Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel mess in the making?

http://i.imgur.com/UV04sJT.gif

Holy shit, is that from the actual movie?! I really hope it is!

Surely all classically narrative-focused movies (and all forms of fiction, really) are driven by character issues and psychological drama? Unless you're suggesting the GotG movie should be a completely abstract representation of weird-ass cosmic stuff I don't understand why psychologically fleshed-out characters can't co-exist with slightly more far-out sci-fi tropes than the Marvel movies have contained to date. xxp

Yeah, it's from the movie Tuomas
http://whatculture.com/film/guardians-of-the-galaxy-comic-con-footage-leaked.php

OMFG at Rocket Raccoon. If nothing else, he looks great.

with the current superhero movies favouring the Superheroes Are Serious approach, you just know the movie version will be much more dour.

"You" don't know anything of the sort, do "you"?

i would love it if they turned this into a full on gonzo quarter bin batshittery but that seems somehow hard to believe

― blinded by aggro (forksclovetofu), Monday, August 12, 2013 4:40 PM (Yesterday)

with gunn directing, not so hard after all

Surely all classically narrative-focused movies (and all forms of fiction, really) are driven by character issues and psychological drama? Unless you're suggesting the GotG movie should be a completely abstract representation of weird-ass cosmic stuff I don't understand why psychologically fleshed-out characters can't co-exist with slightly more far-out sci-fi tropes than the Marvel movies have contained to date.

But the problem is that "slightly more far-out than in the previous movies" isn't gonna be enough to capture the essence of GotG, especially since all the previous movies have toned down the far-out aspects of the original stories. And I'm not saying there shouldn't any character drama in the movie at all, just that when it's put to the forefront, the other elements tend to suffer. I liked the Avengers movie, but it was basically all about the tensions between characters; even though there's some nominally some cosmic stuff, it didn't matter at all, most've of it could've been replaced by non-cosmic plot devices. That approach worked fine with The Avengers, but I don't think it'll work with GotG.

I mean, I kinda understand that in order to sell superheroes to larger audiences they feel they need to tone down the freakier aspects, but I don't like how the result of that is that superhero movies are basically action movies with a bit of sci-fi dressing. That's not what I love about superhero stories.

Tuomas is describing the Liefeld approach to storytelling.

I don't think Liefeld was known for cosmic hijinks, rather than pouches, big guns and incomprehensible fight scenes...?

i know the director isn't the movie, but have you seen any of james gunn's work, tuomas?

cuz that might allay some of your concerns.

TUOMAS HAS A NARRATIVE AND HE'S STICKING TO IT

― albvivertine, Tuesday, August 13, 2013 4:50 AM (3 hours ago)

I think the fact that this is being directed by the writer/producer of Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed is the most frightening thing about it.

I liked the Avengers movie, but it was basically all about the tensions between characters; even though there's some nominally some cosmic stuff, it didn't matter at all, most've of it could've been replaced by non-cosmic plot devices

Er, the Avengers hinges on a plot hatched by an actual Norse god in partnership with an honest-to-goodness evil alien race. The climax of the film features massive armoured space worms attacking New York through a rift in time and space. That seems to me like a pretty good jumping-off point to introduce some totally batshit cosmic stuff in GotG.

Less dithering, more raccoon gifs.

http://i.imgur.com/BGI81.gif

xp but with more GIFs comes more dithering

HEYO

I don't see how you could watch THOR and think it was anything but Cosmic Batshit.

otm

Well, as it is, Thor is actually my favourite of the Marvel movies; I was positively surprised how much cool stuff inspired by the original comics they managed to get into it.

I liked the Avengers movie, but it was basically all about the tensions between characters; even though there's some nominally some cosmic stuff, it didn't matter at all, most've of it could've been replaced by non-cosmic plot devices

Er, the Avengers hinges on a plot hatched by an actual Norse god in partnership with an honest-to-goodness evil alien race. The climax of the film features massive armoured space worms attacking New York through a rift in time and space.

Well yeah, but like I said, almost all of those things could've been replaced with non-cosmic plot devices. The bad guy is the God of Lies and Mischief, but he's beaten in a fistfight; they could've replaced him with a human baddie and it would've been pretty much the same. The aliens are just soldiers with makeup; no Skrull shapeshifting or anything. The space worms are used like they're the equivalent of helicopters or planes, and they're beaten with guns and fists. The enemy is ultimately defeated with a nuke... So it's an action movie with sci-fi dressing, like I said.

