It’s the year 2014. There is no ‘Avengers: Endgame‘. No ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home‘. No ‘Logan.’ The superhero genre hasn’t quite hit its peak, or current so-called plateau. That August, we were introduced to a relatively unknown team of misfits called the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy.’ A group made up of a half-human abducted by aliens when he was a child, the daughters of the most dangerous Eternal-Deviant warlord in the universe, a destroyer who lost his family, a talking raccoon, a seemingly unkillable tree, and even a telepathic dog. The Guardians are the hardcore/metal team of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—a found family of outcasts.
For those completely unfamiliar, the Guardians of the Galaxy are made up of: Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), aka Star-Lord, a half-human/half-celestial who was abducted by a group of space pirates in the 80s when he was just eight years old moments after his mother died of cancer. Rocket (Voiced by Bradley Cooper) is a genetically enhanced raccoon who is a thief and genius inventor. Groot (Voiced by Vin Diesel) is Rocket’s muscle and a living tree-like creature. The Groot we know now is actually the son of the Groot we met in the first movie—Rocket was able to plant a part of his remains after he sacrificed himself to save the team. Drax (Dave Bautista) is a fierce and over-literal warrior left widowed by the antagonist of the first film, Ronin. Mantis (Pom Klementieff) is an alien empath who was introduced in ‘Vol. 2’ and revealed to be Quill’s half-sister in ‘The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special.’ Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) are both the adopted daughters of Thanos. Nebula was experimented on by her evil dad, has cybernetic enhancements, and has difficulty expressing her emotions. Gamora actually died in 2018’s ‘Infinity War’ at the hand of Thanos himself, but an alternate version of her came back in ‘Endgame’ after some time-traveling hijinx. The crux here is that she’s never met the other members of the Guardians. Let’s just say, they have baggage.
A lot of people are brought into the alternative music scene because they feel like they don’t belong anywhere. It gives us a home, a place to connect with like-minded individuals. A sanctuary for weirdos that celebrates our differences and quirks. Encourages it, even. The Guardians are just that. A group of individuals from different walks of life and different planets, searching for one thing. A place where they all belong.
The team is certainly larger than life and helped save the galaxy a few times at this point, but the reason we love them is because they’re so relatable. We see them mend broken bonds, deal with loss, heartbreak, fall in love, and become a family. We see ourselves in them, that’s why we’re so invested in the franchise. These films make us feel something. When they lose, we lose. That’s the biggest goal of pop culture as a whole: to invoke emotion.
The soundtracks of these movies, titled ‘Awesome Mix Vol. 1’ and ‘Awesome Mix Vol. 2’ respectively are Peter Quill’s last connection to his late mother. She left a part with him to have for the rest of his life. The music brings her heart and soul to the very forefront. As you see in the films, his Walkman and mixtapes are Peter’s dearest possessions. Not only do they provide him with an escape, but they guide him through the journey of finding himself and his new family.
The first movie kicks off with “Come And Get Your Love”, foreshadowing the dance-off that will save the galaxy at the climax of the movie. “Hooked On A Feeling” plays when the Guardians members are fully introduced to us and have been featured in a new promo with first reactions to Vol. 3, the last time we will see the team as they are now. Songs “Moonage Daydream” and “My Sweet Lord” accompany the team as the audience is introduced to new cosmic locations full of strange new sites. Talk about sticking the landing, Gunn packs a punch with “The Chain” and “O-o-h Child”, lending as the melody of both film’s climatic battles.
‘Awesome Mix Vol. 3’ will be a mixtape made by Peter’s surrogate father, Yondu. This time on a Zune after his real father, the Celestial Ego, destroyed his Walkman. Expanding Peter’s musical horizons beyond his mother’s music taste of the 60s and 70s, as well as closure to his childhood trauma. The death of his mother had a chokehold on his life, but with his new family at his side, he can use this to grow rather than stunt him.
Not only is the ‘Guardians Of The Galaxy’ franchise linked to music thematically, it’s in its very DNA. James Gunn includes his needle drops in his scripts. They help usher in the story as much as the dialogue and actions of the characters. The soundtrack for the first movie is the first soundtrack to reach the top of the Billboard charts with no original songs made for the movie specifically. It’s orchestrated to perfection.
This week we say goodbye to the Guardians family as we know it. James Gunn is moving on to run DC Studios, but not until he concludes the epic tale he started 10 years ago. It’s sad to see them go, but there’s no doubt this story will conclude in an emotional and satisfying fashion. One last ride.
‘Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3’ hits theaters on May 5
