Steven Spielberg revealed his favorite Marvel movie during an interview at the Cannes Film Festival.
“I love the Superman of Richard Donner, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight, and the first Iron Man, but the superhero film that impressed me most is one that does not take itself too seriously, Guardians of the Galaxy,” Spielberg revealed.
“When his projection was over, I left with the feeling of having seen something new in movies, without any cynicism or fear of being dark when needed,” he added. “There is a difference between heroes and superheroes. The hero is an ordinary person who is faced with a serious fact and acts to modify it. A hero is a person who, walking down the street, sees a car on fire and runs [to] help the person who is in the driver’s seat, attached to the seat belt to loosen. [A] superhero is a person who, on the same scene, would fly to the car and try to turn it upside down and shake it using his super strength, until the driver is released. I identify more with the first example. Film[s of] everyday heroes.”
Director James Gunn caught wind of Spielberg’s remarks and wrote on his Facebook page: “Probably the greatest compliment of my life. I learned what a director was because as a kid I loved Raiders of the [Lost] Ark so much I wondered who the guy was behind it all, and I’m making movies today because of it.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stars Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, Tommy Flanagan and Kurt Russell.
The film hits theaters on May 5, 2017.