Review of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) by Marcopolo — 15 Jun 2007

It's nice for once to see a comic book movie series that isn't dour or dark and gloomy. Which isn't to say that the Fantastic Four movies are perfect, but as the characters hail from the 60's and the Jack Kirby era of comics it certainly is a nice change from the "me-too" variety of comic book movies that have hit theaters recently.

Whereas Spiderman's movies have largely been about a geeky kid uncomfortably fitting into his new found abilities and how they affect the lives of those he cares about or the X-Men series being about a group of mutants up against real life issues like bigotry and discrimination, Fantastic Four's two films have been all about traditional values such as family togetherness and teamwork, as was the intention when the "first family" of comics were first introduced way back when.

The things that many may have found hard to swallow are largely present in this saccharine sequel, but isn't that what summer movies are about? Not everyone can easily take their kids to these films, so Tim Story and the rest of his fantastic cast and crew saw to it that the FF films were a nice change of pace.

At first I had some hesitance of whether or not a FF sequel could work, but the comic book series that the movies are based on are some of the most enriched, mythical, sotried and revered in all the Marvel Comic's canon so it made perfect sense to explore what outrageous things the series could offer.

As a fanboy, I was for the most part pleasantly surprised. Speaking of surprises, it may seem a surprise to those who disliked the film but it actually has a heart and is not as level headed as one may think.

For instance, Michael Chiklis' portrayal of the Thing is *gasp* more human this time, doing away with the wooden static acting in the first film it's evident that he's more comfortable with the character and is having fun with it.

Prosthetics may have been the reason why he seemed so sluggish in the first film and it's nice to see him finally doing something with it. Chris Evans as usual chews the scenery with his dead on work as the Human Torch, while Jessica Alba is definately more easy on the eyes and the ears as the sultry intelligent and dignified Sue Storm.

(Though her new blue eyes did take some getting used to) The same can't be said of Ioan Gruffold as Mr. Fantastic, as the titular leader of the group, I never found myself buying him as the character as he's too bland and not involving enough to lead the group this time around he seems more shuffled this time around and Julian McMahon's Dr.

Doom is comletely wasted here. Out of curiousity maybe he is being set up to have more of a role in the third film? One can only hope. In this one his character is superflurous and out of place. As for the Silver Surfer? The jury's still out on this one folks, and he may be the weakest character in the movie.

While his stuntwork (courtesy of the genius Doug Jones) is of the "wow" variety, the CG of the character leaves a lot to be desired. There were times when I felt I was watching a pre-vis character instead of a finished product.

Also it does'nt help when you realize there's nothing new to add to the shimmering stell like mirror being that hasnt been done better in films like T2 and the Abyss. Of course I've never been a fan of the herald story or Galactus as they are far too hokey to believe (let alone be a huge component in this live action version of the story), but it's there so I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

As for the hubbub surrounding the new look of Galactus, I am actually happy and pleased with it. As has historically been the case with the character, he is always viewed as what the beholder views him to be, whether he be a man, vegetable, animal (or in this case alarge ominous cloud of cosmic dust), I never felt that it was out of place in the film, only that he was there to exist and devour our world as we know it and not wearing a dumb looking purple helmet while doing it.

All in all a good effort from all involved, this sequel is better than the first Fantastic Four movie but not by much which is to say it's certainly worthwhile to see it now rather than later. Just go in with an open mind and don't get bothered too much by the goofiness or PG rating.

This is a comic book movie after all.