by Lauren
 | So, I went to a preview screening last night of Fantastic 4 - I was cautiously optimistic, with medium expectations of the movie based on the most recent trailer. Going in with that frame of mind, I was pleasantly surprised by the film. I liked it more than I thought I would. First off, the special effects for their powers are very well done. Gone is the camp and not-quite-right-digital creepiness of previous movies. |
Most of what I enjoyed about the movie was the cast. I kind of liked the younger college-age team for this rebooted origin story. The reckless scientific attitudes that cause their 'accident' is better suited to inexperienced scientists/students than an older professional team that should know better IMHO.
Miles Teller is really great as Reed Richards. The perfect blend of sincerity and audacity, with a humble warmth the character has lacked in previous movies. Kate Mara's Sue Storm is a bit aloof but charming, and self-assured in her intellect. The movie doesn't constantly sexualize her, as they did with Jessica Alba (which is still the worst casting in superhero movies ever.) I love Jaime Bell, his earnest friendship with Reed is moving - I just wish they had done more with him. Michael B. Jordan's Johnny Storm is a standout without chewing the scenery (like Chris Evans did) however I feel his character was the least developed.
 | A ton of pre-movie debate surrounded the casting of Michael B. Jordan as Johnny Storm. Even the press tour was beleaguered by stupid questions about how two siblings can be black and white - like no one has ever heard of adoption or blended families before. |
Nowadays families are different - they come in every size, shape and configuration you can think of. Sometimes you make your own family with friends. For this to even be a debate is ridiculous and ignorant - and at no point did this get in the way of my enjoyment of the film. In fact, I think that the essence of 'family' was the whole point. /rant.
The film is SHORT. Maybe 90 minutes, and it felt like it.
I felt like there were major scenes missing for no reason I can fathom. The beginning and middle are pretty solid, but the ending is incredibly rushed. All the character and relationship development is dropped in the third act for the big action finale. While the effects are excellent - I left with the feeling that the formation of 'team' in the end wasn't earned. In the end, it totally fell flat. In fact the last scene, to presumably set up a sequel, is laughably terrible.
Also - THERE IS NO MID OR AFTER CREDIT EASTER EGGS - so don't bother waiting.
I felt like there were major scenes missing for no reason I can fathom. The beginning and middle are pretty solid, but the ending is incredibly rushed. All the character and relationship development is dropped in the third act for the big action finale. While the effects are excellent - I left with the feeling that the formation of 'team' in the end wasn't earned. In the end, it totally fell flat. In fact the last scene, to presumably set up a sequel, is laughably terrible.
Also - THERE IS NO MID OR AFTER CREDIT EASTER EGGS - so don't bother waiting.
****Minor plot spoilers****
For comic purists, they mess with canon A LOT. Reed and Sue are not much changed -except younger and not yet a couple. Johnny is also a super genius engineer with only a small, youthful rebellious streak, and a ton less ego than usually portrayed (and of course, black.) Ben isn't a pilot, he's just a loyal friend who grew up with Reed from an abusive blue collar family. Franklin Storm isn't a drunk who goes to jail leaving Sue to raise Johnny - he runs the the Baxter Institute and adopted Sue from Kosovo as a child. Victor is an Earth-hugging, government hating ideagogic that is part of the Institute project team. His character is by far the greatest departure from any previous version of Doctor Doom - which I still haven't decided is a good or bad thing.
The team, BTW, doesn't go 'into space to be transformed by cosmic radiation,' but transports to some parallel dimension (Negative Zone/Planet Zero) to try and find alternate power sources for Earth. 'Living' energy, mechanical failures, explosions - wackiness (and super powers) ensue...
****End Spoilers****
For comic purists, they mess with canon A LOT. Reed and Sue are not much changed -except younger and not yet a couple. Johnny is also a super genius engineer with only a small, youthful rebellious streak, and a ton less ego than usually portrayed (and of course, black.) Ben isn't a pilot, he's just a loyal friend who grew up with Reed from an abusive blue collar family. Franklin Storm isn't a drunk who goes to jail leaving Sue to raise Johnny - he runs the the Baxter Institute and adopted Sue from Kosovo as a child. Victor is an Earth-hugging, government hating ideagogic that is part of the Institute project team. His character is by far the greatest departure from any previous version of Doctor Doom - which I still haven't decided is a good or bad thing.
The team, BTW, doesn't go 'into space to be transformed by cosmic radiation,' but transports to some parallel dimension (Negative Zone/Planet Zero) to try and find alternate power sources for Earth. 'Living' energy, mechanical failures, explosions - wackiness (and super powers) ensue...
****End Spoilers****
All in all, the movie was good, but not great. The general sense I got from the people I spoke to leaving the theater was that it didn't live up to its considerable potential - that it was good, but was lacking in some essential quality - and I agree completely.
