1) Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
I’m not going to say James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy bested Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, because I hold Wright’s film so highly, but I will say there are many similarities in capturing the feel of comic books and being an equally enjoyable ride with equatable entertainment value. That, alone, is compliment enough, being on the same level as the greatest comic book adaptation of all time.
When you look at what Gunn did with his Marvel movie in comparison to those like Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, there’s no need or want to deliver a grounded experience somehow rooted in reality. A talking tree? A raccoon with a machine gun? These aren’t heroes who were injected with some super serum, or inventors who built their powers, but actual aliens from distant universes, and Gunn embraces their outcast nature instead of making more human equivalents. The typical Marvel blueprint is torn apart and started anew, with Gunn’s insanely vivid imagination leading the charge.
The tale of these Guardians is essentially a space opera, a mixture of Heavy Metal and Star Wars if you will, with a heavy emphasis on celestial set detail, character development in the kookiest of forms and high-flying adventures. You’ll feel more invested in the companionship between Groot and Rocket Racoon than any of the Avengers, and that’s something more akin to a comic book, being able to make the unbelievable seem pedestrian. Gunn’s delivery is lavish, flawless and full of boisterous energy, channeling his inner Peter Quill without a single moment of regret.
In order for Guardians Of The Galaxy to work, Gunn needed every creative freedom in the book. Marvel’s reward for granting it? One of the best comic book adaptations to date.
So what do you think, are there any other comic book movies that do a tremendous job of recreating the source material while still keeping that same comic book vibe?
