Fantastic Sequel

Rating: 8/10 (16 June 2007)

For the record I realise that FF:ROTSS was not pretending or trying to be a serious, thought provoking film with subtle digs at the war in Iraq or the collapse of todays modern society. It wanted to be a fun, entertaining family summer movie and that is exactly what it was. The cast all play well of each other. This time around there seemed to be more Ben and Johnny, which was great for comedy value. The "rock slide" line had the audience (pretty much sold out) in stitches and it was really good to see the fun side of Ben. Ben seemed much more relaxed and had accepted his new lifestyle and powers 2nd time around. Bens relationship with Alicia was cute, I'm glad we got to see a bit more of her. As much as I liked The Thing in the first film, he really shone in the second one and I'm surprised at how much I enjoyed it when he was on screen. Reed was still as nerdy as ever. He took charge more this time around and was more of a team leader His speech were he tore shreds of the General was great fun to watch and yes I was so hot for him right then There had been a lot of bad vibes surround Jessica Alba as Sue, but I thought that they were unjustified. She never is going to be a fantastic (no pun) actress but she was fine here. There were rumours of another Jessica Alba underwear shot but all I saw was her naked shoulder when she was lying on the pavement unless of course I blinked and missed it. Her hair was OK. Her hair was not OK during the Japanese wedding scene. I didn't like the style. At least it will give all the hair haters some ammunition. I didn't quite know what to make of Johnny, at times I felt quite sympathetic towards him like when Reed shouted at him for almost getting every body killed and other times he came across as bratty. He still got all the fun lines through and he still was my favourite. He almost stole the show again but Ben and him were equal and his scenes with Sue were much better. The dad would be proud hug at the first wedding in the movie was sweet. I don't get Doom at all. I'm not experienced with the Fantastic Four comics but he is just a real weedy villain in this movie. Anyway Doom stole the board and got his butt kicked by Johnny and fell into a river never to be spoken of again. I'm sure he will be even more p'd off and turn up in the third one for even less screen time. The SS looked great and there is no denying that. The voice was fine. Some more action involving the SS would have been nice.We saw an awful lot of what he could do in the trailers so I felt a little bit let down with what screen time he actually got. The chase scene with Johnny seemed shorter in the film when I actually thought this scene would have been longer. I don't quite understand how he stopped Galactus and saved the world - but it looked good anyway and I've heard that it is all set up nicely for a SS spin off. We got a few snippets of back storey from SS but some more detail would have been nice. Alicia is a great character. I like the way she can completely see through Johnny and I hope that they keep Alicia and Bens relationship going into the next film. The General acted annoyed all through the movie and i enjoyed him being taken down a few pegs by Reed and had not much sympathy for him when he got fried by Doom. Surely if had the experience and intelligence to be a General in the United States army he could see right through Dooms oh so obvious evil scheme. He clearly didn't read the internal email about Doom being evil! The plot wasn't exactly taxing but it didn't matter as on the whole it seemed to be wrapped up nicely in the end complete with oriental wedding with the same Minister showing up in Japan - which was pretty funny! It was perhaps a bit to convenient that Doom woke up just as the SS arrived but that's timing for you. If Doom had the means and ability to speak to the SS face to face could he not have figured out how to knock him of his board by himself? How did Doom know where to meet the Surfer. The whole part with Doom joining the good guys just did not work for me at all. I was never sure about the Fantasticar as it always seemed cheesy to me but I am so glad I was proved wrong. The flying scenes were great to watch especially when it split into three parts! Johnny taking on everyone's powers looked cool. I don't understand how he managed to have all four powers at once but it doesn't really matter and his fight with Dooms was definitely the best in the movie. I thought that it was a bit on the short side though. Overall it was how all sequels should be - more action, more comedy and made on a grander scale! It set out what it intended to do very well I would give it 8 out of 10. It loses a point automatically for being a sequel and it losses another point for the whole Doom joining up with the General to capture the Surfer. I just didn't buy that at all. There will be haters of that movie, many of whom hated the movie before they even saw it, but it is definitely a solid, fun family movie!