Review of Fantastic Four (Two Discs)

Introduction

I`m part of a generation that would have happily traded 10 copies of the Beano for a Marvel comic. In the mid to late 60`s Marvel comics first appeared in the UK (generally too expensive to persuade your mum to buy you regular copies), and the few copies I had were lovingly devoured again and again. One of my earliest memories of these comics was `The Fantastic Four` which was especially brilliant as you got four super-heroes for the price of one. Just recently I acquired the whole collection on CD-Rom, an electronic treasure trove comprising some 500 + issues which I`ve been lovingly making my way through. So when I heard that `The Fantastic Four` was in production, despite all my better instincts, I couldn`t help being secretly thrilled.

But in truth, super-hero movies are generally a great disappointment. `The Hulk` was hopelessly flawed with a far too elaborate story line and too little action, and `Daredevil` and `Elektra` were substantially less than perfect for pretty much the same reasons. Ignoring the D.C contingency (Batman, Superman etc), other Marvel movies have faired a little better (X-Men, Spiderman) and it was their partial success that fuelled my optimism about this latest comic to screen adaptation. But I should have known better.

`The Fantastic Four` is undoubtedly a triumph of blockbusting special effects action, but as an `origins` movie, it suffers from the usual struggle with a convoluted plot and too little time for any real character development. Add to that the least convincing criminal mastermind since Dr. Evil and you have a movie that might well wow with it`s non-stop explosive action, but will ultimately feel a little unsatisfying for those looking for something more than an overblown effects riddled melt-down.

But that`s just my view.

For those unfamiliar with The Fantastic Four (didn`t you ever get one of the comics, or catch the relatively faithful but hardly moving TV animated TV show?), the story begins with Reed Richards (curiously cast Welshman Ioan Gruffudd) trying to raise finance for his outer-space research project. He battles for the deal with old high school buddy Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) and there`s a competitive frisson in the air. (Kids love this high level corporate stuff …I don`t think.)

He strikes a dumb-deal with Mr. Doom and then enlists the help of his best buddy, Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis - The Shield), an ex-lover, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba - Honey) and her incorrigible brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans - no, not that one).

Reed`s DNA experiments in space go awry in a cosmic storm and the foursome discover that their DNA is altered, giving them superhuman powers. Reed becomes Mr. Fantastic, a man who can stretch his form into any shape. Sue Storm becomes `The Invisible Girl`, her brother Johnny `The Human Torch` and poor old Ben Grimm is cursed to become the brutishly disfigured `The Thing`, and enormously strong hero who appears to be made from rock. In the meantime, Von Doom himself is changing scene by scene, with little charges of electricity playing through him when he gets excited or angered.

In truth, it isn`t too long before Von Doom has turned into full-on Dr. Doom, a menacing megalomaniac with world-domination on his mind. Cue the Fantastic Four!

A couple of sub-plots are rolled in for good measure (Reed and Sue`s relationship, The Thing losing the love of his wife, but gaining the love of another) but these are relatively marginal compared to the main event - the formation of this fighting foursome.

If the story wasn`t so convoluted, its clear that Ben Grimm`s character would have been further developed as here he`s faithfully played for comic laughs and pathos in equal measure, by far and away the star of the show.

Though the plot and characterisation are predictably thin, the blockbusting production value and special effects are astounding. It`s incredible the budget that studios are prepared to commit to movies of this type. Surprisingly, Directing responsibility went to relative youngster Tim Story (`Barber Shop`) who does a workmanlike professional job, without leaving any discernible trace of any personal style.

Video

First class and flawless transfer of a well-shot movie.

Audio

You guessed it…a 5.1 audio workout! Predictably excellent quality on both the Dolby 5.1 and DTS options.

Features

CAST AUDIO COMMENTARY
A very Welsh sounding Ioan Grufford, along with Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis And Julian McMahon inanely talk their way through the main feature. I found Chicklis unbearably domineering and immodest, and Alba`s nasal `That`s so cool…` comment is just the sort of mumbling during a movie that you don`t need. Avoid.

THE FANTASTIC TOUR (22 Mins.)
Jessica Alba takes Producer credit for this wobble-cam documentary that follows the cast on a series of promotional engagements in LA, NYC, and Sydney. Dull as dishwater.

MUSIC VIDEOS

EVERYTHING BURNS - Ben Moody featuring Anastacia

COME ON, COME IN - Velvet Revolver

MUSIC SOUNDTRACK - TV SPOT advertising the OST album.

HEROES ARE BORN: THE MAKING OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR - (90 Mins.)
This is a surprising engaging documentary that uses a mix of talking heads and on-set style footage to trace the movies development. It`s a fascinating journey, starting with the Brooklyn Bridge Sequence which took a full crew more than 16 days to film a sequence that lasted less than 3 minutes on screen! There then follows five `Focus On` sections that predictably focus on each of the FF in turn, and then Dr. Doom. There`s a nice scene where Chicklis, already dressed as The Thing, chats with an ever-enthusiastic Stan Lee (creator of the FF and Marvel Mogul).

THE BAXTER BUILDING DE-CLASSIFIED (7 Mins.)
This is a profile of the central studio set for Reed`s research building and reflects the lavish expenditure made on the movie.

ANIMATIC COMPARISON
Many scenes were worked out as animatics via CGI and this feature allows you to toggle between the `animated CGI storyboard` and the finished sequence for 9 scenes, including 4 cosmic storm scenes.

DELETED SCENES
There are 4 deleted scenes including a scene where Reed morphs momentarily into Wolverine from the X-men.

MARKETING PIECES

THE MAKING OF THE FANTASTIC FOUR - a pre-cut TV insert lasting for about 5 minutes which takes elements from the `Making of Featurette`.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR - MAKING A SCENE
Some more pre-cuts taken from elsewhere on the disc, this time featuring that block-busting Brooklyn Bridge scene.

THE FANTASTIC FOUR CASTING SESSION
This includes a brief interview with an excited sounding Stan Lee, though is really just the rationale for the casting decisions.

THEATRICAL TEASER / TRAILER

TV ADVERT SPOTS

INSIDE STORY - X-MEN 3 - A teaser trailer lasting 1m 45 s for the much awaited third instalment of the X-Men.

Conclusion

I was hoping I would enjoy this more than I did. Despite its enviable production value, with world-class stunts and special effects, it felt too much like another ill thought out Hollywood bloat-out.

In common with so many other movies of the genre, it may compensate to a degree for a bad script and questionable casting (Julian McMahon too lightweight for Doom, Alba`s nasal drone irritating), by laying on effects to die for. But the net result is ultimately unsatisfying. The story is too convoluted for younger kids, and the characterisation too cursory for their mums and dad`s.

The extras contained here are predictable in the main, though I would recommend viewing the `Making of` featurette which, for my money, was more interesting than the main feature.

It may well be an OK way to burn up a couple of hours, if you have them to spare, though there are many finer movies out there. With the new Batman movie doing the rounds at the same time as this, I know which I would choose.