Skip to content

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Written By:

Andrew Pollard
guardiansheader

BLU-RAY REVIEW: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY / CERT: 12A / DIRECTOR: JAMES GUNN / SCREENPLAY: JAMES GUNN, NICOLE PERLMAN / STARRING: CHRIS PRATT, LEE PACE, ZOE SALDANA, DAVE BAUTISTA, VIN DIESEL, BRADLEY COOPER / RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 24TH

After doing wonders at the global box office earlier this year, Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy finally hits DVD and Blu-ray. James Gunn’s hugely enjoyable movie grabbed the Marvel Cinematic Universe by its coattails and dragged the action up into the cosmos. Much like so much of the MCU, Guardians hits a whole lot of the right notes.

Plot-wise, Gunn’s movie opens by introducing us to the young Peter Quill as he suffers the tragic death of his mother before abruptly being abducted by a spaceship. From there, we meet up with the now-adult Quill (Pratt), who is going by the cock-sure moniker of Star-Lord and on a mission to find a powerful artefact that has just so happened to have put him in many people’s crosshairs. Part-Han Solo, part-Tony Stark, loveable rogue Quill finds himself with a bounty placed on his head which leads to him being tracked down by the ragtag duo of tree creature Groot (Diesel) and the gun-toting, wisecracking anthropomorphic Rocket (Cooper), whilst the artefact that Quill holds has caused him to be similarly hunted down by the adopted daughter of Thanos (Josh Brolin), Gamora (Saldana). After a stint in prison introduces them to savage, revenge-driven warrior Drax the Destroyer (Bautista), we have our titular group of heroes. Still, Thanos is pulling the strings of the crazed, hammer-wielding Ronan (Pace), who is out to cause havoc alongside Gamora’s adopted sister, the callous, cold-blooded, clinical Nebula (Karen Gillan).

As well as the core cast mentioned above, Guardians has a fantastic ensemble, with the likes of Glenn Close, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker, and Benicio Del Toro also featured in supporting roles. James Gunn uses the impressive cast, foot-tapping soundtrack, and outlandish, extravagant settings to deliver a true modern-day space opera that will pull on a plethora of your emotions. Whilst the film is drenched in humour and action, there are some genuinely touching moments to behold and it also gives us a little bit more of a glimpse into Thanos, he who was seen firing off a shit-eating grin at the end of Avengers Assemble and who is set to do battle with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes during the two-part Avengers: Infinity War tale set for 2018 and 2019.

Much like the film itself, the extras included in this set are engaging, entertaining and will have fans of the film grinning from ear-to-ear, particularly a dance-off gag scene between the Guardians and Ronan. The release isn’t quite crammed to the brim with bonus features, but the stuff included is all impressive and fun. And that’s what Guardians of the Galaxy is in its simplest form: fun. So often these days, we can take things all too seriously. Guardians of the Galaxy is good, honest fun and entertainment that will appease viewers of all ages as well as both those who are familiar with the Guardians team and those who heard the project announced and blankly mouthed “who?” Whilst many may not have heard of the Guardians of the Galaxy before this film and many may have thought that this was the property that was merely an arrogant vanity project for Marvel Studios and Disney, be assured that this is a film bursting with heart, emotion, action, humour and is a massively progressive step in the MCU and the likely ramifications of taking further action to the realms of space. A fantastic film all round and arguably the very best of the Marvel movies to date.

Special Features: Audio commentary / Making-of featurette / Exclusive look at Avengers: Age of Ultron / Deleted scenes / Gag reel
 

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW OR ON TWITTER @STARBURST_MAG

Find your local STARBURST stockist HERE, or buy direct from us HERE. For our digital edition (available to read on your iOS, Android, Amazon, Windows 8, Samsung and/or Huawei device – all for just £1.99), visit MAGZTER DIGITAL NEWSSTAND.

CLICK TO BUY!

MORE FROM AROUND THE WEB:

Andrew Pollard

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More