Fantastic Four: How Bad Is It?

FANT4STIC FOUR REVIEW

(Yes, I actually took the time to see this movie in a theater).

What I Liked:

The first half of the movie was solid. I could really see Josh Trank’s vision for FF front and center (Cronenberg, horror elements).
Reed Richards’ motivations for building the intergalactic teleportation device are clear.
Most of the special effects were well done, especially with The Thing and Johnny Storm.
Doom’s return to Earth was an interesting sequence (surprisingly violent) to introduce Von Doom’s alter ego. Alas, it was probably the end of Trank’s input into the film.

What I Didn’t Like:

Half-baked character development, specifically with Victor Von Doom and the Storm family. The Storm family didn’t feel like much of one when the three of them interacted with each other. I didn’t believe their relationship, which caused me to have no real attachment to any of the characters and their respective conflicts.

No apparent chemistry with the cast. It seems that a lot of the character interactions were left on the cutting room floor. It seems that at after the first half of the movie (45 minutes in or so), the actors and filmmakers lost interest. I responded in kind by turning off my brain for the rest of the movie.

There were no real action set pieces; This is coming from the studio that developed the X-Men movie franchise, which are arguably some of the best comic book movies in the industry. The coolest sequence in the trailers (The Thing dropping from a fighter jet) was not in the movie. I also understand that 3 key sequences were cut from the movie just days before the film started production. In the best case scenarios, filmmakers are given at least a few weeks or so notice of this due to budget constraints or other factors.

Victor Von Doom is a shell of himself. Gone is the regal and the pretentious heir apparent of Latveria. In his place is a bitter and love-sick tech genius spewing some anarchistic trappings about humanity destroying Earth and the need for us to be removed from it. His desire for a relationship with Sue Storm is never clearly fleshed out, save for one scene when he looks on with jealousy when Sue and Reed are apparently bonding over some random thing (I don’t remember what).

Doom’s overall look was not very menacing. I can understand the practicality of how his body/armor came to fruition, but I thought the filmmakers would give more credence into the fact that Doom was inspired by Death. In the current run of the comics, Doom has fashioned himself into a god, referring to himself as ‘God Emperor Doom’. Doom has never had a penchant for the total annihilation of Earth, just his desire to conquer it. Doctor Doom, if done correctly can be a villain on par with Loki, in terms of his intellect and mastery of the dark arts, but the filmmakers dropped the ball on this interpretation. Marvel’s best villain to date is Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk/Kingpin on the Netflix/Marvel show Daredevil. A common criticism of most Marvel films , whether or not they are a part of Disney, is that the villains are a bit underwhelming (Obadiah Stane, Whiplash, Aldrich Killian, Malekith, Silver Samurai, Ronan the Destroyer to name a few).

The ‘Green Lantern’ effect. This is in reference to the 2011 film Green Lantern. There was no emotional buildup in the film when Hal Jordan returns to Earth to fight Parallax. The same problem severely mars FF. We never see how the characters cope with their new found abilities. There is no sense of doom as we know that the Fantastic Four will win the day and survive.

This is a worser film than the previous incarnations starring Ioan Gruffold, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis and Julian McMahon. Even though the films were cheesy, there was action, story and humor in the films. None of these elements existed in this movie. The jokes that they attempted to showcased fell flat and the dialogue was forced, sometimes very trite.

FINAL VERDICT: D-

Despite a promising opening, Fantastic Four falls flat and fails to tell an intriguing, memorable and entertaining story. Half-baked character development, boring action set-pieces and feigned chemistry between the actors is prevalent throughout this movie, causing me (and many moviegoers) to disconnect myself from the story. Do not make the same mistake I did and waste your money on going to see this in the theaters; Redbox would be more appropriate, if you’re feeling dangerous.

