadly and enigmatic Gamora (Zoe Saldana); and the revenge-driven Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the menace it poses to the entire galaxy, he has to do his best to rally his ragtag band of outcasts for a last, desperate stand, with the fate of billions of lives hanging in the balance.

Balance, balance, balance, balance. I could write 1500 words on Guardians' balancing act alone. Multiple planets, numerous locations, dozens of characters new to MCU audiences (and even most comicbook junkies), hundreds more populating the backgrounds of each hotspot and Milano layover, at least five different factions, endlessly competing interests, conflict heaped upon conflict, and in a universe that feels so lived in, so exotically used and aged... director/co-writer James Gunn strikes such a careful balance between a seemingly infinite number of incompatible elements that it's amazing just how effortlessly it all comes together. Add to that the life and vibrancy Gunn injects into his war-torn galaxy, the most eccentric cast of obscure heroes to ever grace a comicbook film, and a calculated subversion of expectation and genre convention and you have a dazzling carnival of visual delights, fascinating freaks and countless surprises. Then consider the dramatic vein pulsing just beneath the surface. Quill's tear-jerking origin. Drax's insatiable thirst for revenge. Gamora's defiance. Rocket's deep-seated insecurities. Groot's vulnerability. I still come away from Guardians of the Galaxy trying to wrap my head around how a comicbook adaptation could throw so much in the pot and yet make such a delicious, brilliantly seasoned stew.

Of course, none of it would matter without the right cast, and once again, Gunn and Marvel deliver. Turns out Pratt is grade-A leading man material, so kudos to the filmmakers for realizing how much he could bring to the table. The Parks and Rec alum takes the promotion to A-lister and runs with it, infusing Star-Lord with enough charisma, wit and soul to fill a trilogy and beyond. Bautista is fantastic too. I shook my head when his name was first announced; now I can't imagine Guardians without him. Swiping scene after scene and delivering instantly quotable quote after quotable quote, he somehow crams childlike awe and naiveté into the body and mind of a bloodthirsty killer, and with a depth of emotion and grasp on comic timing that makes him one of the film's most satisfying treats. Cooper, meanwhile, inhabits his furball of fury with equal parts snark, arrogance and woundedness, and leans into each line as if it's the funniest, most important thing anyone anywhere has ever said. (Perfectly Rocket.) Diesel's voice performance is far more thankless but even more crucial, particularly come the film's finale. Armed with little more than a handful of words and the backing of some impressive visual effects wizards, he brings his lumbering, giant teddy bear of a tree to life in a way that would make Peter Jackson and WETA jealous. Together, Rocket and Groot are two of the most endearing CG creations in the MCU. (Or any other universe for that matter.) The only less than remarkable member of Team Guardians is Saldana, who's more than fine, looks the part, swings a decent sword, and grows on you by the end. But the source of Guardians' ensemble chemistry isn't sweet, slightly stiff Zoe. Whether that falls at the feet of Saldana or Gunn (who perhaps didn't quite know what to do with Gamora this time around) will be more clear once the sequel arrives.

The villains and rogues have been the source of some criticism 'round the net, but bah. Bah, I say. Pace is a powerful, demanding on-screen presence, even if Ronan's motivation is as simple as they come. (Peace pushes the life-long zealot to strike out from his people and pursue the complete destruction of an enemy society by any means necessary. They can't all be Loki. Some people just want to watch the galaxy burn.) Karen Gillan (as Thanos' daughter Nebula) and Djimon Hounsou (as Ronan's captain, Korath) are a tad shout-y, but they nail their roles and have a great time doing so. It's a space opera. Do we really need to complain about operatic baddies? Not that every antagonist is so divisive. Michael Rooker's Yondu is a fan- favorite supporting player for good reason, Benicio del Toro's Collector is a hoot, and Josh Brolin's Thanos is dead on. Dead on. Thanos is but one of many bold declarations the studio makes with its tenth feature film. This is the first entry in the Marvel canon to so eagerly throw caution to the wind, completely step beyond the bounds of the established MCU, and embrace its source comics to such a degree. (Fingers crossed that Doctor Strange follows suit.) Gunn has been given the freedom to alter and adapt the "GotG" comics and characters as he sees fit, yet so much of Guardians of the Galaxy plays like a comicbook come to life that it all at once feels familiar and fresh; faithful and unique; old and new.

I keep coming back to the confidence. The visuals. The production design. The music. The pitch perfect, must-have music. The misfits. Wave after wave of alien species. The planets, prisons, thrones and cities. The talking raccoons. The walking trees. The ships, shields and weapons. The FX. The practical. The gags, jokes and references. The heartache and heartbreak. The weird and zany. The things that shouldn't amount to a blockbuster-of-the-year contender but do. It's the Marvel cosmos, folks. I never thought I'd see the day, much less a Celestial on the big screen. And it's a massive, massive success. With some $775 million worldwide, Guardians of the Galaxy is at this very moment inspiring a slew of braver, grander adaptations of even more unlikely stories and heroes. We're entering a world where detractors will have less and less ground to dismiss comicbook movies with a shrug and a "they're all the same." Ignore the skeptics and the naysayers. Ignore the doomsday crowd who swears it's all about to come tumbling down. Any day now! Any day now. They've been saying the same thing over and over, ad nauseum, since Iron Man kicked off the MCU, and look where we are, only six years later. It's not more of the same. Not any longer. And "any day now" is becoming less and less likely. Marvel and Gunn have changed the game dramatically, and the possibilities are infinite.

Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The 2D combo pack release of Guardians of the Galaxy features a terrific 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation (at 2.40:1) that's precise, proficient and quite the action-packed jaw-dropper. While the film's palette is often dark and bleak, colors remain vivid and striking, with plenty of primary punch, naturally saturated skintones, and satisfying black levels. Detail is excellent too. Edges are clean, well-defined and free of any ringing or aliasing, and fine textures are revealing, capably resolved, and never hindered by significant macroblocking, banding, errant noise or distracting anomaly. Yes, crush creeps into the image more frequently than I would have liked, but it hardly amounts to a serious issue. All told, Guardians' first rate picture quality only makes it that much easier to relax and enjoy the ride.

Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

From the moment the Ravagers spotlight young Peter Quill to the climactic battle between the Guardians and Ronan, Disney's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track makes a strong case for naming it the lossless mix of the year. Close your eyes and listen. The thrum of a ship's engine, pulsing across the floor. The soft hum of the Milano, as the Guardians plan their next move. The growl of a warbird as it plunges into battle, breezing from one channel to the next. The crackling of Groot's branches, the click-clunk of Rocket's gun, the thoom of Ronan's hammer. The roar of the Dark Aster, forcing its way toward the surface of Xandar. The surge of an Infinity Stone as it levels a building. The sounds of Blue Swede, The Jackson 5, The Runaways and Five Stairsteps pouring out of Quill's walkman and, soon after, the home theater speakers, fuller and stronger than each song recording has ever been. There's more; every scene a sonic sandbox. The blaster bolts. The stun batons. The prison drones. The fist fights. The escapes. The shootouts. The near misses. The explosions. The aerial battles. All of it immersive, all of it enveloping thanks to a well-tuned, finely crafted soundfield of the highest order. LFE output is strong and aggressive. The rear speakers are assertive and involving. Dialogue is intelligible, precisely prioritized and believably grounded in the mix. Dynamics never disappoint. The track, for that matter, never disappoints. I didn't expect anything less than an outstanding lossless experience, and yet I was continually surprised at just how good it all sounded. Fans will be thrilled.

Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Commentary: An enthusiastic and engaging James Gunn delivers a candid, extensive scene-by-scene rundown of the entire film, delving into its script, style and tone, the process of casting the characters and the subsequent actors' performances, designing and realizing the worlds, technology and aliens on display, striking a balance between action, drama and comedy, integrating practical and computer-generated effects, and more. More importantly, he addresses the more curious choices made in the making of the film, fills in a few blanks, answers questions posed by the fan community, points out numerous easter eggs, and generally enriches the experience with extra layers of detail and backstory. Good stuff.
• Guide to the Galaxy with James Gunn (HD, 21 minutes): This excellent but slightly erratic production documentary touches on everything from Gunn's goal of creating a colorful space opera to designing the various worlds, fashion, cultures, weaponry, space ships and alien races, relying on practical effects and sets as much as possible, incorporating classic rock songs into the fabric of the film, world-building without drawing too much attention to subtle details or drifting into silly territory, shooting some of the more challenging sequences, the themes and characters in Guardians' cosmic field, and much, much more. Clearly, the twenty minutes of material here has been whittled down from hours upon hours of behind- the-scenes footage, making the doc's relatively short length something of a disappointment. However, so many aspects of the shoot are covered that it's hard to muster much of a complaint.
• The Intergalactic Visual Effects (HD, 7 minutes): More of an EPK add-on than anything more substantial, this shorter featurette offers interview clips with key members of the cast and crew, glimpses at the FX featured in the film, and... not a whole lot else. Decent but not all that revealing.
• Deleted & Extended Scenes (HD, 4 minutes): A small selection of somewhat hit or miss deleted scenes, each one unfinished with pre-viz FX, incomplete sound design and other quirks. Two and a half scenes should have been retained in the final film, though: Gamora's killing of her crew, an extended bit between Gamora and Nebula, and (for the half scene) an extra puzzle piece that would have helped Gamora's run-in with a gang of Kyln prisoners flow a bit better. Optional commentary is available with Gunn.
• Exclusive Look at Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron (HD, 2 minutes): Joss Whedon and Kevin Fiege tease Marvel's next big blockbuster: Avengers: Age of Ultron. It ends much too quickly and doesn't show any significant footage that hasn't already been released, but so it goes.
• Gag Reel (HD, 4 minutes): Cracked me up a few times. What else can you ask for in a gag reel?

Guardians of the Galaxy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Guardians of the Galaxy is the sort of daring sci-fi action spectacle other summer blockbusters want to be when they grow up, and the kind of comicbook adaptation sure to inspire and influence all those that follow. More than a worldwide box office smash, more than a great comicbook movie, it's a runaway success and a great film. It isn't just the top grossing movie of 2014, it's one of the best of the year. Marvel continues its climb. I can't wait to see where the studio goes next. Disney's Blu-ray release is terrific as well, with a striking video presentation, a powerful DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 surround track, and a small but rewarding selection of special features. This one comes highly recommended.