Better but still not 'Fantastic'.

Rating: 4/10 (15 May 2008)

My take: Although better than the first, it's absolutely nothing to be wild about.
I wasn't exactly anticipated when I heard that they were releasing a sequel to 2005's FANTASTIC FOUR, for I didn't actually like that film. But still, I went out to see it on a premiere night during the last few days of the summer. Like I expected, the film is filled with special effects. Surprisingly though, it was better than the first film. Unlike the first, this sequel actually has a real villain, much more compelling than the banal Dr. Doom, who is still here and still played by Julian McMahon (but thankfully, not as major as in the original). The villain is actually a quite interesting character since it is actually given a back-story unlike the other characters. The comedy is is improved as well, and some are actually funny.
FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER is better than the first film, but it's still not a very good film on its own. The film is still mediocre when it came to writing a story and a bunch of interesting characters. The characters here are just the same forgettable pieces of cardboard cutouts in the first film. Besides fighting the arrival of the Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne) who has manipulated weather and produced mayhem at the process, Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic (Ioan Gruffud) and Sue Storm aka The Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba) are getting married, and their the target of many controversies. I don't give a damn! That pathetic subplot could have been removed and still create a movie, but only less as pathetic as it is right now.
As a special effects creation, The Silver Surfer is OK. As a matter of fact, had they centered the movie on the story of this character, I think it might have been better (might!). Instead, it centers on a bunch of uninteresting cardboard cutouts, not to mention the return of Chris Evans' overly annoying playboy Human Torch character. FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER is not a totally awful film, but I still can't recommend it higher than a worthy rental.
Rating: ** out of 5.