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Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

Hindustan Times

time7 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Hindustan Times

Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

More than six decades after Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a superhero team to rival the Justice League, the Fantastic Four finally get a worthy big-screen adaption in a spiffy '60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism. Movie Review: The villains steal the show in 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' Though the Fantastic Four go to the very origins of Marvel Comics, their movie forays have been marked by missteps and disappointments. The first try was a Roger Corman-produced, low-budget 1994 film that was never even released. But, after some failed reboots and a little rights maneuvering, Matt Shakman's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is the first Fantastic Four movie released by Marvel Studios. And a sense of returning to Marvel roots permeates this one, an endearingly earnest superhero drama about family and heroism, filled with modernist 'Jetsons' designs that hark back to a time when the future held only promise. 'First Steps,' with a title that nods to Neil Armstrong, quickly reminds that before the Fantastic Four were superheroes, they were astronauts. Reed Richards , Sue Storm , Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm flew into space but return altered by cosmic rays. 'We came back with anomalies,' explains Reed, sounding like me after a family road trip. They are now, respectively, the bendy Mister Fantastic, the fast-disappearing Invisible Woman, the fiery Human Torch and the Thing, a craggy CGI boulder of a man. In the glimpses of them as astronauts, the images are styled after NASA footage of Apollo 11, like those seen in the great documentaries 'For All Mankind' and 'Apollo 11.' But part of the fun of the Fantastic Four has always been that while the foursome might have the right stuff, they also bicker and joke and argue like any other family. The chemistry here never feels intimate enough in 'First Steps' to quite capture that interplay, but the cast is good, particularly Kirby. In the first moments of 'First Steps,' Sue sets down a positive pregnancy test before a surprised Reed. That night at dinner — Moss-Bachrach, now an uncle rather than a cousin, is again at work in the kitchen — Ben and Johnny immediately guess what's up. The rest of the world is also eager to find out what, if any, powers the baby will have. We aren't quite in our world, but a very similar parallel one called Earth-828. New York looks about the same, and world leaders gather in a version of the United Nations named the Future Foundation. The Thing wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Someone sounding a lot like Walter Cronkite reads the news. And there's a lot to read when the Silver Surfer suddenly hovers over the city, announcing: 'I herald your end. I herald Galactus.' The TV blares, as it could on so many days: 'Earth in Peril. Developing Story.' Yes, the Earth might be in danger, but did you get a look at that Silver Surfer? That's Johnny Storm's response, and perhaps ours, too. She's all chrome, like a smelted Chrysler Building, with slicked-back hair and melancholy eyes. He's immediately taken by her, but she shoots off into space. In a rousing, NASA-like launch , the Fantastic Four blast off into the unknown to meet this Galactus. But if the Silver Surfer made an impression, Galactus does even more so. Fantastic Four movies have always before gone straight for Doctor Doom as a villain, but his entrance, this time, is being held up for 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Still, Galactus, a planet-eating tyrant, is no slouch. A mechanical colossus and evident fan of Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis,' he sits on an enormous throne in space. Sensing enormous power in Sue's unborn child, he offers to spare Earth for the baby. What follows casts motherhood — its empowerments and sacrifices — onto a cosmic plane. There's a nifty chase sequence in space that plays out during contractions. The two 'Incredibles' movies covered some similar ground, in both retro design and stretchy parent and superhuman baby, with notably more zip and comic verve than 'The Fantastic Four.' That's part of the trouble of not getting a proper movie for so long: Better films have already come along inspired by the '60s comic. But as good as Vanessa Kirby is in 'First Steps,' the movie is never better than when the Silver Surfer or Galactus are around. Shakman, a former child actor who's directed mostly in television , proves especially adept at capturing the enormous scale of Galactus. 'First Steps' may be, at heart, a kaiju movie. What it certainly is, though, is a very solid comic book movie. It's a little surface over substance, and the time capsule feeling is pervasive. This is an earnest-enough superhero movie where even the angry mob protesting the superheroes turns quiet and pensive. I was more likely to be moved by a really handsome chalkboard than I was by its vision of motherhood. But, especially for a superhero team that's never before quite taken flight on screen, 'First Steps' is a sturdy beginning, with impeccable production design by Kasra Farahani and a rousing score by Michael Giacchino. Even if the unifying space-age spirit of Kirby and Lee's comic feels very long ago, indeed. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for action/violence and some language. Running time: 115 minutes. Three stars out of four. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.

Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

Winnipeg Free Press

time9 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Winnipeg Free Press

Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

More than six decades after Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a superhero team to rival the Justice League, the Fantastic Four finally get a worthy big-screen adaption in a spiffy '60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism. Though the Fantastic Four go to the very origins of Marvel Comics, their movie forays have been marked by missteps and disappointments. The first try was a Roger Corman-produced, low-budget 1994 film that was never even released. But, after some failed reboots and a little rights maneuvering, Matt Shakman's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is the first Fantastic Four movie released by Marvel Studios. And a sense of returning to Marvel roots permeates this one, an endearingly earnest superhero drama about family and heroism, filled with modernist 'Jetsons' designs that hark back to a time when the future held only promise. 'First Steps,' with a title that nods to Neil Armstrong, quickly reminds that before the Fantastic Four were superheroes, they were astronauts. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (a soulful Ebon Moss-Bachrach) flew into space but return altered by cosmic rays. 'We came back with anomalies,' explains Reed, sounding like me after a family road trip. They are now, respectively, the bendy Mister Fantastic, the fast-disappearing Invisible Woman, the fiery Human Torch and the Thing, a craggy CGI boulder of a man. In the glimpses of them as astronauts, the images are styled after NASA footage of Apollo 11, like those seen in the great documentaries 'For All Mankind' and 'Apollo 11.' But part of the fun of the Fantastic Four has always been that while the foursome might have the right stuff, they also bicker and joke and argue like any other family. The chemistry here never feels intimate enough in 'First Steps' to quite capture that interplay, but the cast is good, particularly Kirby. In the first moments of 'First Steps,' Sue sets down a positive pregnancy test before a surprised Reed. That night at dinner — Moss-Bachrach, now an uncle rather than a cousin, is again at work in the kitchen — Ben and Johnny immediately guess what's up. The rest of the world is also eager to find out what, if any, powers the baby will have. We aren't quite in our world, but a very similar parallel one called Earth-828. New York looks about the same, and world leaders gather in a version of the United Nations named the Future Foundation. The Thing wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Someone sounding a lot like Walter Cronkite reads the news. And there's a lot to read when the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) suddenly hovers over the city, announcing: 'I herald your end. I herald Galactus.' The TV blares, as it could on so many days: 'Earth in Peril. Developing Story.' Yes, the Earth (or some Earth) might be in danger, but did you get a look at that Silver Surfer? That's Johnny Storm's response, and perhaps ours, too. She's all chrome, like a smelted Chrysler Building, with slicked-back hair and melancholy eyes. He's immediately taken by her, but she shoots off into space. In a rousing, NASA-like launch (the original Kirby and Lee comic came eight years before the moon landing), the Fantastic Four blast off into the unknown to meet this Galactus. But if the Silver Surfer made an impression, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) does even more so. Fantastic Four movies have always before gone straight for Doctor Doom as a villain, but his entrance, this time, is being held up for 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Still, Galactus, a planet-eating tyrant, is no slouch. A mechanical colossus and evident fan of Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis,' he sits on an enormous throne in space. Sensing enormous power in Sue's unborn child, he offers to spare Earth for the baby. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. What follows casts motherhood — its empowerments and sacrifices — onto a cosmic plane. There's a nifty chase sequence in space that plays out during contractions. The two 'Incredibles' movies covered some similar ground, in both retro design and stretchy parent and superhuman baby, with notably more zip and comic verve than 'The Fantastic Four.' That's part of the trouble of not getting a proper movie for so long: Better films have already come along inspired by the '60s comic. But as good as Vanessa Kirby is in 'First Steps,' the movie is never better than when the Silver Surfer or Galactus are around. Shakman, a former child actor who's directed mostly in television (most relevantly, 'WandaVision' ), proves especially adept at capturing the enormous scale of Galactus. 'First Steps' may be, at heart, a kaiju movie. What it certainly is, though, is a very solid comic book movie. It's a little surface over substance, and the time capsule feeling is pervasive. This is an earnest-enough superhero movie where even the angry mob protesting the superheroes turns quiet and pensive. I was more likely to be moved by a really handsome chalkboard than I was by its vision of motherhood. But, especially for a superhero team that's never before quite taken flight on screen, 'First Steps' is a sturdy beginning, with impeccable production design by Kasra Farahani and a rousing score by Michael Giacchino. Even if the unifying space-age spirit of Kirby and Lee's comic feels very long ago, indeed. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for action/violence and some language. Running time: 115 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

Hamilton Spectator

time9 hours ago

  • Entertainment
  • Hamilton Spectator

Movie Review: The villains steal the show in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

