James Gunn thanks Guardians of the Galaxy fans

James Gunn posted a rather heartfelt message on his Facebook page aimed toward those who saw and are planning to see Guardians of the Galaxy:

"Thanks to all of you who saw (and are seeing) Guardians of the Galaxy this weekend, from the bottom of my heart. The Guardians are a group of oddballs, outcasts, and geeks. The movie is for anyone who ever felt cast aside, left out, or different. It's for all of us who don't belong. This movie belongs to you. And, today, I think we're doing okay.

I am of course happy with all the film has accomplished box-office-wise. But what touches me the most is that the film I told the folks at Marvel I wanted to make two years ago is the film that you're seeing in theaters today - it's that so many of you seem to be directly EXPERIENCING the film I INTENDED. The cast, the producers, the crew, and I felt like we were making something special while we were making it. But it is very rare that a director's INTENTIONS in creating a film, or a scene, or a character, or a line of dialogue are, seemingly, specifically what is experienced by an audience (not to mention critics!), and that seems to be what has happened here. You have allowed a talking raccoon - for a moment, a minute, or a day - to make you a little more human. And for that, I am profoundly grateful.

If I relied on myself to implement these intentions, the film would be a shambling mess. But instead, I had a wonderful cast, genius producers, an incredibly brave studio, sublimely talented visual effects artists, great editors, and the best damn crew of mostly-British bastards to actually implement these intentions for me. Where I had a good idea they would, through alchemy, transform it into a great one. Many of you involved are friends of mine on Facebook. Many of you will read this somewhere else. I love you all.

You may remember me posting here a couple weeks ago how sad I was to be finishing up the film, that I was having trouble letting go of Rocket, and that I was going to miss him. But seeing him (and Groot, and the rest of the team) embraced by the world like they have been, to be UNDERSTOOD, makes it a wonderful letting go. It's like giving a foster pet up for adoption to the most wonderful parents in the world.

And, of course, I'm not really saying goodbye as, while many of you have been enjoying the film, I've spent this weekend hard at work on the sequel. I couldn't help myself! The results are nice but it's really the creative process I love and that keeps me going. I'm on fire with this thing! The Guardians have so many hardships and heartaches and triumphs ahead of them, and I can't wait to share them with all of you.

Onto week two...

Love, James"

To speak directly to this man... James, you are just amazing. I have been a fan for years and was so excited when I first saw you had been hired to direct Guardians of the Galaxy. Now that I have seen it I want to tell you that it was amazing and a lot better than I expected. It was funny and it brought us back to the realization that we are not grounded in reality and that movies should be fun. I hope you come back for the sequel because Marvel and Hollywood in general needs your talent. Thanks again, man. 

Guardians of the Galaxy - Review

After another Infinity Stone falls into dangerous hands, a group of criminals and misfits team up to defend the galaxy from destruction and oppression in Guardians of the Galaxy.




I just have to start by saying this... Guardians of the Galaxy was amazing. I said it. I knew I would say it, but there it is. I seriously loved it and had practically no issues with anything. It was entertaining as hell, funny, and had a lot of fun little tidbits added in. Not to mention we got our first real look at the big Marvel villain, Thanos.

Starting with the plot, I thought it was interesting enough for an origin of these characters. We got enough information to get us started and they did a great job establishing Peter Quill (aka, Star-Lord) as the main character. I really enjoyed the supporting characters and I thought everyone was used fairly well.
The villains were also handled beautifully. Ronan was extremely menacing visually and he looked more like something out of Hellraiser, but I think we can credit James Gunn for that. Nebula was also well done and I loved how she was portrayed. Getting to the big reveal of Thanos, it was enough to keep you both satisfied and wanting more. The visuals looked amazing and I think Josh Brolin was a fantastic choice. It also put a lot more into motion and hinted at things we will most likely see in Phase Three as well as the announced Guardians of the Galaxy sequel.
The only character I felt was extremely underused was The Collector. They made such a huge deal with him being in this movie but he was more enjoyable in the after credits scene for Thor: The Dark World than in Guardians of the Galaxy. It was treated more like a cameo than an actual role.Gamora was also a bit underused and seemed more like the typical tough chick in the universe, but she at least had more explanation and plot.

Either way, I don't think Marvel has anything to worry about regarding this story. Any concerns of people being onboard with a talking raccoon and a giant tree have definitely been squashed. I thought Rocket was probably the most enjoyable character aside from Star-Lord. He was funny and quick on his feet and the way Bradley Cooper voiced him was perfect. I can't even describe how much I loved it.
One thing this movie achieved at great length is taking us out of how "normal" the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become. Up until this point everything seemed very explainable to humans using science, logic, and a little open mindedness. With this story you have to accept that there are creatures and things outside of what we've already been shown that are just as dangerous and relevant. The only glimpse we really have had into the expanded universe, up until now, was with the Thor movies and even then he was exiled onto Earth and the magic of Asgard was pretty easily explained and present on Earth. With these characters and this story it's going to start introducing a lot more comic magic and fantasy that the MCU has lacked. If you thought Guardians of the Galaxy was a stretch you need to remember than these are comic book movies and they are not grounded in reality. 

