Con Season Wrap Up

Toronto Comicon 

This was our first year at Toronto Comicon. It is a relatively small con that is picking up every year. As far as cons go it wasn't our favourite con of the year. But that doesn't mean we didn't have fun. When we get together it is always a great time. We got to test out some of our costumes only to finesse them later in the year. 

It might not be a con we make it out to next year because the drive home was absolutely terrifying. A huge storm hit and the drive home was really unsafe. 

Anime North 

Anime North is always such a blast. This year was no different. Although the con had a bit of a rough start it lived up to its previous year. We went down a day early and decided to go to our friends premiere of X-Men: Days of Future Past. The movie was a pleasant surprise and Grayson won a Cosplay contest for her Rogue costume. 

Anime North is such a unique con experience. For one it takes place outside as much as it does inside the convention centre, there are constantly people outside enjoying the nice weather and just hanging out with other con-goers. This is what gives AN such a sense of community, despite it being the largest anime con in Canada and taking place in a huge venue it manages to have a comfortable small con vibe to it. The Morning of the con was a bit shaky. Yuukatan and Grayson dressed up as your favourite dwarf/elf best friend duo but the popularity of them lead to the misfortune of misplacing Grayson's wallet. We would like to apologize to anyone who in that frame of time might have stopped and asked us for a photo and if we had seemed ungrateful or ungracious or if we refused one. Hopefully we explained the situation but if not again we are sorry. Thank you for being understanding or for coming to find us later. We appreciate everyone/every time someone asks for a photo. We work really hard for that very reason and we really love that you are excited about our costumes. And we would also like to thank the person that returned my wallet to the security booth and didn't take anything from it. My con experience could have been much different. Other than that my con experience was magical. Everyone really loved our Gimli and Legolas. 

We were happy they were such a hit. We even had regular folks ask for our photos in the restaurant. Which was nice because even though they might not understand, they certainly appreciated it. Also thanks for waiting until we were done eating ;) 

I think Day 2 can be appropriately retitled the Strawhat Adventures. We celebrated One Piece all day on Saturday. We hung out in our One Piece Fem!Cosplays, went to a One Piece Photoshoot, met other fans and bought One Piece merch. (Maybe we went overboard---no pun intended)

Day 3 was mainly spent resting in the shade. We all wore our hottest costumes that day and buying up what we wanted for the weekend. We can't wait for AnimeNorth 2015! 

SDCC 

SDCC is always such a wild ride. It is such a huge convention and the whole city is turned into a geek haven. The girl gang always go down a few days early so we can explore and enjoy other parts of the city and not just the convention. This year our friend Bunny Cools (whom we had met the previous year at SDCC) came with us for the adventure and what an adventure it was. The first day was spent leisurely exploring the convention Nonuniqueindie and C-estmabiologie wore magnificent cosplays. (Clara Oswald and Gamora). We always check out some great panels at SDCC too. If there is any place to do it. This is it. 

Saturday was spent mostly at the Orphan Black Fan Meet Up. Year two and we take home the prize for the Theatre Contest. Super cool and awesome. We all wore different clone cosplays and the girls absolutely killed it. Not much else was accomplished after that because of all of the excitement. 

Sunday was again spent on the dealers floor looking at anything we had previously missed. It is hard to wrap up the feelings and amazing experiences of SDCC.  

Fan Expo

Fanexpo was amazing this year. We met a lot of friends and saw amazing cosplayers. Some of our friends also made the trip down. Grayson and Yuukatan wore their Legolas and Gimli costumes again, tried out there Cap and Bucky with Shereoh and Nonunique's Nick Fury and Hawkeye. Grayson also tested out her Nebula alongside Nonunique's Gamora and Shereoh showcased her Sango. There was a wonderful cosplay lounge that allowed us to rest and fix up and meet other amazing cosplayers. It was a real treat. We wish all cons had one. 

There were some great panels and we went to a wonderful Doctor Who panel. The biggest disappointment of the weekend was Karen Gillan's cancellation but we understood. 

