The plot: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer.
This new Fantastic Four was quite good.
Pros: This four felt like more of a family this time around. I like the costumes, its aesthetic and its effects. It kept the plot simple to follow. I felt the suspense and excitement was good compared to the other ones. When The heroes got their support and recognition from the people I felt good. Thumbs up to Director Matt Shakman bringing this movie to life & Galactus was done justice.
This films quality should be judged on his own and not be compared to the previous fantastic four films I watch.
Cons: 2 out of the main 4 didn’t stand out for me, Reed & Ben. Shalla-Bai a did feel underwhelming. Some moments was a bit questionable and I was expecting more from the final climax.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Directed by Matt Shakman
Produced by Kevin Feige
Screenplay by Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer, Josh Friedman, Cameron Squires, Eric Pearson, Peter Cameron.
Based on Fantastic Four by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Paul Walter Hauser, John Malkovich, Natasha Lyonne & Sarah Niles.
Cinematography: Jess Hall
Music by Michael Giacchino
Production companies: Marvel Studios
Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Cast:
- Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic:
A highly intelligent scientist and the leader of the Fantastic Four who can stretch any part of his body to great lengths. - Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm / Invisible Woman:
Reed’s pregnant wife, Johnny’s older sister, and a member of the Fantastic Four who can generate force fields and turn invisible. She is the founder of the Future Foundation, which has achieved global demilitarization and peace. Shakman described Sue as “the most emotionally intelligent person” on the planet. - Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing:
Reed’s best friend, a former astronaut, and a member of the Fantastic Four whose skin has been transformed into a layer of orange rock, granting him superhuman strength and durability. - Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm / Human Torch:
Sue’s younger brother and a member of the Fantastic Four who can control fire and fly.[6][18] While Quinn was a fan of Chris Evans‘s portrayal of the character in the 20th Century Fox films Fantastic Four (2005) and Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), he did not base his portrayal on Evans’s. - Julia Garner as Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer:
An alien from the utopian planet Zenn-La who agreed to become Galactus’s metallic-skinned herald in exchange for him sparing her planet. She travels through space on a surfboard-like craft in search of planets for Galactus to feed on. - Sarah Niles as Lynne Nichols: The CEO of the Future Foundation
- Mark Gatiss as Ted Gilbert: The host of a popular talk show called The Ted Gilbert Show
- Natasha Lyonne as Rachel Rozman: A school teacher and Ben’s love interest
- Paul Walter Hauser as Harvey Elder / Mole Man:
A former enemy-turned-ally of the Fantastic Four and the human ruler of Subterranea, an underground society whose inhabitants refer to themselves as Moloids. Shakman compared Elder to a leader of a labor union with humanity and a focus on community and taking care of his people. - Ralph Ineson as Galactus:
A gigantic cosmic being who consumes the life force of planets. Galactus is the sole survivor of a dead universe that existed before the creation of Earth-828.
Additionally, Matthew Wood voices the Fantastic Four’s robot companion H.E.R.B.I.E. (Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics), who generally serves as Reed’s assistant. Shakman said H.E.R.B.I.E. is “slightly put-upon” yet “charming and adorable”, and invaluable to the team. Ada Scott appears as Franklin Richards, the superpowered newborn son of Reed and Sue, while Shakman’s daughter Maisie appears as a child saved by the Human Torch from falling debris. Alex Hyde-White, Rebecca Staab, Jay Underwood, and Michael Bailey Smith, who portrayed the titular team in the unreleased 1994 film The Fantastic Four, make cameo appearances throughout the film; the former two play television journalists narrating the team’s activities, while the latter two play power plant workers who salute Johnny, and all four also appear together as civilians thanking the Fantastic Four in a montage. Robert Downey Jr. makes an uncredited cameo appearance in the mid-credits scene as Victor von Doom / Doctor Doom, with Shakman confirming Downey in the role despite the character’s face not being seen in the scene.
I recommend watching this film in cinemas.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident film reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe