1) Star-Lord Vs. Luke Skywalker/Han Solo
There are a huge number of factors that combine to create the perfect franchise, and if any Hollywood producer actually knew the exact ingredients required, they would be the richest person on the planet. However, through talent, luck and plenty of hard work, some filmmakers come extremely close to achieving this goal. And if box office returns or critical acclaim are anything to go by, then both Star Wars and Guardians of the Galaxy are two perfect examples of this.
Plot, direction, tone, marketing… all of these are vitally important components, but ultimately, it can be argued that the popularity of a franchise rests on the broad shoulders of its central characters. Both Luke Skywalker and Han Solo became household names immediately after the unprecedented success of the first Star Wars release, and the popularity of the sequels cemented their respective places in pop culture history. Fans of all ages now await each characters return in the upcoming sequels with bated breath. After 32 years away from the silver screen, will Skywalker and Solo hold the same appeal in 2015 that they did all those decades ago?
It’s impossible to deny the importance of both these characters in cinematic history, and their influence can be seen throughout the majority of sci-fi movies since they first appeared way back in 1977. Guardians of the Galaxy is no exception, where it can be argued that the best traits of both Solo and Skywalker have been amalgamated in the character of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord.
Team leader Quill roams the galaxy in a beat up spaceship, taking on illegal jobs, quipping his way out of danger (as seen in the video below) and flirting with every female he encounters. If that sounds familiar, then that’s because we basically just described Han Solo, too. However, Quill also leaves home in the film’s opening after his mother dies, ultimately becoming a natural born leader willing to sacrifice himself to save the galaxy. The end of the film also establishes a mystery surrounding the identity of his father. If that doesn’t scream Luke Skywalker to you, then you’ve obviously never watched a Star Wars movie. Shame on you!
Chris Pratt was relatively famous before Guardians of the Galaxy, but his star-making turn as Quill has pushed him up to the big leagues. In the character of Star-Lord, audiences finally have the best of Solo and Skywalker combined in one hero, transcending the influence of both to become the strongest protagonist the sci-fi genre has seen in years. With his karaoke singing and ill-timed dance-off challenges, Pratt’s goofy portrayal of the Marvel hero may make you laugh, but Quill also grounds the fantastical settings, acting as the emotional heart of the film.
Let’s be honest. No one really cared too much when Skywalker’s adoptive parents died, but in just one short scene, audiences felt Quill’s pain as his mother passed away in the opening scene. This emotional thread recurs throughout the movie in the forms of a mixtape and an unopened present, climaxing in a powerful moment at the film’s end which ultimately increases Quill’s likability tenfold. Sure, he can be brash and obnoxious at times, but Pratt’s deft portrayal of Star-Lord as a three-dimensional character is the core of the movie and Guardians of the Galaxy would not have become the success it is without him. Could the same be said about Luke Skywalker or even Hayden Christensen’s performance as Anakin Skywalker in the prequel trilogy?
So. what do you think loyal readers? Does Guardians of the Galaxy improve upon the hallowed Star Wars movies, or is it just a shallow copy of those iconic films? Sound off below!