Mini
Review
by Mike Pingel
This weekend the
Fantastic 4 will begin to burn up theaters! The film is
packed with non-stop action and 4 of the hottest superheroes ever to
hit the screen. The film is based on Marvel Comic long
running comic book series Fantastic 4. The new film shows some
ultra fantastic special effects, such as Johnny Storm with his fiery
powers, and a very rubbery man!
The cast
if fun to watch as they explore their new "super" abilities
and their funny interaction between the characters.
Fantastic
4 is this summers guilty pleasure. It's one
"fantastic" film.
More
on the film....
Inventor, astronaut and scientist Dr.
Reed Richards’ (Ioan Gruffudd) lifelong dream is close to being
realized. He is spearheading a trip to outer space, to the center of a
cosmic storm. There he hopes to unlock the secrets of the human
genetic codes for the benefit of all humanity.
Extensive government grant cutbacks nearly dashed the visionary’s
hopes of the historic flight, until Reed accepted a financing deal
with his old college rival, Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon), now a
billionaire industrialist.
Reed’s crew for the mission includes his best friend, astronaut Ben
Grimm (Michael Chiklis); Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), Von Doom’s
director of genetic research and Reed’s ex-girlfriend; and Sue’s
hot-headed younger brother, pilot Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). With
benefactor Von Doom in tow, the four set off for the exploration of a
lifetime.
The mission is uneventful – until Reed discovers a miscalculation of
the speed of the approaching storm. Within minutes, the event
threshold is upon them. The space station is engulfed by turbulent
clouds of cosmic radiation which genetically transforms the crew.
Their DNA is irrevocably altered…and so is their future.
Back on earth, the effects of the exposure are quickly revealed. Reed
gains the ability to stretch and contort his body into any shape he
can imagine and, as leader of the group, is given the name Mr.
Fantastic; Sue is able to render herself invisible and to create and
project powerful force fields as Invisible Woman; Johnny becomes known
as The Human Torch, as he can now engulf his body in flames and take
flight at will; and Ben, whose freakish transmutation is the most
shocking, becomes an orange-colored, rock-like, superhumanly strong
creature, The Thing.
Together, they turn tragedy into triumph and catastrophe into
coalition, using their unique and formidable powers to thwart the evil
plans of their now steely-eyed, iron-fisted nemesis Dr. Doom and to
protect the citizens of New York City against any threat that may
arise.
Astronauts. Superheroes. Celebrities. To the world, they are the
Fantastic Four. To each other, they are a family.
Fantastic
4 hits theaters Friday, July 8 nationwide
History of Fan with Stan Lee
The “fantastic” phenomenon began 44 years ago, when Marvel
Comics’ publisher Martin Goodman, after playing a round of golf with
an industry competitor, decided to move forward with an intriguing
idea. Goodman shared it with the legendary comics writer Stan Lee.
“Martin said to me ‘Why don’t you create a team of
superheroes?’” recalls Lee. “So, with Jack Kirby, we created the
Fantastic Four and over four decades later it remains the jewel in the
Marvel crown.”
Lee wanted his superheroes to be real people without secret
identities. “I wanted to create them as if they were real people
living amongst us in the real world who just happened to have super
powers,” he says. “They are the first family of superheroes, four
people who live and work together like a family. We hadn’t seen a
relationship like that in the comics prior to Fantastic Four and it
made them very unique and very popular among the fans.
For Stan Lee, seeing this comic book come to life is truly a
“Marvel-ous” feeling. “It’s thrilling really,” says Lee.
“Fox has wanted to make this movie for a long time. I’m glad they
waited for the right story and the right technology. They certainly
got the perfect cast and it’s all going to be up there on the big
silver screen…the humor, the drama, the adventure, the action, the
fun…all the things that make them so fantastic.”
Marvel Comics and Stan Lee may have named their cutting edge comic
book series Fantastic Four, but there is a vital fifth wheel in the
series that helped make it one of the most successful of the genre: übervillain
Victor Von Doom, a.k.a Dr. Doom.
“We were lucky enough to be able to dream up some great villains,”
says Stan Lee, “and I think that Dr. Doom was one of my all-time
greatest creations as a villain. He was as bigger-than-life as our
four heroes. They didn’t fight muggers or jaywalkers or litterbugs;
they fought guys like Doom.”
Fantastic Four Animated
Series
NOW ON DVD
At long last, THE FANTASTIC FOUR® arrives
on DVD in a spectacular 4-disc DVD set. Featuring the complete 1994-1995 animated
television series. Relive all 26 action-packed, animated episodes, complete with exclusive episode
introductions by Stan Lee. It’s a fantastic DVD collection you’ll want to experience over
and over again.
Learn the origin of The Fantastic Four®, and be there as Mr. Fantastic®, The Invisible Woman®, the Human
Torch® and The Thing® save the world from the dastardly Doctor Doom® and a legion of
villains.
DVD bonus features: Stan Lee’s "Soapbox” Wit and wisdom from comics legend and Fantastic Four® co-creator Stan Lee plus episode introductions by Stan Lee
The Fantastic
4 hits theaters this Friday, July 8 nationwide
