robyn millarReview of The Fantastic 4
November 15th 2006 02:29
Fantastic 4 (2005)
Directed: Tim Story
Written: Mark Frost & Michael France
Based on the Marvel Comic by: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon
The Most Irritating Comic Book Ever Comes to The Big Screen
There can be no doubt that in recent years there have been some very cool movies based on comic books and as a general rule I have been a fan. Yes, the storylines are often repetitive, the plots usually unbelievable and the costumes ridiculous, but nonetheless there’s something intrinsically fun about people with powers beyond the want of normal men. Having said all of that, this genre has also been home to some laughable disasters (Daredevil, anyone? Batman and Robin?).
The subject of today’s review, The Fantastic 4 (based on the Marvel Comic of the same name), doesn’t really fall into either category, but neatly bisects the two by not being good enough to truly entertain, while not quite sucking enough to inspire humour.
The action follows 4 ‘scientists’ as they are exposed to “space radiation” which mutates their DNA so that one turns into a super strong rock man (‘The Thing’, Chiklis, who actually isn’t too bad for all the scenes he isn’t covered in the worst plastic suit since Jar Jar Binks), one into the super flexible Mr Fantastic (Gruffudd – please go back to making Hornblower), one into the flaming Human Torch (Evans) and one into the Invisible Girl (Alba). Together they use their powers to stop the evil Victor von Doom (McMahon) from doing what bad guys always want to do – take over the world.
Perhaps it’s the fact that I could never stand the comic books/cartoon – even as a young child I found them intrinsically sexist (this was before I even knew what sexism was) – or that I think that the majority of the powers possessed are stupid (what’s so good about being super flexible? Or being super strong if you go around looking like a rock all the time?) or even that Julian McMahon is the worst professional actor on the planet, but something about this film just didn’t work for me. Nor was the predictable plot and cookie-cutter character development enough enough to make me laugh out loud (although the movies pious insistence that the Thing's appearance doesn't make him any less of a person does suffer when they purposefully set him up with a blind lady - surely if looks were really unimportant he could date anyone he wanted).
All in all the worst kind of movie for me to watch, still, it must have done alright at the box office, they’re already filming a sequel.
5/10
Today’s Question:
Is Jessica Alba ever going to make a film that doesn’t involve her stripping down to her underwear?
Directed: Tim Story
Written: Mark Frost & Michael France
Based on the Marvel Comic by: Stan Lee & Jack Kirby
Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon
The Most Irritating Comic Book Ever Comes to The Big Screen
There can be no doubt that in recent years there have been some very cool movies based on comic books and as a general rule I have been a fan. Yes, the storylines are often repetitive, the plots usually unbelievable and the costumes ridiculous, but nonetheless there’s something intrinsically fun about people with powers beyond the want of normal men. Having said all of that, this genre has also been home to some laughable disasters (Daredevil, anyone? Batman and Robin?).
The subject of today’s review, The Fantastic 4 (based on the Marvel Comic of the same name), doesn’t really fall into either category, but neatly bisects the two by not being good enough to truly entertain, while not quite sucking enough to inspire humour.
The action follows 4 ‘scientists’ as they are exposed to “space radiation” which mutates their DNA so that one turns into a super strong rock man (‘The Thing’, Chiklis, who actually isn’t too bad for all the scenes he isn’t covered in the worst plastic suit since Jar Jar Binks), one into the super flexible Mr Fantastic (Gruffudd – please go back to making Hornblower), one into the flaming Human Torch (Evans) and one into the Invisible Girl (Alba). Together they use their powers to stop the evil Victor von Doom (McMahon) from doing what bad guys always want to do – take over the world.
Perhaps it’s the fact that I could never stand the comic books/cartoon – even as a young child I found them intrinsically sexist (this was before I even knew what sexism was) – or that I think that the majority of the powers possessed are stupid (what’s so good about being super flexible? Or being super strong if you go around looking like a rock all the time?) or even that Julian McMahon is the worst professional actor on the planet, but something about this film just didn’t work for me. Nor was the predictable plot and cookie-cutter character development enough enough to make me laugh out loud (although the movies pious insistence that the Thing's appearance doesn't make him any less of a person does suffer when they purposefully set him up with a blind lady - surely if looks were really unimportant he could date anyone he wanted).
All in all the worst kind of movie for me to watch, still, it must have done alright at the box office, they’re already filming a sequel.
5/10
Today’s Question:
Is Jessica Alba ever going to make a film that doesn’t involve her stripping down to her underwear?
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I am a fan of the comic but none of the essence was onscreen.
As for Jessica Alba, she kept her clothes on in Entourage but as long as her ass looks like it does movie execs will be cashing in.
Comment by Georgie