"Guardians of the Galaxy" | 2025: Movie Log vol.11

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Nice to meet you, I'm Kyo.
I have a lot to write about, so I'll skip the small talk.
Let's get right into today's day ↓

"Guardians of the Galaxy"

"A film I love too much"

Now, for the umpteenth time, here are my three criteria for a personal favorite movie.
Great music, addictive banter, and cool action. If you add flashy weapons to that, there's nothing more to say!!

・Music

First, music is something that cannot be left out when talking about this series. The selection of songs, which feels somewhat nostalgic, maximizes the originality of the work, and it's amazing that this nostalgia contains elements that make you care about the characters, such as their past traumas.

At the beginning of the film, Quill couldn't hold his mother's hand, which was her final request while she lay on her deathbed. Immediately after that, he was abducted by Yondu, and the Walkman, his mother's keepsake (the only thing connecting him to her), continues to bind him as a symbol of his past trauma.

And as I rewatch it, if I pay attention to the timing of the songs playing from that Walkman, I realize it's extremely exquisite.

Regarding the death of his mother at the beginning, as I wrote above, it shows the importance of the Walkman and its songs within the work.

And times change, and Quill has become an adult.
I think the impressive opening from Morag to the appearance on Knowhere plays during scenes where Quill is visiting places (presumably) for the first time and departing from them, which makes him look like he's growing on the outside. Furthermore, this can be inferred from the fact that it doesn't play on Xandar, which he has likely visited many times.

And what's important are the scenes after Knowhere.
The conversation scene with Gamora is to learn about Gamora's tragic past and to comfort her. (It didn't play the first time) When he returns to Xandar, the purpose has changed to being for Xandar and the entire universe. The scene where he distracts Ronan plays during a scene where you can feel his internal growth, as he acts for the sake of others to protect his friends.

It's amazing that the inserted songs and their timing play such a role for the characters. I'm sure I'd love it even more if I started thinking about the lyrics of the songs.

And, the climax.
Quill, who grew up while meeting and adventuring with Rocket, Groot, Drax, and Gamora, finally shares the pain with his friends by holding the hand he couldn't hold that day, overcoming his past trauma.

The playlist that had held him captive for so long finally comes to an end, and when he opens the gift from his mother that he could never open, there is a new tape inside. With a new playlist and a new family, his new journey begins. It's just too perfect.

Furthermore, by listening to that playlist later, you can re-experience the work, and a movie you love turns into a precious work and a memory.

・Banter

This isn't just about stylish overseas phrasing (though there are times for that), but it's important how you can feel the character's personality and uniqueness through personal elements like first-person pronouns, sentence endings, and tone, as well as through their interactions with other characters. (As someone from Kansai, I especially like the manzai-style back-and-forth of straight man and funny man.)

Groot is notable; it's just the best that "the only words he can speak are 'I am Groot,' and in that order" (By the way, as someone who loves the Guardians, I got teary-eyed just from the first interaction, knowing that I had come to understand it by the end). Rocket acts as a guardian toward Groot (I love episode 5 of "I Am Groot" so much). Conversely, thinking that his cynical behavior toward those around him stems from that painful past makes it heartbreaking.

Gamora's coolness, born from being raised as a warrior, and Drax, who is depicted as a muscle-headed fool but shows a father's kindness somewhere, are also the best. (The scene where he pats Rocket's head at the end is exactly that of a father.)

Because Quill reacts to the unique characters in the film from the same perspective as us, we can fully immerse ourselves in the story.

Furthermore, the relationship between Quill and Yondu.
This is something you understand even better after watching the sequel, but despite his harsh words and actions, it's clear he truly cares for Quill. That gentle smile at the end, even though he was supposed to have been tricked, really conveys that he is a father figure who cherishes that doll.

・Action

Finally, the action that is essential to any hero movie! The hand-to-hand combat showcases each character's personality, and the space battles where the CG technology shines, as well as the incredible combination gunfight between Groot and Rocket in the prison, are all top-notch.

On top of that, the flashy weapons are all quintessential sci-fi (outrageous) gear, leaving nothing to be desired: ray guns, the zero-gravity effect when the artificial gravity device is cut, and of course, Yondu's whistle and arrow.

It was a truly brilliant move to take the Guardians, who weren't very famous at the time, and place them as new MCU heroes—riding the wave of the Avengers and the Big Three—into such crucial scenes related to Thanos (the final boss).

Is this really just the first movie?

Thank you for reading until the end!
Day 67
The best 100th article.