Story
Fantastic Four: First Steps tells the story of Marvel's first family and their standoff against the Silver Surfer, and the one she heralds, who wants to devour their planet, Galactus.
Acting
I think that makes this case feel different from previous iterations is the fact that the cast feels like a family. Their relationship and how they interact with each other feel real and tangible. Family is a really important part of the Fantastic Four's lore, and I don't think any previous movie has gotten it right the way that this one has. In the 2000s movie, especially 2007, you get more of that family feeling, and I think that was the closest the movies felt to the comic until this one.
When Pedro Pascal was cast as Reed Richards, I didn't see the vision. I wasn't angry with the casting like some people were, as I know Pedro is a good actor, but I was curious as to what he would bring to the character, and I have to say that I really liked his portrayal of the character. Something that this movie balances really well is Reed's guilt over events he cannot control, and his confidence in things he can control. The love he has for his wife and the responsibility he feels for the world come to a head in this movie, and Pedro toes that line very well.
I do not think it is hyperbole to say that Vanessa Kirby is the star of this movie. Before it was released, an article came out stating that Sue was the emotional core of this movie, and that statement is 100% true. While Reed might be the most intelligent in terms of science, Sue is the most emotionally intelligent person in this movie. She is the glue that holds the group together. And seeing her use her powers like they aren't a burden to her, so satisfying. At no point was she bleeding out of her nose or acting as though her powers were a curse. She is a badass in this movie, and she owns it.
Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays the thing the way I have always imagined him. As a gentle giant, Ben not only gets to flex his literal muscles, but you see how kind, caring and gentle he is. From how he interacts with what New Yorkers say when he's out and about on Yancy street to HERBIE.
Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm might be the biggest surprise of the movie. Johnny is multifaceted in this movie, more so than in other iterations. Yes, he is arrogant and full of himself, but he is intelligent, kind and loves his family.
Someone else who is a badass is Julia Garner, who plays Shalla-Bal the Silver Surfer. Her introduction is initiating, robotic and a little unsettling. One scene in particular that I will not spoil takes place in the middle show how cool the Silver Surfer really is.
Writing/Direction
One of the biggest differences in this movie versus the previous ones is that every single member gets to show how intelligent they are. I sometimes think people forget that they are all astronauts and scientists. especially Johnny, who is portrayed as a dumb jock, but in this movie, you get to see him go on his own journey and without spoiling it, he figures something out that is quite crucial to the final act. Ben and Reed talk about space travel and black holes, and while Reed is the smartest person in the room and the one who comes up with the plans, at no point does it feel like he has to dumb himself down to explain scientific concepts because everyone knows and understands what he is talking about.
Apparently, an inspiration for this movie was Apollo 11, and you can see it in the space sequences. A lot of those sequences also remind me of Interstellar in the way that space and space travel are portrayed. And that really differentiates it from other scenes depicting space travel in the MCU.
Galactus in this movie is redeemed from a space cloud to a tangible entity that brings tension and fear. His introduction by the Sivelr Surfer introduced a ticking clock. That tension not only propels the story forward but also strains relationships in this movie. The sequence where he touches down does have high stakes for the four, but I do wish there was more to it. It was thoroughly entertaining, and the emotional beats are all there (especially with Sue and Johnny, surprisingly), but I still wish it were a little longer.
Speaking of the scale of Galactus, I truly think this movie is worth the IMAX ticket. This might be the first time that I have seen a movie in IMAX that uses the entire screen for the whole runtime, and because of that, this movie feels immersive. Scenes like this one have tension in them because you can see how big Galactus is in relation to the world around him.
CGI/Set Design
Director Matt Shakman and production designer Kasra Farahani did a great job of creating a world that feels real, with authentic sets, backlots, practical effects and miniatures. Embracing retro futurism in this movie gives it its own distinct look and feel, which makes sense as this movie does take place in an alternate reality to the main one we are used to seeing in the MCU. Knowing that not only was HERBIE real, but so was Ralph Ineson's Galactus costume, and the Fantastcar creates a level of escapism
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| Source: Jay Maidment |
You cannot have a Fantastic Four movie without CGI, and I have to say that it looks pretty good. Are there moments of discrepancy where the movie looks a little silly? Yes. That being said, those moments are few and far between, and when they do occur, they are sandwiched between accents that have practical effects, which can kind of trick the eye.
Of all of the CGI, the one that has everyone in a tizzy the most is Reed's powers. We didn't see it much in the trailers, and I was pretty curious to see how it would work in the movie, and I'll be honest, this is where most of the CGI doesn't hold up. I honestly don't think super realistic stretching is going to look that good in live action. That being said, it works within the confines of this film, and I like how his powers were used in the movie. I found out that for Sue's powers, rather than relying 100% on CGI for the rainbow light refractions, projectors were used on set to create the light of her powers. With Ben, real rocks were filmed I different angles and under different lighting to give VFX artists references to make him look and feel real. Whenever he is on screen, he looks and feels like a tangible character, with the use of sound effects to mimic what his footsteps would sound like.
Score/Soundtrack
To me, there was no one else who could have done this score other than Michael Giacchino. And I am not just saying that because he is my favourite composer (okay, maybe I am), but this score perfectly fits the world that was created. And something that I find very interesting was that the main theme for the Fantastic Four was created before the movie was filmed. It is very rare for that to happen. What that tells me is that this move not only has its own distinct visual language but also auditory language as well. And the fact that the score is in 4/4 time is such a nice addition.
For me, this score is Michael Giacchino at his best. He can flex his creative muscles and bring something new and memorable to the MCU. Here's the main theme, so it can get stuck in your head the way it has been stuck in mine for weeks now.
Overall Thoughts
Having watched all the previous Fantastic Four movies over the past four weeks (I'll link them below), this one is the best not because of its quality or CGI, but because Fantastic Four: First Steps feels like a love letter to Marvel's First Family. Before I had seen the movie, I had seen a few comparisons to The Incredibles, and I understand where that comes from. Behind the superhero facade, this is a movie about family and what they will do to protect the ones they love. Something that The Incredibles does touch on.
Is this a return to form for the MCU? I don't know. It's not perfect, and I do wish it were a little longer at some points. What I do know is that this movie is a lot of fun and definitely worth the IMAX ticket, and I cannot wait to see it again soon.
New Rockstars also has a breakdown of the movie
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