The Fantastic Four - First Steps 3D (2025)

[Telemachus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLxGx-2S8sg

[russweiss1]

The Fantastic Four Cast Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach & Joseph Quinn - YouTube

[cdx47]

The marketing was atrocious. Filled with everything and every reason to avoid the movie. But the decision to gender swap Silver Surfer shows that it was just a symptom of the same sickness. Yet by all accounts (ignoring the early shills of course), this is the best MCU movie there has been for some time. "It doesn't suck" is the general consensus from non shill reviewers. F4 has a coherent story, decent cgi, Galactus looks menacing and Mr Fantastic is the leader (of sorts).

It's a little sad that a movie not "sucking" is the low bar we've set for the MCU. But this "might" be the first 3D MCU disc that I'd even considere buying since Guardians 3.

I don't know if they deliberately marketed the movie to "own the chuds", "get the YouTubers" or maybe they just don't care anymore. Very strange times.

[Just_Discovered_3D]

Originally Posted by cdx47

The marketing was atrocious. Filled with everything and every reason to avoid the movie. But the decision to gender swap Silver Surfer shows that it was just a symptom of the same sickness. Yet by all accounts (ignoring the early shills of course), this is the best MCU movie there has been for some time. "It doesn't suck" is the general consensus from non shill reviewers. F4 has a coherent story, decent cgi, Galactus looks menacing and Mr Fantastic is the leader (of sorts).

It's a little sad that a movie not "sucking" is the low bar we've set for the MCU. But this "might" be the first 3D MCU disc that I'd even considere buying since Guardians 3.

I don't know if they deliberately marketed the movie to "own the chuds", "get the YouTubers" or maybe they just don't care anymore. Very strange times.

Sue Storm isn't the leader of the F4 in this? After it was linked in this forum the other week, Chris Gore's channel Film Threat has been in my YouTube recommendations and from it/its affiliates I heard tell that there was a tie-in comic codifying what the trailers indicated: Sue Storm was the leader of the pack. Was that a big fake-out?

Was The Thing somewhat meek in this? That's the impression I got from the trailers, I think of The Thing like the 2000s version, the first of which I saw before I knew we were supposed to hate it.

Did it sell the ~period piece, Fallout-ish style that it was going for in the marketing?

Does this mean that, despite the odd marketing, this film is not trying to "Own the Chuds"?

[Camps]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

Was The Thing somewhat meek in this? That's the impression I got from the trailers, I think of The Thing like the 2000s version, the first of which I saw before I knew we were supposed to hate it.

Agreed and agreed.

Nevertheless, looking forward to seeing this for the SFX and, especially, for the 3D.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by Camps

Agreed and agreed.

Nevertheless, looking forward to seeing this for the SFX and, especially, for the 3D.

The Thing in Marvel comics could sometimes go toe to toe with The Hulk. But from the trailers and the reviews I would guess that the MCU Thing could go toe to toe with Mark Ruffolo's domesticated Hulk but would have no chance at all against the proper MCU Hulk.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by Just_Discovered_3D

Sue Storm isn't the leader of the F4 in this? After it was linked in this forum the other week, Chris Gore's channel Film Threat has been in my YouTube recommendations and from it/its affiliates I heard tell that there was a tie-in comic codifying what the trailers indicated: Sue Storm was the leader of the pack. Was that a big fake-out?

Was The Thing somewhat meek in this? That's the impression I got from the trailers, I think of The Thing like the 2000s version, the first of which I saw before I knew we were supposed to hate it.

Did it sell the ~period piece, Fallout-ish style that it was going for in the marketing?

Does this mean that, despite the odd marketing, this film is not trying to "Own the Chuds"?

I haven't seen the tie-in comic but the last Fantastic Four comic I read had Sue Storm getting excited about going shopping so I am sure she's going to be a bit more of a "strong woman" character in line with current day sensibilities but Reed Richards was always the lead and I'm sure still will be.

It is generally getting quite good reviews, it must be shockingly expensive but all the reshoots and final tweaks do tend to lead to an improved product.

[randomfellow]

Originally Posted by cdx47

But the decision to gender swap Silver Surfer shows that it was just a symptom of the same sickness.

