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The Fantastic Four: First Steps

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ArsThaumaturgis Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: I've been dreaming of True Love's Kiss
#1101: Aug 3rd 2025 at 2:31:51 AM

I have a motto if I dont catch something at the start then I wait for it on streaming or a sale. Words to live by with movies and video games, which saved me a lotta money. Dunno if thats shared with everybody.

For this movie and Superman I actually made a point of waiting about a week before going to see them.

(Primarily in the hopes that the theatres would be less full than I expected them to be during the opening weekend.)

There's also the argument—which I'll admit that I'm not sure that I often use—that waiting a little allows time for first impressions to come in, thus aiding one in deciding what's worth paying for.

They argue that the only thing people are seeing these days are superhero movies or other childhood properties.

Or as they put it, "Superhero movies aren't killing cinema. They're the only thing keeping them alive."

I'll confess, this is kinda true for me: the cinema is expensive, so I tend to only really go for big spectacle events (or those very rare family-related outings, primarily involving free tickets).

... Which to a large degree means "superhero films", these days.

(And that only seldom.)

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king15 Have Faun Since: Mar, 2024
Have Faun
#1102: Aug 3rd 2025 at 2:59:00 AM

It's weird. This film was so well-marketed (I even saw collaborations with the UK government or some related institution), was well received by critics and, seemingly, audiences. It should have mass appeal. I suppose releasing so close to Superman hurt it. I wonder if they had released the other way round, this would have been happening to Superman.

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#1103: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:03:52 AM

Maybe the Marvel brand doesn't have the same appeal anymore.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
KRider Desire Grand Prix Entry from Origin System Since: Feb, 2021
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#1104: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:48:14 AM

At this point there's something beyond the MCU that's causing the huge drop off issue. Or possibly even a lot of external factors that's causing a negative effect when combined together. Not even Galactus coming out of the cloud in full comic-accurate attire helped.

Set! Avenge! "Henshin." Black General! Bujin Sword! Ready, Fight!
Ikedatakeshi Baby dango from singapore Since: Nov, 2015 Relationship Status: Singularity
Baby dango
#1105: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:52:18 AM

Why would that help exactly? You can tell me how amazing this guy is at basketball and how good his plays are and I still wouldn't be watching it because I have no interest in basketball. Comic accurate stuff appeal to comic book fans.

Edited by Ikedatakeshi on Aug 3rd 2025 at 6:52:49 PM

RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#1106: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:53:40 AM

[up][up] The bad economy is def a major factor.

I’m glad Superman is still doing good, gonna watch it a third time.

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
chino514 (Apprentice)
#1107: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:54:18 AM

Only thing I got right now on a factor is "the mindset of waiting until it hits Disney+ to watch it."

Edited by chino514 on Aug 3rd 2025 at 6:54:50 AM

KRider Desire Grand Prix Entry from Origin System Since: Feb, 2021
Desire Grand Prix Entry
#1108: Aug 3rd 2025 at 3:59:22 AM

On the bright side, my youngest godson is excited for Spider-Man Brand New Day since he's his favorite Marvel hero besides Iron Man. Actually, the only superheroes he likes that don't have the word "man" are Kamen Rider and Power Rangers/Super Sentai so Superman, Batman, Iron Man and Spider-Man he's a huge fan of but not Thor, Captain America or Thing.

Edited by KRider on Aug 3rd 2025 at 6:59:38 PM

Set! Avenge! "Henshin." Black General! Bujin Sword! Ready, Fight!
RedHunter543 Crimson Paladin Since: Jul, 2016 Relationship Status: Barbecuing
Crimson Paladin
#1109: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:00:17 AM

Did you say man?

"The Black Rage makes us strong, because we must resist its temptations every day of our lives or be forever damned!"
KRider Desire Grand Prix Entry from Origin System Since: Feb, 2021
Desire Grand Prix Entry
#1110: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:01:35 AM

His sisters make fun of him over it. Wasn't able to get him to becom a fan of Sting though.

Edited by KRider on Aug 3rd 2025 at 7:02:28 PM

Set! Avenge! "Henshin." Black General! Bujin Sword! Ready, Fight!
Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#1111: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:12:40 AM

I'm slightly confused on why people say the theaters are expensive. In my experience, the tickets are actually fairly cheap. It's the goddamn concessions that take a bite out of your ass, but I stopped buying food when I go see the movies.

Are tickets more expensive elsewhere?

