Pastor Dan Reviews: Guardians of the Galaxy

So I have spent the past day or so telling as many people as possible how totally awesome Guardians of the Galaxy, the newest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is. I have decided to do so here, which may prompt some questions, such as:

"Ok, Dan, you told us that YOU liked it. What makes you think we would? Not all of us even like comic book movies!"

If one of you had actually asked that question, this could have been a Reader Question entry. Oh well, here goes. These are the reasons that Guardians of the Galaxy is good, beyond the simple (though quite sufficient) reason of "I had fun." In no particular order:

1. Rocket Raccoon is the single greatest accomplishment in CGI character animation since Gollum in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. He was, by far, the biggest vulnerability that this movie had, and they knocked it out the park. You are able to believe while watching him that 1) this is a cybernetically enhanced Racoon and 2) This is a brilliant action hero, and you are able to believe those things simultaneously. Combine him with the hulking, loveable, and dangerous living tree Groot, (which the movie often does) and you have complete and utter brilliance.

2. Plenty has been said of Chris Pratt's ability to carry this movie comedically while still carrying off a hero swagger. What has not been said anywhere else that I have seen is how much Peter Quill owes to Malcom Reynolds. Sure, you have some Han Solo, some Buck Rogers, but Mal practically glows from Star-Lord, which is what really made the (nearly invisible) cameo by Nathan Fillion all the more satisfying.

3. Gamora- Action Chick. In a medium where women are rare, Gamora (played by Sci-Fi Pro Zoe Saldana) is everything those who claim to care about gender roles hope for in such a role (with the exception of the headliner. Come on, Marvel, give us Ms. Marvel!), competent, self-sufficient, interesting in her own right without dependence on a love narrative and a full member of the team, no questions, no caveats. Sure, she gets rescued once or twice, but no more often than any other team member.

4.  It's legitimately funny in so many ways. Kids will generally enjoy all of it (with a few scary or sad bits) and miss the jokes more aimed at their parents.

Seriously... check it out.