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I never cared that much for the sort superhero stories where the superheroes just fight crime. I want Cosmic Villains that can only be beaten with Mystical Powers and Soul Gem gambits. I hope the third Avengers movie will be The Infinity Gauntlet, I think they could get a really good movie out of it, one that would satisfy both likes of me and the ones who want loads of action scenes.

Hopefully they'll do Dr Strange as well and really let it rip.

what's the difference really between "mystical powers and soul gem gambits" and a nuke?

I mean that stuff is normally portrayed as a big blast of energy anyway right? so you're asking for cosmic trappings rather than sci-fi trappings, but that doesn't make it anymore essential to the plot.

By "Soul Gem gambit" I was referring specifically to conclusion of The Infinity Gauntlet, and its sequel, The Infinity War. If you haven't read them I won't spoil them, but I can tell you they're not about magical nukes.

Or if you want a more recent comic, take All-Star Superman. That's an epic story with an epic conclusion, and it's considered to be one of the best superhero comics of recent times, but almost nothing in it solved by fistfights. That's the kind of superhero movies I'd like to see.

I've just this weekend read the two Annihilation series and started the Guardians of the Galaxy series proper.

Cosmo's gunna be in the movie, right?

Any good? Never read any GotG.

Yeah. Some of the best Marvel comics of the past 20 years.

Yeah, the whole trip from Annihilation to Thanos Imperative is very fun.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/10/10/forty-comic-creators-holding-rocket-raccoon-at-nycc-robert-kirkman-to-becky-cloonan-to-chris-claremont/

Apparently, the plushie Rocket Raccoon is the thing to get at this year's NYCC.

http://cdn.bleedingcool.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_9526.jpg?f6a06b

http://cdn.bleedingcool.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/IMG_9549.jpg?f6a06b

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a773aa762f313157b4d66d92a0ae936f/tumblr_mw9uwbepXS1qd39tro1_500.jpg

lol immediately recognized the same artist as "nerd blackface"

Rocket Raccoon and Groot rule in Guardians of the Galaxy test footage

A VERY short test clip of Rocket standing on top of Groot and firing a machine gun.

Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B16Bo47KS2g

"What a bunch of a-holes"

not enthused by that trailer :/

A man, a woman, a Hulk, a raccoon and a tree walk into a bar... I think this one just had to be a little table-setting, but yeah, I agree, Nhex.

I think/hope there will have to be some small Reilly/Nick Fury scene tying this into the rest of the cinematic Marvel U.

Love the fact that the trailer song is a comic in-joke:

http://media.bestlittlesites.com/images/users/gallerypictures/58543L.png

Also interesting - this io9 piece on possible spoilers in the listing for the Captain America 2 soundtrack notes that the last track is called "Quill's S.O.S."

How are people not stoked? Granted I know nothing but this is solid trailer action.

Should have parodied the Avengers trailer

"If we can't protect this galaxy, then we can sure as hell.... guard it"
"Wait, don't those mean the same thing?"

* cut to Rocket Raccoon screaming "BLAM! I murdered you!" roll credits *

had the trailer been two minutes of Rocket Raccoon shooting people in the face, I would have been stoked

I kind of want some footage of Bradley Cooper's voice coming out of his mouth so I can decide how ridiculous it'll be

Bookmark for future ILX use:

http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/19g4ycv0n85ohgif/original.gif

okay that did make me lol

Looked kind of like a big-budget syndicated show rather than a movie to me.

I think it looks fun enough.

"What a bunch of a-holes"

― What is wrong with songs? Absolutely nothing. Songs are great. (DL)

Is it Peter Serafinowickz saying this?

It just seems way too soon in this Marvel universe roll-out to go all Howard the Duck campy. I like James Gunn, generally, but gathering an A-list of the B-listers does not necessarily give me faith in the franchise.

Too bad Fantastic Four is in some sort of neo-Marvel rights limbo. That would have been the perfect vector to further expand this movie universe into other galaxies/dimensions. I know that reboot is on its way, but the fact that it, Spider-Man and X-Men exist in some sort of parallel Marvel universe really muddies one of the best attributes of the brand.

