Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/370207
AUG. 27 - SEPT. 2, 2014 UCW 17 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM I can't remember the last time I gave a movie five stars. My expectations for Guardians of the Galaxy (121 minutes) were so high that it was bound to disappoint in some way so I am pleased to report that my love affair with director James Gunn remains intact. I first got excited about him when he released his low-budget meta- superhero movie The Specials (a day in the life of the seventh most popular superhero team in the world), but that's only because I didn't realize he wrote Tromeo and Juliet way back in 1996. And let that be a lesson to all of us kids — even if you start at the bottom you can work your way up to directing a film that grosses 94 billion in its opening weekend! Before anyone asks, I have never read the comic series that inspired the movie. From what I understand James Gunn and Nicole Perlman took several liberties with the team's backstory to weave this film into the Marvel Universe franchise (its number ten, in case you're keeping track). This film is set in the present and the action takes place primarily in space — the latter quality is unique in the series so far, with few exceptions. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is abducted from Earth by a group of space pirates led by Yondu (Michael Rooker). A helpful movie timestamp informs us that twenty-six years have passed. Quill is suited up in a helmet that somehow provides him with oxygen and protects his whole body even in the depths of space. He scavenges an orb from some ruins on the planet Morag only to run into Korath (Djimon Hounsou), an agent for the Kree (an aggressive alien race). Korath was trying to get the orb for Ronan (Lee Pace) so he could give it to Thanos (an uncredited Josh Brolin), but thanks to Quill's rocket powered shoes he fails. This sets up the second act of the film, since Ronan sends the assassin Gamora (Zoe Saldana) after Quill. At the same time, the genetically altered and slightly cybernetic raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and his muscle Groot (Vin Diesel), the tree alien with extremely convenient powers, also attempt to take down Quill. A wacky actions sequence lands them all in alien jail, where they meet Drax (Dave Bautista). The team members, finally all in the same scene, escape the jail and head toward Knowhere — the severed head of a Celestial floating in space and a wretched hive of scum and villainy. Just like the Tatooine cantina from Star Wars! There, they attempt to trade the orb to The Collector (Benicio Del Toro), a shady guy who reveals some plot forwarding information just before Ronan shows up with Gamora's sister Nebula (Karen Gillan) to kill the heroes and reclaim the orb. After some more action sequences and improbable escapes all the main characters head towards the planet Xander. In a climax filled with explosions, Groot saves the team from certain death for the fifty- eleventh time using powers that conveniently show up as needed. Spoiler! The good guys win. The movie was amazing, maybe even a little better than The Avengers. There is an after-credits sequence but it doesn't seem to have any relevance to Avengers: Age of Ultron, it's just The Collector sitting with his cosmonaut dog and a sentient duck who we can assume is Howard the Duck. Deus Ex Groot Guardians of the Galaxy (Rated PG-13) by HEATHER GRIFFITHS HEATHER GRIFFITHS, Contributing Writer. COMMENTS? Editor@ upandcomingweekly.com. 910.484.6200. Winners announced September 17th! Who will be crowned? Greek Festival September 5 - 7, 2014 Fayetteville, NC 24th Annual Friday 11am-10pm • Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 12pm-6pm (Limited Lunch Menu Friday Until 4 pm) Hellenic Center 614 Oakridge Avenue 910.484.8925 • 910.484.2010 www.stsch.nc.goarch.org Win A Trip to Athens, Greece! Raffle Tickets $5 or 5 for $20 Free Admission! Greek Festival September 5 - 7, 2014 Fayetteville, NC 24th Annual Friday 11am-10pm • Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 12pm-6pm (Limited Lunch Menu Friday Until 4 pm) Hellenic Center 614 Oakridge Avenue 910.484.8925 • 910.484.2010 www.stsch.nc.goarch.org Win A Trip to Athens, Greece! Raffle Tickets $5 or 5 for $20 Free Admission! UP & COMING WEEKLY Greek Festival September 5 - 7, 2014 Fayetteville, NC 24th Annual Friday 11am-10pm • Saturday 11am-10pm Sunday 12pm-6pm (Limited Lunch Menu Friday Until 4 pm) Hellenic Center 614 Oakridge Avenue 910.484.8925 • 910.484.2010 www.stsch.nc.goarch.org Win A Trip to Athens, Greece! Raffle Tickets $5 or 5 for $20 Free Admission!