The Exiled

One of my favorite novels of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. It tells the story of humble merchant sailor Edmund Dantes betrayed by his best friend Fernand Mondego, a man born into wealth but obsessed with Dantes’ beautiful fiancé’ Mercedes. Accused of a crime he did not commit, he is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the Chateau d’If, a prison far off the coast of France, reserved for criminals against the state. There, Dantes befriends a priest (Abbé Faria) , who was inprisoned by Bonaparte before his exile. Before the priest’s untimely death, he confides in Dantes the location of an immense treasure hidden near the island Monte Cristo. There over the next 14 years, Dantes uses his new found wealth to plot his revenge against those who betrayed him. This book was one of the first I fully enjoyed growing up. I have come to enjoy the 2002 film adaptation of the novel starring Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce. Yet, we have not seen a modern adaptation come to light.

This is my adaptation of the timeless story, entitled The Exiled. 

David Solomon does not come from a wealthy family, yet one that has been able to enjoy some luxuries in life. Even so, David has learned the value of hard work and has had the example of his father Brian to follow (his father is a well-respected owner of a couple of new car lots in the Miami-Dade area). The Solomon men carry a trustworthy reputation with them. David is a popular student amongst his peers in college and is the envy of all the boys and ‘good’ friend Gabriel Jones, dating Kristina Pierce, an intelligent and beautiful young lady majoring in pre-med. Kristina is more than a beautiful girl with a good head on her shoulders. She maybe popular, but like her boyfriend, she has a good standing with all the ‘cliques’ in their college. They seem to be the perfect couple, recently named ‘The Most Likely to Get Married’ by their senior class. However, Gabriel Jones lusts after Kristina, secretly flirting with her, hoping to win her heart to no avail. Gabriel is the second born son of Adrian Jones, Sr., the majority owner of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Adrian Sr. has tried to instill in his sons (Adrian Jones I is an EOD specialist for the United States Army) a sense of humility and self reliance but that was only passed to his eldest son. Gabriel takes advantage of his status, using it to obtain what he desires, except for Kristina.

Angered at the fact he cannot woo Kristina from David, he devises a scheme to remove him from the picture. Gabriel enlists the help of Philippe Dupre’, son of famous French restaurateur Jean Dupre’. Gabriel and Philippe are not the closest of associates (Gabriel sees Philippe as a snobby opportunist; Philippe sees Gabriel as a spoiled, insecure brat). Yet, Gabriel and Philippe share a hatred for David. With this in common, they form an uneasy alliance. To celebrate their upcoming graduation, the four of them (David, Kristina, Gabriel and Philippe) make a trip to Paris, France (an obvious graduation present by Philippe’s father). While David and Kristina are enjoying the Parisian nightlife, Gabriel and Philippe, along with a small group of thugs (or random male bar patrons in black ski masks) they paid off accost David and Kristina as they leave a random venue. The fight ensues, as David is outnumbered as he is savagely beaten. Kristina is in hysterics but is carried away by Gabriel. Philippe, reveling in this, gets up close to David and utters the following phrase in French: ‘You are in this position because you allowed it to happen. This is where you lose everything.’ Believing him to be dead, the thugs take his body and throw him on a passing garbage boat.

Several days pass as the Solomon family hold a private memorial service for David. Those in attendance include Gabriel, his father, Kristina and her grandmother Anna. Gabriel moves in on a grieving Kristina who is in a state of shock over David’s sudden ’death’. David’s father is ever vigilant, still keeping faith that his son is still alive. Gabriel makes these grand gestures (leading a ‘private’ search, holding a memorial service at their alma mater, etc.) to convince Kristina of his sincerity and selflessness. Slowly, Kristina begins to warm up to him.

During this time, we finally learn that David is in fact alive, having stumbled out of the boat. Suffering from post-traumatic amnesia, David longs for home but his pleas go unanswered. He struggles to piece together how he arrived in this situation. Barely speaking serviceable French, he is greeted with fortune by meeting British expatriate Dr. Norman McMillan. Whilst , David successfully piece togethers the events that occurred that fateful night, continuously uttering the phrase that was spoken to him while he laid bloodied and bruised. Dr. McMillan, a former member of the British SAS, teaches David the art of combat, reconnaissance, and stealth over the course of a year. Yet, McMillan requires that David stay longer. The reasons being are as follows: 1.) McMillan sees David as the son he never had and with his declining health, he will need assistance with his private practice; 2.) David will need $10,000 to gain passage on a freight ship, heading back to the United States. Resigned to this, David assists the doctor and doing odd jobs around the city.