More than six decades after Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created a superhero team to rival the Justice League, the Fantastic Four finally get a worthy big-screen adaption in a spiffy '60s-era romp, bathed in retrofuturism and bygone American optimism. Though the Fantastic Four go to the very origins of Marvel Comics, their movie forays have been marked by missteps and disappointments. The first try was a Roger Corman-produced, low-budget 1994 film that was never even released. But, after some failed reboots and a little rights maneuvering, Matt Shakman's 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' is the first Fantastic Four movie released by Marvel Studios. And a sense of returning to Marvel roots permeates this one, an endearingly earnest superhero drama about family and heroism, filled with modernist 'Jetsons' designs that hark back to a time when the future held only promise. 'First Steps,' with a title that nods to Neil Armstrong, quickly reminds that before the Fantastic Four were superheroes, they were astronauts. Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm (Joseph Quinn) and Ben Grimm (a soulful Ebon Moss-Bachrach) flew into space but return altered by cosmic rays. 'We came back with anomalies,' explains Reed, sounding like me after a family road trip. They are now, respectively, the bendy Mister Fantastic, the fast-disappearing Invisible Woman, the fiery Human Torch and the Thing, a craggy CGI boulder of a man. In the glimpses of them as astronauts, the images are styled after NASA footage of Apollo 11, like those seen in the great documentaries 'For All Mankind' and 'Apollo 11.' But part of the fun of the Fantastic Four has always been that while the foursome might have the right stuff, they also bicker and joke and argue like any other family. The chemistry here never feels intimate enough in 'First Steps' to quite capture that interplay, but the cast is good, particularly Kirby. In the first moments of 'First Steps,' Sue sets down a positive pregnancy test before a surprised Reed. That night at dinner — Moss-Bachrach, now an uncle rather than a cousin, is again at work in the kitchen — Ben and Johnny immediately guess what's up. The rest of the world is also eager to find out what, if any, powers the baby will have. We aren't quite in our world, but a very similar parallel one called Earth-828. New York looks about the same, and world leaders gather in a version of the United Nations named the Future Foundation. The Thing wears a Brooklyn Dodgers cap. Someone sounding a lot like Walter Cronkite reads the news. And there's a lot to read when the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner) suddenly hovers over the city, announcing: 'I herald your end. I herald Galactus.' The TV blares, as it could on so many days: 'Earth in Peril. Developing Story.' Yes, the Earth (or some Earth) might be in danger, but did you get a look at that Silver Surfer? That's Johnny Storm's response, and perhaps ours, too. She's all chrome, like a smelted Chrysler Building, with slicked-back hair and melancholy eyes. He's immediately taken by her, but she shoots off into space. In a rousing, NASA-like launch (the original Kirby and Lee comic came eight years before the moon landing), the Fantastic Four blast off into the unknown to meet this Galactus. But if the Silver Surfer made an impression, Galactus (voiced by Ralph Ineson) does even more so. Fantastic Four movies have always before gone straight for Doctor Doom as a villain, but his entrance, this time, is being held up for 'Avengers: Doomsday.' Still, Galactus, a planet-eating tyrant, is no slouch. A mechanical colossus and evident fan of Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis,' he sits on an enormous throne in space. Sensing enormous power in Sue's unborn child, he offers to spare Earth for the baby. What follows casts motherhood — its empowerments and sacrifices — onto a cosmic plane. There's a nifty chase sequence in space that plays out during contractions. The two 'Incredibles' movies covered some similar ground, in both retro design and stretchy parent and superhuman baby, with notably more zip and comic verve than 'The Fantastic Four.' That's part of the trouble of not getting a proper movie for so long: Better films have already come along inspired by the '60s comic. But as good as Vanessa Kirby is in 'First Steps,' the movie is never better than when the Silver Surfer or Galactus are around. Shakman, a former child actor who's directed mostly in television (most relevantly, 'WandaVision' ), proves especially adept at capturing the enormous scale of Galactus. 'First Steps' may be, at heart, a kaiju movie. What it certainly is, though, is a very solid comic book movie. It's a little surface over substance, and the time capsule feeling is pervasive. This is an earnest-enough superhero movie where even the angry mob protesting the superheroes turns quiet and pensive. I was more likely to be moved by a really handsome chalkboard than I was by its vision of motherhood. But, especially for a superhero team that's never before quite taken flight on screen, 'First Steps' is a sturdy beginning, with impeccable production design by Kasra Farahani and a rousing score by Michael Giacchino. Even if the unifying space-age spirit of Kirby and Lee's comic feels very long ago, indeed. 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps,' a Walt Disney Co. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association for action/violence and some language. Running time: 115 minutes. Three stars out of four.

