James Gunn wears his influences on his sleeve. In "Guardians of the Galaxy," he never fully apes any of his favorite films, but it's easy to tell what movies he grew up with if you know what to look for. The director packed "Guardians" with characters, images, references, and dynamics that reminded us of some well-worn cinematic favorites, and that's probably no accident.
"The movies that were most inspirational to 'Guardians' are those movies that I loved as a kid," Gunn told io9.com. "Whether it's "Raiders of the Lost Ark" or "Star Wars" or "Back to the Future." I wanted to make a movie that wasn't necessarily like those films but that made people feel like those films made me feel as a child — can make people feel like that whether they're an adult or a child."
Here are a few ways Guardians steals from the best.
1. The Walkman from 'Back To The Future' vs. the Walkman from 'Guardians'
Just like Marty McFly, Peter Quill faces a big bald threat to his tunes. Where Marty had to worry about Mr. Strickland taking his Walkman and crushing it in a vise, Quill had to fend off a big blue prison guard to keep his from being permanently confiscated.
2. Peter Quill is a composite of Marty McFly and Han Solo
With a perfect balance of hapless slacker and savvy scoundrel, Peter Quill's resemblance to these two is so strong it's actually kind of weird he doesn't wear a vest.
3. A major 'Raiders' reference
Some of Gunn's references are subtle, but he practically hits you over the head with this one. Both happen at the beginning of their respective movies, and both involve snatching a valuable artifact from a pedestal.
4. Thanos talks to his underlings just like The Emperor from 'Star Wars'
When Thanos communicates with Ronan the Accuser he appears as a static-y blue face, just like the Emperor in "The Empire Strikes Back."
5. While we're on the subject of Thanos
Thanos is played by Josh Brolin, who was, of course, one of the Goonies, another key inspiration in "Guardians," as can be seen when ...
6. Peter Quill makes his 'Goonies' speech
When it's time to rally the troops, Peter Quill and Mikey both convince their rag-tag teams to forge ahead with inspiring speeches that concede that they're all "losers" (as Quill puts it), but it's still "our time" (as Mikey puts it).
7. Just like 'Footloose'
When Peter Quill finds himself explaining the joys of music to Gamora, he turns to "Footloose," describing Kevin Bacon as a hero in a town full of people with "sticks up their butts." Later when the Guardians are kicking butt against Ronan's army, Gamora exclaims, "We're just like Kevin Bacon!"
8. The Milano vs. the Millennium Falcon
When the Guardians hang out on the Milano (named after Alyssa Milano), they bear a resemblance to another crew tooling around in a well-loved spacecraft. The shots of both the interior and the cockpit bring to mind shots of the "Star Wars" crew on the Millennium Falcon.
9. A dance battle
When Peter Quill is facing certain destruction at the hands of Ronan the Accuser on the surface of Xandar, he draws inspiration from the movies of the youth and starts throwing down to "Ooh Child." Unfortunately when he hands it off to Gamora, she doesn't know what to do, and he takes it back.
10. A dangerous watering hole
When the Guardians arrive on Knowhere, they find themselves waiting for their meeting with the Collector in a dangerous little bar called the Boot of Jemiah. From the colorful alien patrons to the available vices and the sense of danger, the Boot mirrors "Star Wars'" famous Cantina, where Luke and Obi Wan meet Han and Chewie. Above we've included the concept art for the Boot, which bears an even stronger resemblance to the Cantina than the version in the movie.
11. The Infinity Stone is the Ark of the Covenant
They'll both melt your face.
12. The gun-slinging scoundrel and the unintelligible muscle
This is probably one of the most obvious "Star Wars" parallels. In both instances only The Muscle's partner can understand him. And in both instances, the "Brains" of the operation is an amoral scoundrel looking for a payday.
13. The 'Guardians' and 'The Goonies' names are in the same spirit
The Goonies refer to themselves as "rejects" early in the movie. By calling their group the Goonies, they're trying to take back that name and own it, turning a pejorative, mocking name into something they can rally around. When Ronan lands on Xandar he mockingly calls the rag-tag group the "Guardians of the Galaxy," but by the end of the movie, they've owned that name.
14. Howard The Duck is in the movie
Even though Howard looks significantly different from his previous big-screen incarnation, we're guessing his cameo wouldn't have happened if the movie he previously starred in wasn't such a recognizably '80s touchstone.
15. They're honored as heroes at the end of the movie much as in 'Star Wars'
The Guardians don't have an actual medal ceremony, but when Nova Prime (Glenn Close) and Nova Corpsman Dey (John C. Reilly) present Peter Quill with a brand new ship, it feels an awful lot like the ending of "Star Wars." In both examples, a team of nobodies makes good, and they're recognized as galactic heroes.
SEE ALSO: Here's A Guide To All The Hidden References In 'Guardians Of The Galaxy'