Over the course of 10 years, we see Kristina and Gabriel entering their third year of marriage. However, it seems to be a loveless one. Gabriel has gained the approval of his father, therefore allowing him to be more involved in his father’s dealings. With these responsibilities come great rewards, some of which come in the form of beautiful women (some associated with the staff and athletes). Kristina is fully aware of Gabriel’s infidelity, but feigns ignorance, simply out of respect for Gabriel providing for her and her family during tough times. Philippe, now married to Janelle Ramsey, a fashion designer. Philippe has become the assistant district attorney for D.A. Oliver Grant, who is on the verge of retiring. Philippe is the obvious heir apparent, but he will have to face off against another man seeking the post. Philippe does not associate with Gabriel on a regular basis (which pleases both of them), but he knows an opportunity when he sees one. He hopes to garner financial support during his campaign.

Meanwhile in France, David seems to have adjusted to his surroundings, speaking fluent French. However, he has not relinquished his need for revenge. He also faces new problems regarding his friend McMillan. Due to his old age, McMillan has been subjected recently to the aggravation and harassment of Chase Girard, a corrupt and feared police officer. Constantly seeking ‘free samples’ of pharmaceutical drugs to sell for his own personal gain, McMillan is powerless in defending himself despite his military background. David is fed up by the situation and decides to fight back. During one of Girard’s monthly pickups, David corners one of Girard’s goons and roughs him up, warning him to never return. Yet, that warning was obviously unheeded.

While David is away for a night on the town, Girard and his goons return to McMillan’s place and begin to trash the place. McMillan in retaliation, grapples with Girard. At first Girard is amused but becomes annoyed when McMillan begins to demonstrate his fighting skills. However, Girard has the upper hand, stabbing McMillan in the abdomen. Girard leaves the scene, right before David arrives. He finds McMillan, dying and clutching an envelope. McMillan tells him this holds the key to finding his way home. He tells him, “Do not let your anger consume you. Use what I’ve taught you to improve your life, not to destroy the lives of others.” McMillan dies shortly after. The envelope contains a safety deposit number and pass code key, located at Banque de France. Upon his arrival, he is astonished to find a large quantity of money (dollars, francs, euros, etc.). David realizes that this was McMillan’s reason for persuading him to stay in France, as all his assets were bequeathed to him upon his death. Taking his newly gifted resources, he plans for his return to America, seeking revenge for the men responsible for his disappearance. While developing a name for himself under the guise Edmond Quinlan, he learns about his targets’ proclivities and weaknesses, using that knowledge to exploit and destroy them*.

*- The synopsis will see some tweaks in terms of names, characters and locations. Stay tuned for more updates!!

My Most Anticipated Films (for the rest of 2015)

 

MOST ANTICIPATED MOVIES FOR THE REST OF 2015
Fantastic Four (August 7th) – This movie has been marred by controversy and a very outspoken filmmaker in Josh Trank, the director of one of 2012’s biggest surprises Chronicle. I don’t have any affinity to any of the characters but I am intrigued by whether or not the film will succeed in reigniting interest in the IP. 20th Century Fox has X-Men and are in desperate need of another tentpole franchise. If Fantastic Four underperforms (reports as of today say the film will most likely be Marvel’s lowest performing film to date), maybe Marvel Studios can broker a deal similar to what was accomplished with Sony and Spiderman. I will reserve judgement after seeing the film myself since I can’t stand when people trash a film before watching it.

