The Fantastic Four - The Movie Discussion

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**H.B.M.C.**

And that picture doesn't factor in the weirdness that surrounds a Hulk solo film.

**AdeptSister**

I was hesitant about the movie but a friend just reminded me that it has a murderer‘s row of great young actors. It could be pretty good.

**cincydooley**

AdeptSister wrote:
I was hesitant about the movie but a friend just reminded me that it has a murderer‘s row of great young actors. It could be pretty good.

It does?

**AdeptSister**

Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Miles Teller, and Kate Mara have all done some very impressive, critically, acclaimed work.

**cincydooley**

AdeptSister wrote:
Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell, Miles Teller, and Kate Mara have all done some very impressive, critically, acclaimed work.

Jordan was good in Fruitvale Station. He's the only one I'd include.

Mara was serviceable in American Horror Story, I guess. But she's basically the better looking, less talented Mara.

Teller has been in one fantastic movie (Whiplash) where he wasn't remotely the best part and a ton of gakky movies. I haven't seen Spectacular Now.

Jamie bell had Billy Elliot when he was, what, 10?

I mean, differing opinions and all, but it's hardly a "young actors murderers row."

That's a huuuuge stretch.

**AdeptSister**

Fair. I will agree that it is a stretch and I am embellishing. But the leads are stronger than the earlier versions. That gives me some hope.

Of course, hope could be the first step to disappointment.

**timetowaste85**

AdeptSister wrote:
Fair. I will agree that it is a stretch and I am embellishing. But the leads are stronger than the earlier versions. That gives me some hope.

Of course, hope could be the first step to disappointment.

Bigger than Chris Evans and Jessica Alba?

Or stronger than Chicklis (however you spell Thing-actor's last name)?
Please, tell me another one. Sure, Evans had mostly done teen geek movies so far and nothing major until HT and later Cap. But Alba?! Sure, she can't act her way out of a bag. But she's a helluva lot more recognize able than this new girl. Even Ian and Michael have both done some serious onscreen stuff before and after FF. None of these new players have any feel to them, and the movie feels forced and contrived from the get go. I expect this to be a bigger turd than the Ang Lee Hulk (which was an abortion of a film) and Daredevil. Elektra will still likely be the worst marvel movie ever created though.

**Gitzbitah**

I'd love to see a fantastic Four where Nic Cage plays one of the characters- preferably Dr. Doom, or the Thing. Or even more ideally, both. In a scheme to improve his physical might, Dr. Doom steals and implants the Thing's DNA within himself- but without the catalyst of Gamma Radiation he simply ends up looking like the pre-accident Thing.

Doom is nonplussed, and goes around freaking out at mirrors and his surprised servants, as only Cage can. Then they encounter each other, and there's a hilarious scuffle culminating in the Thing yelling- 'Ok face- it's clobbering time!'hoooaaauuuhhooooeeouh!

And headbutting Doom. Reed reverses it, and Doom quietly returns to his base intent on eradicating all pictures of the event.

**Alpharius**

That sounds...

...horrible.

Thankfully, I think the world will be spared your version of the FF though!

**timetowaste85**

Sounds better than this current iteration!!

**KingCracker**

Gitzbitah wrote:
I'd love to see a fantastic Four where Nic Cage plays one of the characters- preferably Dr. Doom, or the Thing. Or even more ideally, both. In a scheme to improve his physical might, Dr. Doom steals and implants the Thing's DNA within himself- but without the catalyst of Gamma Radiation he simply ends up looking like the pre-accident Thing.

Doom is nonplussed, and goes around freaking out at mirrors and his surprised servants, as only Cage can. Then they encounter each other, and there's a hilarious scuffle culminating in the Thing yelling- 'Ok face- it's clobbering time!'hoooaaauuuhhooooeeouh!

And headbutting Doom. Reed reverses it, and Doom quietly returns to his base intent on eradicating all pictures of the event.

I'm with you here but.... what if..... we switch things up and have Nick Cage play ALL the characters as well. Just think of THAT!

**Alpharius**

Yeah!

Actually, no.

In fact - hell no.

So, back on topic here - there's still a chance that Doom will be portrayed well here, right?

**Paradigm**

Alpharius wrote:
there's still a chance that Doom will be portrayed well here, right?

