"Why can't they get it right?..."

[pkwfireteacher]

Recently I looked at a movie trailer for the upcoming FF movie? I feel disapointed already. The special effects look good. But I'm getting a red alert in the back of my neck about this movie.

I loved the Fantastic Four comics back in the day.

In my opinion, it looks like Tim Story just can't capture the essence of the Fantastic Four; and the actors that they have for the characters? They need to go too.

Is it that hard to make a good FF movie?

PKW

 

[Kelly]

I have to disagree, I think Tim got the essence of the 4....missed bad on Doom, and little vision in cinematography, bad editing....but as far as the 4 themselves....i think we got a glimpse in the first movie....

From what I've seen so far, and read in the novelizaiton......IF there is more of a vision, which there seems to be.....AND Hoy doesn't screw up the editing....I believe this has great potential....

 

[psylockolussus]

To me, ff2 seems to be a C+movie. Tim Story isn't really that good in making movies.

 

[Kelly]

To me, ff2 seems to be a C+movie. Tim Story isn't really that good in making movies.

Can you give specifics as to why you rate it a C+ before seeing it?

 

[Sun_Down]

I have to agree that nothing I've seen so far has totally erased the memories of the last movie and I, for one, am I not expecting to be blown away.

That said, it does look like they've improved some aspects, such as Reed actually acting like a leader. I guess we'll all see come June 15th.

 

[knoxmx5]

Why did they give the Surfer pupils?????

I don't like how he morphs through his board, or even through buildings. It looks cool, but in the comics he does not morph through things. He simply demolishes anything he moves through.

Ben STILL doesn't have the brow.
Reed still seems like a pussycat. He is supposed to be a great leader, full of COMMON SENSE AND knowledge.

I am afraid this will be another Ghost Rider. So much potential, but not enough substance.

 

[Immodicus]

Actually, the Surfer VERY OFTEN phases through solid objects in comic. It was done practically every issue during DeMatteis' SS run, it was done in the SS/Dracula one shot and too many other instances to mention.

The difference is that in the comics the Surfer phasing is accompanied by a bright light not a liquid type ripple. The bright light would have been more visually stunning IMO.

The Surfer has bonded himself and even others to his board before, but he has never done so in the manner shown in the FF2 trailer. I personally did not like the "board phase" either, but I can live with it.

The silver pupils don't bother me, I do wish they would have eliminated any hint of ears. 95% of SS depictions have no hint of ears.

 

[knoxmx5]

Actually, the Surfer VERY OFTEN phases through solid objects in comic. It was done practically every issue during DeMatteis' SS run, it was done in the SS/Dracula one shot and too many other instances to mention.

The difference is that in the comics the Surfer phasing is accompanied by a bright light not a liquid type ripple. The bright light would have been more visually stunning IMO.

The Surfer has bonded himself and even others to his board before, but he has never done so in the manner shown in the FF2 trailer. I personally did not like the "board phase" either, but I can live with it.

The silver pupils don't bother me, I do wish they would have eliminated any hint of ears. 95% of SS depictions have no hint of ears.

I guess this shows how long it's been since I have read the comics! I was a HUGE Surfer fan in the 70's and early 80's, and don't recall him phasing through anything. I just remember when he went to rescue Nova, he blasted through everthing in sight at lightning speed.

If the world is going to be destroyed anyway, why phase through? He can't be hurt, so why not just muscle his way through that building?

I don't like the ear "hints" either, but the pupils are killing me!

They should have consulted Ron Limb - my favorite Surfer artist.

 

[Immodicus]

Ron Lim was/is the definitive Surfer artist for me as well.

 

[knoxmx5]

Ron Lim was/is the definitive Surfer artist for me as well.

Thanks for the spelling correction

 

[SuperFerret]

The Power Cosmic is so very powerful and loosely defined that I'm surprised people feel that they can say "The Surfer can't do that." The way he is usually portrayed, there isn't much outside his power.

 

[knoxmx5]

I was going by what he DOESN'T do, not what he CAN'T do (according to my memory).

Habits vs abilities.

 

[glovemtb]

Why did they give the Surfer pupils?????

