"Fantastic 4" delivers comic book action!!!

Rating: 6/10 (16 February 2006)

Few comic book action films live up to their billing but "Fantastic 4" provides great action sequences, CG & prosthetics, & better-than-average cinematography. A good cast in Ioan Gruffudd, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis(The Shield), Julian McMahon(Nip/Tuck), & the beautiful Jessica Alba. All of the actors mirror the Marvel Comic book heroes but McMahon's Dr. Von Doom, the story's villain. McMahon seemed a bit weak in his role due to a lack of enough "evil" displayed in his character. Michael Chiklis' Ben Grimm/The Thing steals the show with his soft-hearted & sensitive big man portrayal. Gruffudd is good as the studious & stretchy scientist Reed Richards, Chris Evans is excellent as impatient party monger Johnny Storm/Human Torch, & Jessica Alba fits well into her role as the brave & sexy Sue Storm/Invisible Woman.
In "Fantastic 4", the three astronauts Richards, siblings Sue & Johnny, & Grimm along with mega rich sponsor Victor Von Doom trek into space with disastrous results. Bombarded by cosmic radiation, all five people are transformed into super heroes to their surprise. After medical testing upon returning to Earth, each member discovers their new gifts & realizes the good that could come of them. Richards gained the ability to stretch his body to unbelievable lengths, Johnny could ignite himself into a human torch & could fly, Sue could create force fields & turn invisible, & Ben Grimm gained incredible strength & is encased in impenetrable rock. While three of the astronauts adapted to their gifts, Grimm was saddened by his gifts because of the horror his wife would endure once she sees him. The members decide to go to Richard's apartment to find a cure for their "gifts". After a major accident on a New York bridge, the newly dubbed Fantastic 4 rush to action to save citizens from peril. Meanwhile, Dr. Von Doom goes through changes of his own,...into the planet's worst & most lethal villain. Soon enough, the heroes & the super villain do battle for the planet with the Fantastic 4 prevailing.
"Fantastic 4" does Marvel Comics proud & provides a fact-paced action adventure from start to finish. A good soundtrack & wonderful special effects complete the film's appeal. Check this movie out, folks. "Fantastic 4" will not disappoint!!!