Legend (September 11th) – I am familiar with the history of the men that inspired Legend, the Kray twins. Tom Hardy, one of the most talented actors working today, is playing dual roles. It invokes feelings of the glamour and glitz of 1960s’ London that were rife with violence and decadence. Hardy looks like he will turn in two great performances as Ronnie and Reggie Kray. This film may earn him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor this awards season. With Brian Helgeland (screenwriter of Mystic River, L.A. Confidential & 42) directing, this looks to be a solid gangster biopic reminiscent of Scorsese’s Goodfellas.  

Black Mass (September 18th) – With the second biopic on the list, Black Mass tells the story of notorious mobster and FBI informant James ‘Whitey’ Bulger as he engulfed the city of Boston in fear across several years. The film boasts a strong ensemble cast that will support what looks like a stellar and transformative performance by Johnny Depp. Depp looks unrecognizable as Bulger and this looks like this will be the performance that reminds people that he has and always been a great actor.

The Walk (October 9th) – Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been an actor to watch in the last 10 years, starting off with 2005’s Brick, a film noir set in a high school. Levitt has been turning in fantastic performances since then and has completely shrugged off the stigma of ‘child actor’. With The Walk, Levitt is teaming up with Academy-Award winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to The Future I-III) to tell the true story of French high-wire artist Phillipe Petit, who made history by walking a high wire across the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center on August 7, 1974. Like most of the films on this list, this will likely receive a strong push during Oscar season. With the pedigree and talent behind this film, this film has a strong chance to garner support.

The Peanuts Movie (November 6th) – Like many of you reading this, I looked forward to every Sunday morning newspaper to dive into the comic strip section. I loved Blondie, Dick Tracy, Prince Valiant, Doonesbury, The Phantom but I always gravitated towards Peanuts by Charles Schultz. In a new animated feature, I think the filmmakers have captured the true essence of reading the comic strip. Nostalgia will play a huge in my enjoyment of this film but I don’t mind it one bit.

007: Spectre (November 6th) – Off the critical and financial success of 2013’s Skyfall, Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig collaborate once again to make another modern James Bond film. Daniel Craig is my second favorite Bond (Sean Connery is 1st, Brosnan 3rd, Dalton 4th, Moore 5th, Lasenby 6th simply because he appeared in only one film) and this outing proves to be a great, thrilling ride. With Christoph Waltz playing Franz Oberhauser, the shadowy figure within SPECTRE that has a connection to Bond, it looks like Spectre will harken back to the 1960s Bond that started my love affair with the franchise and character.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens (December 18th) – This will be the first Star Wars film I will see in theaters. Looking at behind the scenes footage and trailers for this film, director J.J. Abrams and Disney have recaptured the magic of a franchise that has changed the lives of so many people across the world, including mine. Seeing the legacy performers of the original trilogy return to a new story will be very exciting and promises to be another life changing experience. This will undeniably be the first for many kids who were not cognizant of the franchise and were introduced late to the films by their parents. It will be a night to remember when millions of people across the world come together and watch Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. 

The Revenant (December 25th in limited release; January 8th, 2016) – Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy team up with Academy-Award winning director Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu (Birdman, Babel) to star in a gloomy, desolate western epic that shows Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) surviving a gruesome bear attack in early 19th century Dakota Terrority. Robbed and left for dead by his companions (Tom Hardy plays one of them), Glass embarks on a 200 mile trek to exact revenge. Based on true events, the film reminds me of a slow burning revenge film, much like Sam Peckinpah and Quentin Tarantino. Could this be the film that finally lands DiCaprio an Oscar? Judging by the teaser trailer released, it looks like a serious contender.

The Hateful Eight (December 25th on 70mm film; January 8th, 2016 in digital theaters) – Quentin Tarantino returns with an epic western with elements of John Ford and Akira Kurosawa. The Hateful Eight stars Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Tim Roth, Kurt Russell and a host of other actors. The film, which is set a few years in Wyoming after the Civil War, will center around 8 westerners that take refuge in a stagecoach stopover at a mountain pass during a blizzard. With the news that film will be shot in the same format as 1959’s Ben Hur and 1963’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World and will feature a score created by legendary composer Ennio Morricone (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon a Time In The West, The Untouchables), The Hateful Eight will be a visual and auditory feast for Tarantino fans and film lovers alike.