I imagine they'll find away round all that eventually, a film starring spidey, the x-men and the avengers would be like the biggest money spinner ever.

i'll check it out! i guess i had seen him in WANTED but that was a very tiny role.

i've loved the look of a lot of recent science fiction, just the colorful visual splendor of this, Valerian, Blade Runner 2049, Altered Carbon, Star Trek Beyond...

For me, he'll always be Bright Abbott from Everwood

wanted to like this more than i did. there were a few really good jokes ("I have part of a plan") but a lot more that just didn't land for me. Rocket was good most of the time. Drax had a couple good gags (but they seemed to sometimes forget the "literal" bit, like when Pratt talks about "giving a shit" it seems like an open goal for some dumb joke but he doesn't bat an eye). The design work kinda bummed me out too, but only because I was hoping for something closer to real 70s cosmic Marvel day-glo saturation, so things like the fussy detailing of Ronan's spaceship fell short of that a bit. Too much climax/too many endings, and Reilly, Close and Del Toro's characters were all kinda pointless - would have been cool to really come up with something for them to do, or alternatively, give those parts to lesser-known actors who need the break. Script seemed kinda sloppy too... where did Pratt get the box with the new tape and letter from Mom at the end? Did I miss a scene? And am I right that his big established weakness - an obsessive need to save the walkman/tape at all costs - was never tested or brought back up after he rescues it from the prison?

Ahhhhh I dunno it was a diverting couple hours. Fast, mostly colorful. I think I was just expecting from word of mouth that it'd be a lot looser and funnier, closer to the Ant-Man films maybe.

hoo boy maybe avoid the *real* piece of shit sequel

oh no!! i was actually thinking i'd give it a whirl due to russell's presence and a vague sense that it thematizes the problematics of nostalgia more... not sure where i picked that up from.

im sure youll find defenders but imo it swaps out pt 1's kooky charm for a general cruel sadism, makes a lot less sense and the do-you-see rating of the randomly-chosen themes hovers at radioactive levels

the first one also struck me as shockingly, distractingly violent so hmmm

as always ymmv

kurts great but wasted btw

darragh otm re #2

it feels like it was made by a hired hand who watched the first and went “cast, insults, space, armoured mercenaries - got it,” not by the same bloke who made the insults zingy and revealing of character, and* built the various rogues’ isolated natures getting ground against each other and meshed into a practical, supportive unit

*though this could have been in the previous screenplay by the writer he fought to have uncredited, who knows

EXCLUSIVE! James Gunn back on to direct ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ #GOTGv3 https://t.co/sq9aEYt9QR

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) March 15, 2019

but what does this mean for the hotly-anticipated suicide squad sequel

Weirdly and for no supportable reason, I was expecting that very thing to be announced soon (although more likely in the glut of announcements that will assuredly drop immediately after the release of Endgame). Wonder how many extra millions of dollars Disney had to shell out to make that happen.

great news. firing him was fucking stupid.

he needs to edit the next one a little tighter-- keep it under 2hrs bud

also, don't have written a stupid and boring script this time

they were on Ego's planet for way too long. More high flying space hijinks please.

but what does this mean for the hotly-anticipated suicide squad sequel

― kiss me dadly (bizarro gazzara)

apparently he's still on for that too

having to do GOTG's effects on Slither's budget would be an improvement imo, except for Rocket Raccoon

a puppet would be great

I want to agree, but the combination of animators and Gunn's acting are the character now, and Gunn Major really uses the freedom of movement

90% of GOTG2 was an unremarkable sea of pixels though, with not much plot and a massively tedious daddy dilemma behind it (meant to say GOTG3 in previous post)

i loled

pic.twitter.com/ZB3nsBoi9b

— Groot (@Guardian__Quill) March 15, 2019

apparently he's still on for that too

best thing about this news rly is that it ensures dave bautista will be back to deliver another miraculous draw performance

DRAX goddammit

Would be cool with a chunk of the runtime being devoted to Bautista drawing a picture for us tbh.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/ab8fd3c6adcd243da3d9fd21534dc369/tumblr_oqvz1bDhtO1ugklc3o1_250.gif

The irony is that Chris Pratt has become far more gross a figure than James Gunn.

he should go back to being a chubby slob for this next one

he should go back to being a chubby slob for this next one