Yes, No, Maybe So: "What a bunch of A-holes"
Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 7:00PM 
Oscar season has crushed my will for timely YNMS entries since everything 2014 is a "No, No, Maybe No" until March 3rd, you know? But let's catch up very briefly so that we don't start at a deficit once the Oscars wraps and a new film year is truly free to begin. After the jump we'll discuss the new trailers and other marketing blitz business regarding Guardians of the Galaxy...
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - Marvel's post Avengers attempt at expanding its cinematic universe beyond Asgard even and into the deep recesses of space.
Yes
- Racoons are my favorite wild animals
- Bradley Cooper, who voices Rocket Racoon, is another favorite wild animal
- Pratt giving body ody ody
- Pratt with his comic instincts intact despite months of undoubtedly soul-withering workouts
- Djimon Hounsou's perfectly overemphatic "Who?" which is exactly my reaction, and Marvel knows it, so it was kind of a brilliant move. These are literally the first superhero movie characters I had never heard of before the movie-talk began. Apparently this particular iteration only began in 2008 or something which explains it. (Research reveals I had definitely heard of them -- albeit not this current team -- , since they crossed path with lots of characters I knew and loved over the years but somehow I'd forgotten all about them. I take it this team is more memorable? I hope?)
No
- Zoe Saldana is always welcome but if she does even one more weirdly colored alien it's going to start to feel like a conspiracy to hide her natural chocolate gorgeousity. If there is a red or a yellow or a violet killer alien coming up she obviously has First Right of Refusal. Zamora appears to be Neytiri with a green filter and without the dragon or hair sex powers (though the hair does get an orgiastic moment in the trailer so who knows.)
- Is it supposed to look as cheap as it does? Is it, like, self aware camp?
Maybe So
- I'm getting a distinct Hellboy vibe which might not be good for its box office prospects. Too much CGI nonsense appeals to a smaller fragment of the audience that general humans with superpowers stuff I think. I'd be worried for them a la Watchmen (another comic property that a lot of general moviegoers -- not I, I loved the comic -- weren't familiar with) but the comedy aspects could well save it. It doesn't look even 1/100th as serious about itself as Watchmen was.
All in all I'd be a Maybe So leaning No if it weren't for the gargantuan noise surrounding the movie (this is what everyone is so excited about? I'd happily take a Black Widow or a solo film instead). You?
They've also released a ton of mini commercials, one for each character like this one...
I loved Bradley Cooper so much in American Hustle that I need more of him immediately but this is not what I had in mind. I wish, as I often do, that animated voices sounded a little less like a movie star at a microphone and a little more like a character voice, you know? Like, 'Oh, so that's what a talking anglophone racoon would sound like!'
But clearly I am not the target audience. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate a great tagline, like the one on the new poster.
Reader Comments (21)
From the trailer it would be a definite no - yet Glenn Close is in it. So it will have to be Yes. *sigh*
-matt : what? I never hear that glenn close will be in this craze fest?!
I'm a YES. Whether it's ultimately good crazy or bad crazy, I'm freaking seeing this AT THE THEATRE.
craver - yep; role of Nova Prime - head of something - apparently she will appear in the 2nd trailer.
I"m a no. Even Glenn won't get me to pay money for this.
The hype is that Marvel is testing the waters for not just straight up superhero action films with Guardians. Guardians is a superhero/comedy series. One of the best weird comedy directors, James Gunn, is helming the film. The cast is a mix of fan favorites and action mainstays. If it's done right, it will be a superhero film unlike anything else we've seen so far.
I've been bipolar on this one, which fits since its James Gunn, who made one film I enjoy a ton (Slither) and another I find annoying and too self-aware (Super) to flow right.
The first picture looks like they are going to sing that song from Rent.
I'm a bit tired of these MARVEL superhero movies - but this one does look different and hey there is shirtless Mr Pratt : )
The comedy sold me... well the shirtless Pratt sold me, but the comedy helped. Plus the tagline is hilarious. I actually think them pushing the marketing in this campy direction is a great sign.
Also I can't wait to see Lee Pace in this as well as Close.
One of the only superhero movies I've ever been an automatic YES on, solely for Chris Pratt.
yes - The previous Marvel films have been better than I thought they could be (except for sequels.) The trailer makes me believe they will succeed again.
maybe - Is this just too weird?
no - john c Reilly. I really don't like watching him.
at this point I am a newly eager yes.
This will be great.
Henry good point
Is it wrong that I only have stirrings for the tree-bark guy--not GreenSaldana, HairyCooper, SixPackPratt, or VeinDiesel?
Ms. V-- The tree-bark guy is Vin Diesel.
Sorry; I thought that Batista(the buff guy with the veins)'s character was Vin Diesel... Turns out that Vin Diesel is in fact voicing Treebark Guy, and now I'm so confused and embarrassed that I want to divert my sexuality for a bit.
Please forget I said anything.
*instead of committing seppuku, she flushes her head in a cutting edge Japanese toilet*
yes - based on the seriously excellent use of 'hooked on a feeling'
....and shirtless chris pratt
henry, hilarious. I'm glad I wasn't drinking anything when I scrolled back up to check out the picture.
I'm pretty much done with superhero movies, but I will occasionally stream the ones everyone really likes. This one does have a great cast, but it doesn't look very promising to me. Never heard of James Gunn or, really, anything he's been involved with.
But like I said, if everyone loves it, I could stand a little time with Chris Pratt and Lee Pace.
I'm a maybe so except the spouse will probably make me go. She made me see Smaug.