I'm not convinced. But then my idea of Doom done well requires him to:
- have proper armour, not some flesh-metal rubbish
- have an army of DOOMBOTS!
- be the ruler of Latveria
- be able to threaten war against the USA because he knows he'll win!
- preferably be a powerful sorcerer as per the comics

So perhaps I'm never going to be happy with movie-Doom. Although I think they could pull it off in the MCU where there's a wider context, rather than a smaller setting focused just on the F4.

**angelofvengeance**

Alpharius wrote:
Yeah!

Actually, no.

In fact - hell no.

So, back on topic here - there's still a chance that Doom will be portrayed well here, right?

Honestly, the guy who did Doom in the Alba/Evans/Glenn/Chiklis FF was alright. Just laughably awful script.

Also Para: I thought he wasn't really a magic user- just a guy with awesome tech? I mean sure he does make use of magical items etc but I wouldn't class him as a sorcerer.

**Paradigm**

I'm pretty sure there have been times he's been considered a significantly powerful sorcerer. Either through stolen powers, teaching by other villains or his magical heritage (his mother was a witch).

From Wikipedia:

Doctor Doom also possesses originally minor mystical capabilities due to teachings from Tibetan monks, but later increased them to a considerable extent due to tutoring from his lover Morgan Le Fay. He is capable of energy projection, creating protective shields, and summoning hordes of demonic creatures. Even at a time his abilities were consistently referred to as minor, with assistance from his technology and by tag-teaming with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom managed to come second in a magic tournament held by the ancient sorcerer the Aged Genghis

But I can't see that coming into play in what's been repeatedly called a 'hard sci-fi' F4, though. In the MCU they could certainly fit it in. Tech from Stark, magic from Thor and Strange, powers from Erskine's/Banner's work, they could easily set up a 'proper' Doom without drastically changing the tone of the setting.

*looks mournfully into the middle distance and considers how awesome Doom could be in the MCU Phase 4*

**Hulksmash**

Evans and the dude playing Doom were all that made the last two FF movies watchable.

For this film while no one in the main cast is a ""household" name you've got Kate Mara (Invisible Woman) who's done a ton of good to excellent TV and movies. Teller (Mr. Fantastic) who has done some solid work and who had excellent chemistry with Jordan in a previous film. And Jordan (Human Torch) has been good in everything I've seen him in. Belle (Thing) is the only one I didn't recognize as someone I like watching and then I looked up his IMDB and realized that he's been in quite a bit I enjoy. I didn't recognize him from Turn in the previews.

Overall I actually think this group is better on the acting level than the previous group (which was massively hampered by the script). But we'll see. I'm more excited for this than Bat v Supe.

**Alpharius**

Paradigm wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
there's still a chance that Doom will be portrayed well here, right?

I'm not convinced. But then my idea of Doom done well requires him to:
- have proper armour, not some flesh-metal rubbish
- have an army of DOOMBOTS!
- be the ruler of Latveria
- be able to threaten war against the USA because he knows he'll win!
- preferably be a powerful sorcerer as per the comics

So perhaps I'm never going to be happy with movie-Doom. Although I think they could pull it off in the MCU where there's a wider context, rather than a smaller setting focused just on the F4.

Well, that's my idea of a proper DOOM too!

**timetowaste85**

Jordan, from the previews, doesn't make me imagine Johnny Storm in ANY way, shape, or form. Ok, so the director likes him. Great. But that doesn't make him fit the role. Evans made the role. Evans was a perfect Johnny Storm. Say what you will about the old FF movie, but he was perfectly cast. This? This movie is going to bomb. Horribly. Best thing about this is the CGI for Thing. That's good. Everything else looks like crap.

**Alpharius**

I don't think it will bomb horribly - it will probably limp towards a finish that helps it break even...eventually!

**cincydooley**

Is it going head to head with anything more exciting?

**Hulksmash**

timetowaste85 wrote:
Jordan, from the previews, doesn't make me imagine Johnny Storm in ANY way, shape, or form. Ok, so the director likes him. Great. But that doesn't make him fit the role. Evans made the role. Evans was a perfect Johnny Storm. Say what you will about the old FF movie, but he was perfectly cast. This? This movie is going to bomb. Horribly. Best thing about this is the CGI for Thing. That's good. Everything else looks like crap.

