FF doesn't get near enough credit

[Kevin Roegele]

Fantastic Four is more successful that Hulk, but aims lower. FF basically is a clone of the first Spider-Man movie, but I'd argue it's superior.

 

[Malus]

The movie gets far too much credit IMO, it was poor and should have been A LOT better, and to say it is better than Hulk is a joke.

Then it's a joke with no punchline. They both suck.
But while FF was merely bland and diluted, the great character of the Hulk was freakin' raped and mangled by studio suits and know-nothing "screenwriters." They filled what should have been a dark but fun adventure film with sickening parental abuse psycho bullcrap that had very little to do with to anything ever done with the character. I'm well aware of the abusive father that Peter Davis added to his background, and that was okay, it made sense. But what they did to him in the movie - and the way they did it...It was so wrong.
Thematically, and in tone, the Bill Bixby/Ferrigno Hulk series was far superior. I'm not talkin' special effects here (Yes, the shots of the Hulk fighting the army were absolutely awesome)..I'm talking about quality and faithfulness to the source material. I can let my kids watch the Hulk tv show. I won't let them near the unrelenting bleakness in the Hulk movie til they're each over 10 years old.

I left Fantastic Four disappointed.
I left Hulk wanting to either slash my wrists or become Ang Lee's stalker.

Just kidding, Ang! I still love "The Ice Storm"; It's one of my top 10 favorite movies ever...And yet, you screwed up the Hulk, you arrogant DumbassUnlike most moviegoers, the reason *I* didn't go see "brokeback Mountain" was because your name was on it.

Why am I acting like Ang Lee is reading this newsgroup?

 

[webhead731]

I liked them both. I've said that before.

They both have problems but I enjoyed them. All I can hope for is that the sequels will be done right.

 

[Darthphere]

Im a big fan of Hulk. Was it dark? Sure. Was it different? Yeah. And thats why I liked it. It actually had some emotion in it, and it was a great psychological take on the Hulk. Instead of getting 2 hours of mindless Hulk Smash! we got soemthing worthwhile IMO. ANd thats why the movie failed IMO, people wanted mindless Hulk action and I believe we got something better than just a mindless action movie.

 

[Malus]

Im a big fan of Hulk. Was it dark? Sure. Was it different? Yeah. And thats why I liked it. It actually had some emotion in it, and it was a great psychological take on the Hulk. Instead of getting 2 hours of mindless Hulk Smash! we got soemthing worthwhile IMO. ANd thats why the movie failed IMO, people wanted mindless Hulk action and I believe we got something better than just a mindless action movie.

A "mindless action movie" wasn't the only other way to go. That would have been just as creatively bankrupt.

I was glad to hear Ang Lee had been tapped to direct. ("Wow, what an ingenious choice!") And when I first read Ang Lee's plans for the movie, I thought it sounded great.
But I never expected the bleak, twisted mess that we got in June 2003.

It just isn't the Hulk in my opinion.

I don't think any of the creators who labored over the Hulk's adventures for decades (even Peter David, who introduced the whole abusive father aspect) would have been happy with what we saw on the screen.

The Hulk's story is the darkest of all the classic marvel characters.
But it was never meant to be that dark, in my opinion.

I can sit with my 5 year old son and watch Spiderman 1 & 2, the Batman films, the Superman films, but not the Hulk. The Hulk goes places my little boy shouldn't have to go at his age. And that's a damn shame.

I'm not saying these films should be aimed at the kiddie crowd, but I see no reason why Hulk had to be as bleak and f ' ed up as it was.

I think Jack Kirby is still spinning in his grave over this one.

 

[Darthphere]

If Jack Kirby is spinning over anything it the first FF movie.

 

[Darthphere]

No but seriously, its all personal opinion.

 

[iceberg325]

Fantastic 4 was a really bad movie. I dont see anything good about the movie. I really tried to like this movie, but its really hard. When people discuss bad comic movies, FF should be mentioned. It is really bad!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone disagrees, please feel free to name off the pros of this movie.

 

[Malus]

If Jack Kirby is spinning over anything it the first FF movie.

I think he'd be unhappy with both of them. But as poorly executed as it was, FF was at least a movie the original FF demographic (i.e. kids) could watch and enjoy. I think he's spinning a little slower on that one.

My hope is that both franchises will soon see better days.

 

[Malus]

Fantastic 4 was a really bad movie. I dont see anything good about the movie. I really tried to like this movie, but its really hard. When people discuss bad comic movies, FF should be mentioned. It is really bad!!!!!!!!!!! If anyone disagrees, please feel free to name off the pros of this movie.

I really don't have time to do this properly at the moment, but I'll throw one REALLY big one out there:
Michael FREAKIN' Chiklis.
If any actor was ever born to play a specific character, it's this man.
In my opinion, only Christopher Reeve is in the same league.
Chiklis is Ben Grimm.

"I dont see anything good about the movie." Sheesh!

 

[Sardaukar]

Hulk was mediocre...but at least they tried!

They tried to make a good character drama with decent FX and a solid budget. They tried to take the subject matter seriously...and unfortunately they went overboard. Basically, the screenplay just needed a decent rewrite and it could have been a really good superhero flick, imo. It was a misfire, but I give credit for effort.

I can't do the same for FF.

 

[Obi-Ron]

Hulk was mediocre...but at least they tried!

