What can I say about this trailer? I love it. After seeing this, it may, now, be the movie that I am most looking forward to this summer.
First of all, let me state that, before seeing this trailer, I was not at all familiar with the latest incarnation of the Guardians of the Galaxy that has been appearing in Marvel's comics for the last few years (after seeing this, I did read a couple of issues from the 1st series and the 1st trade from the current series). But, this just looks like it's going to be so much damned fun!
As a sci-fi aficionado, my preferences has always been for the space opera over the hard sci-fi that more "serious" fans of the genre tend to prefer; I am a Star Wars kid and, as such, I'm more concerned with cool-looking spaceships and strange alien creatures than I am with how the hyperdrive works. That spirit of adventure and excitement (which a Jedi does not crave) seem to be present in spades in Guardians.
Like most Star Wars fans, I was not as enamored with the prequels as I was of the original trilogy. It felt like there was something sorely missing. That something, as far as I am concerned, was there Han Solo. Not the literal character, mind you, they were missing someone that could be that voice that would remind us, "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." Han Solo grounded the original trilogy; Yoda may have told us not to crave adventure and excitement, but Han still showed us much fun it could be.
This film's Han takes the form of Chris Pratt's Star-Lord (who, from the trailer, it appears is only a legend in his own mind). Pratt is the perfect choice for this role; not only is his comic timing-impeccable (something Parks & Rec fans are more than aware of) but there's something about him that makes him immediately lovable. He exudes niceness, even when he's playing a guy who is obviously supposed to be kind of a rogue.
While we are introduced to all the Guardians in this trailer, Star-Lord is clearly the focus; we are even given some hints of his back-story when we see his rather territorial reaction to anyone fiddling with his 1980's-era cassette Walkman. I'm sure the reason for his sentimental attachment to such an archaic device while being an intergalactic outlaw will, ultimately, be explained in the film (most likely a bittersweet relic of sorts from his childhood) but, even without that information, it can't help but make that character that much more endearing.
Also, while The Avengers gave us earth's mightiest heroes, the Guardians are a group of outcast and misfits and, at the end of the day, that's what I think will allow it to distinguish itself from the rest of the pack. After all, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away it was a farm boy, a fugitive princess, a smuggler, a wookie, and a couple of bickering droids who managed to take down the empire. JJ Abrams, this is your competition.
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