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Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Hamish Linklater, Kerry Washington, Laurie Holden

In recent years, comic books have become one of the sources for blockbuster movies, which have released several genuinely good adventures such as X-Men, Spider-Man, Sin City, and Batman. Several mediocre attempts have tried to follow the bandwagon through Daredevil and Electra that did not come through even though they both showed some promise. One of my personal favorite comic books, Fantastic Four, has now also received a Hollywood treatment, and it has left me with strong feelings of anticipation, as the struggle between good and evil continues. ***

The film opens with a fascinating shot of Victor von Doom’s extravagant statue outside the offices of Doom Enterprises where Richard Reed (Ioan Gruffudd) and Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) point out his need to control others. Reed intends to convince Doom to invest in his research in regards to solar winds. However, the shrewd executive Doom (Julian McMahon) has already made up his mind, as he is aware of the projects possible profits and how it could increase his power and wealth. To complicate the situation, Reed’s old girlfriend Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) works for Doom, as does her brother Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). It is a beginning packed with intrigues and possible scenarios, but viewers with knowledge of the Fantastic Four already knows the next series of events. Nonetheless, it is to be expected, as it is the foundation of the Fantastic Four’s adventures. ***

Reed’s research brings Grim, Sue, Johnny, and Doom to Doom’s space station, as its walls have the capability to protect them from the solar wind’s radiation. However, a miscalculation of the solar storm’s arrival suggests that a catastrophe is imminent. Somehow, they all survive and they have returned to Earth (in some peculiar way which causes some awkwardness.) Safe back on Earth, they find themselves in quarantine (now I thought quarantine prevented people from coming in contact with the general population, but maybe I am wrong.) Shortly after, changes begin to emerge in their physique, drastic changes, as their genetic structure has undergone a fundamental transformation. The most evident change appears within Grimm, as his skin turns to rock. The others also discover major changes in their physical capabilities, but it does not alter their physical presence as it does Grimm. Some parts of the film deal with Grimm’s feelings about his mutation, which comes across with awkwardness. This part had strong potential, but should have been rewritten before the project got a green light. ***

The film continues to deal with their personalities and how the newly acquired metamorphosis changes their lives. The funniest transformation is Johnny’s transmutation to the Human Torch, as he uses it to impress girls while increasing his bank account. The others are more serious about the change, and worry about the possible outcomes of the alteration. Simultaneously, Doom fights to keep his business, as investors want to pull out due to the catastrophe at the space station. Doom also suffers from some side effects from the space station accident, but does not share his discovery with anyone. Some intriguing notions are touched upon through the mutations, but sorry to say, it shows a very one-dimensional perspective of the psychological and social scar of the characters. ***

The story is basically established on the idea that they got their mutations, but no real conflict arises. This is besides the obvious conflict with Doom, which all readers of Fantastic Four already know about. However, the film never explains why Doom wants to destroy the Fantastic Four, it merely suggests that they are powerful and stand in his way to accomplish something (oh, yes, I know that he wants world domination from the comic books and the few lines when he says it in the movie.) It is within the conflict where the audience usually finds a plot, but since there is no conflict then there is not plot. The film simply builds on the suggestion that the Fantastic Four will fight with Doom, but never really why this battle would exist. Some of the weakness in the plot creation rests within the poor character development, which as mentioned is far too one-dimensional and unenthusiastic. The characters appear extremely stereotypical in regards to the individual characteristic such as Reed who is a nerd, Grimm, the super loyal war companion, Johnny, the adolescent renegade, and Sue, the benevolent female hero who is in love with Reed. ***

Being an avid reader of the Marvel comic books has left me with a very disappointing cinematic experience in regards to the world of the Fantastic Four. It did not meet the expectations, as Sam Raimi did with Spider-Man (2002) and the silver screen version of Sin City’s ominously cynical world. The film’s lacking of a plot made it difficult to watch while the stereotypical characters feel uninteresting. Nonetheless, the film offers some extravagantly flashy CGI action, but it lacks the insightfulness of many recently released superhero films. The moral of the story emerges, but does so with childish ease. Fantastic Four’s cinematic journey culminates in a clash between good and evil that compares to a vain daydream wishing for something better. *** ---

The anamorphic widescreen (aspect ratio 2.35:1) presentation of the Fantastic Four DVD provides sharp contrast, rich colors, and solid black levels. There was next to no digital distortion in the image, even though some edge enhancement was present on two or three occasions. The audio is even better on this DVD, as it comes in both DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 while the first audio track is superior when it comes to accentuate the action atmosphere of the film. There are several occasions when the surround sounds makes the audience feel like they were on location, which is straight out awesome. *** ---

Deleted scenes have always been one of my favorite things to watch, even if the scenes are of trite quality. Here on the Fantastic Four DVD there are three deleted scenes: Reed Tests Plants, Reed and Sue in Planetarium, and Reed and Sue Walk and Talk: Wolverine Insert. None of the scenes would make the film any better, but they are intriguing as they present additional information and what scenes did not make it past the editing table. A side notion surfaced during the screening of Reed Tests Plants, like why did he go to the space station if he could generate an artificial and safer environment on earth? ***

The Fantastic Four Video Diary presents a dreadful pixilated imaged that brings the audience to the press tour with Jessica Alba and her meetings with many of the actors from the film. There is also some anecdotal information in regards to Alba and how she was toothless after an accident, which some might find amusing. Fortunately, she got her new teeth and the world can now enjoy this stunning actress’ film career through several films. ***

The many documentaries that I have seen that reveal the making of the film have often been of varied quality. The Making of Fantastic Four documentary offers a behind the scenes journey through several interviews with the main cast that reveals a little about the characters. It is a short promotional making of that could not really be called a documentary. ***

Fantastic Four: Making a Scene delivers a rudimentary dissection of the Brooklyn Bridge sequence. Several filmmakers and producers talk about the different stages of creating the scene including the initial thought of shooting the scene on location, which would not be feasible. It is interesting to hear the facts that they share, as sequences of the scene have been edited into the short feature. ***

When choosing the actors for the cast of a film it is essential to find the right performers with the right look. The Fantastic Four: Casting Session sheds some light on the issue of casting the right actors for a film. ***

Two music videos can also be found on the DVD. One by Ben Moody featuring Anastacia, as they perform the song Everything Burns and then the audience can also watch the video Come On, Come In by Velvet Revolver. There is also a promotional soundtrack spot, which does not require any further explanation. A trailer and teaser of Fantastic Four can be found in the trailer section together with advertising spot for the upcoming Marvel Avenger DVD. Lastly, in the Inside Look the highly anticipated X-Men 3 offers some scenes for those who hunger to see this third installment of the X-Men. *** ---

Fantastic Four was a film that does not meet the expectations raised by previous Marvel hero films. Instead the viewer receives a rather effortless film without any real substance that heavily leans on its CGI special effects, which nowadays are better and better. The cinematic experience might have been negatively skewed due to the high anticipation, but this should also be in the minds of the filmmakers, as they need to meet the demands of the audience when dealing with a known phenomenon such as Fantastic Four. Ultimately, it must be said that I wish the film was far better, as it ruined some of my childhood experiences with the comic books. ***