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Matthew Wood, Pedro Pascal, Ralph Ineson, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Julia Garner, Vanessa Kirby, and Joseph Quinn in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025)

Review by jacksongaming-80094

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

9/10

Marvel Magic

This was easily my most anticipated film of the year and to be honest, the one I was most nervous about. I've loved Marvel for as long as I can remember, and I always will. But post-Endgame, I couldn't shake the feeling that every new release was just another stepping stone to the next big crossover event. Instead of telling complete, meaningful stories, they often felt more like teases and winks rather than charecter based storytelling.

Now Fantastic Four on paper should have been the worst affected by this phenomenon, serving as the direct predecessor to Avengers Doomsday. But surprisingly (and thankfully), it breaks that pattern.

This film is a soulful audiovisual experience that feels complete and satisfying, while still managing to lay the groundwork for what's to come. At just 110 minutes, it's a tighter runtime than we're used to, yet it gives so much space for the characters to breathe. Nearly half of the film is dedicated to dialogue-driven scenes that let us truly get to know the team. These moments aren't filler, they're the emotional foundation that makes everything else land harder. Honestly, the character work is so strong that I found myself wanting more quiet scenes and fewer battles, a rare feeling for a superhero movie.

That said, the action doesn't disappoint. Not at all. The set pieces and choreography are among the most inventive we've seen in recent Marvel entries. Combine that with some truly revolutionary breathtaking VFX, and the result is nothing short of jaw-dropping. It's kinetic, clever, and completely engaging without ever feeling bloated or excessive.

What really stands out, though, is the film's unique visual style. The retro aesthetic gives the world a personality all its own - bold, nostalgic, and refreshingly distinct from the over-polished look we've come to expect from MCU fare. The production design feels like it's channeling something older and more magical, and it works beautifully.

Watching Fantastic Four genuinely made me feel like I was back in the golden age of Marvel. I smiled through most of the runtime, not because it was fan-servicey or overly nostalgic, but because it reminded me of why I fell in love with these stories and these charecters in the first place.

And yes, let's talk about that post-credit scene. The entire theatre erupted. It was the loudest cheer I've heard since No Way Home. Marvel still knows how to bring the house down when it counts.

With this film, and Thunderbolts also showing real promise, I'm genuinely optimistic about Avengers: Doomsday. It feels good to be alive as a Marvel fan again.
  • jacksongaming-80094
  • Jul 24, 2025

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