Skip to main content

Movie Review: Fantastic Four

Despite my gripes about modern movies, I can't resist the pull of a summer blockbuster. I suppose I could also validate this (if necessary) by saying that I need to keep up-to-date with my movie intake so that I can discuss the latest flicks with my students (you don't buy that either do you?!)

Back to the review....

Theoretically, one would think that it would be impossible to screw up a comic book movie adaptation, but let me cite Superman 3, The Hulk, Batman and Robin as examples of how flawed this theory proves to be. In other words, great special effects and the presence of a caped crusader does not a successful comic adaptation make.

I'm therefore happy to report that Fantastic Four does not belong in this category. Rather, I would place it alongside the likes of Batman Begins, X-Men 1&2, Superman 1&2 and Spider-Man 2 (which I haven't seen it, but have heard from everyone who has, that it's a stunner).

Fantastic Four succeeds in my opinion because the scriptwriters ensured that it is the characters that count, rather than the super-duper special effects. As the story unfolds, you are led into the minds and lives of the four unfortunates who have superpowers unwittingly thrust upon them (especially poor Ben who turns into The Thing) whether or not they like it. The reason the movie works is because you can relate to the four and might even end up caring about them (well, I did, even though the Human Torch is the least sympathetic by far).
Additionally, there is humour and action to boot and all in all, Fantastic Four is an highly entertaining bundle of a movie.

I therefore thoroughly recommend it and am happy to give it four Claudy's - one for each member of the team, although The Torch should get ½ a star for his obnoxious attitude!

My Rating

4/5

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Ten Jewberry Muds

To get the full effect, this message should be read out loud. You will understand what 'tenjewberrymuds' means by the end of the conversation. This has been nominated for the best email of 2005. The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room-service at a hotel in Asia, which was recorded and published in the FarEast Economic Review: Room Service (RS): "Morrin. Roon sirbees." Guest (G): "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service." RS: "Rye..Roon sirbees..morrin! Jewish to oddor sunteen??" G: "Uh..yes..I'd like some bacon and eggs." RS: "Ow July den?" G: "What??" RS: "Ow July den?...pryed, boyud, poochd?" G: "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry, scrambled please." RS: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?" G: "Crisp will be fine." RS: "Hokay. An Sahn toes?" G: "What?" RS: "An toes. July Sahn toes?" G: "I don't think so."...

A Breed Apart

I'll start with that rarest of things (at least for me), namely an apology. A number of people who read this blog have approached me and asked me how the new job is panning out. I know I should have followed the original posts with updates, but honestly, I came back so tired from work, that I didn't have the will to compose any reports. In short, I am really happy in my new school. The students line up outside the door to my classroom (yes, my classroom) quietly instead of rushing in like a pack of deranged beasts and then, to my utter delight, stand , yes STAND(!!) behind their chairs and wait until I tell them to be seated. These students are actually listening to my instructions. When I tell them to switch their monitors off, they do what I ask. I don't find myself having to wait for fifteen minutes until they can be bothered to be quiet, they do something that I've been longing to experience for two years - they show an interest, in fact, a very keen interest, in w...

Bye Bye University

I can't quite believe it but today is in fact my last as a student. My course ends when I walk out of school at 13.15 I've now fulfilled the statutory days demanded of me as a student teacher. From Monday, I will be effectively unemployed - until Thursday, so I reckon we'll survive. That's it folks, my course is over. I have yet to hear whether or not I've passed, although between you and me ( shhhh don't tell anyone ) I am now a newly qualified teacher in everything but name. The exam board meets Mid-July to make those all important decisions and that's when I expect to get my congratulatory letter through the post. It's been an interesting year, to say the least. There have been ups and downs although the positive has vastly outweighed the negative. I find standing in a classroom less daunting and if anything, I now have the confidence to teach, which I didn't have when I started. I know I've only been doing this lark since September (and teach...