Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

This was a pretty enjoyable movie, basically non-stop action from start to finish.
Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is sort of like Han Solo, out mostly for the money, determined to make money from finally capturing the orb, which has some crazy powers. But that doesn't go so well. Soon, many others are after him. There is Rocket the Raccoon (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). Groot is probably my favorite character. He is a tree, a genetically modified tree but he is kind and sweet. He can grow flowers from his limbs and can create fire. Also after him is Gamora (Zoe Saldana), an adopted daughter of Ronan (Lee Pace) who is pure evil. He killed many people's families, including Gamora's. They are arrested and put in the Klyn, a prison and Rocket does manage to get them out, but they pick up a pure hater of Ronan, Drax (Dave Bautista), who nearly kills Gamora, as she is Ronan's daughter. Eventually, they burst out and set off to kill Ronan and make money from the orb. They bring it to the Collector (Benicio Del Toro), who has little more than a cameo role. It is here where they realize how dangerous and destructive the Orb actually is. Peter grows attached to Gamora, who doesn't understand why music is so important to Peter. But of course, Peter has an origin story, that tape player is the gift his mother gave to him after she died. Thus, it is Peter's most precious possession.
They have to run from the Empire, led by Glenn Close, whose talents are wasted on this little role. She doesn't have much to do. Sure, her role is important but it is for someone who doesn't have the talent she does. They manage to get the orb as Ronan is trying to kill innocent people. They are nearly destroyed and poor Groot sacrifices himself for the good of the world and his friends. At first, the band sticks together reluctantly, but each of them would prefer to die among friends than at the hands of the enemy.
They do not destroy the planet, they capture the Orb. Of course, they are forced to work for the guy who kidnapped a teenage Peter and trained him to steal stuff, so there is many levels. Once they finally get the orb, Peter gives a decoy to Yondu (Michael Rooker), so doesn't appear to care. Their criminal records are expunged. The romance doesn't really take off between Gamora and Peter, but there is always the next film.
Now, I don't really have any problems with the film, although I would love to know where Peter's assistant, who barely appears in the first part of the film, goes after that. But the soundtrack is amazing and there are some funny parts and the acting is pretty good, though the roles aren't particularly difficult. Unfortunately, this just isn't my type of film. And the best part is that there is a baby Groot at the end of the film. Grade: B+