 |
| http://myarine.deviantart.com/art/Star-Lord-472198022 |
I was re-watching Guardians of the Galaxy the other day (for
like, the 8th time), and I discovered something I hadn’t noticed
earlier. It just reaffirmed my love for the movie and this film in particular.
The scene in question is the moment the opening credit shows up on screen. Stay
with me now … The movie begins with young Peter Quill and the death of his
mother – so pretty standard – the conflicted grandfather, the room full of
grieving relatives, the mother making a last effort to connect with Peter, and
his discomfort with the situation. Even the spaceship that shows up to zap
Peter away is arguably trope for the genre. We then see the masked ‘Star Lord’
walking through the ruins of a planet, a hologram leading him to his goal, an
Orb. The scene is expectedly serious, a battle against the elements, the
discovery of an ominous looking cave. And then things get very cool …
Having entered the vault, he unmasks and slowly moves his
hand to switch on his … Walkman?!!? And as Redbone’s, ‘Come and get Your Love’
plays, we see the title appear on a percussion cue.
The tone of the film has been firmly established: irreverent and fun.
It takes a left turn that no one saw coming and transports you to a
place where talking raccoons and trees are very much a reality. It’s also a
brilliant character establishing move: Star Lord is Peter - an impudent man child, who takes every
moment as it comes. He waltzes through the cave, grabbing a scary looking space
rodent and improvising it as a mike, as he lip synchs to the song. So, in one
scene, James Gunn has unapologetically and rather economically, established
that neither is this isn’t the usual run of the mill sci-fi opera, and nor is
the hero brooding and forlorn as you expected. You even overlook some of the
(intentionally) kitschy production design. You just accept that it’s that kind
of movie and strap in for the ride.
And that’s why I love this scene.
No comments:
Post a Comment