How Have Tim Story’s Two Fantastic Four Movies Aged?

As a seasoned movie critic with over three decades of watching superhero films under my belt, I must confess that the Fantastic Four duology by Tim Story remains a curious case in the annals of Marvel Cinema. While the movies may not have aged as gracefully as some of their contemporaries, they still offer a unique blend of charm and cheesiness that makes them an entertaining relic of the early 2000s.

Prior to Marvel Studios uniting them all in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), there were 16 superhero films of varying quality that were released from the late ’90s to the mid-2000s. Before movies like Spider-Man: No Way Home and Deadpool & Wolverine partially brought many of these films into a shared universe, these movies and their characters seemed reminiscent of a bygone cinematic era. How have they held up over time? For the most part, what was effective then remains so now, while what wasn’t as strong back then remains much the same. The Blade series still has two solid installments and a less impressive final one. The same can be said for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and the initial three X-Men films. Despite the enhancements offered by the Director’s Cut, Daredevil can still feel laborious, Ang Lee’s Hulk feels like a project lacking in focus, the only redeeming quality of The Punisher is Tom Jane’s performance, and both Elektra and Ghost Rider are difficult to watch.

As a cinephile who’s always up for a superhero fix, I can’t help but ponder over Tim Story’s pair of movies that didn’t quite hit the mark with critics. Granted, they might be seen as a slight improvement over the infamous . Now, with a fresh Fantastic Four film slated for 2025, it seems fitting to revisit Story’s films, which introduced Marvel’s original family, and assess how time has been to them – have they aged gracefully or not so much?

The Pros

Among the many aspects I appreciate about the movies “Fantastic Four” and “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”, the casting choices stand out, particularly in my opinion. Michael Chiklis, who played Ben Grimm/The Thing, perfectly embodied the character’s kindness and heartache. On the other hand, Chris Evans brought Johnny Storm/Human Torch to life brilliantly, making even his cheesiest jokes seem hilarious.

In summary, although Jessica Alba’s roles were perhaps underappreciated due to her limited character development, Ioan Gruffudd seemed misplaced in both movies. On the other hand, Julian McMahon was strong in the initial film but became overly exaggerated in Silver Surfer. However, considering the stellar performances of their co-stars, the films benefit more from this acting talent. This is particularly evident when Evans and Chiklis engage in witty banter.

Apart from the acting performances, another crucial aspect to consider is the rhythm or speed of the storytelling. Both films maintain a fast pace that would appeal to viewers looking for uncomplicated entertainment on weekends. This quick tempo means that very few scenes are included that don’t contribute to advancing the plot, which might seem advantageous. However, it’s essential to remember that such a swift pace can also have its drawbacks, and we will discuss those later on.

The Cons

Speaking as an ardent fan, I’ve noticed that some aspects of these movies feel a bit outdated due to their heavy reliance on pop culture references from their respective eras. While it can work in certain instances, like Johnny’s nod to the MasterCard “Priceless” commercials in the first film, which are still iconic today, many references might come off as too obvious or dated, even if they were once popular. This tendency seems more like a desperate attempt to resonate with the audience at the time of release rather than creating a timeless impact.

To clarify, pacing is a double-edged sword in film production, acting as both an advantage and a disadvantage depending on the situation. A fast pace maintains audience engagement, especially for summer blockbusters. However, this speed can compromise character development. For instance, in the initial movie, the characters acquire their powers within mere minutes. Consequently, by that point, we know only basic facts about them: Ben and Reed are friends, Reed and Susan have been romantically involved, and Susan and Johnny are siblings.

In a different tone, we can say: While action may be the main draw in many superhero films, what makes Spider-Man 2 (from the same era) exceptional lies in its exploration of its title character’s personal struggles, as well as those of Doctor Octopus. On the other hand, the character development in the Fantastic Four movies is disappointingly shallow, a reflection of their overall quality. As for the initial Marvel Cinematic Universe lineup, they fall somewhere in the middle – they may not have aged particularly well, but are still worth watching if you find yourself with some free time.

2024-12-28 22:10

The Pros

The Cons

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