Fantastic Four (2005)

Warner Bros. Pictures
Theatrical Release Date: July 8, 2005 (USA)
Director: Tim Story
Rated PG-13

Review by Dan Hansen

If I had to pick one of my favorite summer releases this would have to be one of them. This is one of those movies that I would pay to see it in the theater a few times. If you haven't seen it - Go for it!

This is also a must add to the video library. The Fantastic Four is Marvels premier comic books, which launched Spiderman and many others. When an experimental space voyage goes awry, five people are changed by cosmic rays. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), inventor and leader of the group, can stretch his body and is called Mr. Fantastic. His love interest, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), has the ability to turn invisible, create force fields, and calls herself the Invisible Woman. Her younger brother Johnny Storm (Chris Evans) can control fire, plus cover his whole body with flame, thus becoming the Human Torch. Pilot Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) is turned into a super-strong rock creature called the Thing. Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) has metal become infused in his skin, can emit electricity from his hands and becomes the evil Doctor Doom, who is out to destroy Reed and the Fantastic Four.

Just like in Spiderman, this movie tells the tale of how they get their super powers and the human struggles they have as they explore who they are and what they can do. So the plot is very predictable but it is cool to watch the special effects. The cast, which fit their roles nicely, has been contracted for three movies so I look forward to the sequel. Though, not as much as "Harry Potter: Goblet of Fire," which I'm waiting for with great anticipation.