Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • August 13, 2014 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ features obscure superheroes Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and Drax (Dave Bautista) are three of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy.’ by Dennis Seuling “Guardians of the Galaxy” introduces movie audi- ences to a set of 45-year-old Marvel characters that, unlike Spider-Man, Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man, are from the more obscure branch of the Marvel family tree. The Guardians are Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), also known as Starlord; green-hued Gamora (Zoe Saldana); muscle- bound, dim-witted Drax (Dave Bautista); angry raccoon warrior Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper); and a masterful CGI creation, the walking humanoid tree Groot (voice of Vin Diesel). The plot is familiar. A galactic villain wants to obtain a mystical object — the infinity stone — that will give him the power to rule the universe. For assorted reasons, the Guardians are determined to stop him. What makes the movie unique is its lighthearted tone, far from the seriousness of Marvel superheroes and those of the DC universe. The Guardians are unlikely allies. They bicker, wisecrack, fight, and seem to have conflicting agendas until they reluctantly decide that uniting in their common cause is superior to going it alone. Pratt, who has been a reliable “friend of the main char- acter” in such films as “Delivery Man” and “Her,” finally gets to be the star, and the role of Peter Quill suits him. Reminiscent of Indiana Jones, with a touch of Han Solo thrown in for good measure, Quill is a mercenary given to listening to a mix tape given to him by his mother on her death bed. His use of a Sony Walkman is delightfully anachronistic and adds a nice touch to an otherwise futuris- tic world. Quill is a young man with an old soul. He is more sensitive than his patter and exploits reveal, but the viewer is let in on his little secret, which humanizes a character that might otherwise have been merely another hunky, generic space hero. Quill is flawed, often unsure of himself, and funny — qualities that work for the character and create balance with the movie’s action and special effects. Rocket, the raccoon, is an angry, embittered creature who is quick on the trigger and often acts on emotion rather than careful reasoning. The others often have to rein him in. Cooper adds a kind of sadness to his persuasive inter- pretation. His Rocket is a tough-talking scrapper who bears considerable hurt. Though the CGI is terrific, it is Cooper’s nuanced voice work that allows viewers to see Rocket as more than a visual joke. The most incredible CGI achievement is Groot, the tree, whose entire vocabulary consists of “I am Groot.” Groot may have been inspired by Chewbacca in the “Star Wars” series. Huge and powerful, he proves to be a valuable part of the team despite his limited language ability. He dif- fers from Chewbacca in that he possesses magical powers, which are revealed at key moments in the story. Diesel’s voice work is necessarily limited, but his deep basso is the right match for the walking tree with a surprisingly expres- sive “face.” Gamora is a tough woman in the mold of Emma Peel from TV’s “The Avengers” or Trinity from “The Matrix.” She holds up her end of the action while also conveying vulnerability. She is an alien woman raised by a super-vil- lain as an assassin. Aware of the evil into which she has been forced, she wants to make amends and redeem her- self. Saldana is probably one of few actresses who can look alluring in mint-green skin. “Guardians of the Galaxy” features supporting perfor- mances by Michael Rooker as a blue-skinned bandit and father figure to Quill, Djimon Hounsou as a feared inter- galactic bounty hunter, Glenn Close as the leader of Nova Corps, whose mission is to protect her planet, and John C. Reilly as a Nova Corps officer. Director James Gunn wisely chose to focus on the char- acters rather than the plot, which is not all that engaging. Viewers have seen it before in one form or another. The characters, however, are new to the screen and fascinating. Because ample time is devoted to their histories and inter- action, the movie experience is rewarding. Rated PG-13, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a clever pic- ture that goes beyond traditional superhero movies. The heroes here are misfits who clash with each other and with outside forces. The story is merely a routine showcase to introduce this colorful quintet to a hoped-for new and prof- itable franchise. Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. You’ll reach over 47,000 households. 201-652-0744 www.villadom.com