Fantastic Four (2005)

[Dark Raven]

Discuss the original FF movie here.

I hate what they did with Doom and developing his metallic skin and electricity powers. I think McMahon was a real piece of miscasting.

I just wonder how this movie would've been had they not had to soup things up because of the Incredibles that came out the same year. What would the action have been like?

[C. Lee]

McMahon seems to be a decent actor, but I have to agree that he was wrong for the role. He came off more smarmy than anything. The lack of accent didn't help either, but that could have been him or the director (I don't remember if it was said why they didn't use an accent).

I liked Ioun from the Horatio Hornblower movies, but he didn't seem quite right for Reed either. The having to strain to see the grey hair in his temples didn't help with his characterization either. He did Ok with what he had.

I personally had no problem with Alba in the first movie. She looked fine, and did good as Sue (as she was written).

I like Chickliss, but would have preferred a CGI rendering of him. If nothing else, some trickery to make him look bigger (and of course have a more pronounced brow).

[Dark Raven]

I think Chiklis or maybe Story himself didn't want the pronounced brow, wanting to see more of his face. The makeup department could easily have given him that brow.

[C. Lee]

Didn't matter who wanted it, it was the wrong move to make. It didn't bother me enough to rant about it like some did....but I can acknowledge it was the wrong move. I heard too many people (on here and in general) who said he looked like a burn survivor. The larger brow would have made him look less like a burn victim and more like the THING.

[Willie Lumpkin]

Originally Posted by C. Lee

I liked Ioun from the Horatio Hornblower movies, but he didn't seem quite right for Reed either. The having to strain to see the grey hair in his temples didn't help with his characterization either. He did Ok with what he had.

In terms of casting, I think Ioun was the most questionable move, but I also thought his Lancelot showed that he could project the kind of strength and confidence that all of us wish we had seen. I think that Tim Story told him to play it more geeky. I think that poor guidance combined with his discomfort with the American accent caused problems that Ioun may have been able to overcome under better circumstances.

The Thing suit in the 2nd film was FAR better than the first. If it had looked like that in the first, I think there would have been very little controversy.

But while we can point to a lot of the little details and small things they could have done better, I've come to the conclusion that there were two big problems that were the primary reasons it just didn't work.

1. Tim Story was just wrong for the project. He was never able to bring anything close to the right 'feel' to the whole project. On paper, many of the key elements seemed to be there, but they just didn't come across and I think we have to hold the vision and ability TS brought to the table for that difficult to define, but clearly 'off' subtleties.

2. The story was too small. We didn't really see the greatest superhero team ever on the big screen, but rather saw a group of 'victims'. The final battle was contrived and there was no clear threat communicated beyond that to the four. What would have happened if Doom won the battle? We all know the world would be in trouble, but we don't know that because the film told us. We know that because we know Doom from the comics. Ironically, I think TS was actually a little better at telling the story of the first film than the 2nd. The second film had some real potential in terms of what was going on, but TS told it in a small way.

[Gabe99]

From CBM:
FANTASTIC FOUR Concept Art: Unconventional Designs For Dr. Doom & The Thing

In the past, visual effects guru, Steven Johnson and his XFX studio, made a pitch to 20th Century Fox to be the special effects team for a Fantastic Four film. This was before the Tim Story film was made, and at that time Nicolas Cage was penciled in to play the role of the main villain, Doctor Victor Von Doom. Steve has now released has put these images up for sale on EBay. You can see Constantine Sekeris' designs for Dr. Doom and The Thing below, or click here to see even more concept art and a bizarre mechanical arm conceived for the ruthless ruler of Latveria.

FANTASTIC FOUR: Bizarre Dr. Doom Prototype Arm; Plus Nicolas Cage Concept Art

[bubbadoom]

Originally Posted by Willie Lumpkin

In terms of casting, I think Ioun was the most questionable move, but I also thought his Lancelot showed that he could project the kind of strength and confidence that all of us wish we had seen. I think that Tim Story told him to play it more geeky. I think that poor guidance combined with his discomfort with the American accent caused problems that Ioun may have been able to overcome under better circumstances.

The Thing suit in the 2nd film was FAR better than the first. If it had looked like that in the first, I think there would have been very little controversy.

But while we can point to a lot of the little details and small things they could have done better, I've come to the conclusion that there were two big problems that were the primary reasons it just didn't work.

1. Tim Story was just wrong for the project. He was never able to bring anything close to the right 'feel' to the whole project. On paper, many of the key elements seemed to be there, but they just didn't come across and I think we have to hold the vision and ability TS brought to the table for that difficult to define, but clearly 'off' subtleties.

2. The story was too small. We didn't really see the greatest superhero team ever on the big screen, but rather saw a group of 'victims'. The final battle was contrived and there was no clear threat communicated beyond that to the four. What would have happened if Doom won the battle? We all know the world would be in trouble, but we don't know that because the film told us. We know that because we know Doom from the comics. Ironically, I think TS was actually a little better at telling the story of the first film than the 2nd. The second film had some real potential in terms of what was going on, but TS told it in a small way.

While I am not disagreeing with you about the Thing in part 2 - I liked his look better too - what about it do you find to be an improvement since it's pretty much the same design?

I know it was re-sculpted and the color was more vivid - or comic bookish if you will - but I was curious what you thought made it better.

[Mr. Wooden Alligator]

I LOVE those concept arts.

[Spider-Aziz]

I like this movie, don't have an issue with the lack of (stereotypical?) accent
I don't like the idea of Sue being able to bend the light around her, but not being able to make her clothes go invisible

[Dark Raven]

Originally Posted by Spider-Aziz

I like this movie, don't have an issue with the lack of (stereotypical?) accent
I don't like the idea of Sue being able to bend the light around her, but not being able to make her clothes go invisible

I think that was just done for titilation, just to get Jessica Alba naked.

[*Whiplash*]

I actually watched this last night and it has been a long time since my last viewing.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I thought McMahon was the best thing about it.

[C. Lee]

Originally Posted by *Whiplash*

I actually watched this last night and it has been a long time since my last viewing.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I thought McMahon was the best thing about it.

An actor can do a good job playing the part he is given......but I think most people complain about his part because it was not the Doctor Doom that is in the comics.

[*Whiplash*]

That's where I'm at a disadvantage, not read a single FF comic ever.