Was it that hard, Hollywood?! The Fantastic Four are finally back!

 

    Hi everyone, Hector again! I hope you're all doing well. I'm quite excited as for this blog post as I'm here to talk about the newest and arguably, the most important Marvel movie to hit the big screen, The Fantastic Four: First Steps! The moment I heard about this movie happening, I was beyond excited, despite the odds going up against the movie. And I can happily say this movie was fantastic in practically every sense of the word as it's not only the best Fantastic 4 movie (aside from the Incredibles), but also one of the best Marvel films! 

    Marvel's First Family, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the Fantastic Four haven't been given the best treatment, on and off screen, for many years. The Fantastic 4 had a movie made in the 1990s that had Roger Corman involved and had a very low budget. I actually got around to seeing it on YouTube and it's actually enjoyable despite its odd reputation, but this is where it gets weird, as the movie was never given a theatrical release as the only reason it was made was solely for the higher-ups at Constantin Film to keep the movie rights to the Fantastic 4. It's a long story, but it was a mess and the weird hijinks regarding Marvel's first family's journey through the big screen was only beginning.

    Fast forward to the 2000s, we get two Fantastic Four movies directed by Tim Story under 20th Century Fox, starring Michael Chilkis, Ioan Grufford, Jessica Alba, Julian McMahon (Rest In Peace), and Captain America, I mean Chris Evans! I'm sure for many millennials, myself included, and other people, this was their introduction to the Fantastic Four and for the time, I really enjoyed them! Looking back on them now, they're clearly far from perfect as they seemed restrained with going too fantastical and messed up on some of the details (Galactus as a cloud, really?), but they're harmless fun as it has that 2000s charm, some truly great moments, and the casting was truly fantastic, with Michael Chiklis as The Thing and Chris Evans as the Human Torch being the standout performances in both films! This might sound crazy, but I thought Rise of the Silver Surfer was a bit underrated as that one nailed the family dynamic down, was the closest to getting the family right, and was quite fun, but even then, it clearly needed some work. Unfortunately, things would get worse.

   

     In 2015, we got a reboot under the name, Fant4stic (Yes, I will title it that as it had that on the marketing back then, no joke) sadly got released and less said about that movie, the better! But I will say I have never seen a movie that maligned in a long time. Not since the Last Airbender has there been a movie this hated and that memory has lingered in my mind for years. Thankfully, when Disney bought 20th Century Fox, the Fantastic Four movie rights landed in Marvel Studios' care, leading into where we are now. And now, nature is healing as the new Fantastic Four is everything I wanted to see and possibly more! 

    With First Steps, the movie is centered on the Fantastic Four, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Thing, and Human Torch (played by Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Joseph Quinn), who have been superheroes/explorers for four years set in Earth 828, where things are looking up for the team as let's just say their family is slowly growing. However, a lady from the stars, Silver Surfer, has come down to Earth and has marked Earth for death, as a cosmic being she heralds named Galactus, has chosen Earth as the planet to consume. It's up to the Fantastic Four to stop this all-powerful from destroying their world and everything they have worked so hard to build. 

    The story is highly engaging! With this one not being an origin story, though it's touched upon in the film's effective opening sequence, we can see the team in all of their glory and it's wonderful to see! With the Fantastic Four being Marvel's First Family, the movie heavily deals with the theme of family, as well as motherhood thanks to Sue/Invisible Woman's part in the movie (you'll love her in this movie, I promise you) and it explores it in a touching manner, as we see the team deal with this impossible situation in a way that doesn't compromise them or their home, leading into many emotional and satisfying moments within the story. You truly care for the Fantastic Four and their world and understand what's at stake. I do wish we got a bit more time with certain characters however, and the movie does drag a bit in the second act, though it's by no means bad as I was still invested and needed time to slow down and comprehend what's happening in the movie. Aside from that, the movie tells its story in a compelling manner, as I found myself glued to the seat wondering what will happen next! 

