5. The Guardians Are Formed (Guardians of the Galaxy)
In 2014, Marvel took a gamble with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy. They put their trust in writer/director James Gunn to deliver a grounded, accessible film set mostly in space, featuring characters such as a racoon and a talking tree.
Success was hardly a foregone conclusion. But Gunn’s signature touch ensured that the film we got was a hilarious, heartfelt addition to the MCU, and to date it’s still one of the best Marvel movies ever made.
The film has heart and humor in abundance. One scene that captures both perfectly is when the Guardians finally realize the team is greater than the sum of its parts and decide to work together.
It acts as a microcosm for the film’s larger themes and features some of the movie’s most eye-watering moments (looking at you Drax).
Gunn never sacrifices the emotional weight of the scene for a quick joke. He knows exactly how to balance the tones. When we do get a moment of comedic relief it feels earned, not jarring.
All the characters play off each other perfectly and we get a real sense of their camaraderie. These people have been through a lot together. We’re left desperate to follow them on any adventure the future holds.
