Fantastic Four (2015)

Genre

Action | Sci-Fi

Director

Josh Trank

Country

USA

Cast

Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, Toby Kebbell, Reg E. Cathey, Tim Blake Nelson, Dan Castellaneta, Tim Heidecker

Storyline

Four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend (Toby Kebbell) turned enemy.

Opinion

How many attempts does it take before making a film worth of the Fantastic Four, one of Marvel's best superheroes team ever? Apparently two isn't the magic number as "Fantastic Four" turned out to be another huge misfire that does not do justice to the team.

10 years after the mediocre "Fantastic Four", someone had the brilliant idea to re-imagine the origins of the team in a modern way. And to be honest choosing to make a reboot mostly focused on the adolescence of the future superheroes and villain was a great idea, the chance to make something similar to "X-Men: Days of Future Past". The filmmakers indeed dramatically expanded the relationship between Reed and Ben Grimm, but the script is so poorly written that the character's backstory still is incomprehensible, and the more the film progresses the more confusion is made.

The protagonists are nothing but spots on the screen, and instead of being the reason one would watch the film for, are just another boring component of the film. And don't let me start on the villain, he probably is the worst villain brought to screen ever!

The two most important factors in an action/sci-fi movie are a complete disaster as well. The special effects are very poor, especially The Thing that looks like he came straight out of a PS2 videogame. The action is almost non-existent, and utterly unengaging, and the final battle against Dr. Doom lasts something like 5 minutes.

The acting isn't better. I did love Miles Teller in "Whiplash", and he does put efforts in this film as well, but there is nothing he can do with the poor material he has been given. I was intrigued to see Michael B. Jordan as The Human Torch but he's completely wasted. Same goes with his adopted sister Susan Storm played by Kate Mara.

Fantastic Four (2005)

Genre

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

Director

Tim Story

Country

USA | Germany

Cast

Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington, Laurie Holden, David Parker, Kevin McNulty, Maria Menounos, Michael Kopsa, Stan Lee

Storyline

After a cosmic radiation exposure, a group of astronauts gain superpowers. Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd) can elongate his body; Sue Storm/Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba) can become invisible at will and create force force fields; Johnny Storm/Human Torch (Chris Evans) can control fire; Ben Grimm/The Thing (Michael Chiklis) looks like a rock creature with extraordinary strength. But there is one problem. The journey's sponsor, Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) has also been affected and with full power is a danger that needs to be stopped. 

Opinion

Marvel's first family of comic superheroes hit the film industry, but the result doesn't live up. In fact, "Fantastic Four" ain't fantastic at all. It is boring, mediocre, and though it's actually very true to the comic books, it's very bad considering the brilliant source material.

The film is poorly written by Michael France ("Hulk", yes the bad one) and Mark Frost - maybe he picked the wrong comic books, he should have gone with the X-Men -, it has any climax, it is visually painful - the cosmic exposure scene was so bad I wanted to cry -, and the music is bad as the other things. 

The characters. According to lot of people the main problem is Johnny Storm: he is way too much annoying. Being honest, he really is annoying, still those few laughable moments in the film are actually because of him. Victor Von Doom/Dr. Doom is completely wasted. He is one of the most charming, and complex villains, and he did not deserve to be treated like that. He is barely on the screen, and this affect the character a lot. Maybe a longer running time could have helped his cause. 

I'd like to point out the fact that Jessica Alba wears blue contacts. I know Sue Storm is blue eyed, but then why didn't Julian McMahon wear brown contacts? If that's all about being faithful to the comics, he should have done the same.

The acting. Ioan Gruffudd is a huge disappointment. He manages to fade into the background like he was the Invisible Woman, and his American accent is maybe the worst I've ever heard. Jessica Alba is bad as usual, showing off her small range of facial expressions, repeated over and over and over again. She is unconvincing both as a scientist and as a lover, and her emotions feel faker than Nicki Minaj's booty. Chris Evans acts like a cocky fratboy for the whole time, but maybe that was in the script, how can I know? However, he is pretty funny throughout the film, so I have no big complain. 

Michael Chiklis is a rock, seriously. He does a good job. He is the perfect choice to play the Thing and he proves it. Julian McMahon is truly enjoying himself, and he is great Dr. Doom, but, again, he is barely in the film.

New FANTASTIC FOUR Trailer Opens New Dimensions

Ok - this trailer opens the door wider for me for these characters and the story. Dimensional travel definitely pulls me in if they can realistically pull off the concepts well enough. Of note is that Weta Digital, OTOY and Moving Picture Company are doing the VFX. Weta Digital EXCELS at creature effects. One would assume that they each traveled to different dimensions to attain their radically different abilities so therefore we are probably in line to see at least 4 different environments - maybe a fifth as it appears Doctor Doom is arriving from one them as well - a plane of hell perhaps?

Director Josh Trank (CHRONICLE) tells my buddy Steve at Collider:
“We’re definitely imagining the story in 3D as we’re making it, and it has powers that are well-suited to telling the story in 3D—not just Reed, but you have somebody that is on fire, and that’s something that can be immersive and scary. The reason to use 3D in this Fantastic Four, I think, is to make the experience feel as immersive as possible, where you feel like you’re with the characters looking at themselves and looking at each other with these bizarre powers and feeling like they’re really interacting with you.”

Having this sort of basis for the movie solves a lot of issues I have had with past attempts, but again Fox needs to deliver.

Here's the storyline for the movie:
FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

FANTASTIC FOUR opens in theaters on August 7.

Quote: Collider

First Look: Teaser Trailer For FANTASIC FOUR Hits

I think Fox's FANTASTIC FOUR may have finally got it right. They certainly have the right director in Josh Trank (CHRONICLE) and cast with Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell and Toby Kebbell. Obviously it's hard to get an understanding from just a teaser, but my impression is that the story is having a lot of attention paid to it this time around.

Matthew Vaughn (KICK ASS, X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE) is a Producer on this movie as well giving FANTASTIC FOUR a fine pedigree indeed. I think we are finally in for a treat with this franchise.

Here's the storyline:
FANTASTIC FOUR, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on four young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

FANTASTIC FOUR opens in theaters August 7, 2015.