I don't like how he morphs through his board, or even through buildings. It looks cool, but in the comics he does not morph through things. He simply demolishes anything he moves through.

Ben STILL doesn't have the brow.
Reed still seems like a pussycat. He is supposed to be a great leader, full of COMMON SENSE AND knowledge.

I am afraid this will be another Ghost Rider. So much potential, but not enough substance.

Actually, he did de-molecularize some in the comics. I beleive that is how he escaped the barrier around earth. (Once he realized his imprisonment was tied to his board) once he realized he could go through, he reformed the board on the other side (I don't remember clearly it's been over 25 years)
But not to the degree they use it in the movie.
The pupils really bothered me also enough to email Story several times. Speaking of common sense. Tim does not appear to have any ! We are about to be burned again. >>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I just saw a reported runtime of 95 MINUTES !
Another huge dissapointment. That is 1 hour and 35 minutes compared to Spidey 3's 2 hours and 20 minutes I believe.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I loved the trailer. But, just like last time Fox is really good at doing a good trailer to get people in the theatre. But, word of mouth will kill it. Really pisses me off !
I'm done wasting my time hoping beyond hope for how bad fox screwed the greatest comic book magazine of all. You are pretty much saying you don't have much FX at an hour and 1/2 these days.
Sure wish Sony would have picked them up.

 

[Kelly]

Though I don't want a movie over 2 hours.....I agree the 95 minutes is disappointing, but I'll wait to make final judgement on June 15th....

 

[Darknightnomis]

They don't "get it" becasuse they don't respect the source material.

When did the FF become a campy one-liner comedy comic book? These movies are the total opposite of what the comic legacy was.


I also blame Avi Arad for cranking out Marvel movies like some fast food burger and not fully developing them.

 

[glovemtb]

They don't "get it" becasuse they don't respect the source material.
When did the FF become a campy one-liner comedy comic book? These movies are the total opposite of what the comic legacy was.

Agreed.
The FF were always fun and fighting among themselves, but there was the real element of drama or that the earth was threatened all the time. (At least when Galactus was coming)
I just saw another little trailer of ff2 that makes me thing it will be another slap shtick hour and 1/2 like the first.
I wish they would not use the surfer if they are going to screw up that character too.

I would love to reserve judgment, but the runtime let's you know they don't respect our comic book heroes.
What so funny is Spidey movies layed out a template of how to make a good marvel super hero movie and fox studios is even too stupid to follow that. (Heck just get the essence of Stan and Jacks original work ! Not just 1/2 of it.)
Or to quote the words of one critic I read on the first movie. "The Fantastic Four deserved better..."

 

[ObakeTora]

Ron Lim was/is the definitive Surfer artist for me as well.

when it comes to Surfer, no one can beat Ron Lim

 

[Immodicus]

Ain't that the truth, in my opinion Lim is the definitive Thanos artist as well.

I think Andrea Devito does a better Galactus though.

 

[glovemtb]

I am also a 40 year FF fan. I feel Tim or maybe Fox has missed the boat. I'm already VERY disappointed with a rumored run time of 1 HOUR AND 35 MINUTES FOR FF 2. Right there tells you most of what you need to know. No respect for telling the story of the Fantastic Four and the Surfer.
The first one had a longer runtime and it didn't have the Surfer. This one has Surfer, Doom, Galactus. They ask us to pay 7 dollars for a super hyped f/x movie with a runtime of an hour and 1/2 ?????????????????????? Now I know FF are no Lord of the Rings but; why bring in Weta if you are not going to let them work their magic for a whole story. http://www.wetadigital.com/digital/company/filmography/
How about a few less gimmicks like the magic surfer coins scheduled for release this weekend. Then, actually spend the money on making a 2 hour movie and paying for 2 hours of super heroes F/X movie.
I have gone from excited and taking the kids and kids, kids; to not.

 

[matthooper]

They don't "get it" becasuse they don't respect the source material.

When did the FF become a campy one-liner comedy comic book? These movies are the total opposite of what the comic legacy was.


I also blame Avi Arad for cranking out Marvel movies like some fast food burger and not fully developing them.

