Movie Time: Fantastic Four: First Steps

 It's Movie Time!!

So we ventured forth from the Fortress of Ineptitude to see the debut of the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But first...

The History of the Fantastic Four In Film

Constantin Film bought the film rights for the characters in 1986. A low-budget film was produced in 1994 by New Horizon Studios owned by Roger Corman. 

Corman had a long career going back to the 1950's making movies quickly and cheaply. And boy did he deliver on those two points with his version of Fantastic Four.   

Corman's Fantastic Four was made for the explicit purpose of helping Constantin to hold to their film rights to the Fantastic Four.

There is some question if the anyone ever intended to release the film or not. But it was not released.  

The film is available to watch on YouTube and Dailymotion for free.

20th Century Fox secured the film rights and  Fantastic Four was released in 2005 and the sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was released in 2007. Both films directed by Tim Story did not garner much praise from critics or enthusiasm from fans. I've watched them and yeah, they are not great works of art or anything but I've enjoyed them as a modestly entertaining television diversion. 

A reboot of the series, Fantastic Four, directed by Josh Trank, was released in 2015 and received largely negative reviews from both critics and audiences and bombed badly at the box office. It was a reboot nobody asked for or wanted and Trank disavowed this film,considered to be one of the worst superhero films ever made.

Which brings us to the latest and 5th go 'round for the Fantastic Four on film.

Fantastic Four: First Steps is unique from the rest of the MCAI with it's setting in the early 1960's instead of going for a modern setting. 

Also like Superman from 2 weeks ago, Fantastic Four: First Steps foregoes putting us through an origin story.  Yeah, we get an origin recap told as part of a television special celebrating the 4th anniversary of the debut of the Fantastic Four. 

We even get a recap of some of the team's adventures over those 4 years against such menaces as Mole Man, the Mad Thinker and Diablo.  

Also, Reed and Sue are already married and Sue is pregnant. 

Are we all caught up? Good! Cause we've got problems. The Silver Surfer has arrived. 

This time, the Surfer is a woman! 

But the mission is the same: Galactus is coming to eat the Earth.

But unlike the formless energy cloud in 2007,  this Galactus is comics accurate. 

Galactus promises to NOT eat the Earth if the Fantastic Four gives him Sue's child.

Eating the Earth AND giving him their baby are BOTH off the table but damned if Reed Richards is stuck for an idea how to stop this guy.

Until he comes up with the idea of teleporting Earth to another part of the multiverse where Galactus can't find them. 

Silver Surfer wrecks Reed's giant teleporting doodads (except for one still in Times Square) so that plan is out. 

New plan: lure Galactus to Times Square and teleport him to somewhere far, far away.

(Setting up a future Star Wars/Marvel crossover? 😉 )   

Of course there are glitches in this plan as well.

The "It's That Person Who Was In That Thing" Department

Vanessa Kirby who play Sue Storm was Princess Margaret in The Crown.  

The host of the Fantastic Four TV special is played by Mark Gatiss who was the co-creator of Sherlock where he played Mycroft Holmes.   

Rachel Rozman, the schoolteacher Ben Grimm befriends on Clancy Street, is played by Natasha Lyonne, the star of Poker Face.  Rachel is based on Jack Kirby's wife, Roz.  

Cool Fact! 

Fantastic Four: First Steps takes place on Earth 828.  Jack Kirby's birthday is August 28th or 8/28.  Neat,huh?

 

The Story of H.E.R.B.I.E.

The 5th member of the Fantastic Four family is H.E.R.B.I.E. who was originally introduced as a 4th member of the Fantastic Four in place of the Human Torch for a 1978 cartoon series. 

One story is that the Torch was switched out because network standards and practices did not want children trying to emulate the Human Torch. This is an urban myth. The Human Torch had been optioned out for a solo movie project and was not available for the animated series.

Marv Wolfman and John Byrne would integrate H.E.R.B.I.E. into the comic book series as part of the supporting cast.  

Jack Kirby was working as an animation storyboard artist and designed H.E.R.B.I.E., making this Kirby's last creation for Marvel Comics. 

All in all, Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fun thrill ride that finally does right by the concept of the Fantastic Four as originally envisioned by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.  

Setting the movie in 1964 immediately sets it apart from the rest of the MCU, giving it a distinctive aesthetic and vibe. 

I know a lot of people came to this movie for Pedro Paschal's turn as Reed Richards but undeniably, the rock of this movie is Vanessa Kirby has Sue Storm who has a strong leadership role in this movie. She also has the distinction of having a childbirth scene IN SPACE!  

Joseph Quinn make not have the same charm as Chris Evans did as Johnny Storm/the Human Torch but I enjoyed his take on the character and his role in actually using his intelligence to solve part of the mystery of the Silver Surfer.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm / The Thing is devoid of the angst and anger of the comic book version with a mostly relaxed casual demeanor. Until it's CLOBBERIN' TIME!!

I'll call it: Fantastic Four: First Steps is pretty damn good!