Fantastic Four

"I think there is no reason to condemn the family-adventure adaptation of the family-adventure comic for being exactly like its predecessor. The lack of action is noticeable, though if this flaw were to be addressed in the sequel, as well as Jessica Alba's clumsiness, I might actually start looking forward to it." (03/29/2007)

An indication of the qualities of this movie is the fact that the best aspect of the movie is the utterly uninventive music. I can’t believe that a screenwriter the format of Mark Frost stands behind this joke. Maybe he took pity on it like a naive B-popcorn movie. But it would have to be appropriately swift and with good action scenes. But no. All told there are just two action scenes here. And to add to things, the first one on the bridge is one of the worst scenes that I have even seen in a wannabe A-movie production. The Fantastic Four is a high-budget soap opera with a comic book backdrop. Apart from the small detail that even a starring Natalia Oreiro is more entertaining. I must add that this is gradually “rotting" inside me to a point that I want to give it the lowest possible rating. (01/15/2008)

Very unaccomplished filmmaking that, with its dullness and clichés, hits you right in the eye. Yet it was a relative hit, how is that possible? Things happen in Hollywood, you know. I can't compare the film with the source material, but the characters were sketched quite decently and the whirlwind of good visual effects occasionally settles one down nicely (these ingredients evidently have too strong an effect on the American audience). However, the whole thing is quite cynical and insanely predictable. (12/03/2005)

The disastrous screenplay is offset by the well-cast and well-played characters. It is necessary to rate this movie in the context of dumb commercial Hollywood flicks such as Van Helsing and not in the context of intelligent comic-book movies like X-Men 2. In other words, it’s entertaining rubbish whose stupidity is overcome by its naïve likability. It’s more entertaining and more endearing than Baywatch, but it’s main asset for male viewers is the honey-skinned professional non-actress Jessica Alba. (08/24/2005)

So neither for the second time - or already for the third time? - did this movie get under my skin, and it only shows how weak some comic book movies can be. The basic plot is simple, unnecessary scenes that are only long and boring are addressed here, they have no place in the story. The cast is not so bad, but this is a legendary Marvel team that I personally really like. I hope the new version will be better. (03/24/2014)