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  • Guardians Of The Galaxy set to take over US theaters

    In the world of superheroes, the ragtag "Guardians of the Galaxy" are a bit less polished than the A-list "Avengers", but they are nevertheless set to conquer US movie theaters this weekend.

    The latest film featuring heroes from the Marvel universe - due to hit North American screens on Friday - is a bit of a risk for Disney, which now owns the stable of comic book characters.

    Rather than beloved superheroes like Iron Man, Captain America and Thor - all headliners of successful films and the wildly popular "Avengers" movie - it features lesser-known adventurers, including a gun-toting raccoon voiced by Oscar nominee Bradley Cooper.

    But that hasn't stopped filmgoers from snapping up advance tickets, setting "Guardians" on course to be one of the runaway blockbusters of the summer.

    According to Hollywood industry journal Variety, the film has already set a record for advance online ticket sales for a August release, and is on track to rake in about $65 million in its opening weekend.

    So far this summer, the fourth installment in the "Transformers" series has earned the top spot for a debut weekend with $100 million in ticket sales. But Disney has high hopes for "Guardians" and has already green-lighted a sequel for summer 2017.

    Early reviews have been positive: Entertainment Weekly calls it a "giddily subversive space opera that runs on self-aware smart-assery." The New York Times says director James Gunn has given the film "a pulse, wit, beauty and a real sensibility."

    The live action-animation mash-up recounts the space adventures of Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) who, when faced with the destructive plans of the evil Ronan the Accuser, allies with four aliens to try to save the galaxy.