It was an amazing weekend. Topped off with this really surreal moment of entering the CN Tower square after the con and having all eyes on us. We took over 100 photos with tourists. It was amazing. 

Youmacon 

We closed up the con season with a trip down to Detroit. Not to toot our own horn but we are a dream team. Travelling is always smooth sailing. The car is always packed full of gigantic props but we manage to make a 9 hour drive comfortable. 

With tons of costumes planned for the weekend we started working hard but our busy lives soon got in the way. Weeks turned into days and then the con was only a few hours away. Oh! The life of a cosplayer. So we opted for our favourites and went as the Monster Trio on Friday. The costumes were already finished which gave us time to work on others that weren't quite there yet and were an overall success. We usually go as the Strawhats to relax and lay back but they were a big hit at Youmacon. Despite a few hiccups (ie - the cold and Yuukatan's shoes) we always love dressing up as them. It is always such a cool experience. The One Piece photoshoot also took place on Friday and it was so much fun. There were so many talented cosplayers. In typical Strawhats fashion we also made some really cool friends. We ended up staying late and watching a One Piece panel that we absolutely adored. 

Saturday we were all very tired but that didn't stop us from having an amazing day. Shereoh wanted to try out her Thousand Sunny cosplay again which is always a great success. Yuukatan wanted to be comfy and warm and brought her Legolas cosplay and Grayson opted for more One Piece with her young Law cosplay. It was a strange crossover if we do say so ourselves. As you can probably tell the weekend was heavily influenced by One Piece. We were fortunate enough to have a bit of a relax period when we waited in line for the masquerade to begin. We watched an hour solid of breakdance battles in the meantime. Our friends SutekiGo entered their first ever masquerade with their Magi cosplays and ended up winning best overall craftsmanship! Congrats guys! 

Sunday was supposed to be when we debuted our Inuyasha cosplays. However do to time constraints and one of us forgetting a major costume piece we bounced back to the Strawhats. A delightful turn of events that allowed us to connect with so many more people. Grayson befriended several children with her Luffy antics and people we had met days before saw their chance to reconnect. Despite spending most of Sunday taking Selfies in the Renaissance centre, the day was amazing. 

We are definitely a dream team. Youmacon has a wonderful vibe about it. Positively one of our favourite cons and we can't wait to go back next year. 

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DEADPOOL: MERC WITH MANNERS

To say I was excited about the news that the Deadpool movie had a green light would be an understatement.  

Deadpool was one of the first comic book characters I found and fell in love with on my own. Batman has always been present in the media for me. But Deadpool is someone I had to discover. 

In 2009 the release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine reanimated a character scattered throughout the Marvel Universe. Last relevant in his on going series Cable and Deadpool, he started to gain popularity and make appearances in other Marvel stories such as Hulk vs. Wolverine, Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and a multitude of on goings. His rise revived a character who could have otherwise been lost. However with all of these stories came the lost of something more important, personality. The vital characteristics that make him unique and special had began to fade. Nowadays the character can be seen as unintelligent, misogynistic, ruthless and rude. I may be biased because I am a huge Deadpool fan but there are very specific factors that contribute to this. My intention is not to persuade others to like him. However those who do like the character for the wrong reasons I would like to show you just how much heart he has and for those who dislike him maybe inform you that he has been misinterpreted and misrepresented. 

Deadpool made his first appearance in New Mutants #98 where he had a brief encounter with none other than Cable, who would later become one of his closest friends. The Merc with a Mouth was a wise cracking killer based off a character in the DC Universe named Slade Wilson. However Deadpool became a character much on his own. Over the years the character gained his infamous yellow boxes and the ability to break the fourth wall. He was intelligent, witty and a great mercenary. But Deadpool always had a soft spot. The history of Deadpool dictates that he found out he had terminal cancer. He gained his ability through an experiment to heal. It is always a touchy subject when he hears of things of a similar nature. Illnesses always shake Wade up a bit. The experiment and healing factor also play into another aspect of Deadpool his insecurities about the way he looks. He exudes confidence most of the time but sometimes I think people forget that although people might be hard on him, no one is harder on Deadpool than himself. 

