Things can only get better (Fantastic Four (Special Edition, 2 DVDs))

Member Name: rappinhood

Product:	Fantastic Four (Special Edition, 2 DVDs)
Date:	22/10/05 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Ben Grimm, Johnny Storm, good effects, good settings

Disadvantages: Not much action

I never expect too much of big screen remakes of successful comic strip characters. Garfield and Scooby Doo are just two recent examples where the translation of the character was good, but the plot was weak or non-existent. Why, then, did I spend any time on the Fantastic Four?

Well, it's like this. When I was a child, the American comics I had at home were, quite frankly, very girly. Archie and Richie Rich were the order of the day. Very, very saccharine. But I always loved going to visit my cousins, Sam and John. Not only did they have different toys, but they also had different comics. Harder comics, with lots of crash, bang and thud. I'm talking about Batman, Superman and the Fantastic Four.

For some reason, I've always liked the quartet of Richard Reed (Mr Fantastic), Sue Storm (Invisible Girl), Johnny Storm (the Human Torch) and Ben Grimm (The Thing). I don't really know why. Maybe it was because they seemed more human and more real than many of the other comic superheroes around. But whatever the reason, I knew I would have to see this film even if I ended up being disappointed.

The plot
Four astronauts and their boss go out into space. When a cosmic storm hits, they are exposed to radiation which alters their DNA and gives them superpowers. The film follows the four as they come to terms with their new status and deal with old relationship issues. At the same time the evil Victor Von Doom (their boss, who has also been altered by the experience) is growing ever more megalomanic and is obsessed with bringing the four down. There's a final showdown with the inevitable result.

Main cast
Ioan Gruffudd: Reed Richards
Jessica Alba: Sue Storm
Chris Evans: Johnny Storm
Michael Chiklis: Ben Grimm
Julian McMahon: Victor Von Doom

Acting and setting
Acting was good, with the best performance in my opinion from Michael Chiklis as Ben, who loses his wife through his changed circumstances and has to adjust to people's reactions to him. This provides moments of great sadness that humanise the film. Chris Evans (no, not that one) is very good as cheeky daredevil Johnny Storm, the annoying but likeable bad boy of the group. I don't think Julian McMahon is sufficiently menacing as Victor Von Doom. He often looks like Darth Vader's less successful younger brother. Performances from the actors playing Richard Reed and Sue Storm are less than stunning. Maybe Jessica Alba was just meant to be eye candy.

The New York setting was the perfect backdrop for car crashes, chases and battles of all kinds, with familiar tourist locations such as Times Square and the Statue of Liberty making several appearances. The snowboarding scene is spectacular: you can almost feel the snow and ice.

What I thought
This was an enjoyable film. The special effects were well done, but not overdone, a touch of restraint that is often conspicuously absent from Hollywood blockbusters. Each of the heroes gets the chance to display his or her powers, often in an amusing way. The Invisible Girl's tendency to fade in and out makes for some embarrassing moments, while Ben struggles with everyday human activities such as eating or drinking. I enjoyed the scene where Richard Reed insinuates (literally) himself between Ben and Johnny to stop a fight and there are some spectacular fiery scenes from Johnny Storm.

There were several moments of humour, some of them almost slapstick, relating to the superpowers. I won't spoil it by revealing them all, but there is an amusing scene where Johnny Storm snaps his fingers and a flame lights (shades of the old British Gas advert - don't you just love being in control?).

The people who have every edition of the original Marvel comic series will no doubt have some fault to find with its translation to the big screen. I came away having been thoroughly entertained. I didn't think it was great, but it certainly was watchable. For me the film filled in some of the blanks about the characters and I'll certainly be tempted to see the next in the series, which was artfully set up at the end.

This film is available either as a 2-disc set (Amazon, £14.99) or a single disc edition (Tesco, £11.99).

DVD extras on the two disc set include:
Disc 1:
Audio commentary from cast members
Tour footage
Music videos
X-Men 3 preview

Disc 2:
The Making Of Fantastic Four
Deleted scenes
Casting sequences
Trailers

NB. This opinion was originally published by me on Epinions (shhepinions).

Summary: Watch it if you don't know the FF story; if you do, wait for the next one.