Guardians of the Galaxy (Review)

I know it’s coming a little late, but I figured it was time for me to write up my review of Marvel Studio’s Guardians of the Galaxy starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, David Batista and the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper.

Overall, I would say that the movie was completely enjoyable. The story was intriguing, the dialogue was hilarious, and Chris Pratt’s portrayal of Star-Lord was spot on. Marvel went the direction that was really necessary with a movie like this one. James Gunn made sure that the film itself embraced the silliness of the premise, pushing the witty banter and consistently funny interactions between the many characters that appear on screen. After all, the team of main characters include a loquacious rodent and a vocabulary-stunted, talking tree. For the film to go any direction but silly and fun would have ended rather badly.

However, I don’t think the film was all good. There were a couple of rather glaring problems that were further highlighted by the film’s complete dedication to silliness. First, the characters that make up the main team do not get the development that is rightly deserved. Comic book fans would get some of the background, but the majority of audiences that saw the movie were not familiar with the comics. As is normally the case. We get a 30 second introduction to Gamora, which also serves as the introduction to Ronan. A main character and the primary villain in 30 seconds? Much to quick Mr. Gunn. Furthermore, there is a lack of explanation on Drax and his back story, which is so great and heartbreaking and phenomenal that it deserved some exploration. It seems to me that these moments of character development that could have made the characters and premise more real and relatable often take the backseat to that witty banter and funny dialogue that dominated the film.

Finally, on a related note, in the same way that the character development suffers at the hands of the humor, so too does the plot of the film. There is a great plot that that we understand, but only to the point that we must. There is a lack of exploration in the characters, thus a lack of exploration in the plot itself. Stripping the movie of some of those one-liners might have freed up space for some of this exploration.

Not that I didn’t like the humor. I did. I laughed. But there seems to be something missing from the overall experience of this film.

I would still suggest that everyone go see it, and enjoy it. After all, it is fun and enjoyable, all the same.

I give this movie a 4/5. Still a must-see.

GREG PAK on Concluding DOOMED and Its Aftermath

Link: GREG PAK on Concluding DOOMED and Its Aftermath

hellyeahsupermanandwonderwoman:

The Action Comics writer talks about this month’s conclusion to the Superman ‘Doomed’ crossover storyline and what happens to the Man of Steel next.

• Prelude:
  
  • Action Comics Vol. 2 #30
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #7
  
  
  • Superman Vol. 3 #30
  
  


• Main Event:
  
  • Superman: Doomed #1
  
  
  • Action Comics Vol. 2 #31 (Infected: Chapter 1)
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #8 (Infected: Chapter 2)
  
  
  • Batman/Superman #11 (Infected: Chapter 3)
  
  
  • Superman Vol. 3 #31 (Infected: Chapter 4)
  
  
  • Action Comics Vol. 2 #32 (Enemy of the State: Chapter 1)
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #9 (Enemy of the State: Chapter 2)
  
  
  • Action Comics Vol. 2 #33 (Superdoom: Chapter 1)
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #10 (Superdoom: Chapter 2)
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman Annual #1 (Superdoom: Chapter 3)
  
  
  • Action Comics Annual Vol. 2 #3 (Superdoom: Chapter 4)
  
  
  • Action Comics Vol. 2 #34 (Last Sun: Chapter 1)
  
  
  • Superman/Wonder Woman #11 (Last Sun: Chapter 2)
  
  
  • Supergirl Vol. 6 #34 (Last Sun: Chapter 3)
  
  
  • Superman: Doomed #2
  
  

marvelentertainment:

Another epic fan-made poster for Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” with art by Florey.

This movie, though. Seriously.

I will post a review very soon.

comixology:

Rocket Raccoon #2 - skottieyoung

Ha!

All-Star Superman (Review)

While I know that All-Star Superman is highly considered one of the greatest Superman stories ever written, I only just made my way around to this 12-issue limited series. All-Star Superman written by Grant Morrison with art by Frank Quitely, is the winner of at least two Eisner Awards: Best New Series in 2006 and Best Ongiong Series in 2007. With this sort of reputation, I came into this series with high expectations and high hopes for one of my favorite characters of all time. And, for the most part, Morrison and Quitely pulled through. This series, like All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder, was created to exist outside DC continuity. They wanted Morrison to be able to tell the story he wanted to tell, without having to worry about what was happening in Superman’s world in the regular series. And this is part of the reason that Morrison was able to tell the story he told.

There is a lot to love about All-Star Superman. The premise of the story, that Superman has received an overdose of radiation from the sun when he rescued Dr. Leo Quintum and his team, is much different than anything I could ever expect. Superman is dying because of overexposure to the source of all his powers. Talk about irony. But it isn’t really. Because we find out early on that certain businessman and scientist, Lex Luthor, is behind Quintum’s trip to the sun and Superman’s subsequent rescue and overexposure.

Thus, here we have a Superman story wherein the Man of Steel is staring down the barrell of the one gun he probably thought he’d never have to face: mortality. And the musings and decisions of Superman following this revelation of his constant cellular degeneration provides a great backdrop for this book. It is in the moments when Superman stares down his own mortality that it becomes evident that Earth is his home, and always will be. He faces the prospect and idea of death in much the same way that you or I would, and he becomes more human in light of that experience.

Morrison’s writing in this series, overall, is phenomenal. There were a few small places that I thought sounded a little forced. Even so, the dialogue and occasional inner monologue is what pushes this series forward, and it does so without making the whole idea seem too forced. The one set back I found arose with Superman on Bizarrotropolis. It seemed a little too much out of left field and I couldn’t really find a way to connect to the story. It was all just a little too much outside the scope for the story that was being told. At least, it felt that way to me.

Quitely’s art is phenomenal, as expected. He really is a great artist doing great work, especially in this series. I really have nothing bad to say about that aspect of the book.

Overall, I would definitely suggest reading this series. I understand the love the series has received and continues to receive. It is a Superman story outside the realm of any I’ve read thus far. And I very much enjoyed it (minus the small qualms I had with plot and dialogue). I give this entire series a 4/5, and highly recommend everyone read it.