Fantastic Four (2005)

Review: Fantastic Four (2005)

During a space voyage, four scientists are altered by cosmic rays: Reed Richards gains the ability to stretch his body; Sue Storm can become invisible; Johnny Storm controls fire; and Ben Grimm is turned into a super-strong … thing. Together, these "Fantastic Four" must now thwart the evil plans of Dr. Doom and save the world from certain destruction. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Johnny Storm (Chris Evans), Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), and Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) go on a space mission that gets them caught in a strange storm. This storm gives each of them unique powers. Fantastic Four is one of the most beloved superhero teams in comic books. It's a big deal for Marvel, especially in the superhero world. It's strange then that when they made a movie, they spent a lot of money but didn’t hire a good director. They picked the guy who directed "The Firing Squad" and "Taxi. " The whole movie feels like it was made with a lot of anxiety. The director, Tim Story, might have been scared of messing up the big Marvel project, or maybe the studio was scared of messing it up. The casting choices also feel odd—Gruffudd is dull, Alba seems to be there for her looks, and McMahon isn't really convincing as a villain. The CGI used in the movie is not great and doesn’t help the action scenes much. The final fight between the team and Von Doom feels like it was made for TV. However, there's still some fun in the movie that makes it worth watching on a rainy afternoon. Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans are the highlights. Chiklis gives the movie some heart, while Evans brings some charm and humor. The script also tries to talk about the downsides of being famous, which is a nice touch. And who can argue that seeing the first use of "flame-on" and "clobbertime" doesn’t bring back some memories of comic book glory—maybe just me thinking about my younger days. The movie didn’t have much risk, and it would have been better if it had better direction and talent. But hey, the movie made over $230 million worldwide, so maybe I don’t know everything. The sequel came out, and I hope this time they have more confidence and stay true to the comic book. They should also add more excitement and flair. Footnote: The longer version of the movie, which is about 20 minutes longer, is better. It feels more exciting and has more energy. I’d give the theatrical version a 5 out of 10 and the extended version a 6 out of 10.

Story Overview

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)

Watch Official Trailer: Fantastic Four (2005)

Use this section to build excitement and explain whether the trailer gives a strong first impression.