The Fantastic Four: First Steps

My god, what is it with superhero films these days? They are just so lacklustre.

After the first trailer, I was unimpressed. I was really not keen on seeing the film, but then my son asked, and we also got to see Galactus in the last trailer, so I thought we would go for it. Even if Galactus is cool and the rest sucks, that would be something.

The film looks great; they nail the comic book look, and I cannot really fault it in that regard. Sadly, that's about it. The CGI ranges from passable to excellent, the script is very dumb in parts....but passable. The "female" Silver Surfer was fine; there was a plot point that made the Surfer's gender a necessary story element. The casting just felt off, not terrible, but something did not click.....And worst of all was the utter waste of Galactus.

Going by trailers, it looked like we would finally get some full-on action, but (no real spoiler apart from what he does) what we get is chatty Galactus, "ouch" Galactus, and walking past buildings Galactus....... Oh, and one other Galactus that made it even worse.

I have to say, right up to the Space trip and meeting (trying to keep details low), I was pleasantly surprised, and I did start to get my hopes up. Lesson learned, I guess.

I think it's safe to say that in comparison to the recent marvel movies, this one takes a step back and brings back the simpler early marvel days vibe.

Must admit walked in with low expectations and came out hyped and excited for where this movie may take place with marvels next to come movies.

Had doubts on the casting being a diehard fan to the early first two originals but will admit the casting held up to their game in the movie.

The movie was a great standalone movie, didn't dwell and repeat too much on what we already know, went straight to the basics, keeping it simple and easy to follow with the plot. Providing us with little theories we can make with upcoming films also.

Music and effects I would say were pretty good or getting better, marvel is definitely heading towards a better direction.

Feel like we the audience need to lower our expectations a little, that way we will find more enjoyment.

The movie was bland. Story and action both were meh.. As a fan of the superhero genre I was hugely disappointed both by the movie and by the critics hyping it up.

You hardly see anything "heroic" being done that gets your heart pumping nor are you invested in any of the Fantastic Four. The power scaling makes zero sense at different parts of the movie, Galactus is nerfed to the max (to the point of being silly) and this universe has the stupidest / most gullible NPCs ever. This is exactly how the conversation goes with them, NPCs - "oh no the world is going to end, you can't save us" F4 - "we will save you don't worry" NPCs - (panic over and tears in their eyes) "ok"

Save the money, buy something on the Steam sale. I left before end credits.

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is a story about family above all else, where each member of the team is equally important. The movie excels when fleshing out the various bonds between Pedro, Vanessa, Ebon, & Joseph.

Pedro nails Reed's stoicism and dashing brilliance, while Joseph makes Johnny feel ever so valiant. But man, I can't remember the last time I adored two Marvel heroes like Ebon's Ben and Vanessa's Sue. They hold the family together and ground the others when no one else can. Silver Surfer is perfection with this metallic voice and looks really really good. Galactus is awesome in IMAX.

The combination of practical effects and CGI is...you guessed it...Fantastic...say that again! VFX were immaculate. Cosmically and on Earth, Matt Shakman dropped a visual feast. It is stunning, stylish, self-contained, and easy to jump into. I had such a good time with this one. The retrofuturism is so pleasing. The retro '60s aesthetic works on all fronts.

Marvel's first family shines with chemistry & charisma Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would be proud of. The "FF" dazzle from start to finish, Matt Shakman delivers one of Marvel's best. Michael Giacchino's score is triumphant and easily his best work in the MCU. Can't wait to watch it again tomorrow!

There are 2 credit scenes, but you already know, that you'll stay for them. Fantastic!

Visually, this film was a standout with stunning cinematography, impressive CGI, and a unique retro aesthetic that felt refreshingly different from the usual superhero fare. The story was fairly basic and the short runtime didn't allow enough depth to fully explore the villain's motivations. The casting was nearly perfect, with every actor bringing their character to life in a way that made you love the team not just as a whole but as individuals. Overall, I'd rate it a solid 7.2 out of 10. It's a fun, visually rich ride and I'm genuinely excited to see where the story goes next. The post-credit scene was a 9 out of 10, one of the most dramatic and thrilling I've seen in years.