His insecurities and self-doubt do not stifle his ability to deliver a beating. He is known for doing things solely based on money but there have been some instances where this is not the case. Most of the Deadpool is sick of looking like a scumbag. He dreams of being the hero. It is a difficult task to achieve because of the life he leads and the reputation he holds. Deadpool also does not kill children. Taking a look back on Deadpool’s mercenary career, he rarely sticks anyone who doesn’t deserve it to some degree.  

Now I will not deny that Deadpool may make some off hand comment about a woman. But the truth is Wade really appreciate them. He is not always so lucky when it comes to dating but he definitely understands and respects the women around him. People can argue with me here. I’ve just read it as such. There are always two instances that come to mind. The first is this awful panel of “Deadpool” beating up Terry. I get so angry when people are oblivious to the fact that this is not Deadpool. It is a former love interest of his named Copycat who is a shapeshifter. Deadpool’s admiration of Terry would never allow him to do such a thing. I realize people who actually do read Deadpool are now saying “NOW WAIT JUST A MINUTE REMEMBER THAT TIME…” Of course I am speaking about the time when Deadpool and Terry had an argument over the fact that Deadpool wanted to kill Dr. Killbrew. I’m sure there are other instances…I am also not at all defending him and his psychotic episodes are no excuse. People might also bring up the Typhoid Mary instance but I remind you of the terrible things Mary did to him.  But I bring you to the second instance. The night Sandi’s boyfriend beat her up real bad. Wade’s immediate reaction was to kill him. When Sandi asked him not to he simply beat him to a pulp. A man so ready to come to her defence would not in good conscience do so if he himself acted the same way towards them.

I might be droning on about him but I feel like all the essential characteristic have lost themselves in the multitude of stories surrounding him. I would just like to thank the writers that take the time to do their homework and uphold the man who I believe has a lot of heart. I also appreciate the fans who care about him just as much as I do. Deadpool : Merc with Manners.

Regardless of Deadpool’s current spike in popularity and the effects it had on the writing of his character, he will always hold number one place in my heart. Deadpool is the guy you are always rooting for.  Deadpool still manages to be (in my eyes) charming despite his obnoxious behaviour. It might be a personal preference but there is something about his twisted humour that to be honest I absolutely  love. The great thing about Deadpool is that the light hearted humour is just as fun.I am not a huge fan of the new double boxes with a mind of their own. It was much better when he was talking to himself. As funny as Deadpool is on his own I love the interactions he has with others. Deadpool is not everyone’s first choice and everyone thinks he is crazy. The interactions he has with people really take the cake. Although I love the regular cast of character’s in Deadpool’s life (Blind Al, Weasel, Bob) there are others that deserve equal attention. Cable is one of those characters for me. I really enjoyed the entire Cable and Deadpool series. Deadpool brought out things in Cable that I would have never imagined his character was capable of. The second of these characters is Spider-man. The contrast of PG jokes and the more risque jokes really works for me. I love the interaction between Deadpool and Spider-man. There is a slight admiration, unspoken of course, for each other. It even comes down to the costume comparison. I fully support a Deadpool/Spiderman ongoing (not that Deadpool needs anymore on goings). Deadpool’s interaction with the ladies is…well…unique. But it works for me.

What I love most about Deadpool is that he is actually really tragic.It really pulls at my heart strings when he is down on himself.

I really love Wade because he is essentially a good guy. He is trying to redeem himself and be a better man. He is human, an underdog and I think that is why most people like him.

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Gotham

  This fall television season came with a heap of new and returning superhero shows : Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Arrow, Constantine, Daredevil, The Flash but none of them are as close to my heart as Gotham. 

  The story centres around a young Jim Gordon and his stint with the GCPD. Gordon's first day on the job has him investigating the murder of the Wayne's which unravels a string of mysteries and corruption within the city. We meet colourful characters and a dark atmosphere that help enrich the world of Batman before he came to be and discover the villains in the making. 