This Fantastic Four story does not take place in the same timeline/earth as the rest (well most) of the MCU. The iteration of Silver Surfer presented here is Shalla-Bal, who debuted in 1968's Silver Surfer #1. This is not a new character or random gender swap.

In the 1960s Silver Surfer origin Norrin Radd and Shalla-Bal are in love and Norrin Radd volunteers to become Galactus' herald in exchange for sparing his world and Shalla-Bal.

So to switch things up a bit for the alternate timeline in FF4 I assume that Shalla-Bal was the person that made the sacrificial deal to save her planet - and possibly a version of Norrin Radd. This is a pretty nifty way to introduce the Silver Surfer character to the MCU in a logical multiverse way, highlight an important Silver Surfer character from his original comic book past and also pave the way for a fairly likely introduction of the Norrin Radd Silver Surfer in the main MCU timeline. Overall this feels better to me than introducing the Norrin Radd Surfer as a supporting character, probably killing him off at the end of the film, and then just reintroducing basically the exact same guy again in the next appearance.

I'll be going into the film with tempered expectations but featuring an alternative timeline Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer is actually pretty cool to me (an admitted comic book nerd). Now Mr. Fantastic with a mustache.. oof

[bming]

Despite seeing a 3D preview at my nearest Hoyts cinema, when I went to see Superman in 3D I will have to be satisfied with the 2D version as yet again no cinema in South Australia is runnig a 3D session. False advertising at its worse.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by randomfellow

This Fantastic Four story does not take place in the same timeline/earth as the rest (well most) of the MCU. The iteration of Silver Surfer presented here is Shalla-Bal, who debuted in 1968's Silver Surfer #1. This is not a new character or random gender swap.

In the 1960s Silver Surfer origin Norrin Radd and Shalla-Bal are in love and Norrin Radd volunteers to become Galactus' herald in exchange for sparing his world and Shalla-Bal.

So to switch things up a bit for the alternate timeline in FF4 I assume that Shalla-Bal was the person that made the sacrificial deal to save her planet - and possibly a version of Norrin Radd. This is a pretty nifty way to introduce the Silver Surfer character to the MCU in a logical multiverse way, highlight an important Silver Surfer character from his original comic book past and also pave the way for a fairly likely introduction of the Norrin Radd Silver Surfer in the main MCU timeline. Overall this feels better to me than introducing the Norrin Radd Surfer as a supporting character, probably killing him off at the end of the film, and then just reintroducing basically the exact same guy again in the next appearance.

I'll be going into the film with tempered expectations but featuring an alternative timeline Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer is actually pretty cool to me (an admitted comic book nerd). Now Mr. Fantastic with a mustache.. oof

I didn't say she was new or random. I said she was a gender swap and she is. It would be like introducing Jenny Cesare as the Punisher in the Netflix Marvel universe instead of Frank Castle. Even the woman playing Shalla Bal asked "isn't Silver Surfer a man?" lol

Pretending that this was anything other than a deliberate furtherance of Kevin Feige's publicly stated policy that "more than half of [MCU heroes] which will be women." would be extremely disingenuous, so let's not do that. BTW DC was planning to do exactly the same thing which is why I said Shalla Bal "is just a symptom of the same sickness" afflicting Hollywood.

Now that we've got that out of the way. None of the (real) reviews say that F4 is bad or a disaster. On the contrary it's supposed to be the best they have released this year. Although that's not saying much, it is still something. If the 3D is decent then I can see myself buying an MCU 3D disc which is something I thought I would never do again.

[starmike]

Originally Posted by cdx47

I didn't say she was new or random. I said she was a gender swap and she is.

She's not. It's a character swap, not a gender swap.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by starmike

She's not. It's a character swap, not a gender swap.

If you haven't read read or don't understand the full context then I get why you might think that. But! If you have read the full context and still came to that conclusion? Then you must really love Disney and Disney loves you too

[Yoodaa]

I saw FF last night in IMAX 3D and had a really great time. Its one of the most visually interesting marvel movies ever and many of the space scenes gave me interstellar vibes. The 3D was also great, so much depth and id say 4 or 5 really good pop out moments, The 3D really enhanced the scale of Galactus. overall it was great and i will 100% be getting the Japanese 3D release.

