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Fantastic Four (2005)
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Reviews Counted:195
Fresh:50
Rotten:145
Average Rating:4.5/10
Consensus: Fantastic Four is a goofy, mediocre entry in the superhero genre.
Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for sequences of intense action, and some suggestive content
Runtime: 2 hrs 3 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:22-07-2005
Synopsis: Inventor, astronaut and scientist Dr. Reed Richards' (Ioan Gruffudd) lifelong dream is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space, to the center of a cosmic storm. There he... Inventor, astronaut and scientist Dr. Reed Richards' (Ioan Gruffudd) lifelong dream is close to being realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space, to the center of a cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity. Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary's hopes of the historic flight, until Reed accepted a financing deal with his old college rival, Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon), now a billionaire industrialist. Reed's crew for the mission includes his best friend, astronaut Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis); Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Von Doom's director of genetic research and Reed's ex-girlfriend; and Sue's hot-headed younger brother, pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). With benefactor Von Doom in tow, the four set off for the exploration of a lifetime. The mission is uneventful – until Reed discovers a miscalculation of the speed of the approaching storm. Within minutes, the event threshold is upon them. The space station is engulfed by turbulent clouds of cosmic radiation which genetically transforms the crew. Their DNA is irrevocably altered…and so is their future. Back on earth, the effects of the exposure are quickly revealed. Reed gains the ability to stretch and contort his body into any shape he can imagine and, as leader of the group, is given the name Mr. Fantastic; Sue is able to render herself invisible and to create and project powerful force fields as Invisible Woman; Johnny becomes known as The Human Torch, as he can now engulf his body in flames and take flight at will; and Ben, whose freakish transmutation is the most shocking, becomes an orange-colored, rock-like, superhumanly strong creature, The Thing. Together, they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into coalition, using their unique and formidable powers to thwart the evil plans of their now steely-eyed, iron-fisted nemesis Dr. Doom and to protect the citizens of New York City against any threat that may arise. Astronauts. Superheroes. Celebrities. To the world, they are the Fantastic Four. To each other, they are a family. -- © 20th Century Fox [More]
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Laurie Holden, Hamish Linklater
Director: Tim Story
Director: Tim Story
Screenwriter: Mark Frost, Michael France
Producer: Bernd Eichinger, Avi Arad, Ralph Winter
Composer: John Ottman
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Fantastic Four
Reducing a summer blockbuster to the scale of a primetime sitcom is novel, but it isn't admirable.
The key to the success of Marvel Comics adaptations is that even as the characters have fantastic powers, they remain ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances.
Michael Chiklis won't have to put on that uncomfortable Thing outfit again.
A fun, fast and fantastically performed movie, and a pretty good interpretation of the comic
Despite a litany of co-branded products, the good folks at 20th Century Fox overlooked the two most important ones: a blindfold and a set of earplugs.
[L]ike a kiddie ride when I’ve been primed to expect the biggest, baddest, meanest emotional-roller coaster of a sexy action movie when it’s all about guys in tights.
...begins to feel like it comes from the one comic book even a comic-book geek would be embarrassed to be caught reading.
It exists largely to entertain and delight, which used to be precisely what summer blockbusters were engineered to do.
As total packaging, you can't deny that this show is handsomely wrapped.
It's done with an agreeable confidence and flair, the actors all fit comfortably in their roles and the effects are fun.
Fantastic Four falters most in its cynical approach. Obviously gearing for a sequel, the movie goes heavy on development and light on action.
If there was ever any doubt that action scenes depend more on context than flash, Fantastic Four proves it.
Right from the start the movie smells like a stinker because of its Z-grade casting. Worst of all is Julian McMahon, overacting as a Kevin Spacy-ish Dr. Doom.
Not the best movie of the summer, but it may the best accompaniment to popcorn.
Devotes as much time to a creaky love triangle as it does exploring the fantastic powers of its foursome. And that begs the question: Who goes to a movie like this looking for what is essentially a bad episode of Dawson's Creek?
A human rubber band, a transparent woman, a guy on fire, a walking rock pile, and a guy named Doom seem perfectly plausible in the funny books.On the big screen, not so much.
Even if you can get past the acting -- and in the case of the beautiful, blank Alba, that's asking a lot -- the film just sits there, not exactly torturous, but never very exciting, either.
Latest News for Fantastic Four
September 14, 2009:
Chris Evans Talks Scott Pilgrim, Fantastic Four Reboot ![]()
He was Johnny Storm in the "Fantastic Four" movies and he's got a role in the upcoming "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," so it's only natural that Chris Evans talked about both... More...
September 01, 2009:
Fox Pushes "Reboot" Button on Fantastic Four ![]()
"The Fantastic Four" will be the next superhero franchise to get the reboot treatment: Fox has hired Akiva Goldsman to produce an overhauled adaptation of the long-running... More...
March 13, 2009:
Weekly Ketchup: Fantastic Four to Get Reboot
This Week's Ketchup leads off with lots of big news for three of Marvel Comics' biggest properties (Thor, Iron Man and Fantastic Four), followed by sequels for Taken, Hard... More...
March 09, 2009:
A Reboot for Fantastic Four? ![]()
Could "Fantastic Four" be the next Marvel-inspired film franchise to get the reboot treatment? That's the word from IESB's sources, where it's said that the new version will... More...
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