Ben Grimm, known as The Thing, poses a unique challenge among the Fantastic Four, considering the other characters can become invisible, elongate, and ignite. However, it’s important to note that The Thing himself is a large rock with eyes and a mouth, making him quite challenging for both comic book fans and mainstream audiences. Over the years, four attempts at bringing The Thing to life in live-action have shown significant differences in success. With the release of the first trailer for Matt Shakman’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the question arises as to how the portrayal by Shakman and Ebon Moss-Bachrach compares to the previous representations.
When considering Thing as a character needing advanced special effects for its depiction, one could think this would mean greater benefits or advantages, or “increasing returns.” However, this wasn’t the case in practice, as at times traditional practical effects can appear more authentic than modern computer-generated imagery (CGI). To further elaborate on CGI…
4) The Trank Version
Josh Trank’s movie Fant4stic is infamously known for being one of the most flawed superhero films ever made. The film’s poor reputation is well-deserved because it not only misrepresents all its renowned characters, but it also lacks the structure needed to make a complete movie. Trank’s portrayal of Reed Richards, Sue and Johnny Storm, as well as Ben Grimm, feels generic compared to the Tim Story films, with less character growth demonstrated.
In my perspective, the movie rushes through Ben Grimm’s transformation phase so swiftly that Jamie Bell’s remarkable talent is barely evident before he’s morphed into the bulky, less-than-impressive CGI creation. It’s revealing that the striking shot of him from the trailer (the scene where he jumps out of a plane) was omitted from the final cut of the film. It’s equally enlightening that Trank and the decision-makers involved in the production opted to follow the script of the 1998 ‘Godzilla’, keeping Thing cloaked in darkness for most of the movie, perhaps hoping that this would divert the audience’s attention from the subpar CGI.
3) The Corman Version
1994’s “The Fantastic Four” felt like a passion project primarily aimed at preserving German filmmaker Bernd Eichinger’s intellectual property rights – and that’s evident in the final product. Despite its goofy, budget-restricted appearance, it manages to outshine the lackluster efforts of Trank’s version. Even though I found it somewhat cheesy and aesthetically unappealing, I can’t help but appreciate its charm over other disappointing adaptations.
1. Firstly, the 1994 adaptation serves as a movie, although it may not be particularly captivating.
2. Interestingly enough, it does a reasonably good job of embodying Thing, given the financial constraints involved in production.
3. The filmmakers appeared to strive for a likeness of the Jack Kirby-inspired comic book character’s appearance, even though they never envisioned him gracing the silver screen.
4. Intriguingly, the Thing costume used in the film is quite impressive (considering the budget), particularly when it comes to the facial expressions controlled by the puppeteer.
2) The Story Version
Up until this point, Tim Story’s two Fantastic Four movies have been the closest audiences have had to a complete and satisfying cinematic interpretation of these characters. In essence, the bar for The Fantastic Four: The First Steps was set quite low. However, it’s worth noting that there were certain elements in both the 2005 Fantastic Four and the 2007 Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer that were well-received.
Among the key components, Chris Evans portrays Johnny Storm exceptionally well, while Michael Chiklis delivers a remarkable performance as The Thing. Unlike other pre-Marvel Universe (MU) projects, only this one maintained Chiklis’ interpretation of Ben Grimm as the Thing post-transformation. This is praiseworthy because it can be challenging to connect with a rock-like character if he appears more rock than human. Chiklis skillfully infused the character with touching humanity and the loyalty that defines the core of Grimm/Thing’s iconic status in Marvel comics. Although the writing and humor in the two movies might have hindered him, or the bulky prosthetics suit limited his expressiveness, Chiklis still managed to make it work effectively.
1) The Shakman Version
The initial trailer for “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” directed by Matt Shakman (known for “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” and “Game of Thrones”), has been released, and it delivers on its promise of showcasing the movie’s version of The Thing. This time around, Ebon Moss-Bachrach (“The Bear”) steps into the role, with motion capture and CGI being used instead of traditional prosthetics. Unlike the special effects in Trank’s film, which were not entirely successful, this new take on The Thing shows significant improvement.
Similar to the 1994 adaptation, First Steps appears to be faithful to the comic book portrayal of the character. As confirmed by Jack Kirby, the creator of the character prior to his death, The Thing was modeled after both his personality and facial structure. It seems that the fourth cinematic rendition of The Thing has successfully captured this essence, making it intriguing to envision him in action.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps hits theaters on July 25
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2025-02-05 02:41