Fantastic Four --- is anything but FaNtAstic!

© 20th Century FOX

Title:
Fantastic Four (C+)
PH Release Date:
July 6, 2005
Actors:
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington
Director:
Tim Story
Based on the Comic book by:
Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
Screenplay:
Michael France and Mark Frost
Editor / Music:
William Hoy / John Ottman
Design / Photography:
Bill Boes / Oilver Wood
Producer:
Stan Lee, Chris Columbus et al.
Studio:
Marvel and 20th Century FOX


© 20th Century FOX

“you don’t know how much I'm willing to give just to be invisible”

It’s time to face another breed of Marvel comic book characters as they try their luck on the big screen. The feedbacks are not that enticing, however, two gorgeous young people in one movie sporting tight suits is more than encouraging for me.

Four unique who found themselves armed with superpowers after they were exposed to cosmic radiation. They had special abilities diverse from one another that led them to approach it differently as well. Reed Richards (Gruffudd) can stretch his body anytime and anywhere he wants to. Sue Storm (Alba) can conceal herself from others and generate force fields. Johnny Storm (Evans) can turn himself into a blazing human being. And Ben Grimm (Chiclis)becomes a rock-like being. Soon, they found out that it isn’t only them who was affected by the radiation but also the man who financed their explore and an admirer of Sue, Victor Von Doom (McMahon). However, unlike the four, he’s out to get everything he wants and with a power like his, only four people can go up against him and battle it out to their last breath.


© 20th Century FOX

I hope you’re familiar with the drill. This review is coming form a person who has never read or touched this comic book. If you don’t know that by now, well, now you do. And If you’ve seen the movie and read some of my works, they you probably know as well that this movie is as trashy as other comic-book movies who’s only after making profit and absolutely nothing else.

The movie was 10 years in the making, funny, cuz it doesn’t seem like it. It didn’t really felt like it was rushed, but it was more of the screenplay seemed to have not been well-thought of. I don’t know about the original story but I’m stripping that off and the script just appears too silly for me. And the inanity doesn’t stop there.


© 20th Century FOX

Instead of getting somebody experienced and actually capable of making sci-fi action movies, they end up with a director whose most famous work is about people getting their hair done (Barbershop). I don’t know what happened to the producers, did they run out of budget? Chris Columbus (Harry Potter 1 & 2) is a producer of this movie and was once eyed to direct it, maybe he saw how much a disaster the script was that he settled for earning cash without breaking any sweat.

Ironically, Tim Story ain’t capable of telling any. The characters were close to being two-dimensional, the action sequences were mediocre at best and the pacing and continuity was simply hideous. I hope he never gets the chance to handle any form of camera again.


© 20th Century FOX

Though the script was flawed in more ways than 10. I believe it had a lot of potential, however, the annoying attempt to make the line resemble to their abilities was truly irritating. I did love on line though, when Ben told Sue how much he’ll give up just to be invisible. That was the only “real” scene in this movie, more of that and better action sequences, no question about it, this movie’s gonna be fantastic.

Th movie wasn't totally that great when it comes to the special effects. but it's tolerable given that they reuire to do much, muc more compared to one superhero movies like Spiderman. The sound effects were okay. The cinematography was not as good as i visualized it. And the editing was bad.


© 20th Century FOX

Ioan Gruffudd should have been replaced. He just doesn’t work as that character. He didn’t get the essence of him or the charisma to be their leader. I have nothing against him besides his froggy look but I really didn’t find him appropriate for the role. He could have stretched further more but he wasn’t able and capable to. Jessica Alba is gorgeous in blonde and how I hope she stays that way. Though at times, her I-ain’t-no-hollaback-girl approach to acting gets into my nerves, a simple smile or a view of her wearing that tight suit makes everything alright.

Chris Evans is hot as hell as well. Needs a lot of work when it comes to cracking jokes, but he’s definitely more than just a pretty face…. He’s got that one scorching body to go along with it. Michael Chiklis was the tough guy he’s supposed to be, but I don’t think he was complete able to get sympathy from the audience but I know how hard it must have been for him (or his double)to wear that suit. Julian Mcmahon was back to being Cole again and I loved it. Not that his character in Nip/Tuck is kind, but in this one, he offers no surgery. The chemistry of the characters was below average. Am sorry but it really was.


© 20th Century FOX

Fantastic Four offers one hell of a good time for people who don't think and are only after glossy images. In other words, kids and wannabe kids would love it. Girls would go crazy over Chris Evans close-to-nude scene which the movie failed to equate for the male audience, leaving us with nothing more than a tight suit to drool over. How sad. I’m not gonna be a hypocrite and say I didn’t enjoy the movie even to the tiniest bit cuz I did that’s why it didn’t get such a low mark but if I was to judge this in screenplay and direction alone, I could have given worse. If you are to watch this movie and plans to do the same, I have, but one reminder to you—prepare for the preposterous.

Grading Sheet:
Story – 15%
Screenplay – 12%
Direction / Execution – 10%
Acting – 14%
Technical Aspect – 16%
Total: 67% = C+