Fantastic Four (2005)

Fantastic Four (2005)

This remains the best adaptation to date, in my opinion. Of course, there will always be people who disagree with me! And I wonder if some people think it’s the worst? I’d like to discuss it with them, even though I feel like we won’t be talking for long!

For example, there’s the guy who wrote this: “The actors are great, but the story is so bad that 10 Jessica Albas could be in it! A disappointment from start to finish. At times, you really wonder what drugs the director is on! The worst comic book adaptation I’ve ever seen! Go see Sin City instead, it’s great!”

And what’s my opinion on that? Well, I hated Sin City (2005)! For those who don’t like comics and movies with a superficial reputation, this one isn’t for them—for all Marvel fans and those who love action, it’s, of course, a great movie—the special effects are mind-blowing, and I really like this movie!

Someone told me, “I got to see the preview, and I’ve rarely laughed so much with other viewers. Not at the movie, but at the comedy in it. I’m going to see it again.” What? What am I hearing? Ten times better than any Batman movie? No, not really! Batman Begins was probably the best movie that year. I don’t think it’s really comparable. Not that Fantastic Four isn’t up to par, since the movie is good, no doubt about it, but it lacks intensity. It’s not a dark movie, but rather a light one. For an entertaining movie night, it’s just what you need!

In fact, I spent one Christmas alone at home watching the first and second movies. And it remains an unforgettable Christmas for me!

I must admit that I wasn’t expecting too much, but they are two of my all-time favorite films of this genre! I eagerly awaited the second part in 2007. Exciting, so cool and interesting. Those who really love Marvel comics will also love this film. Admittedly, it has a few weaknesses, but it’s definitely worth seeing.

Good action scenes, lots of humor… and Jessica Alba!!!
I’m not a huge fan of hers, although she’s always easy on the eyes, but she’s also great in this role.

Chris Evans’ lines are always funny.

The film will also delight fans of Julian McMahon, who plays the villain, Dr. Doom!

In my opinion, only the final duel is a little too short.

Fantastic Four 2 – Rise Of The Silver Surfer (2007)

This trio of Chris Evans, Ioan Gruffudd, and Jessica Alba is a treat. I love all three of them here.
Ben could be played by anyone. He’s a character I love, and he always has the same physique.

Ioan Gruffudd remains the best Mr. Fantastic, and Jessica Alba the coolest invisible woman. As for Chris Evans, not only is he excellent in all his roles, but he has successfully taken on the challenge of playing two Marvel heroes (the Human Torch and Captain America) and has even managed a kind of crossover in Deadpool 3! That is to say, both of his characters appear in the same movie. In short…
Reading my enthusiasm, I’m sure you can almost feel it, even hear it.

But yes: I love both of these films.

The director, Tim Story, made the first installment. He also made Shaft (2019) with Samuel L. Jackson & Regina Hall. He made a horror comedy called The Blackening (2022), as well as an animated feature film Tom & Jerry (2021).

Here, we are treated to a silver surfer, a character who flies on a board. I read this review: “As an old fan of Silver Surfer, I have to say no, sorry, this is not worthy of the Surfer! Even though he is still the best thing in the movie. But I think everything else is rubbish…”

In that case, why did some people say exactly the opposite?
Like this review: “I think it’s much better than the first one! The Silver Surfer is really well done; overall, it’s an entertaining movie!”

Or this one: “The Silver Surfer is really well done, and so are the special effects this time around. A must-see!”

I’m very surprised to see how people exaggerate and show off. Watch the movie before you criticize it! Either you like it or you don’t, that’s all. It’s not that complicated. And if you don’t like this genre, move on instead of watching them all and trashing them!

Personally, I love superheroes, but I don’t like other action movies in general. Nor do I like most science fiction movies. So either I give them a chance and try to be objective, or I write them off. But I’m not going to waste my time knowing that I’m going to hate it.

There will always be disappointed people, complainers, grumpy people. That’s a fact!
You also have to be able to question yourself. Either you’ve lost your sense of humor, you’re no longer a fan of comics, or everything that adapts them is blasphemous. But you have to know what you want!