They tried to make a good character drama with decent FX and a solid budget. They tried to take the subject matter seriously...and unfortunately they went overboard. Basically, the screenplay just needed a decent rewrite and it could have been a really good superhero flick, imo. It was a misfire, but I give credit for effort.

It helps to think of the movie as "Ang Lee's Hulk."

There are many versions of the Hulk character - Stan & Jack's, the TV show, Peter David's, Bill Mantlo & Sal Buscema's, etc, and they are all quite different from each other, other than having the main Banner/Hulk character. Ang Lee's movie is just one more interpretation, albeit skewing to a mature audience. I can see it being a little hard for a 5-year old to sit through. Hopefully the new movie will appeal to everybody.

Unlike most moviegoers, the reason *I* didn't go see "brokeback Mountain" was because your name was on it.

I didn't see it because I'm prejudiced against cowboys.

 

[Malus]

It helps to think of the movie as "Ang Lee's Hulk."

Good point. Never though about it before, but I think Ang might've actually done justice to the FF, as Peyton Reed would have.

I didn't see it because I'm prejudiced against cowboys.

Funny!
The real reason for me was that I figured it would have a downer ending, like Hillary Swank's murder in "Boys Don't Cry."
And I was still pissed at Ang Lee.

 

[FOG3]

It helps to think of the movie as "Ang Lee's Hulk."

yeh that helps me. I recently rewatched the movie and while I like the style (the panelling editing is great IMO) and story and everything, I agree that the drama factor is wayyyy overplayed. I think Ang would have made a worse FF movie than the one we got. Hed add too much seriousness to it, which is what I like about the FF movie the most - the easygoing FF feel it maintains. Its campy in the wrong ways, and they really screw up Doom, but I think all of the actors fit their parts really well, and I CANNOT wait to see the sequel. Its also got the most rewatch value out of all the Marvel movies IMO, which says something I guess...

Someone posted in another FF forum an idea about the doom from the first movie simply being a doombot in the sequel.. I doubt itd happen but I think thatd be a good twist.

 

[Dr. MIX]

Besides Dr. Doom's bastardisation, Alba's questionable acting abilities, the Thing's suit, the constant one-liners, that boring score and theme, some lame SE and the fact that the film was ultimately plotless... It wasn't all that bad

It's quite fun to watch.

 

[Obi-Ron]

Someone posted in another FF forum an idea about the doom from the first movie simply being a doombot in the sequel.. I doubt itd happen but I think thatd be a good twist.

LOL I bet it was me!

 

[FOG3]

LOL I bet it was me!

Sweet! I think it would work....well.

 

[The Question]

I think he'd be unhappy with both of them. But as poorly executed as it was, FF was at least a movie the original FF demographic (i.e. kids) could watch and enjoy. I think he's spinning a little slower on that one.

I highly doubt that. Sure, kids could enjoy FF. But kids enjoy crap because that's what we give it to them. Stan and Jack's origional point is that if you give a kid something that's actually well written and inteligent, they'll still enjoy it and, down the road, be much better off for it. Give them stupid crap, then you shouldn't be surprised if they grow up stupid.

 

[The Ones]

I enjoyed FF. I held of getting the DVD after seeing how Daredevil majorly improved with the Directors Cut. So im waiting for the Directors Cut of FF to make it better.

 

[kainedamo]

Terribly acted.

Terribly directed.

Terrible script.

Where did the budget go?? For such a big budget movie, they didn't really do alot with effects to excite people. The one single fight scene was really lame. Dr. Doom's character was awful. It was a long movie, and yet there is NO time put into character development or even creating an engaging story. The characters do not drive the story forward. The only character done even remotely correctly was the Thing, and even that was bad. The blind girl comes out of nowhere. The marriage proposal comes out of nowhere. Alot of annoying rock music. Bad, sitcomish jokes.

The only two ways I can see people enjoying this movie are...

1: If you're under 14 years old.

2: You're the type of person that really doesn't like to think during a movie. In other words, you switch your brain off.

 

[antariksh]

Terribly acted.

Terribly directed.

Terrible script.

Where did the budget go?? For such a big budget movie, they didn't really do alot with effects to excite people. The one single fight scene was really lame. Dr. Doom's character was awful. It was a long movie, and yet there is NO time put into character development or even creating an engaging story. The characters do not drive the story forward. The only character done even remotely correctly was the Thing, and even that was bad. The blind girl comes out of nowhere. The marriage proposal comes out of nowhere. Alot of annoying rock music. Bad, sitcomish jokes.

The only two ways I can see people enjoying this movie are...

1: If you're under 14 years old.

2: You're the type of person that really doesn't like to think during a movie. In other words, you switch your brain off.

The photo below your name sucks!!

And F4 was an OK movie but i am hoping F4-2 will be atleast an amazing action packed sfx extravaganza.

 

[supermarvelman]

The more I watch FF, the more I like it. Doom was watered down, but he wont be anymore, not after what happened to him in part 1.

Spider-Man 1
Spider-Man 2
X-Men 2
Fantastic Four
X-Men 3
X-Men 1
DareDevil
Hulk
Punisher

 

[kainedamo]

Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 1
X-Men 2
X-Men 1
Hulk
Punisher
Daredevil
X-Men 3
Fantastic Four

 

[The Hill]

Hey! It could have been worse.

 

[SolidSnakeMGS]

It gets exactly the credit it deserves...aka VERY VERY little. It was a terrible movie, and isn't much better than the 1994 version.