My Top Five Games of All Time

MY TOP FIVE VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME

5. Super Mario Bros (NES) – This was the first game I was introduced to. I was about six years old and often fought with my older sister and cousins over the NES controller to get a chance to play. This is the game I’m sure most gamers have played at some point in their lives and helped start a ‘love affair’ with gaming. The graphics are very dated in comparison to today’s standards, but it is a pinnacle in gaming and many games since it’s inception have followed the timeless formula.

4. Tony Hawk Pro Skater (PS1) – THPS was a game changer for me in terms of gameplay. It is truly the first game I have invested hundreds of hours in. Executing manuals and reverts, looking for the hidden tapes and kick-flipping through iconic stages such as The Warehouse, School #1, et cetera. Also, the soundtrack was constantly in head during the long days at school, namely ‘New Girl’ by The Suicide Machines:

Verse 1

Well I can’t wait to tell you all about her, all about my new girl
(he can’t wait to tell you about his new girl)
And I can’t wait for you to hear me shout it, all about my new girl
(he can’t wait to tell you about his new girl)
When we were together you tried to break my heart
Said you always did your best at keeping us apart
Said now you’re dead and gone and I’ve got a new thing going…
I can’t wait to see your face when you and your friends show up Listen | Buy

So I’ve got a – I got a new girl (repeat 4 times)

3. Final Fantasy VII (PS1) – This is the first Final Fantasy game I have ever played and it left an indelible impression on me when I first played it in 1997. This was the first game where I truly became invested in the story and the characters. Final Fantasy VII was the first RPG I have played and it was not the last. Like Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy VII was a major milestone in my gaming life. I actually teared up when the HD remake was announced at this year’s E3. I can’t wait to see how Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura will reignite fan’s excitement with the remake.

2. Mass Effect Trilogy (X360, PS3) – I am cheating a bit here in including three games at the number two spot but I view the series as a saga. It is one engrossing story told over the series and it done in an epic fashion. The gameplay was a perfect blend of action and role playing, with an engaging group of characters and moments that left a lasting impression on me. I won’t discuss the ending(s) of the third game in the franchise or whether I was a part of the majority that vocalized dissatisfaction in how said scenarios seemingly took away the player’s ownership of their character’s story (Paragon/Renegade, Spacer/Earthborn/Colonist, War Hero/Ruthless/Sole Survivor, et cetera). Nevertheless, this trilogy has been a staple of my gaming catalog and is one series that I constantly go back and play. As much as I am anticipating the fourth game in the series, Mass Effect: Andromeda, I truly hope that Bioware/EA would bring the trilogy to the PS4 and Xbox One in a HD remaster with all DLC included.

1. Shenmue (Sega Dreamcast) – So much of my childhood revolved around this game. I remember the moment I asked my mother for this game for my 16th birthday. The game was released on November 8th, 2000 and I was ecstatic when received both the Sega Dreamcast and the game on my birthday. The following days I spent playing through the story were incredible. The immersive gameplay, particularly the combat system and learning new moves by buying/collecting scrolls was game changing and very unique. Tasks that seemed tedious at first were addictive, such as collecting capsule toys/figures, earning money by holding a part-time job, forklift racing at Yokohama Harbor, as well as interacting with the numerous NPCs in the game (Tom, Nozomi, Harasaki, Tom Johnson, an orphaned kitten). Ryo Hazuki is probably my favorite video game character of all time, despite the somewhat wooden delivery and his strange obsession with finding sailors (you would have to play the game to understand the reference). Yu Suzuki, the creator of the franchise, developed arguably the most ambitious game in the second generation of console gaming. I can say with all honesty that I cried tears of joy when Shenmue III was announced. It will probably be a couple of years, but I can honestly say it is my most anticipated game of this console generation. Until then, I will dust off my Sega Dreamcast and fire up my copy of the game, reliving those moments that made Shenmue my number one game of all time.