MCU Commentary Rewatch: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol 1
(Cover art by Matt Ferguson, for the Blu Ray release. https://www.cakesandcomics.com/)
A quick measure of how deeply I prefer the chronology order (see below) is how wrong it feels to be watching James Gunn’s GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY right now instead of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
It’s not that I don’t like GotG, it’s that it’s so very different from THE WINTER SOLDIER that I’m tempted to not watch it at all. In my mind, they’re years apart, rather than just 4 months, and the nap I’ve been waiting for all day may hit any minute now.
Still, I’m looking forward to hearing what Gunn has to say about the film. He’s flying solo for this one, which is a shame because I’d really like to hear what co-writer Nicole Perlman (who also wrote the original story treatment for CAPTAIN MARVEL, and is also excluded from that commentary track) might have to say about the most fun MCU offering until THOR: RAGNAROK.
YMMV, of course.
TL:DR;
Running Ranking: #3 of 10
For reference
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardians_of_the_Galaxy_(film)
Chronology order.
Note that I also include the Ang Lee HULK, both GHOST RIDER movies, and HOWARD THE DUCK in the timeline, as they are grandfathered in by other films and shows.
Commentary Takeaways:
So here’s the deal. I love this movie. It’s funny, smart, and poignant, full of 70’s Bill Mantlo goodness, and solid gold/platinum soundtrack that’s playing in the background as I type.
So I’m definitely predisposed to like the commentary track, but after a few hours of totally not falling asleep, I’m absolutely in love with it.
James Gunn knows his shit. And that’s something that you have to keep in mind with a guy whose previous movie cost 2.5 million to shoot and made 600K at the box office (SUPER, and it’s not good).
GotG made 770M globally, and at least 50bux of that was mine.
Gunn breaks down shots, lauds actors, and in general displays the humility and aplomb required from one of the best directors in the business. This commentary track was entertaining and informative, and worthy of the movie he made of a bunch of c-list heroes selected by a first-time screenwriter and then re-written more times than was necessary to deliver a legitimate blockbuster summer movie.
I’ve mentioned before how this movie doesn’t really follow-on from CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER in the release schedule. But it’s an amazing feat of filmmaking, and as the MCU goes, it’s the perfect palate-cleanser before AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.
In fact, if the MCU had ended here, people would have considered GotG a crowning achievement.
Unfortunately, I can’t discuss this move without also discussing Nicole Perlman, who was effectively erased from the MCU after consulting on the original THOR script, delivering a solid first script for GotG, and dropping a fantastic story for CAPTAIN MARVEL, which was also swept aside by the lackluster efforts of a mediocre white man.
Her scripts probably would not have achieved the popular success of the final products, since they were extensively re-written for the least common denominator.
However, those LCDs are among the best offerings of the franchise, and her work on POKEMON: DETECTIVE PIKACHU is widely praised and admired.
Go Figure.
Commentary Ranking:
1. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
2. THOR: THE DARK WORLD
3. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 1
4. CAPTAIN AMERICA: TFA
5. IRON MAN 2
6. INCREDIBLE HULK
7. IRON MAN 3
8. MARVEL’S THE AVENGERS
9. IRON MAN
10. THOR
This was really a hard call for me. James Gunn’s commentary was amazing, informative, and educational, but there was just a hair too much time spent talking about how he cast his friends from previous movies, and not enough spent on the mechanics of the film.
90% of the recorded 2790 shots in this film received digital enhancements and special effects, and while Gunn Acknowledges this, IMO not enough time is spent on why and when these things happened.
The closest he comes is in breaking down the “pod sequence” in Knowhere, which is the one scene where CGI is more important than the actors involved. But he did a lot of the filming with practical effects, and it’s the part of the movie that tests best with audiences.
I nearly ranked him at the #2 spot. I may yet adjust his placement after listening to a few Phase 3 tracks, but I feel pretty good about ranking him below THOR: THE DARK WORLD and above THE FIRST AVENGER.
YMMV, of course. But please keep in mind that I’m ranking commentary tracks here, not the movies themselves.