  Batman has been a constant in my life from the time I was waddling around. He had a major influence on my formative years and shaped a lot of things in my life. Every time I hear about a superhero TV show being made I can't help but get excited. When I heard of the possibilities and future guarantee of a TV series centred around the Batman Universe I was overcome, hearing that it wasn't centred around Batman was a different story entirely. 

  The season is four episodes in and already building a solid storyline centred around the Mob families in Gotham. With each new character the show is building the foundation for  a solid universe that will eventually include Batman.  Gotham is gritty and dark and slightly campy all the while maintaining a level of realism. The show doesn't attempt to reference a specific time period, leaving it open for exploration in the future. 

  Although the show has some problems I really don't think we can classify the problems as those centred around the female characters. I've already fallen madly in love with Barbara Kean. The small amount of screen time she has had has already shown us that she is a well rounded character. An independent and successful woman who is not only full of love but also determined to help change the city as much as Jim Gordon. She is strong-willed and often acts of her own accord. 

  One of the interesting choices the show made was the addition of Renee Montoya to the list of characters. Usually a character depicted in later Batman mythos Montoya fits right into the world of Gotham. My previous worries about the character were quickly put to rest when we learn of a previous relationship between Barbara and Renee. Montoya also maintains her strong personality and determination. 

  Fish Mooney, a seemingly original character to Gotham, is a strong contender in the war for power in Gotham. Ruthless and cunning Mooney is an interesting villain. Theories and rumours suggest that Mooney might become the character known as the Great White Shark. 

  Selina Kyle has always been a personal favourite of mine. Gotham's version, who goes by the moniker CAT, doesn't disappoint. She is a survivor, strong-willed, independent and opting for a morally gray code in order to make it on the streets. 

  Jim Gordon has also been a personal favourite for years. My initial reaction to Ben McKenzie being cast as the iconic character was to dismiss him but I was wrong. I am enjoying his portrayal of Gordon and I can't wait to see more of it. 

The show is not short of great performances. One of the bests is Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald Cobblepot. 

For me Donald Logue's portrayal of Harvey Bullock is equally as amazing. 

However, unfortunately what I found missing and what I would like to see more of is the relationship between Bruce and Alfred. As well as the relationship between Bruce and Gordon.

I have thoroughly enjoyed what I have been presented with so far and can't wait to dive deeper into the world of Gotham.

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Cosplayer of the Week : NINO (nellafantasiaa)

NINO (Nellafantasiaa)

Facebook - Nino

This week's cosplayer is Nino (Nelladantasiaa). With great attention to detail and fantastic craftsmanship Nino brings characters to life. Like a chameleon she is able to change her appearance and transform herself with each costume. Her love of the craft comes through in her photographs and really shows in her costumes. She is enthusiastic and open to the cosplay experience. Dynamic and and energetic we are sad she lives so far away! We would love to meet you at a convention someday! 

What got you into Cosplay ?

I got into cosplay from a family friend who took me to me first convention when I was around 11 years old. My first cosplay was a character from the manga BLEACH! When I walked inside the convention there were people in amazing costumes, homemade or bought which engaged me in the pop culture. I then started attending at least 2 conventions a year and now pretty much every convention held in Sydney. 

What was your first cosplay?

My first cosplay was Soi Fon from BLEACH however there are no photos of it anymore ),:

How long have you been cosplay?

Ive been cosplaying since 2007 till now so i guess I’ve been cosplaying for 7 years! 

What is your favourite part of putting on your cosplay?

My favourite part of putting on my cosplay is the makeup and the wig. I love trying out different contacts and styling wigs. If I’m also on a low budget i would restyle/cut a wig I’ve used, for my next cosplay or dye it to save money. RECYCLE COSPLAY ALWAYS THE BEST! (Y) :,D

What's the best part of cosplay for you?

