The Fantastic Four

Release Date: July 8, 2005

Watch Date: August 6 – August 7, 2024

“Transformed into superheroes after surviving a disaster in space, The Fantastic Four struggle to reconcile their powers, responsibilities, and relationships as a dysfunctional family. Overcoming their personal conflicts, they finally join forces to defeat Dr. Doom, the malevolent, metallic embodiment of their treacherous former patron.”

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   I grew up reading DC comics. And I’m not talking like 90s or early 00s DC. I’m talking like late 60s and 70s DC comics, because my mother is a huge fan girl for them and she still has her entire collection.

   But somehow, for some reason she had two different Marvel comics. One was a singular Captain America comic that I immediately loved. And the second was several, and I mean like a couple years worth, of The Fantastic Four. And ever since I was a little girl, I loved both those characters.

   Despite her hundreds of DC comics, I’m not really into DC.

   But to this day, if anyone asks me my dream super power I say bending light, because who doesn’t want the Invisible Woman’s powers? Most people. But for someone with anxiety the ability to turn invisible and protect others seems like a pretty good deal to me.

   Now, is this movie any good? No. No it’s not. When you compare it to future Marvel superhero movies, it’s definitely one of the weaker ones. But, it’s starting to look a little more like the Marvel movies we’ll get in a few years.

   Plus Captain America is kinda in it. So I can’t help but love that.

   Dr. Doom isn’t developed enough at all, and what is developed is basically just the plot of the Green Goblin from the first Spider-Man. Billionaire scientist gets pushed out of his company and kills the people that do it. The only difference is that Doom also turns on his former frenemies for literally no reason. They weren’t trying to foil his plans. They were trying to get rid of their powers. They didn’t want to be super heroes like Spider-Man and thwart the bad guy. If he’d sat around for a few more weeks then the problem would have solved himself.

   Other than fighting with Doom the Fantastic Four really don’t do anything heroic. They save some NYC firefighters, but it’s from an accident they created. I do like that everyone knows their identities and they immediately become celebrities. No secret identity here.

   In comparison to Dr. Doom, I think Ben Grimm’s story is really well done. I feel for the guy. Though his…ex(?) wife is kind of an ass. I understand being scared, shocked, uncomfortable, the first time she sees her husband. I do. I don’t understand her coming out onto the streets of NYC in her negligee and some slippers. I also don’t comprehend how one could just abandon their husband. He’s still the same person, even if he looks like an orange rock. At least try. I wouldn’t blame you if you couldn’t manage it but you’d try. But to just look at him, refuse to talk to him and it’s over?? Really? And while I like Ben’s new girlfriend, it does kind of upset me that she has to be blind. She couldn’t love him if she could see him? But it’s comic accurate, and again I like her. But so far I’m only talking about the loves of Ben’s life, not his arc. You feel for the guy. Everyone else gets to live normal lives but he has to relearn how to do basically everything. Everyone, everywhere, forever will recognize him. His wife leaves him. He’s called ‘The Thing’. I’d feel frustrated and heartbroken too. And when your best friend, the only one you trust to fix it, is working on it, but also spending a lot of time flirting with his ex-girlfriend while he’s trying to fix it…yea that could be frustrating. And for him to choose a harder life for the greater good? That’s admirable.

   My childhood nostalgia loves this movie. My experience watching all these movies tells me it’s bad. Ben is the highlight of the film, which is a shame cause I can’t remember another movie the actor is in. If I ever have a chance to throw it on, I will. But I’ll never tell you it’s any good. So, ultimately, take that for what it is.