The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

[spider-neil]

All I needed was for this movie to be the best FF movie ever (and I've seen them all, including the Corman version). An incredibly low bar. But this movie absolutely leaps over that bar and cements itself in my all-time MCU top 10.

I have gripes, but they are minor.

[vertigop1ayer]

I have never been that interested in FF. Frankly, I just never felt the characters or their powers were all that distinct or interesting.

And so that says a lot (for me) that I really enjoyed this. This has such a unique feeling

[Show spoiler]Earth

, they handled

[Show spoiler]Galactus

in a way that feels suitably intimidating and otherworldly, and it was paced excellently. So many modern movies have that extra 20 minutes of fluff added in to help push it past the 120 minute mark, and this just doesn't have it.

I am all-in on a FF2. Never thought I'd say it. Two superhero movies in one month that vastly exceeded my expectations. Guess I am back in on superhero movies.

[Zivouhr]

The pacing was very good, and the movie did not waste time on nonsense for long, getting right to the heart of the story moments later.

[vertigop1ayer]

Yeah this and Superman really confirm that not wasting your time with origin stories keeps them free to tighten pacing and feel less formulaic.

[Zivouhr]

It's Clobberin' Time! That was good he said that in the film.
Thing always wore his shirt, unlike the classic comics where you can see the rock skin of his upper torso.

With rock skin, at some point near the limbs, the rocky surface would probably prevent full range of motion. Rock preventing it or breaking away.

Thing growing a beard was interesting.

Originally Posted by vertigop1ayer

Yeah this and Superman really confirm that not wasting your time with origin stories keeps them free to tighten pacing and feel less formulaic.

Agreed. This film offers something new and different. As others said, it is refreshing that no other superheroes interfere with their story of dealing with Galactus, the planet eater with his mysterious servant, lady Silver Surfer. This team is so isolated that they never once consider getting help from Thor or Hulk, or others.

[Britbuffguy]

Originally Posted by starmike

You didn't live in the '60s, did you? Yeah, people would have done this.

Read about The Blitz during WWII.

Born in 1979, so no.

[SteelbookCat]

[Show spoiler]The It's Clobbering Time Delivery was weak

great movie but I wanted more out of The Thing.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by vertigop1ayer

Yeah this and Superman really confirm that not wasting your time with origin stories keeps them free to tighten pacing and feel less formulaic.

Oh but this is an origin story, just not the origin story of the Fantastic Four

[Show spoiler](Yes in all seriousness, it’s Franklin’s origin story)

Maybe we can have origin stories, so long as they haven’t been done a lot of times already? I wouldn’t mind an origin story film about Plastic Man or some of the other less-known superheroes.

[DKLou]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

Nice to see some love for 2005/2007

But the new one is really good.

And again I will stick to my guns and say First Steps, this is OUR EARTH back in 1961. All that multiverse crap, timelines deep dive comic book nerd stuff I just throw out the window.

At no time while I was watching this film did I think this was an alternate universe located somewhere through a wormhole or whatever.

I don't know what Marvel's "Endgame" is here for these new films but they just wanted this FF film to be as if it just exploded off a 60s comic book and they absolutely succeeded. Female Silver Surfer, sure I'll accept some of these small changes since the movie was so good. No Alicia Masters? ok.

Maybe I would have accepted all the idiotic changes in Fant4stic Four but the story was so horrible that I deep sixed that entire movie.

I am no comic book expert but I did read them and collect them at one time. Marvel needs to appeal to old people like me who stopped collecting and Joe Public. I don't care if I'm right or wrong on any timeline, plotline etc. from the comics. The movie must stand on it's own merits, and First Steps did that in spades.

Just got back from seeing this. I was pleasantly surprised and it played out very well. Nice casting, solid build up and no wasting time with endless action scenes or screwing around. Sure, its not perfect but what is? I was also thankful that the often NOT funny Marvel humor stuff was kept in check. There were a few, well-timed smirk-worthy moments but nothing obnoxious. The FF characters all had their own personalities and had nice chemistry. Shalla-Bal was a little thin in the development area but they at least gave her something at the end. Galactus was also just a "big baddie" that might have benefited from a little more build up. These are minor issues though. Excellent flick.

Id give this a 4 stars out of 5. I will pick up the 4K when it comes out. I hope the series gets a sequel and thats equally as well-paced and directed.

I am with you 100% with this timeline, alternate universe or multi-verse crap. Just stop it. This was our Earth, as you said in the 1960's. Period. Done. I am not into comics and I suspect a large number of paying customers also arent. So, like you said, they have to start catering to the actual paying audience versus trying to satisfy all the tie-ins, connection, multi-this, multi-that bull shit that a very small handful of hardcore comics dudes want. If you want people to come see movies like this then they must stand on their own. This one sure does. My wife had never really even heard of the Fantastic Four and she had a great time with the movie.

[Prohibida]

[vertigop1ayer]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Oh but this is an origin story, just not the origin story of the Fantastic Four

[Show spoiler](Yes in all seriousness, it’s Franklin’s origin story)

Maybe we can have origin stories, so long as they haven’t been done a lot of times already? I wouldn’t mind an origin story film about Plastic Man or some of the other less-known superheroes.

I was talking about the central characters, the Fantastic Four.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by vertigop1ayer

I was talking about the central characters, the Fantastic Four.

I know.

I’m talking about that too

[Mierzwiak]

The trip to space, meeting with the Galactus and the escape is one of THE best, most exciting sequences in the history of MCU. Great tension, visuals and VFX. (well, aside from Johnny; why they can't get fire right? It's 2025!!!)

[Zivouhr]

The Trip to space in 3D, that was impressive. The 3D jumped into strong 3D and seeing the giant Galactus with the tiny people of 4.

The city with Galactus, also really good.

That robot was interesting. Herbie reminded me of Herbie the Bug Car.
I like how the robot assisted and didn't break down or cause problems. Good programming on Reed's part.

The bubble gum scene was interesting.

[Show spoiler]His suit was ripping too.

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by vertigop1ayer

Yeah this and Superman really confirm that not wasting your time with origin stories keeps them free to tighten pacing and feel less formulaic.

I think it's more that you don't need to rehash the origin if the audience has already seen it. You especially don't need to redo the origin if it was done masterfully before, in the case of Superman.

[spider-neil]

Originally Posted by Mierzwiak

The trip to space, meeting with the Galactus and the escape is one of THE best, most exciting sequences in the history of MCU. Great tension, visuals and VFX. (well, aside from Johnny; why they can't get fire right? It's 2025!!!)

That scene is exciting, tense, and utter mind blowing in 3D.

[Zivouhr]

Now is Galactus a giant robot? He had a lot of mechanical parts.

[Prohibida]

No.

[Zivouhr]

What's interesting is how Surfer scopes

[Show spoiler] out and finds the next planet for him to consume. I think it needs a certain amount of water and dirt

for it to be good nutrition. Plus all of the protein from the living beings scattered about the water and ground.

Originally Posted by Prohibida

No.

Thanks. So he's still human then, just really giant and a planet eater.

[Fenway55]

Originally Posted by Mahlermovies

It wasn’t bad. Just expected more. Galactus was defeated to easily. The cosmic radiation they were exposed to should have been linked to the power cosmic otherwise why is Franklin super being.

I think we are meant to infer that it was. Galactus says the baby has the power cosmic. My interpretation is that this FF's origin story is that the "cosmic rays" and "power cosmic" are very much related, if not the same thing.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the above developed somewhat in future movies.