The problem is when you do have a lack of respect for the material, you get collateral damage. Lack of respect births a lack of knowledge of the material. So you cast a bad actress, you get a bad script, you get a character in a rubber suit who looks like he's in a rubber suit. You get a bad director who probably never actually read a FF comic. They make a film for 10 year olds it does decent and they get a sequel. It's a joke.

It's not Arad, it's the studio. They bulldoze these terrible movies into the theater like Ghost Rider and FF.

 

[Fried Gold]

I have to disagree, I think Tim got the essence of the 4....missed bad on Doom, and little vision in cinematography, bad editing....but as far as the 4 themselves....i think we got a glimpse in the first movie....

Well I have to diagree with that, as there was nothing 'wrong' with the editing, albeit, it was rather standard.

Basically, they just got the wrong director for this film, which subsequently led to some horrible casting decisions, which would hurt any script let alone the paint-by-numbers one that the first films had. Chiklis and Evans were the highight of the first film. We barely saw any of Grufford, which is a shame, and the less said about Alba, the better. Julian McMahon could've been an interesting casting choice for Doom had they not destroye the character in the early scripting process.

Having said that, everything I have seen in regards to the sequel eclipses the first film.

 

[Kelly]

Well I have to diagree with that, as there was nothing 'wrong' with the editing, albeit, it was rather standard.

Basically, they just got the wrong director for this film, which subsequently led to some horrible casting decisions, which would hurt any script let alone the paint-by-numbers one that the first films had. Chiklis and Evans were the highight of the first film. We barely saw any of Grufford, which is a shame, and the less said about Alba, the better. Julian McMahon could've been an interesting casting choice for Doom had they not destroye the character in the early scripting process.

Having said that, everything I have seen in regards to the sequel eclipses the first film.

That's cool, but I will say that while yes many have mentioned your other problems, the ONE thing that has been prevalent with the vast majority here was the problem with the editing. And while yes there was MUCH missing in characterization (in my opinion, partly because of the editing) the "essence" of the 4 was there....

I agree with you on what we've seen of the sequel, BUT we saw alot of characterization in the TV spots etc, with the first one, and most of that characterization did not make it to the final cut.....

 

[X-Maniac]

In these days of the internet, everyone's a critic, normally before they've even seen the movie!

In the days before the internet, there was less choice and films like King Kong or Jaws, and artists like Elvis or the Beatles, were worldwide acclaimed successes. There was no disputing them and no medium available to do so. No advance revelations or trailers or internet blogs or leaks.

We're spoiled for choice today. And we've become spoiled. Spoiled brats in many cases. Teenagers complain that they are bored when they have their own TVs, mp3 players, PlayStations and computers - and yet they still hang around streets causing trouble. When I was a kid, there was one TV in the house, one stereo music player, one computer at the school, and my friends and I created entertainment with imaginary worlds - an old wardrobe became a Tardis-like spaceship, hollow trees became dens, as did old empty drainage pipework and barns. We played on a Celtic mound that was once the site of a fortress and rumoured to be the burial site of an ancient chieftain - we climbed in the hollow roots and found wonder and magic everywhere.

I doubt this happens today. The kids are probably out stealing GPS systems from cars.

The 'big kid' in me really enjoyed Fantastic Four 2. I shall be seeing it again. Yes, it could have been a bit better, but couldn't everything? I really don't think they did a 'terrible job' with it - a lot of thought obviously went into Galactus being portrayed realistically and into the Surfer. Tim told us yesterday the Surfer FX were only completed a week and a half ago!

My advice - go and see it for yourself, sit back and enjoy what it's offering. The action sequences are brilliant. And it's wonderful to see the London Eye and the River Thames featured in an action scene - great for us Brits to enjoy, rather than something in Washington or wherever.

 

[matthooper]

I have a question. Why does The Thing in the FF video game have a brow and look 10 times better than Chiklis in a rubber suit?

Why make him look good in the video game and crap in the film?

 

[X-Maniac]

I have a question. Why does The Thing in the FF video game have a brow and look 10 times better than Chiklis in a rubber suit?

Why make him look good in the video game and crap in the film?

His brow was extended slightly but Tim Story said they wanted the audience still to be able to see his eyes. So they avoided a massive overhang.