Disappointing adaption of the classic superhero comic

Rating: 5/10 (16 July 2005)

It's hardly a new or original observation to say that comic book conversions are very much a hit or miss affair. Films like Batman Begins show the better side, Elektra the worse. This film is somewhere between those two extremes.
The start of these franchises are always a bit tricky, characters that have been around (in this case for more than half a century) have to quickly be conveyed to an audience that most likely know nothing about them.
There is nothing fatally wrong about the film, the acting is a bit subpar for everyone except The Thing. The Doctor Doom character is rather laughable as a villain and doesn't really resemble the comic villain at all - and despite being a rich billionaire with plenty to lose, he goes totally crazy.
The effects are of the level you'd expect from a summer blockbuster - the Thing makeup is actually pretty impressive. The forcefields, flaming and stretching are all pretty good - although clearly CGI.
The humour is actually surprisingly not awful. It won't have you rolling in the aisles but it generally illicits a smile and doesn't usually fall flat on its face.
So overall, it's not too horrible but it just falls short of the mark. Probably too much empty talking and not quite enough super powered action and shabby acting. Anyway, it's not too bad and if you like comics, it's worth watching.