The best part of cosplaying for me is meeting new friends at conventions, each convention i go to i get to meet new people whether they be cosplayers or not, you get to make new friends and get to fangirl/geek out on your favourite series/games/ tv shows. Cosplay is also a way of having fun in costume, being who you’re not or being who you want to be and hanging out with your friends. The part about cosplay i don’t like however is how much money goes into it…i always end up not having enough money for a project or outings outside that are not cosplay related ),:

What is your favourite cosplay? 

My favourite cosplay would probably be my female Edward Kenway cosplay i did in late 2013 after the Assassins Creed Black Flag release! I spent a lot of money and effort into that costume and the photoshoot was also great fun! The photographer(Pireze/Icie) also brought some fake smoke pellets where it created a smokey effect in the photo , it made it look really dramatic which is why its probably my favourite shoot I’ve done so far!

In addition, another favourite cosplay that ties with my Edward Kenway cosplay is probably my Walking Dead Season 2 Clementine cosplay! When i posted it on twitter, it was also retweeted by the Telltale Game developers who created the design for Clementine and for the scenes/storyboard of the game. It was such a thrill and exciting opportunity as i got to tweet with some of them, some even gave me very motivational words for me to maybe do more Walking Dead cosplays in the future! My friends also helped me with the gore on the arm and we covered ourselves in fake blood. It was a fun shoot to do as we got to cut up fabric, shirts and pants to make my friend appear like a zombie/walker. 

ENTIRE PHOTOSET HERE 

Do you have a current cosplay or cosplayer favourite, someone that has inspired you? (other people’s collections)

My favourite cosplayers who inspire me a lot lately are :

• SP Cats/Spiral Cats (Tasha Cosplay: Tasha especially, her sewing skills are amazing!! Do check her out! I think she has also been sponsored by Blizzard Entertainment for her Star Craft Kerrigan cosplay as well as her Diablo 3 cosplay)

• Omi K Gibson : Shes been another one of my favourite cosplayers, Her facial expressions in photoshoots especially really represents individual characters she cosplays. She puts all her effort in her Metal Gear Solid cosplays especially, and my favourite from her is probably her female Big Boss cosplay she did!)

• - Yaya Han : I have a huge respect towards Yaya Han, she’s a very famous cosplayer who’s achieved so much in her huge success with cosplaying. Her sewing skills too are amazing and she puts in her all in all her costumes. I tend to check our her Vlogs on youtube to learn more about sewing or wig dying and hope to meet her one day at a con!
  

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The Importance of the Selfie

On the heels of ABC's Pilot episode of Selfie, starring Karen Gillan and John Cho, being released on ABC's website it is time we take a few minutes out of our day to talk about something. Ourselves. 

Selfie is a modern take on the story of My Fair Lady. The story follows around a young girl named Eliza Dooley who is completely social media obsessed. When the girl with a huge online presence and thousands of followers hits rock bottom she realizes that she has very poor social skills and no real friends. Desperate to change her ways and reform herself she enlist the help of uptight co worker. Naturally we assume that shenanigans will occur and romance will prevail. But the show in itself has a lot of potential. It is current, relevant and good for a laugh. 

I think audiences will absolutely love the show if it doesn't play into the idea that social media is ruining this generation. Of course we could all step away from our phones every once in awhile and just live life but as with every generation we simply need moderation. The technology that serves us has a number of positive traits: faster information, easy communication, quick planning, making friends easier, making friends across the world. But one of the most important things I can think of is the SELFIE. 

Now I know what you are thinking --- Vain, attention seeking, self absorbed. 

For some reason these negative connotations are always associated with the selfie. But free yourself of this notion. 

sel·fie

ˈselfē/

nouninformal

1. a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website."occasional selfies are acceptable, but posting a new picture of yourself everyday isn't necessary"
   

People want to paint this idea that being in complete control of the way you present yourself to the world is wrong. Even the definition dictates how you should be operating. Squash it. 

