[Locke]

Just watched Guardians of The Galaxy, wow!

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm pretty much completely burnt out on Marvel Studios. Not so much because of the films - this years Winter Soldier was undeniably great despite some pretty irksome flaws - but because of the fans. Y'see, for me, half the viewing "experience" is the conversation it inspires once the credits have finished. Conversation which, when coming to Marvel films, ran dry intellectually about three years ago.

A Marvel Studio's production is always followed with the same empty wooping and bleating, 'GREATEST FILM EVER MADE!' the sheep chant in their ritualistic circle. If you listen hard enough, you can still hear the echoes of when they were crying the same chant for the last Marvel Studios production, and if your ears are really clean, you can already hear the intakes of breath as they prepare to chant it for the next one - probably even before the first trailer. Worst though is the nasty round of hissing for anyone who dares discuss a Marvel Studio Production in any real detail or heaven forbid someone dares to suggest something they thought didn't work or.... [gasp]... didn't like.

With that in mind as much as I enjoyed Guardians of The Galaxy's marketing, and was excited for the film, I honestly tried to distance myself from the usual Marvel Hype train as much as I physically could because I've honestly just had enough and it's impacting my enjoyment of the actual films themselves. I'm happy to say that now I've finished the film, distancing myself was probably the best decision I've made in my life. I was completely blown away by this film, it may be "just another" Marvel Origin story but you've never seen it done like this.

The core heroes may not be exactly well known - or part of some rich geek history and culture - but I'd also argue they are the most endearing characters Marvel has ever put to screen. The real stand out for probably everyone is bound to be Groot. He's a humanoid tree confined to having Vin Diesel repeating "I am Groot" and yet he manages to capture the hearts of the audiences, charm them, make them laugh and cry while being a total badass. Never before have I been so happy to see a twig with a smile on its face dance to Michael Jackson. And we can't mention Groot without Rocket, who expected Bradley Cooper to be such a good voice actor?!

My second favourite was...what does he call himself again...Star Prince? (come on man!) Pratt is insanely charming, and clearly having the time of his life, playing one of the funniest creations Marvel has put to screen. You'd expect him to get overshadowed by everyone else, but he manages to keep himself centre stage mostly through pure charisma and Pratt's incredible versatility. Honestly he's the best actor on screen for keeping up with Gunn's breakneck tonal shifts, which seems to leave some actors in the dust at points. And that opening scene....**** man, it's a punch in the gut for everyone but I really related to that personally and I really emotionally latched to Quill early on because of that. Who knew such a tired trope could still hit home so hard?

But honestly, I enjoyed all the characters. It's ironic, really, as despite the long build up and development periods I still find most of the Avengers pretty thinly drawn - well other than Steve Rogers - so to be introduced to The Guardians so swiftly and finish the movie with such a strong connection to them, Gunn really has put the rest of Marvel Studios to shame. This is like the Avengers for everyone who, like me, thought that film was an overrated, generic blockbuster that seemed to be trying harder to capture Michael Bay's success than making an endearing picture.

I really do like the way Marvel - perhaps more than any other studio making superhero films right now - puts the emphasis on the heroes. Most of Marvel Studio's villains have been honestly completely forgettable, yes that includes Loki who has yet to achieve anything despite turning up in basically every single film, but with reducing the villains to more generic positions it gives more space for the heroes complexities and I honestly think that is the right way round. Complex villains have a place but I often think studios do it at the expense of the heroes, and to me that is wrong.

The 3D experience was undeniably wonderful and Gunn's use of colour is something else but I found the use of CG - especially in rendering the locations - way overkill. I understand these are alien worlds, and they need to feel as much, but half the movie looks like it's playing out on a soundstage in front of a matte painting. I was very rarely convinced they were ever actually at alien worlds which is disappointing in a film which features so much planet swapping.

On more individual things though, the effects work is fantastic. Nebula, Drax and Gamora all used authentic non digital make up and Rocket and Groot, despite being all CG, look fantastic. The detail and smoothness of their animation coupled with the way they are blended in make them look absolutely convincing.

It's a world of limitless possibilities, Gunn fills the film with style but it feels effortless and perfected. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will leave you cheering - it'll capture your heart, mind and soul. Marvel Studios have made some good movies, some could even be argued as "great" but I think this is the first time they've made a legitimate, game changing, classic which may be the most important superhero film in a year defined by important superhero films.