Hey,
On 9 September, I watched
Guardians of the Galaxy with my family in 3-D. Warning! This post will include
spoilers so if you have not yet watched it DO NOT read, you have been warned.
However, before I get into the
analysis of the film I am first going to share some information with you
regarding 'Guardians of the Galaxy'.
Guardians of the Galaxy was
based on Marvel comics' superheroes written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanningand
and was produced by Marvel Studios while Walt Disney distributed it. This film
was directed by James Gunn who also directed the films: Tromeo and Juliet,
Scooby-Doo 1 & 2, Dawn of the Dead and Slither.
At the beginning of the film
the use of imagery from inside a creature was used to change the scenes. This
was clever and a good use of media that integrates well into the movie as a
connective. I like the scene where Groot is dancing to music while the beginning
fight is happening yet nothing happened to him. I found that this scene was portrayed
well and gave the audience humour and therefore lots of laughs. The scene
following this one was of Drax jumping into the beast's mouth which was clever.
Once Gamora killed the beast with her sword and explosion of colour was created
that was like a rainbow shower which could create the connotation of celebration.
Later in the film Peter
found his father and travelled with him to his planet, Ego's planet. The name
of the planet has a psychological reference as this character is all about him
and his purpose to make the galaxy all him. Ego's planet differs from all the
other planets shown in this movie through its variety of bright and light
colours. This suggests a peaceful planet and has connotations of heaven: a
happy, joyful and peaceful place. However, from space the planet is dark red
with a face which connotes hell and danger. These 2 contrasting connotations
may create confusion in the audience, where they wouldn't know what to expect.
Through the use of bright
and light colours as well as words such as celestial, a religious connotation
of God is portrayed. Ego built his planet like how God built the earth and
universe. Ego also needed to find life and meaning which he thought was to
recreate the galaxy unlike God his will was to create, however the Christian
God protects the world and the people that he created. Another connotation of
God is where the high priestess called her creation of their new species of
evolution, Adam who was believed by Christians to be the first man God made.
This object also looks like a sarcophagus which connotes the Egyptian God. The
colouring of this is a golden yellow which could suggest royalty that God is
believed to be as he is worshipped.
The first fight scene at the
beginning of this film was a good use of media as it felt like you were there.
However, not only was the fight scene a good use of media but also the crash
that followed because it looked realistic making you believe it actually
happened. The lights used for the gun effect was also a nice form of media. The
light effect was used to show the power that Ego and Peter shared that was used
artistically and through this clever use of media it created connotations of
God's power. I feel that a great use of media is the scene where Yondu, Rocket
and Groot went through jumps to travel through different planet atmosphere's to
get to Ego's world, and during this scene the characters faces distorted.
Yondu's arrow that was
controlled by the Finn (worn on his head) was another clever use of media as
the light travelled around the screen which was amazing and meant that you had
to pay attention to be able to see where it went. This is also clever as the
arrow moves in time with the music. During this sequence, slow motion was
demonstrated which is a great media technique to use. The slow-motion effect
was also used at the end of Yondu's life that coincided along with dramatic
music, creating an emotional effect on the audience.
When most of the team went
off to go to Ego's planet, music was played creating a dramatic feeling
especially with a slow-motion effect alongside. During the first fight, the
music quietened in areas so that the audience would not only see but also hear
what Groot was paying attention to. This effect creates the feeling of seeing
the scene from a different character’s view, in this case the character just so
happens to be a twig as Yondu put it in the film. Dramatic music also played
for Groot while trying to retrieve the Finn that controls Yondu's weapon. Using
quiet music that later crescendos to dramatic loud music creates an expectation
with the audience that when you hear quiet music something bad is about to
happen. For example, there was a quiet scene with Gamora and then before you
know it her sister, Nebula is trying to kill her. I think this is portrayed
well as it keeps the audience on their toes, so to speak.
Throughout this film there
has been developments of characters and their relationships with each other:
First there is Rocket who is
part of the team but at the beginning of the film you see him push his friends
away stealing batteries he didn't need, although they did end up being quite
useful. However, by the end of the film he is standing together with the team
and no longer arguing with them as a former pushing them away.
Next is Gamora and her sister,
Nebula and their relationship with each other. At the beginning of the film,
you hear Gamora say that "she doesn't care that she is her sister and that
she is just going to take her in". This is later followed by Nebula trying
to kill Gamora which ends in Nebula getting stuck in a ship that is about to
explode that Gamora saves her from. However, this doesn't stop Nebula from
trying to kill her. Later in the film Nebula saves Gamora from dying which
obviously shows the development of their relationship as they went from trying
to kill each other to saving one another. Nonetheless, I feel what showed these
characters relationship development the best is that at the end of the film
Gamora hugs Nebula and tells her "you will always be my sister".
Now let’s take a look at Ego
whose character development isn't by far as emotional as the others. Ego starts
off as being a father figure as he is revealed to be Peter's father, but when
his true colours are realised he becomes an enemy. Ego is said to be a God and
to him his purpose is to recreate the world like the story of Noah in the
Christian Bible but more selfish and malice as he wants to destroy the world
and make all the planets him.
The final character is Yondu
who I believe has made the best and more emotional development through his
sacrifice. From the start of the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' saga we know that
Yondu kidnapped Peter until he managed to get free after years, so to the team
he is an enemy. Still, this changes when he sacrifices his life to save Peter's
who he viewed as a son.
This film contains many emotional scenes. One
of these scenes is when the team goes after Peter saying "We are family,
we leave nobody behind". Another emotional scene is at the end with Peter
listening to music given by Yondu (after his death) and Groot comes in and
listens with him which is also cute. I found that many of the sad Groot scenes
were cute and were portrayed well creating humour as well as many other
emotions.
The movie used intertextual
references which were Mary Poppins and Pac Man. When part of Ego's planet
exploded, Yondu used his arrow to fly down to the ground that looks like Mary
Poppins which Peter told him. When Peter went head to head with his father
there was a scene where they both covered themselves with rocks to create a
larger image and Peter's rock image was Pac Man.
This film had a beautiful
and emotional ending. The funeral was portrayed wonderfully with loads of
different and bright colours. For the funeral, Yondu was surrounded by many
meaningful as well as colourful objects and was then set off into space through
a tube that turned him to ash. Yondu was surrounded by colours from the rainbow
through this process. Later the Guardian's ship was surrounded by Ravager ships
that sent out lights that made every ship look like fireworks. This connotes
celebrating someone's life and not being depressed that they have died.
Any comments or questions
please use the contact box or comment below
I hope you enjoyed it and
thanks for reading
Amy x
