I haven't written a review for a movie before, but I thought I'd give it a go! My friend and I went to the new "Fantastic Four" movie this evening. Here are my thoughts on it.
This is a review for people who don't want spoilers! Farther down, I will write another that delves deeper and will contain spoilers. Don't say I didn't warn you.
This is a great movie for people who love super heroes. Each character has their own motivation and agenda, adding something to the story itself. Mankind wants to push its limits, to explore and learn more about this world...and any other that exists. Due to a...complication...four explorers who were visiting an alternate dimension were hurt and imbued with fantastical powers. Some see them as freaks. Others see them as weapons. However, in the end what matters is what they think of themselves. Each of them must overcome their bitterness and learn to use what they have been given to stop an evil that threatens to destroy their world.
Out of one to ten, I would probably give it a five. It is however, a very enjoyable movie.
Now, for those who want a more in-depth review...
WARNING: THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS. If you don't want any, stop reading now!
The movie opens on Career day, where a young boy tells the other students that he wants to be the first person to be teleported. His name, our hero, was Reed. Ridiculed by his classmates, misunderstood by his parents, he only has one friend, Ben. Together, they create a mechanism that can teleport objects. One day, while making an example of his invention at a science fair, a man approaches him with a proposition. And that's where Reed's adventures really begin.
From the standpoint of plot, this movie is about as realistic as any superhero movie, so I'll try to do this unbiased. Reed, along with his new friends, create a machine that will allow them to travel to another dimension. When they prove it is possible, one of the board members of the school hosting them decides to call in NASA. The team decides to go instead, without permission. The journey goes smooth, but while in the alternate dimension they are hurt and given powers. From there, they are in the center of a game of tug-a-war. Their teacher wants them healed. The military wants to use them as weapons. And Victor, a young man who was left behind in the alternate dimension, wants to destroy the world. Only by working together -- and coming to grips with what they are -- can they defeat him.
I thought that the characters were developed decently enough, though I thought that some of their actions were unrealistic. For example, Reed running away from the military plant and leaving his friends behind didn't seem like something he'd do, especially after making a promise to Ben. And it never explained what he was doing while he left. When he finally returned, the others -- with the exception of Ben -- seemed to forgive his treachery immediately. It just didn't seem smooth to me.
The antagonist, Victor, was the part I really had a problem with. We first see him sitting in front of a computer screen, hair uncut, a reject of society. After being convinced by his teacher to help with the project of teleporting, he returns to the school. Now, there are different looks and comments exchanged that point to there being some sort of history between him and the female lead, but it was never clearly explained. When they arrived at the new dimension, he was fascinated by the "energy" on the new planet -- and his actions led to the accident that ensued. He was left behind in that dimension, blessed with powers himself, for over a year.
Later, when the military sent explorers to the new dimension, he re-emerged. They took him back, thinking he was injured. It is then that he reveals his hatred toward the outside world. The world is evil, and he wants to start again with a new one. The energy that has sustained him in that dimension would surely continue to do so. Although his anger was understandable, I didn't understand his complete hatred toward the world. Was it the energy inside him? Was he insane? All unclear.
In the end, he tries to open a sort of portal between worlds that will destroy earth. The four freaks, monsters, must stop him. Separately, Dr. Doom (as Victor calls himself) defeats them. But when they work together as a team they are able to succeed. In the end, they are a team that will use there powers, not for military or political power, but to make a difference.
Like I said, it was a fun movie to watch, but in the realm of plot and character, it was not very well developed.
Also: DON'T WAIT THROUGH THE CREDITS. Everyone does. You know, to see the teaser at the end. It's Marvel, right? Well, my friend and I did, and there wasn't one. Just so you know.
Enjoy your movie watching! Any thoughts on the new movie. Please comment below!
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