    All of the cast in the movie is wonderful and play their parts beautifully! Not only do they look the part, the four leads have great chemistry with one another, as they genuinely feel like a family that is a bit dysfunctional, but ultimately loving! Hard to say who was the standout because all of them had a moment to shine and complimented each other nicely. As for the Silver Surfer, she was brilliantly portrayed by Julia Garner, who had this sense of otherworldliness, yet human quality to her. But probably the performance that surprised me the most in the entire cast is Ralph Ineson as Galactus, who has this presence and grandiose that I don't think we have really seen before, at least in the MCU. For anyone who was disappointed with the portrayal of Galactus in Rise of the Silver Surfer, let's say you're in a massive treat, in every way imaginable as I couldn't have imagined a better portrayal of Galactus! 

   

     Speaking of Galactus, regarding both him and the movie itself, it is GORGEOUS!!! The visuals and CGI are top-notch and polished, and the cinematography on display is some of the best in any of the Marvel movies! There's this grand sense of scale that many of the Marvel films haven't reached, at least in a while, and Fantastic 4 has that going in spades! It's also quite dynamic in how certain things are shot, especially with Galactus and the action sequences. Surprisingly, there isn't a ton of action in the movie, but the action that is there in the movie is awesome, as it's inventive, the visuals look like something you would see in a comic book and displays many of the characters' abilities in the best way possible. 

    I adore the world First Steps presents to us! In case anyone doesn't know, while it is a Marvel Studios movie that is connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's not set in the main universe, Earth 199999/Earth 616. It's set in Earth 828 (a nod to Jack Kirby's birthday, which I love), and the world we see is a 1960s retro, yet futuristic setting, and it's beautifully realized! It feels so distinct from any other superhero movie thanks to its retro feel, it has a nice blue color palette to it, it feels lived in, and unlike many other settings you would see in a superhero movie or any other blockbuster, it's a place that is inviting as it's filled with wonder and optimism. And what's great about it also is the majority of it, including the Fantasticar, is built practically, and it's genuinely fantastic to look at. If New York was anything like how it was presented in Fantastic Four First Steps, I would love to live there. Also, I have to mention that I love the Fantastic Four suits in the movie, as they look simple, yet stylish, and colorful! 

    The score by Michael Giacchino was good as it fits the world presented to us and fits whatever moment is happening. The theme used in the movie is the piece that impressed me the most, as it's memorable, fits the team perfectly, and captures the tone of the movie. Hard to say this is the best score we have gotten in the MCU as admittedly, I'm picky when it comes to music, but I can happily say the main theme is now one of my new favorites and the composer was an inspired choice. Interestingly enough, he composed the score to the Incredibles, which the Incredibles is basically the Fantastic Four, and seeing him compose a Fantastic Four movie score is a full circle moment in a way, which is amazing! 

    

        I'll be honest, seeing this movie was an emotional experience for me. Not only because of the movie itself but seeing the Fantastic Four properly represented onscreen for the first time in a movie. I've been a Marvel fan for a long time, ever since I saw the original X-Men movie back in 2000, but with the Fantastic Four, I did enjoy the Tim Story movies and the unreleased 90s movie, as well as some other adaptations here and there, but save for some exceptions, there wasn't that one truly great piece of Fantastic Four media that captured everything great about the team. But now, we have finally got something truly special that was made with love, and you feel it throughout the whole movie! Hard to say as of yet whether or not it's one of the best superhero movies out there, but it's a damn good one that left me wanting more in the best way possible, and I cannot recommend this one enough! Thunderbolts was great, now Fantastic Four, I can happily say Marvel is getting back on their feet and I cannot wait to see where things are heading, especially with how close we are to Avengers Doomsday arriving next year! 

    And as usual, stay for the credits for even more fun and exciting things! Thank you so much for everyone who read this review! Hopefully you will give the movie a watch and enjoy it! As always, stay safe everyone and stay tuned for more future blogs!