Behold the Distressingly Blue Mozzarella Stick Disneyland Will Sell You to Celebrate ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Behold the Distressingly Blue Mozzarella Stick Disneyland Will Sell You to Celebrate ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps'

Gizmodo

timea day ago

  • Entertainment
  • Gizmodo

Behold the Distressingly Blue Mozzarella Stick Disneyland Will Sell You to Celebrate ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps'

A new movie inevitably means new tie-in food, especially at a theme park operated by a studio hoping to cash in on its latest release. The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters this week and is therefore in its prime time for this kind of marketing. We've all seen and/or shuddered at the blue Pop-Tarts, the questionable Little Caesars pizza, and the blue milk—but Disney Parks has just entered the chat with its own color-coordinated munchies. The top image seen here is the most startling item by far. Disney Parks Blog offers a description much milder than the visual. Behold the 'Fantastic Elastic Mozzarella Stick,' an edible homage to Reed Richards' stretchy powers. There's no mention of which ingredient goes into making its exterior that particular hue, but Mister Fantastic's severed limb does come with a side of sour cream and onion ranch. You can find the mozzarella stick at Pym's Test Kitchen at Disney California Adventure's Avengers Campus, which also happens to be home to the other notable menu item: 'Invisible Indulgence,' a nod to Sue Storm, described as 'clear lemon pie with a shortbread crust, whipped cream, and meringue pieces.' Would you call this clear? Close enough? You'll have to head to Disneyland Paris to get a Johnny Storm-specific item: a mocktail (one of many new, specialty Fantastic Four drinks) called the 'Flame On' (what else?) that's made with 'mango nectar, lime drink, Paragon Timur Berry flavor cordial, cinnamon roll flavor, blood orange syrup, and Sprite.' But back in Disneyland, you can salute the Thing at multiple food outlets by picking up the 'Clobberin' Sipper' to efficiently clobber your thirst and maybe your little brother if he gets out of line: These limited-time offerings arrive July 24 to ride the wave of Fantastic Four: First Steps hype; head to the Disney Parks Blog to see what's coming to Disneyland Resort (other than the above, nothing notably blue or invisible), Disneyland Paris (mostly drinks), and Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (just a popcorn cup). Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.

Pizza Hut Singapore's Cheesy 7 is back, with a new creation inspired by Marvel's Fantastic Four
Pizza Hut Singapore's Cheesy 7 is back, with a new creation inspired by Marvel's Fantastic Four

CNA

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • CNA

Pizza Hut Singapore's Cheesy 7 is back, with a new creation inspired by Marvel's Fantastic Four

Marvel fans, get ready for a supercharged pizza party. The best-selling Cheesy 7 pizzas are back at Pizza Hut Singapore for a limited time in celebration of the upcoming Marvel Studios blockbuster, The Fantastic Four: First Steps. From now until Sep 7, indulge in the Cheesy 7 creations, stacked with a blend of seven cheeses – cheddar, mozzarella, provolone, Monterey Jack, parmesan, edam, and cream cheese – for the ultimate melt-in your-mouth experience. On top of the usual Cheesy 7 Original and Hawaiian, there's the new Cheesy 7 Quadro pizza that's inspired by the latest Marvel blockbuster, opening in Singapore on Jul 24. The limited-edition Cheesy 7 Quadro pizza is a large 12-inch creation featuring four mouthwatering sauces: Cheese, hot honey, truffle and BBQ, each inspired by the powers of the Fantastic Four characters. The cheese drizzle is a nod to Mr Fantastic Reed Richards' superhuman ability to stretch across far distances; the hot honey sauce is subtle at first but delivers a powerful impact, much like Sue Storm's ability to turn invisible; the rich truffle drizzle will appeal to fans of Johnny Storm's fiery charisma and love for adventure; and the hearty BBQ drizzle was inspired by Ben Grimm's rugged exterior and strength. You can double the fun with the new Cheesy 7 Splitza, available exclusively in a 9-inch regular size. This unique creation lets you combine two flavour combos in one pizza, offering the ultimate way to share, mix and savour every bite of the Fantastic Four-inspired drizzles. Complete your meal with new, must-try sides available only during this limited period: Hot honey beef pepperoni melts with jalapeno, hot honey wings, swicy waffles with spicy chicken pop and the cheesy snack platter.

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