One thing I am seriously hoping for is that Marvel brings back James Gunn for the sequel. The element he brought to these characters is definitely not something that could be replicated. They made a fantastic choice hiring him.



To talk about a couple spoilers...




The post-credits scene was a waste, in my opinion. Something about letting Howard the Duck have a cameo seemed wasted. I expected something relating to Age of Ultron or even Doctor Strange, but I was not expecting what we got at all. It wasn't relevant.
But, on the subject of what else The Collector had in his possession, we saw quite a few characters that we have already seen in Marvel films. Along with Howard the Duck and Cosmo the Spacedog we caught a glimpse at an imprisoned Dark Elf from Thor: The Dark World as well as a Chitauri warrior from The Avengers. We also saw visions of the Aether and the Tesseract while the Infinity Gauntlet was explained. 


What did you think of Guardians of the Galaxy?

Josh Brolin to voice Thanos for Guardians of the Galaxy

Josh Brolin has been given the task of voicing the iconic villain Thanos for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically in Guardians of the Galaxy.

You might recall seeing Thanos in the mid-credits scene after The Avengers, but we did not hear a voice. Director James Gunn mentioned that Thanos will be appearing via CGI in Guardians of the Galaxy, but we didn't hear how much or if it would be motion capture or whatever else. Latino Review is claiming that Thanos is just in one scene. With the casting of Josh Brolin it is assumed now that it will just be voice work similar to what Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel did for Rocket Raccoon and Groot.

Rumor has it that Thanos will be a bigger part of Phase Three, but it is unclear on whether he will also be appearing in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Either way I'm sure we can expect to hear Brolin bring Thanos to life in multiple films.

Guardians of the Galaxy will tie into The Avengers 3

Curiosity is rising regarding Marvel's next release, Guardians of the Galaxy, in terms of how it will tie into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Director James Gunn recently spoke on the subject and said it will tie into the third Avengers installment.

Captain America once again served as a prequel to The Avengers with The Winter Soldier going right into The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Speculation about how Guardians of the Galaxy will tie into everything has been elaborated on a bit by director James Gunn.
Gunn made perhaps the biggest statement by confirming that Thanos will be appearing in GOTG via motion capture. Thanos is described to be the "head of the snake." Many assume the villain would appear in the second Avengers film, but he was passed over for Ultron and now it seems that reason was so he could appear in Guardians of the Galaxy.
In addition to this, the Infinity Stones have been teased in the existing Marvel films. In the comics, Thanos collects the stones to power The Infinity Gauntlet which gives him ultimate and unlimited power. So far the "stones" we have seen are the Tesseract and the Aether. From what we have seen from Guardians of the Galaxy so far, the orb sought after by Star-Lord might be serving as another piece of the Gauntlet. I also wouldn't count another piece appearing in Ant-Man.

The one thing we need to remember regarding this movie is it is a precursor and introduction to Marvel Phase Three which is moving away from the main heroes we have been dealing with since Iron Man's debut back in 2008. We are dealing with different villains, different heroes, and different stories. I am sure there will be some things from Phase Two that will carry into Phase Three, but for now this is what we have and it is mighty exciting.

Age of Ultron receives another villain

In addition to a main villain battling against The Avengers in the upcoming sequel, we will have another villain to test the team. This villain is rumored to be more relevant to recent additions of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

HitFix is reporting that Baron Von Strucker is the second villain in addition to Ultron that will be battling The Avengers, Von Strucker is another H.Y.D.R.A. leader (along with Red Skull whom we saw in Captain America: The First Avenger) and former Nazi soldier who has been altered to practically no physical vulnerability. He also possesses a super healing power which allows him to cheat death.As far as casting this character goes, apparently Marvel is seeking a physically imposing man aged 40-50. Rumors are already swirling around Dougray Scott and Marton Csokas.
Now, how does this come into play? Well, it is being said that Von Strucker is the one who brings Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch into the mix because they are both on his side. If this is true it will be an interesting storyline to see exactly how the twins join The Avengers. Unless they are altering the characters to be more of a "frenemy" situation than an ally.The other question is how this villain will tie into Ultron or to the other Avengers. I also want to bring up that most people are forgetting that we still might have Thanos in some capacity, so if that is the case this makes three villains total.

I am not putting too much stock in this just yet, but I am not counting it out. Until we get more info on the plot of The Avengers: Age of Ultron I imagine we will be getting a lot of rumors and word on the street situations.

James Spader to play Ultron in The Avengers 2

Three-time Emmy winner James Spader has been cast to play the big villain, Ultron, in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This casting is rather unexpected and we have no further information other than the actual casting.
There is some speculation about exactly how Spader will play Ultron seeing that he is a robot. Some are guessing Spader might do some motion capture and voice work. Others speculate he could just wear a robot costume and be assisted by CGI, similar to what they have done with Iron Man.

