Fantastic Four (2005)

I enjoyed it!

I'm actually a humongous fan of Marvel Comics Fantastic Four. From owning a large collection of the comic books to toy hunting for the hard-to-get Invisible Woman action figures.

But I kept myself away from any coverage, hype regarding the film, so I can enjoy it to the nth degree.

I have to admit that I felt a bit cautious because although the Fantastic Four have been a staple of Marvel Comics history, it's not the in your face action such as X-Men and even Spider-Man.
It's one of those series that has to grow on you and you learn to enjoy the characters.

So, I imagined that like the first X-Men movie where they had to go through an introduction, the same would have to be done with the first Fantastic Four movie.

Sure, there will be a lot of action but at the same time, you need to know how the characters are.

Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) is not your typical lead man. He's highly intelligent, detached from society somewhat and can be a cold fish.

Johnny Storm (Human Torch) is the hothead. Playboy and always seems to get himself into something dangerous.

Ben Grimm, the man who deals with being the rocky behemoth known as the Thing.
And Sue Storm, the woman who loves Reed but somehow tries to find ways to get close to him (despite him being a cold and dull fish at times).

So, needless to say...our heroes have their problems and for some who are looking for the charismatic action hero, they are superheroes but they aren't perfect.

I happened to enjoy the film. The pacing was a bit off at times but nevertheless, I enjoyed it and optomistic that the second movie can now be fast-paced and hard hitting.

The DVD for Fantastic Four was very enjoyable with really cool. The DVD is offered in two versions (widescreen and fullscreen) and audio quality is offered in 5.1 DTS (which sounds really awesome on my home theater).

The special features for this DVD doesn't disappoint either as it feature full length audio commentary by the stars of the film, a video diary featuring the stars on their media tour for the film - which was very exciting by the way. Deleted scenes, making of featurette, casting session, making a scene, music videos, theatrical teaser and trailer and also an inside look for the third X-Men film (which unusually got the top listing for the special features).

Not everyone is going to enjoy the Fantastic Four film. Even the comic book is not for everyone but those who stick with it learn to enjoy the characters for what they are.

If I had any problem, many of us who are faithful to FF, knows that Dr. Doom doesn't go down that easily. Otherwise Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon do a great job portraying the characters.

Again, this is just the introductory film. Hopefully with the second film, things get even better. As for the DVD, it's fantastic. September 4, 2008

Pretty Good.

Good Movie. Chickless is great as the Thing. AND Jessica is always easy on the Eyes. September 2, 2008

Soulless and generic superhero romp

Of all the superhero movie adaptations released in the last several years, there is one in particular that stands out to me simply because it is so unremarkable. That film is 2005's adaptation of "The Fantastic 4." The characters are one dimensional, and the plot is paper thin. I can sum it up as this: 5 scientists go into space and come back with super powers. Four of them decide to become superheroes, and one decides to become a super villain. And then, they fight. That's it. It doesn't even attempt to understand why four people, upon receiving these powers decide they should be super heroes. They do it because that's what people with super powers do, and of course they have a closet full of pre-made superhero costumes that were conveniently written into the plot as being "next generation astronaut suits." Yeah, ruddy brilliant guys.

There is a sub plot in there about Ben Grim being unhappy with his monstrous new appearance as "The Thing," but the way the writers chose to resolve it ultimately feels ridiculous. Also, Dr. Doom, who is one of the most prolific recurring villains in the entire Marvel universe, is completely neutered in this movie. Comparing this Dr. Doom to his comic book counterpart is like comparing Chad Vader to his big brother Darth. The movie was obviously made in a boardroom of Fox executives trying to figure out how to get as many teenage boys into the theater as possible, because it is also chock full of frivilous extreme sports footage, special effects shots, and meticulously airbrushed women.

The only good thing I can say about this movie was that it looked good on Blu-Ray, at a time when I barely had anything to watch in HD. If you're looking for a movie to demo your new home theater with though, there are dozens of movies that look just as good if not better in HD, that aren't textbook examples of what happens when movies get made in by business men. August 29, 2008

SOLID ONE STAR!

Interesting special effects. Tolerable to watch but certainly NOT a good movie. The sequel in one of the worst movies I have seen this year. Please end this franchise. August 29, 2008

It's Clobbering Time !

"Fantastic Four" hit the big screens in 2005, and is based on the Marvel comic book.

Reed Richards is, quite possibly, the most gifted scientist to ever have graduated from MIT. Currently researching the human genome, he believes the evolutionary process on Earth may have been triggered a cosmic storm. Luckily, precisely the type of cloud Richards has factored into his work will soon pass close to Earth's orbit. However, to continue his work, he needs help - specifically financial aid and a trip into space. Together with his sidekick, astronaut Ben Grimm, Richards pays a visit to Dr. Victor von Doom - not only an ex-classmate, but also a well-heeled native of Latveria. Where Richards is struggling financially, things are going a little better for von Doom - he is now the head of his own business and has his own very well-shielded space station.

Von Doom agrees to fund the experiment and grants the pair access to the space station - however, the deal is not without its conditions. Victor will take the lion's share of any future profits and his Director of Genetic Research, Susan Storm will also be brought on-board. (Ms. Storm also happens to be Reed's ex-girlfriend, though exactly what she ever saw in him is never made clear). Ben had hoped to pilot the shuttle to the space station. Unfortunately, Sue's brother, Johnny, is the company's resident pilot and will be commanding the flight. (Johnny is something of a loose cannon who was thrown out of NASA).

The five travel to the space station together - only to be caught out by the cosmic storm, which arrives ahead of schedule. Ben takes the biggest hit the storm can offer, having been on a spacewalk at the time. Reed, Susan and Johnny were inside, though they had been trying to rescue Ben and weren't protected by the station's strongest shielding. Victor, like a true villain, made sure that he was in the safest part of the station. All five survive - though Reed seems to have been right about the storm's effect on the evolutionary process. Everyone on-board develops new abilities - Reed becomes able to bend and stretch like rubber, Susan can become invisible while Johnny can become a human of living fire, rather than flesh and blood. However, all three can switch their powers on and off and there's no change to their outward appearance. Ben, on the other hand, can't : he has evolved into a creature made of rock. Despite the superhuman strength, it's not something he's terribly pleased about. (Neither is his fiancée - who doesn't take long in returning the ring). However, there are bigger problems ahead - specifically Doom and his newly acquired powers.

I found the movie pretty ordinary overall - there wasn't much of a storyline beyond 'this is how we got our powers'. (The point of the film, I'm guessing, was solely to set things up for the planned sequels). I can't say I was too fond of either Reed (limp, dreary and let's face it : he has the world's worst super-power) or Johnny (irritating brat). If it had been the Fantastic Two, I'd have been cheering for Doctor Doom - Julian McMahon does a pretty good job with that role. However, Ben Grimm proves to be a likeable character and - since there's a shot of Jessica Alba in her underwear - I'll give the film my unreserved recommendation. August 15, 2008

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