A Satisfying Marvel "Origins of the Fantastic Four" Issue!

Rating: 5/10 (27 July 2007)

This movie focuses on the origins of the Fantastic Four, and ends with their first defeat of Dr. Doom. For some it may have been too slow in getting to the FX action we're so used to expecting in high budget 'popcorn' films. But for me, someone who read all the current Marvel comics while I was living in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco when I was a college student during the mid 60s, this film totally conveyed the dialog and feelings of the characters, the team action sequences,and the anticipation from the 'continued next issue' endings of the "Fantastic Four" comics.
Although I never read the origin of Dr. Doom (so I don't know if the film was 'accurate' in this and the Victor-Sue back story), the whole rest of the film was an accurate visualization of the comic book series for me. It was made for the fans. This film, like the first "Spiderman," was character focused.
All of the Four were richly drawn, and were improved extensions of the comic book characters: outstanding were Jessica Alba, making Invisible Girl a much stronger and fuller presence than I remembered her as in the comic, and Michael Chiklis as the Thing, perfectly capturing his pain and humor. I'd say they carried the film, but Chris Evans as the punky, slightly arrogant Johnny Storm, and Ioan Gruffud, as the wuss scientist who transforms to be the Four's leader, get good screen time and complement / off set the other two, making for an interesting quartet of "Super Heroes."
The only weak spot: Julian McMahon as Dr. Doom. His powers and their display were good, but in these days of great voices like Patrick Stewart, James Earl Jones and and Ian McKeller, Doom just didn't sound evil enough. Since Von Doom was from a foreign country, at least he could have had a foreign accent to make him more 'alien.'
Everything in the film, and all the little touches (I'd forgotten about Alicia, Ben's blind girlfriend), showed the respect of the film makers (and Stan the Man Lee himself) for the content and the fans. Having the Fantastic Four work together, surrounding Dr. Doom in a circle using their combined powers in concert to defeat him was a perfect touch-- that's the way they did it in the great issues.
At the end, when Dr. Doom's ship leaves for Latveria, like the closing panel of a Fantastic Four issue, others may have felt it ended too soon, because there had only been one 'battle,' but for me it was a highly satisfactory origin issue, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next issue... "It's Action Time!"
So what am I trying to say? Simply that watching this movie made me feel like I was reading one of the great Fantastic Four comics! Thank you, Stan!