When I read this the first thing I thought of was Pretty in Pink. Yes, the John Hughes movie. Since then he has appeared on Boston Legal and The Practice. He was also in Lincoln which was popular around awards season. I think Spader will be a good addition to the Marvel Universe. I give them credit for getting some really great actors in these movies.

Guardians of the Galaxy main villain announced

Kevin Feige has confirmed that Ronan the Accuser (played by Lee Pace) is the main villain in Guardians of the Galaxy. However, Thanos will have a part in the movie. Feige describes the scene as Ronan being the big villain with Thanos sort of overseeing it all and that we will see more than just a couple seconds of him like we did after The Avengers. 
There is still no word on casting for Thanos. Some are suggesting that James Gunn and Marvel could pull another trick on the audience like Shane Black did with Iron Man 3. If you didn't know, the reveal of The Mandarin wasn't really what people expected. Could other characters like The Collector (Benicio del Toro) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) potentially be Thanos in disguise? Nothing is impossible as far as Marvel goes. I think they have proved that by now.
Seeing that Ultron has been revealed as the main villain for The Avengers 2 (aka, The Avengers: Age of Ultron) it is possible that they will tease us with Thanos for years to come. Some are speculating Thanos might not meet his final battle until The Avengers 3. Seeing that this movie leads directly into The Avengers: Age of Ultron, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ultron in one way or another. Even if it's just a post-credits scene.

Aside from villain news, Feige also confirmed that Guardians of the Galaxy takes place in the same timeframe as the other Phase Two films. I suppose that means there could potentially be subtle tie-ins or references to Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Guardians of the Galaxy hits theaters on August 1, 2014 and is the last part of Phase Two before The Avengers: Age of Ultron hits in 2015.

Zoe Saldana joins Guardians of the Galaxy

Looks like Zoe is returning for some more Disney magic.

It was announced today that Zoe Saldana is in talks to join the cast of Guardians of the Galaxy as Gamora. This adds to Saldana's fairly busy schedule which includes the release of Star Trek Into Darkness along with filming two Avatar sequels.

Here is some background on Gamora if you are unaware:

The last of the species Zen Whoberi, Gamora was found and trained by Thanos as a young child. She became a skilled martial arts assassin (nicknamed the deadliest woman in the galaxy) loyal to Thanos as be promised her the chance to avenge her parents' death. As a teenager she was raped and nearly killed by thugs that Thanos later killed. He restored her health and gave her superhuman qualities.
Gamora later joins Drax the Destroyer and The Avengers in a battle against Thanos after seeing what a threat he truly is. She even attempted to slay Thanos herself.

Now... with that all said, I can see why they cast Saldana. She is fairly tough and has done a lot of green screen/motion capture work with Avatar. I accept.
Previously cast was Chris Pratt as Star-Lord and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. James Gunn (Slither, PG Porn) is directing and moving quickly to make the August 1, 2014 release date.

Thanos confirmed for two Marvel Phase 2 films

If you saw The Avengers you know Thanos appeared in the mid-credits scene. There was a lot of speculation as to where Thanos would show up in future Marvel films. There is now confirmation that Thanos will appear in two Marvel Phase 2 films; Guardians of the Galaxy and The Avengers 2.

I assumed/guessed Thanos wouldn't appear sooner than Guardians of the Galaxy and I am happy to see that I was right. People were trying to say he would show up as early as Thor: The Dark World and that was a mistake, imo. Thor already has a lot of villains and introducing a big villain like Thanos that early would have been dumb. 

Guardians of the Galaxy is set to be released on August 1, 2014 and The Avengers 2 is set for May 1, 2015.

James Gunn confirmed for Guardians of the Galaxy

Director James Gunn (Super, Slither) has been officially confirmed to re-write and direct the upcoming Marvel film Guardians of the Galaxy. The film is due August 1, 2014.

I say hell yes. James Gunn is fucking awesome.

James Gunn to direct a Marvel movie?

I almost did a happy dance just now.

Marvel is busy searching for directors to helm upcoming films and one prime candidate for Guardians of the Galaxy is none other than James Gunn. I am a huge fan of Gunn and I think he would be amazing for Guardians of the Galaxy. I hope this happens.

Kevin Feige hints at news of Thor 2 villain

Will the villain in Thor 2 be Thanos?!




Unfortunately... not. Kevin Feige has revealed that Thanos was a hint to the future but that doesn't necessarily apply to Thor 2. So far all we know is Mads Mikkelsen has signed onto the project to play the main villain but we do not know which villain he will be. Rumors are circulating that it could be Executioner but who knows. There are people also talking about Executioner and The Enchantress (aka, Amora). Filming starts this fall so I am sure we'll know before too long.

http://collider.com/thor-2-sequel-kevin-feige/169494/