If you know me and I were to tell you that I was never a very confident person chances are it would shock you. A lot of people would say that becoming more confident in yourself is all part of growing up. But part of me has the selfie to thank for that. It has allowed me to present myself to the world in a way that I am comfortable with. I can take 100 selfles and only like 1 of them. I can chose the lighting I like best or the filter that suits my needs. None of these are lies on what I look like visually. I am still the person who took the photo after all only I was in complete control of my settings. It is super empowering to be that in control of yourself and how others view you. Of course anything that allows us to feel better about ourselves is quickly torn down. 

Recently I had new headshots taken for an agency that I signed up with. A headshot is supposed to be the greatest representation of who you are in order to sell the "client" on you and book more gigs. You wear your best colours and showcase your natural beauty. The photographer and I took a series of different photos and when our session concluded he informed me that he would send the photos to me so I could chose the one I liked best and we would use that as my headshot. I was picky when they finally arrived in my mailbox and I wasn't very fond of any of them. Finally I chose one and a week later a different photo appeared in my mailbox. This is an example of having no control over an image of yourself. This is an example of having a photo out their of myself that I am not particularly fond of. I have never taken a selfie that I later regretted. It is always my decision to post, show and share a photo of myself. 

More than anything the Selfie has allowed young women to grow in confidence, know they are

beautiful and even spawned careers, hobbies and creativity. It has allowed young women to discover their sexuality and that they are sexual. It has also helped girls come together to appreciate other girls.

I know…I know… There are still 100 things wrong with the selfie : cyberbullying, shaming, the spread of images without people's consent. But very few things are without fault but I think the selfie gets a bad name. So share your favourite Selfies with us @fakegeekg #flawlessselfie

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Cosplayer of the Week: Melonballs Cosplay

Melonballs Cosplay 

Facebook: Melonballs Cosplay Instagram: whoishelen

The Cosplayer of the Week is the talented Melonballs. We were first introduced to her through her super creative Wall Maria cosplay at this years Anime North. Her costumes are always amazing but her dedication to her craft is equally impressive-Whether its finding the perfect location for a photo shoot, painstakingly putting together a detailed costume or bringing her own vision of a character to life through cosplay. This is a hugely talented and creative member of the cosplay community and we hope to see much more of her work soon!

What got you into cosplay?

At first I didn't realize I was cosplaying until I went to my very first anime convention four years ago. I started dressing up as anime characters for Halloween when I thought it would be fun to do so. Then as years progressed through elementary school I realized that this whole idea of dressing up as your favourite character was amazing and I found out that cosplay can allow me to do this any day throughout the year whether it be for a special holiday or not. So guess I got myself into cosplay just by the whole amazing idea of cosplay by itself.

What was your first cosplay? 

If counting the one I did for a halloween costume in grade 5 then it would be Soi Fon from Bleach. However, if it was my first "serious" cosplay that I wore and brought to conventions it would be Yaya from Shugo Chara. Although it wasn't complete with make up and a wig I had a lot of fun with it and consider it as my first cosplay ever. Even when I look back at it and I look nothing like the character at all.

How long have you been cosplaying?

Including the years that I didn't realize that i was cosplaying it would be about eight years now. And if I were to count when I took it as a serious hobby of mine it would be about four years. So I am still relatively new to this whole concept. 

What is your favourite part of putting on your cosplay?  

My favourite part of putting on my cosplay would be just seeing all of my months of hard work come together as a whole. Since I often take days working on one piece and putting it away for weeks while I work on something else it is breathtaking when I get to see all the pieces fit together, it's like wow I finally did it! This especially applies to the costumes that I personally make myself!

What's the best part of cosplay for you?  Personally the best part of cosplay is when I go over to my friend's house to work on our costumes together. We often make matching costumes together and wear them to conventions! I love the progress work we do in her living room or basement it's really fun. Often times I enjoy doing this than waking up in the morning to head to the convention! It's the time I spend with my friends making our props and costumes that I cherish the most that this hobby provides me with! Although making our 3dmg for out Attack on Titan costumes really stressed us over!!!

 What is your favourite cosplay?

