It doesn't suck
So I saw the preview screening of Fantastic Four. Yet another Marvel comic movie - and contrary to expectations - it doesn't suck (which goes to show that it's all a question of expectations).
As with most of the others, I haven't read the comics. I vaguely remember a cartoon show from the mid 80s (but I might confuse it with Bionic Six or any number of similar shows), so I won't complain about plot discrepancies or inconsistencies with the original -- come to think of it -- I won't be complaining that much.
Last years were good to the comic movies -- they were so good that even a movie visually magnificent like Fantastic Four is dismissed with a shrug. Seems that cool effects with lots of things blowing up, cool super-powers and fast action sequences are not enough anymore. Fantastic Four offers all these - well directed, well-acted and well-designed production but something is just missing there.
So what do we have there? (minor spoilers if anyone gives a damn)
Five people get exposed to "radioactive space radiation" that "alters their DNA". When they return to earth they each find that they now have super powers. Of course one of those five is inheritably evil so he start going on a murder spree (trying to take over the world or something) and the other, so-called "fantastic four" join forces to defeat him.
So the storyline is pretty basic. This is the only drawback this movie has. Unfortunately it is a significant drawback, but not such that will spoil the experience. It is by far the movie with the less redundant dialogs from any other in its category (excluding Sin City which is on a category of its own), character development is done in a clean and smooth manner - no stupid parlor tricks or mind-numbing soliloquies, there are the amusing gags that add a lot, and last but not least - it's the correct length (see my comments re: Batman Returns). In 105 minutes we get the whole package - the story, character backgrounds, action sequences, a little romance and everything else that make a movie worth watching.
Only other problem I had with that movie was that it was not unique enough. I half expected Spiderman or some of the X-Men to join the party. Think of it -- how cool would it be if Spiderman or Magneto have made a cameo.
If you're looking for a fun way to pass an hour and a half - the Fantastic Four is a good option, but it's okay if you'll decide to hold for the DVD.
BTW - before the movie they had a teaser for a movie called "Stealth". What can I say? WOW. I have to think long and hard if I were to remember a teaser so crappy. The teaser gave away all of the plot, with every effect the movie has to offer, and sadly - this too was very unappealing. It's like Short Circuit - only with a psychotic F-15 instead of a robot. tsk tsk tsk.
As with most of the others, I haven't read the comics. I vaguely remember a cartoon show from the mid 80s (but I might confuse it with Bionic Six or any number of similar shows), so I won't complain about plot discrepancies or inconsistencies with the original -- come to think of it -- I won't be complaining that much.
Last years were good to the comic movies -- they were so good that even a movie visually magnificent like Fantastic Four is dismissed with a shrug. Seems that cool effects with lots of things blowing up, cool super-powers and fast action sequences are not enough anymore. Fantastic Four offers all these - well directed, well-acted and well-designed production but something is just missing there.
So what do we have there? (minor spoilers if anyone gives a damn)
Five people get exposed to "radioactive space radiation" that "alters their DNA". When they return to earth they each find that they now have super powers. Of course one of those five is inheritably evil so he start going on a murder spree (trying to take over the world or something) and the other, so-called "fantastic four" join forces to defeat him.
So the storyline is pretty basic. This is the only drawback this movie has. Unfortunately it is a significant drawback, but not such that will spoil the experience. It is by far the movie with the less redundant dialogs from any other in its category (excluding Sin City which is on a category of its own), character development is done in a clean and smooth manner - no stupid parlor tricks or mind-numbing soliloquies, there are the amusing gags that add a lot, and last but not least - it's the correct length (see my comments re: Batman Returns). In 105 minutes we get the whole package - the story, character backgrounds, action sequences, a little romance and everything else that make a movie worth watching.
Only other problem I had with that movie was that it was not unique enough. I half expected Spiderman or some of the X-Men to join the party. Think of it -- how cool would it be if Spiderman or Magneto have made a cameo.
If you're looking for a fun way to pass an hour and a half - the Fantastic Four is a good option, but it's okay if you'll decide to hold for the DVD.
BTW - before the movie they had a teaser for a movie called "Stealth". What can I say? WOW. I have to think long and hard if I were to remember a teaser so crappy. The teaser gave away all of the plot, with every effect the movie has to offer, and sadly - this too was very unappealing. It's like Short Circuit - only with a psychotic F-15 instead of a robot. tsk tsk tsk.