This Is The Right Way To Introduce A Hero

Superhero movies have been a stable at the box office for over 20 years. But introducing a comic book character to a wider audience takes a certain set of skills. Skill that James Gunn has proved time and time again, starting with the Guardians of the Galaxy. The way Guardians of the Galaxy introduced Star-Lord is not only perfect, but subverts the expectations of many viewers. James Gunn was born to direct the Guardians of the Galaxy, and his entire filmography proves that.

#guardiansofthegalaxy #jamesgunn #nerdstalgic

[hussd]

The opening of Guardians of the Galaxy to this day remains my favorite introduction of a character. Once the music kicked in and Star-Lord started dancing, I knew it was not only something unexpected, but also special

[somecallmejeremy]

This was the blueprint as to what the MCU has been after this movie. They thought that jokes after jokes are the reason why this movie was great for what it was when it was the emotional moments that made this movie a great experience. Talk about caring about a tree and a raccoon.

[_The_Archive_]

Fun Fact: Chris Pratt cited heroes Han Solo and Marty McFly as influences on his performance as Star-Lord.

[namikkou]

What makes the beginning scene of GotG even better I feel, is when we revisit it in Endgame. It's fun to watch Peter dance around and just be a goofball, and then we return to the scene without the music for Nebula and Rody watching him, and you realize that's actually how the scene would look to anyone else there. Peter doing a goofy dance to music in his headphones, so no one else hears and just looks like a weirdo.

I think we all do that though lol-

[Zombiesnyder]

Back when the MCU was willing to think outside the box

[peterfrank]

After we've been introduced to the genius, playboy, billionaire with his suit of armor, the Norse god of thunder, and the World War II super soldier, it's a fresh air that our next hero would be a some guy who was kidnapped by aliens from 1988 Missouri when he was ten years old.

This was when MCU still remembered that the best world-building starts with character.

[barney]

This movie is so groundbreaking that it reshaped the MCU into what we later came to know and hate

[grfrjiglstan]

After learning about more of Gunn's filmography, the fact that he made a phenomenal family-friendly cast of characters just speaks to his range and skill as a filmmaker. So many directors seem pigeonholed into either family-friendly or rated R, but Gunn is great at both.

[PioneerHDable]

The way they used music to make a connection with the audience and how they built it into the story was something very unique and special!

[TheCringeofTheCentury]

I can tell you this. As an indigenous person here on the reservations we always love Redbone's Come and get your love. My theater erupted in cheers, laughing and singing along once the needle drop came in. Flash to today and it puts a smile on face knowing everyone vibes to a song from a previous obscured indigenous rock group. James Gunn sure can make obscure things famous.

[evanpb]

There's also the idea that among all this wreckage and decay, in this dour setting, Star Lord is just dancing through it. Not only showing the tonal shift from dour to comedic, but showing that Star Lord himself is someone who, even in the face of very grim circumstances remains fairly blaze and often uses humor/playfulness as a sort of defense mechanism to help get through it. Probably because he's forever stuck being a kid--the same kid we just saw being abducted in 1988.

[LeonardoKlotz]

When this movie was made, no one thought it was gonna be hit. That's why James Gunn had more creative freedom.

Not even Gunn himself thought it was gonna be a hit. So he made the movie as if it was his last one

[MrGamerz]

Gunn leaving the MCU will be missed. He was great at balancing emotional storytelling and comedic timing. DC is getting a gem.

[Crocogator]

Pratt's personal stuff aside, dude is HILARIOUS. That "You may have internet connectivity issues." line was improvised on the spot.

[Antares]

The thing that fascinates me about Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 1 is that they are able to introduce multiple important characters, with individual powers and skills AND make them all memorable.

Now, compare that to the drab and boring Eternals. IT also introduced multiple important character, with individual powers and skills.... but I honestly can't remember the name or powers of a single character.

I am not a comic book reader. I had never heard of a single character in either movie before.

One worked. The other didn't. I'm sure the visual differences were easier to handle when you have a talking tree and a genetically modified raccoon. But there are ways to distinguish characters even if they all are just human-looking. And Eternals didn't do that at all.

[jessicastrike]

When Quill takes down the mask, presses play on his tape, the music kicks in and then that title drop, that is when I knew we were in for something truly special

[scrumartist]

he’s so good even at redemption arcs, imagine nebula or even peacrmaker, that series was a banger and just showcases his incredible talent

[Chuydoesartfr]

The in-depth breakdown of what a “Himbo” is coming right after Peter’s mom's death scene caught me off guard so hard I choked on my water 😭

[theworkshopwhisperer.]

Find it interesting watching this video considering how I watch the third film today on the big screen and I thought. Wow, Guardians of the galaxy has tragedy and suffering at every single turn. Galaxy 1-2-3 definitely has some of the straight up the saddest moments in the MCU but also some of the silliest. That is a very difficult line to walk.

[milkiassamuel]

They really nailed the payoff and gave us an incredibly satisfying ending to not just Peter Quill's ark throughout the MCU, but also give all the Guardians a satisfying end to their stories that simultaneously feels fulfilling and yet leaves room for more potential stories with a new roster of characters