While I agree that Jordan isn't going to be able to be better than Evans that's because Evans is the PERFECT fit for that role (as he is for any cocky and smart ass role, similar to Ryan Renolds(sp?)). Period, end of story. But I feel like the overall group is much stronger than the first group. I think this will do fine. I don't think it's going to put up amazing numbers but I can see it going well for them.

**Vitali Advenil**

timetowaste85 wrote:
Jordan, from the previews, doesn't make me imagine Johnny Storm in ANY way, shape, or form. Ok, so the director likes him. Great. But that doesn't make him fit the role. Evans made the role. Evans was a perfect Johnny Storm. Say what you will about the old FF movie, but he was perfectly cast. This? This movie is going to bomb. Horribly. Best thing about this is the CGI for Thing. That's good. Everything else looks like crap.

Looking back, I have to agree with you about Johnny. Mr. Fantastic and Susan Storm were okay to meh, but I actually liked the non-CGI thing. That was genuinely impressive makeup. The only downside was that he looked pretty restrained at times.

**Alpharius**

cincydooley wrote:
Is it going head to head with anything more exciting?

According to the NYT:

August 7

Cop Car
Kevin Bacon stars as a sheriff who is not pleased when two boys steal an abandoned police car and take it for a joy ride. A thriller directed by Jon Watts.

The Cut
This Turkish drama, set a century ago, travels from Mesopotamia to Cuba to North Dakota. A young blacksmith (Tahar Rahim) survives the 1915 Armenian genocide, becomes a forced laborer and tries to track down his daughters. Fatih Akin wrote the screenplay, with Mardik Martin (“Raging Bull,” “Mean Streets”), and directed.

The Diary of a Teenage Girl
In 1976 San Francisco, every teenager finds herself in her own way. Minnie (Bel Powley) doesn’t rebel against her party-loving mother (Kristen Wiig) directly; she just has an affair with Mom’s handsome boyfriend (Alexander Skarsgard). Based on Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel and directed by Marielle Heller.

Fantastic Four
Marvel’s longest-running, most dysfunctional group of superheroes. This reboot stars Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic, Kate Mara as the Invisible Woman, Michael B. Jordan as the Human Torch and Jamie Bell as the Thing, all of whom got their superpowers during a teleportation experiment gone wrong. Now they must team up to save the world from Dr. Doom (Toby Kebbell). Josh Trank directed.
Photo
Kate Mara as Sue Storm in “Fantastic Four.” Credit Ben Rothstein

The Great Man (“Le Grand Homme”)
From France, a tale of the Foreign Legion and the urge to do the right thing. Jérémie Renier and Surho Sugaipov star as 21st-century Legionnaires in Afghanistan. Sarah Leonor directed.

Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet
Salma Hayek produced and stars in this animated feature that combines the poetry of “The Prophet,” first published in 1923, with sequences directed by nine animators, including Bill Plympton.

Masterminds
A heist comedy starring Zach Galifianakis, Kristen Wiig and Owen Wilson. It’s the tale of a bored armored-car driver (Mr. Galifianakis) who is lured into a scheme and manages to steal $17 million in cash before things fall apart in ridiculous ways. Jared Hess (“Napoleon Dynamite”) directed. Jason Sudeikis is the strange hit man.

Meru
It’s a peak in the Himalayas, almost 22,000 feet tall, and this documentary follows the three climbers who first conquered it. Directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi.

The New Girlfriend
It’s bad enough for Claire (Anaïs Demoustier) when her best friend dies. It’s stressful enough when she tries to live up to her promise to watch over the friend’s husband and baby for the rest of their lives. It’s awkward when she finds the handsome husband (Romain Duris, from “Chinese Puzzle” and “Heartbreaker”) looking lovely in women’s clothes, which his wife was fine with — as long as it was in the privacy of their own home. This is the latest from François Ozon, and its genre is a matter of opinion. (Farce-drama hybrid is one suggestion.) Mr. Duris was nominated for a César for the role.

Ricki and the Flash
Meryl Streep picks up a guitar and the title role in this musical comic drama about a woman who sought rock-star fame and now must face her family. Kevin Kline is the husband she left behind; Audra McDonald is his new wife; Ms. Streep’s daughter Mamie Gummer plays her daughter; and Rick Springfield is a band mate. Directed by Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the Lambs”) from a screenplay by Diablo Cody (“Juno”).