My current favourite cosplay that I made would have to be Lightning Farron's Final Fantasy 13-xii armour costume. This would be the fact that the whole costume was made majorly by myself without much aid from anyone. Since her costume was 90% armour I managed to take my time and carefully make all the pieces while my friend helped me with my measurements and warrior skirt. I rarely make any of my costumes without my mother or my friend since they sew everything for me so I am very proud of this costume as I can call it mine! This was also my second cosplay that I made weapons for too so it was amazing to see how complete it was! However, it did fall apart throughout the convention and I didn't get much pictures I will fix it and wear it again to relive the awesome memories!

Do you have a current cosplay or cosplayer favourite, someone who has inspired you?  

I actually have a lot of people who inspired me into cosplay. I believe the first person to ever make an impact on me would be CVY, her photos from deviantart always blew me away and I look up to her since then when I found about her in grade 7. Shortly finding about her I came across Yuegene Fay's unbelievable work too which pushed me more into this hobby, giving me the hope of wanting to be like them. Then recently I found about the extremely talented Yuurisans, Yuuri-C helped me along the way with my lightning costume by sending me advice and tutorials which made me extremely grateful and happy that she took her time out of her busy schedule to help me out and lastly, my friend Betty (Awesome Kay Kay). She's my childhood friend that started cosplaying when I did, she helps me with my costumes as well as style my wigs and does my makeup. So technically she makes cosplay a reality for me!  

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Guardians of the Galaxy

This post is not spoiler free. You have been warned. 

Guardians of the Galaxy is an adventure packed thrill ride based on the Marvel Comics team of the same name. It follows a band of misfits after their chance meeting when Peter Quill (aka Starlord), and the leader of our group, steals a mysterious orb that brings them together to change the fate of the universe.  The ensemble cast includes Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon and Vin Diesel as Groot. It also features Lee Pace, Karen Gillan, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, Djimon Hounsou, Benecio Del Toro and Glenn Close. 

Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest in the long line of Marvel Films and has been the first film in awhile to stray from the narrative of our Avengers storyline but still very much existing in the same universe. Introducing new fans and old fans alike to a band of misfits we have trouble not falling in love with. 

The film begins with an emotional bang queue 26 years later and the movie sets the tone for the entire film. We meet our hero Peter Quill sauntering through a planet landscape with ease while his "Awesome Mix Vol.1" blares in the background. The soundtrack plays a huge role in the film and makes our lead one of the most accessible characters in the film. 

Quill seems to be a man out of time perpetually stuck in the 80s (ie troll dolls, tape decks and walkmans). The older tunes (usually 70s hits) his mom has made him on mixed tapes keeps Peter human and tethered to earth. The soundtrack itself becomes a sort of character within the film. The gift his mother gives to him that Peter finally opens at the end of the film (Awesome Mix Vol. 2) promises us a second round of this great adventure. 

Despite the films humorous tone there are some lovely emotional moments throughout the film. Each character shows us a side of them that we are not expecting and gives each character so much debt in the small time that we get to know them. Peter feels the loss of his mother and the guilt he felt for his actions in her last moments. 

We can feel Gamora's anger and hurt and the years it has built up inside of her as she worked close with her enemies. 

We understand Drax's anger and how lonely he has become. 

Rocket is the one of the most compelling of all the character his angry exterior a mask for the pain he feels everyday being an experiment. He is a character who is far more intelligent than people give him credit for. 

And then there is Groot, a creature of few words, who so profoundly reaches beyond his limits to aid those around him. 

I have been excited about this film since the initial announcement. When the casting news started it just got better and when the reviews started coming in I was completely sold. Of course I was scared that I was hyping the movie but it did not disappointing. From start to finish I was completely involved. When the film ended I didn't even realize 2 hours had passed. It's biggest downfall was possibly that it was underdeveloped. I just wanted more. 

The film was so visually stunning. I always love when comic book movies go back to source material, when the artistic direction feels very comic. This film is a must see for everyone. You don't need to be a comic book fan to love this film. You just need to love having a good time. To be in love with friendship and ready for adventure. Oh and also if you love Kevin Bacon. 

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