Scoring
We polled our entire team and ranked every MCU film across six categories. We weighted each category based on their overall value to the success of the movie.
Plot - 25%
Character Development - 20%
Villain - 20%
Action - 12.5%
Intangibles - 12.5%
Supporting Cast - 10%
Overview
Film: Guardians of the Galaxy
Release Date: August 1, 2014
Reception
IMDB: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomato - TOMATOMETER: 91%
Rotten Tomato - Audience: 92%
Box Office
Budget: $170,000,000
Opening Weekend: $94,320,883
Gross US: $333,176,600
Gross Worldwide: $774,176,600
Trailer:
Plot
Synopsis: A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
Analysis: This story is great because the heroes are ones we can all relate to. They aren't absolutely pure and perfect. They're mostly in it for themselves or money until they see the devastation the Power Stone can cause and they basically are forced to do the right thing. Show this movie to your mom and tell her superheroes can be procrastinators and goofballs just like us!
Grade: 8.25/10
Character Development
Analysis: Out of our five heroes with troubled pasts, Gamora has the best character arc. Turned into a weapon at a young age by her psychotic father, she had built up a long list of enemies and was hated all over the galaxy. Gamora decided to turn on her father, combat her sister, and make up for her wrongs with this team of misfits. All of the Guardians have some baggage, but in working together they find a greater purpose. Don't worry though, just because they saved the galaxy doesn't mean they're all goody two shoes now.
Grade: 8.25/10
Villain
Name: Ronan The Accuser
Bio: Ronan is a Kree warrior who leads a radical movement to wipe out Xandar, even though the two sides have signed a peace treaty that ended a long war.
Evil Plan: Acquire a useless orb that Thanos wants for some reason so he will destroy Xandar. Wait, the orb contains an Infinity Stone? Nevermind, Ronan will just stick that in his hammer and destroy Xandar himself, exacting his revenge.
Analysis: It's hard to care about this Blue Man Group reject's desire for revenge with such little context other than mentioning there was a long war. Ronan is powerful since he can wield an Infinity Stone on his own, which gives him some credibility. We also have to give him props for having the courage to stand up to Thanos. Outside of that, he isn't the most fascinating villain we've come across and he certainly isn't carrying this movie.
Grade: 6.75/10
Supporting Cast
DJ Moon-King
She-Hulk
The Right To Raccoon Arms
Sam-I-Am
Catman
Blow the Whistle
Daddy Issues
Guess Who?
Did We Just Become Best Friends?
Hoarders
The Kragle
Analysis: What James Gunn and these actors did to make us instantly fall in love with comic book characters that were relatively unknown to the general public is amazing. The cast is loaded with stars who make us laugh and feel all the feels.
Grade: 9.5/10
Action
Analysis: The prison scene epitomizes everything great about GOTG. They have to improvise their plan because Groot triggers the alarm too early as he is adorably trying to help. Each Guardian is fighting off prison guards, and then we see Star-Lord asking a man for his prosthetic leg. Guardians doesn't have grounded action on the level of Winter Soldier, but it makes good use of Star-Lord's and Rocket's awesome gadgets and some fun space battles that make it a blast every viewing.
Grade: 8.75/10
Intangibles
Analysis: The music. The feels. The Groot. This movie has it all.
Grade: 9.65/10
Best Moments
Groot Smash
Footloose 2
Final Score
Analysis: The main thing holding this movie back from being at the very top of the MCU rankings is the villain. While that would normally bother us, the lack of a compelling villain really doesn't hurt this movie in our eyes. It's still one of the most fun and refreshing films in the series and the Awesome Mix is always great to take on a road trip or to get a party started.
Grade: 8.31/10
Image Credits: Disney
