December 10, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 27 ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ features Marvel characters by Dennis Seuling “Guardians of the Galaxy” (Disney) introduces movie audiences to a set of 45-year-old characters that constitute a more obscure branch of the Marvel family tree. The Guardians are Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), also known as Starlord; green-hued Gamora (Zoe Saldaña); muscle-bound, dim-witted Drax (Dave Bautista); angry raccoon warrior Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper); and a computer-generated cre- ation, the walking human- oid tree Groot (voice of Vin Diesel). A galactic villain wants to obtain the mystical Gamora (Zoe Saldaña) and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) are part of an unusual team in ‘Guardians “infinity stone,” which will of the Galaxy.’ give him the power to rule may have been inspired by Chewbacca in the “Star Wars” the universe. The Guardians are determined to stop him. The movie has a lighthearted tone, far from the seri- series. Huge and powerful, he proves to be a valuable part ousness that infuses not only Marvel superheroes, but also of the team despite his limited language ability. Saldaña’s Gamora is a tough woman in the mold of those of the DC universe. The Guardians bicker, wisecrack, fight, and seem to have conflicting agendas until they Emma Peel from TV’s “The Avengers” or Trinity in “The Matrix.” An alien woman raised by a super-villain as an decide that uniting is in their best interest. Pratt, who has played the reliable friend of the main assassin who now wants to make amends, she holds up her character (“Delivery Man,” “Her”), finally gets to star, and end of the action while conveying vulnerability. Even with the role suits him. Peter Quill is flawed, often unsure of mint-green skin, Saldaña is alluring. Director James Gunn devotes considerable time to the himself, and funny — qualities that work for the character back stories and interaction of these heroic misfits who and balance the movie’s action and special effects. Rocket the raccoon, a tough-talking scrapper who bears clash with each other and with outside forces in this action- considerable hurt, is angry, embittered, quick on the trigger, packed story. The film has earned over $770 million world- and acts on emotion rather than reason. The others often wide, making it the second biggest hit of the year so far. Bonuses on the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack include have to rein him in. Cooper’s nuanced voice work allows deleted scenes, making-of featurettes, gag reel, digital copy, viewers to see Rocket as more than just a visual joke. The most amazing achievement is Groot, the tree, and a preview of “Marvel’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” “Dolphin Tale 2” (Warner Bros.) continues the reality- whose entire vocabulary consists of “I am Groot.” Groot based story of Winter, a dolphin rescued as a pup in 2005 from a crab trap that cost her her tail. The 2011 “Dolphin Tale” depicted her rescue and rehabilitation at Florida’s Clearwater Marine Aquarium, where she was fitted with a prosthetic tail. The family-friendly sequel reunites the main cast, led by Harry Connick Jr. as Dr. Clay Haskett; Nathan Gamble as Sawyer Nelson; Ashley Judd as his mom, Lor- raine; and Kris Kristofferson as Clay’s father. Several years after receiving the prosthetic tail, Winter loses her surrogate mother. Alone and grieving, she refuses to engage with anyone, even her best friend, Sawyer. Regu- lations require dolphins to be paired, but Dr. Haskett and (continued on Crossword page)