Guardians of the Galaxy Review

RYAN: I’m thrilled to welcome Michael Zummo to join me in this review.  Not only a friend, but a very talented author of the science fiction series D’Mok Revival.  Because of that, I’m looking forward to your perspective on this movie.  I wasn’t familiar with the Guardians comics or these characters.  This is more obscure so I was a bit apprehensive.  And for all that I was expecting unknown, “bastard superhereos of Marvel,” it’s not really a superhero movie.  It’s more like an intergalactic adventure film like Star Wars or Star Trek.  It’s a sic fi comedy.  It’s not like a Spaceballs farce.  It’s actually a refreshingly fun action comedy.

ZUMMO: I also didn’t know much about this story but heard from friends that the comic this film is based upon has quite a following.  I didn’t have expectations either way, but looked forward to this cast.  I like Zoe Saldana from the Star Trek movies.

RYAN: She’s green skinned and beautiful so all I could think of seeing her in this movie was – The Wicked Witch of the West!  She looks like a version of Elphaba in Wicked.  She’s also in Avatar so between these three franchises, she’s this generations sic fi golden girl.

ZUMMO: The whole cast was great and I’m such a big fan of science fiction.

RYAN: You’re a purveyor of it.

ZUMMO: (laughs) Yes. Thank you.  I was concerned going in about some of the characters.

RYAN: Me too!  Like the little CGI raccoon – so strange – but he turns out to be a scene stealer!  Voiced by Bradley Cooper and they affected his voice so it doesn’t really sound like him.  But I could totally identify him in the delivery of some lines.

ZUMMO: Everyone was good.  The cast really made these characters their own.

RYAN: Some of the landscapes and environments were super intergalactic and cool reds and blues.  They reminded me of your book covers a little bit.  Did that occur to you at all?

ZUMMO: Certainly.  They share the same spirit.  My series is also a space opera/saga so they do have a similar vibe.

RYAN: I love Chris Pratt in this.  He’s such a breezy leading man in this and obviously got into great shape.

ZUMMO: That’s an understatement.

RYAN: Right?! He’s actually hot in this movie and then charming, adorable…

ZUMMO: Goofy and vulnerable.

RYAN: Super likable.  I look forward to more of him as an actor.

ZUMMO: I’m looking forward to more in this series.  I wanted this story to keep going.  If I could, I would just pop in the DVD of the sequel right now.

RYAN: I wasn’t into it for the first 20 minutes.  Backstory, character names and planets – super science fictiony and I wasn’t feeling it.  But suddenly the comedy hooks you and the relationships between the characters…

ZUMMO: The relationships make it relatable.  That how you can hook it.

RYAN: I started to care about them and then the story was good too.  There are high stakes in the plot devices; well done.

ZUMMO: There’s the universal good versus evil and they all band together to stop a tyrant, but they all had things in common. I loved the visual design.  All of the landscapes and environments were so beautifully articulated.  They all felt real ad were all very diverse.  I love that about this type of story.  They can be more original and creative because they’re showing more.

RYAN:  Same with costumes and makeup. There are blue people, green people, red people.  The CGI characters – loved Groot, voiced by Vin Diesel.  He has one line in the whole movie and I loved it.  I loved that character.

ZUMMO: Yeah the effects were really good.  They’re obviously animated but blends in so well with the film.  I love the story arc of the characters and the journey they go on together.

RYAN: I like superhero movies more than straightforward sic fi.

ZUMMO: This is connected into the great Marvel superhero movies though.

RYAN: You’re doing that in your own book series too.  You’re like the new Stan Lee.

ZUMMO: (laughs) I wouldn’t say that. But you can. Ha.

RYAN: It’s unique because it’s quite the comedy.  And the soundtrack is so good and contemporary – they brought a very cool, unique twist to the film.  The effects and 3D are great.  It’s a fun sidebar movie to what Marvel’s doing with all their superheroes.

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