Rosenwald
Julius Rosenwald (1862-1932) was a high school dropout who became chief executive of Sears, Roebuck. He also directed an enormous amount of philanthropy toward African-American causes. This documentary, from Aviva Kempner, includes interviews with Maya Angelou, Julian Bond and George C. Wolfe.

Tom at the Farm (“Tom à la Ferme”)
From Canada, a psychological thriller about being the gay lover your boyfriend’s family didn’t know about. At the funeral, he meets his dead boyfriend’s extremely crazy brother (Pierre-Yves Cardinal). Xavier Dolan wrote (with Michel Marc Bouchard), directed and stars as Tom.

**angelofvengeance**

Soo.. not really then.

**Flashman**

No. of trailer views on Youtube is a good indication of potential film box office.

Jurassic World = 73 million views

Pitch Perfect 2 = 35 million views (remember this out performed Mad Max: Fury Road in it's opening weekend)

Suicide Squad (trailer only out for a week, film a year away from release) = 6 million views

Fantastic Four = 4 million views

My prediction is that it won't exactly set the world on fire. The interest doesn't appear to be there.

**KingCracker**

angelofvengeance wrote:
Alpharius wrote:
Yeah!

Actually, no.

In fact - hell no.

So, back on topic here - there's still a chance that Doom will be portrayed well here, right?

Honestly, the guy who did Doom in the Alba/Evans/Glenn/Chiklis FF was alright. Just laughably awful script.

Also Para: I thought he wasn't really a magic user- just a guy with awesome tech? I mean sure he does make use of magical items etc but I wouldn't class him as a sorcerer.

I agree with the Doom actor as well. It was the only really good thing in that movie and I mean really good compared to how crap the script was. Bad scripts will make anyone/anything look bad. Just look at the Star Wars Episodes 1-3 there were some really talented actors in those movies but the movies were very flat and dull due to bad scripts and terrible directing.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Flashman wrote:
No. of trailer views on Youtube is a good indication of potential film box office.

Jurassic World = 73 million views

Pitch Perfect 2 = 35 million views (remember this out performed Mad Max: Fury Road in it's opening weekend)

Suicide Squad (trailer only out for a week, film a year away from release) = 6 million views

Fantastic Four = 4 million views

My prediction is that it won't exactly set the world on fire. The interest doesn't appear to be there.

That's because the last two crap fests were only a few years ago. People remember

**Matt.Kingsley**

Since this thread has only been inactive for about 2 and a bit weeks I'm guessing it's fine to discuss the movie in it rather than clutter the forum by making a separate thread?

Anyway, just came back from a pre-screening (not sure it's really worthy of being called a pre-screening consider the movie is released here in about 12 hours but anyway) and my though are that this movie exists, and that's about it really.

Disclaimer: I don't know much about the Fantastic 4 outside of the two terrible movies from the early 2000s, so take that as you will.

Without spoiling it...

Really, not much happens. The first hour is basically just introducing the characters (Von Doom and the F4) and showing how they got their powers (in a way I felt wasn't as bad as the bizarre gas cloud).

Then we get to the ending... Doom basically shows up as a villain and is defeated in about 10 minutes. And not even just 10 minutes in viewing time, but in 10 minutes movie-time, too. The whole fight felt a bit rushed and yet again amazingly powerful villain doesn't use their full power against the heroes because reasons (the movie didn't even try to explain it). Also they wasted a big villain... again.

Also that ending scene before the credits... maybe it's just me but it felt flat and cheesy and the acting wasn't as good as in the rest of the movie.

Aside from that, it was a visually beautiful movie.

Potential spoilery-spoiler stuff:

Spoiler:

**Ahtman**

There have been some early reviews from both critics and viewers: none of them very good.

**Alpharius**

What critics and what sites?

Sadly, that's almost required knowledge up front in terms of 'trusting' reviews these days.

**timetowaste85**

So...Doom gets drunk with Reed and Johnny. Doom. Gets. Drunk. Right...and then he "slums it" with two people beneath him. Then let's go ahead and imagine Reed actually drinks, and Johnny is a scientist and not just some hotshot brother tagging along with his sister and father who are the real scientists.

As expected from the trailers and film discussion, pretty pictures and an awful story and premise. If you want Marvel to get back the rights, please skip this movie in theaters and wait until you can rent it if you HAVE to see it. Maybe we'll get a better one in 2020 from Marvel.