Opinión de theislandcinephile

The Fantastic 4 - First Steps comes to lay a foundation for the new generation of age-old comics. Going in with low hopes, I was pleasantly surprised at the completeness of this film. This easily must be one of Marvel's best foundational films in years since the disbandment of their original gang. With a well-thought-out, uncomplicated storyline, and authentic characters - it was bound for success. Set in a vibrant retro-futuristic city, this story finds us on Earth-828. These superheroes, who were formerly astronauts, became mutants after exposure to cosmic rays from a rogue space mission. With fresh introductions, we are met with a team of superhumans named Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm. The premise of First Steps follows the rudimentary stages of this young team as they navigate being celebrities, superheroes, and human - two of which dehumanizes them. We are brought along as they face grandiose threats from Galactus, "The Destroyer of Worlds" and his heralder, Silver Surfer.

Built on a lovely foundation and stellar interpersonal relationships between characters - this is everything you would want from a re-introduction film. Each character is given depth, and we get to explore their temperament through their interactions with others and in external situations. Reed Richards, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, is evidently the head of the group and a leader in creating innovative technology. Even more than that, his relationship with his wife, Sue Storm, is a gentle partnership that is beautiful to behold. He does not seem to be well-suited for combat on the field, perhaps in the lab or a classroom. Sue, acted by Vanessa Kirby, is the matriarch of the group and head of the Future Foundation which calls for world peace and demilitarization around the world. She is one of the most powerful members of the four, a formidable force to be reckoned with and the sister to Johnny Storm. Johnny, played by Joseph Quinn, is surprisingly intelligent. Usually, comic relief characters are left to be bumbling airheads, however he operates as a self-sacrificing, womanizing, polyglot that can manage threatening situations. Similarly, Ebon Moss-Bachrach portrays Ben Grimm, also called the Thing. Grimm functions as comic relief but with a heart made of flesh. Despite his rocky exterior, he has a lot of love to give to his team and his community. The poignant scenes between these characters helped to establish their temperaments and the actors did a stellar job in showcasing this.

Technically, the costumes fit the 1960s style era with plaids, pinafore dresses, and sweater vests. Even the set design managed to be crafted well, and not too pristine and unlived in. The film's score was arranged by Michael Giacchino, who is a prominent composer from some of the most memorable soundtracks of the 21st century - The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, and one of my personal favorites - Bad Times at the El Royale. It was very fitting to utilize his compositions for this superhero movie as he has a distinct ability capture the feel of heroism. The storyline was uncomplicated albeit a bit predictable, but not an issue as it operated a bit linearly. Due to the lack of multiple sub-plots, the audience had been given more time to get acquainted with the characters. The writing for the film seemed a bit average with a few jokes sprinkled in. Also, it was greatly appreciated to see formidable villains being an actual threat to the safety of these heroes.

Marvel struggled greatly to find their footing after their ultimate film after phase three had wrapped. As a foundational film to usher in a new set of heroes, The Fantastic Four - First Steps is a strong start. With characters you can love, a good story, and good production - there is so much potential for this upcoming franchise.