This film complements the 2005 version. The effects are excellent, and Silver Surfer is also very convincing and quite well done. Especially his silver skin and his surfboard, but he should have been exploited even more. He returns in the last film, the 2025 version, in the form of a… woman (of course)! This will disappoint his fans even more, because we see even less of her.

There are also lots of laughs in this film, to the point of getting cramps. This film is for the whole family. There is no non-stop action, if anything. I can understand that some people find this kind of film undemanding, but someone with imagination who likes reading comic books may well find such a film very entertaining and nostalgic for the good old Marvel comics. It’s definitely not for jaded people who take themselves too seriously! I think this movie is good and I hope there will be other comic book adaptations in the cinema.

Ah! Here’s a review that will conclude mine: “I think the second part is much better than the first. It’s rare, but it’s clearly the case with Fantastic Four.
Chris Evans is so cute sigh.”

And the ending is also quite exciting.

Fantastic Four (2015)

Fantastically bad!

What can I say?
I’m not going to give it just one star, I’ll be kind and give it two.
Why? I don’t really know. Maybe ten minutes of the film can be salvaged after all?

It’s hard to be objective. It’s true that I really liked the first two films, so you’re bound to be disappointed by a remake. Which one is closest to the comics? Personally, I haven’t read the Fantastic Four comics, I just watched the cartoons, which I liked.
I was as disappointed as I was with the Spider-Man movies starring Andrew Garfield. However, he’s not the problem! He’s great, but I don’t think the actors have the necessary charisma. That said, I have nothing against Kate Mara, Jamie Bell, or Michael B. Jordan.

The villain could kill everyone at the end with his powers… but for a final battle to be spectacular, it obviously needs exaggerations that are hard to believe, which takes away from the enjoyment. Yes, like in Star Wars 7, for example.

Perhaps it should be seen before the two previous films from 2005 and 2007 in order to be fully appreciated?
To be confirmed!

Fantastic Four (2025)

Ten years after a failed version, here’s one that’s not much better!
After Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, Fantastic Four is the third and final MCU film to be released in 2025.

Marvel Studios’ 2025 movie year is already coming to an end. As was the case last year (when there was only Deadpool & Wolverine), July marks the end of the MCU with a highly anticipated release.

The colors of the superhero costumes are bright, and the retro-futuristic atmosphere inspired by the 1960s gives the whole thing a lighthearted feel. But still…

First of all, the film offers an interesting idea, since it takes place in a retro-futuristic setting, but it still has to be able to show it! Because apart from a few building facades, two or three old cars and the costumes of the few extras, as well as the brief and rather ugly television presentations, the staging never immerses us in this virtual New York of 60 years ago. In fact, here’s a little spoiler: most of the film takes place in the Fantastic Four’s apartment, which doesn’t look particularly old. Apart from the vinyl records that the Human Torch character holds haphazardly (and even then, since they’re still in fashion!), there’s nothing in the decor to remind us that we’re in the sixties.

Let’s look at the negatives! It’s fair to say that these superheroes are as poorly written as they are poorly acted, that the dialogue is worthless, and that some scenes are like watching a bad sitcom. The Thing looks like a pile of clay rather than a pile of rocks. I find Vanessa Kirby rather bland. Pedro Pascal, who is the film’s main marketing draw, overacts all the time. Yet I really like him, most of the time. But here, none of them are ever really shown to their best advantage. On reflection, I would perhaps save The Torch, the only one of the four who is truly iconic, shown to his best advantage by the camera, except that each time, it only lasts two seconds.

I’ve read quite a few comments from people who didn’t like it at all, such as:

• Nothing happens at all, it’s like a script written by ChatGPT.
• They’re making a mockery of the Marvel universe.
• The Mole Man is… disastrous!
• The absence of the Red Ghost, the excellent John Malkovich cut from the final edit.
• The ability to build teleportation towers anywhere in the world in less than 10 minutes for a galactic god who can travel at any speed he wants!

Sorry for the spoilers, but I’m not going to encourage you to see this movie!
I particularly liked the first two from 2005 and 2007. As a result, my expectations became too high.

When I think back on the story and recount it in my head, I tell myself that it’s ridiculous, really. And it makes me sad! Because it effectively destroys all interest in and credibility of Marvel, when it’s years of work, drawings, comics, adventures, and extraordinary stories that are being destroyed. It’s like slow suicide…