Oh and Shalla-Bal is NOT a gender swap. Its a character swap, and only if you're comparing it the the rise of the silver surfer movie. Some people really be getting upset over the smallest things.

[DualEdge]

Just got back from my IMAX 3D showing and I really loved it! For me, it was easily the best of the Marvel movies of 2025. The atmosphere of the movie was really the right move and gives it its own flair and style to work with. Giacchino holds down the soundtrack really well as usual. I also felt like the pacing was great and time just flew by. I will echo Yoodaa's comments about the 3D as well for the exact same reasons related to Galactus and his sheer commanding presence anytime that he's on screen (props to Ralph Ineson as well for a perfect voiceover). The size and scale just feel so pronounced in each shot and the 3D only enhances that. This one deserves to do well at the box office.

Oh, and I about lost my head when the promised Avatar trailer didn't play in the previews. But my frustration was premature as I didn't realize that the trailer is literally attached to the movie itself, which makes sense if they are guaranteeing it to be on every viewing. I liked what I saw, but my theater's IMAX screen is not as good as it could be and certainly can't do HFR, so that was my only disappointment with it. Looking forward to that and Tron for the remainder of the year.

[xootoo]

So far, this all sounds like the best Marvel title of 2025. Both in terms of the film and the 3D adaptation. I'm looking forward to the usual 3D reviews. If that turns out to be true, the Japanese disc will be my Christmas present under the tree.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by xootoo

So far, this all sounds like the best Marvel title of 2025. Both in terms of the film and the 3D adaptation. I'm looking forward to the usual 3D reviews. If that turns out to be true, the Japanese disc will be my Christmas present under the tree.

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too. This does sound like it is competently made with enough positives and arguable negatives to be purely down to personal taste.

[3disciple]

Annoyingly, I missed most of the Avatar trailer but the little I caught looked unsurprisingly excellent if just more of the same. It didn't do Fantastic 4 any favours as it inevitably pales by comparison. The opening New York scenes were of a similar standard to Superman.

Luckily, it picks up from the rocket launch onwards, there are some spectacular sights that amplify the awe and scale of the cosmos. Spectacular hyper stereo shots of the Four 'fourgrounded'? against the big bad are notable and give a real sense of its magnitude. The director seems to have known he was onto a good thing as these shots are held for a long time and from multiple angles.

The film was good but I thought the villains were better developed than the heroes, especially the slow reveal of the emissary. I also liked the suggestion that the antagonist was motivated by something other than plain evilness.

I think these 'cosmic' stories are where Marvel is at their best. Viewed in RealD.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by 3disciple

I also liked the suggestion that the antagonist was motivated by something other than plain evilness.

Not a suggestion. A fact known to comic book readers.

[Show spoiler]Galactus is a force of nature, not a villain.

I don't think this is a spoiler but just in case

Nice to hear about the hyper-stereo shots. These should look cool on a large screen. With proper Atmos (and not Disney Atmous) audio this movie could be a fun spectacle

[3disciple]

Originally Posted by cdx47

Not a suggestion. A fact known to comic book readers.

[Show spoiler]Galactus is a force of nature, not a villain.

I don't think this is a spoiler but just in case

Nice to hear about the hyper-stereo shots. These should look cool on a large screen. With proper Atmos (and not Disney Atmous) audio this movie could be a fun spectacle

I'm invested in these solely for the 3d so admit I'm entirely ignorant of the lore, comic books and Disney+ shows.

[Show spoiler]I'm not sure what a force of nature means but I was referring to Galactus mentioning he was in a state of constant hunger. The manner of the delivery implied he was in pain and perhaps also a victim in some earlier genesis event. It's an interesting set up to have an old God wielding immense power but simultaneously weighed down by time and an inability to rest.

[cdx47]

Originally Posted by 3disciple

I'm invested in these solely for the 3d so admit I'm entirely ignorant of the lore, comic books and Disney+ shows.

[Show spoiler]I'm not sure what a force of nature means but I was referring to Galactus mentioning he was in a state of constant hunger. The manner of the delivery implied he was in pain and perhaps also a victim in some earlier genesis event. It's an interesting set up to have an old God wielding immense power but simultaneously weighed down by time and an inability to rest.

As to your spoiler, it's a bit weird because the pain drives him to do what he does but it's also what makes him what he is.