Hawkeye86 Spirit of Battle from Classified (Searching for Spock) Relationship Status: You can be my wingman any time
Spirit of Battle
#1112: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:17:59 AM

Depends on your location. If I go with my wife to see a movie its almost $45 just on tickets. Add in the kids and it's almost $80.

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king15 Have Faun Since: Mar, 2024
Have Faun
#1113: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:36:17 AM

This is a film that did everything right, in theory. It was well-marketed, there was a lot of hype, it received good reviews from critics and audiences, it's self-contained so avoids perceived Continuity Lock-Out. It's a fairly popular property but one where the previous adaptations have been divisive, so a new, better version should be popular. It just goes to show how unpredictable the box office truly is.

Kaiseror Since: Jul, 2016
#1114: Aug 3rd 2025 at 4:43:40 AM

[up][up] The hell? I only pay a little over eight dollars for my ticket, where do you live?

KRider Desire Grand Prix Entry from Origin System Since: Feb, 2021
Desire Grand Prix Entry
#1115: Aug 3rd 2025 at 5:20:17 AM

Over here in the Philippines a movie ticket's 290 pesos or $5 but that's enough money for a full meal at a good restaurant so while it's cheap compared to the US, it's still pricey here.

Set! Avenge! "Henshin." Black General! Bujin Sword! Ready, Fight!
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#1116: Aug 3rd 2025 at 7:34:46 AM

My reasons for not liking it.

  • But the movie is so incredibly dry.
  • The handling of their Earth is terrible. The place is creepy and cultist with everyone surrendering their control to the Fantastic Four in four years and them immediately turning on them when they won't sacrifice their baby in hive minded lockstep. Oh but a SPEECH from Sue Storm changes everyone's mind.
    • Ditto this is all supposed to have happened in four years?
  • The removal of Ben being tormented by being the Thing removes his biggest character beat.
  • Natasha Lyonne is wasted.
  • The resurrection at the end was good but, frankly, it means there was almost no stakes.
  • I loved Reed's handling of a neuroatypical person (being one) right up until Reed said there was something wrong with him and then I just got pissed.
  • Johnny's horndogging for the Silver Surfer and then trying to reach her with genocide remnants did not land for me at all.
  • The Silver Surfer's thing is AVOIDING inhabited planets and this was to be the exception.
  • I didn't really feel much tension for any of the scenes because there was almost no sense of failure or risk (I felt this way during Quantumania). The heroes need to struggle and I only felt that with Galactus stretching Reed.
  • The one time Reed swears feels really incongruous with the rest of the movie.

Basically, I rank this beneath the Jessica Alba and Chris Evans movie (but not the sequel), the cartoons, and the Incredibles for Fantastic Four films.

But it's above the Bionicle remake and Rise of the Silver Surfer.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
igordebraga from Brazil Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Owner of a lonely heart
#1117: Aug 3rd 2025 at 7:40:12 AM

[up][up] In Brazil tickets don't get this high unless it's IMAX and such, but there is still what American consumers also complain about, the concessions stand often borders on price-gouging. Specially those combos with buckets or cups based on a movie, that at times a family buys multiple so every child gets one. (related to the movie we're discussing, in the US there is an absurd Galactus one, while down here there is the Fantasticar bucket and a set of 4 cups)

Edited by igordebraga on Aug 3rd 2025 at 11:40:37 AM

KRider Desire Grand Prix Entry from Origin System Since: Feb, 2021
Desire Grand Prix Entry
#1118: Aug 3rd 2025 at 7:46:22 AM

Almost forgot to mention the popcorn. Since cinemas here are all inside malls and the malls are dominated by 3 companies (SM, Ayala and Robinsons), concessions such as popcorn can be up to 100+ pesos in which ya I'd rather buy a chocolate frappe or a 1 piece original recipe leg from KFC than buy concessions.

Set! Avenge! "Henshin." Black General! Bujin Sword! Ready, Fight!
MurlocAggroB from the second-most ridiculous province of Canada Since: May, 2015
#1119: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:00:50 AM

The removal of Ben being tormented by being the Thing removes his biggest character beat.

This is false. It's not a major plot beat, but it's still an overarching character beat. Pretty much every solo Ben scene has him sadly gazing at his reflection. There's even a very blatant scene with him sadly watching footage of him pre-transformation, and that convincing him not to see Rachel Rozman. It also weighs heavily on Reed, and is the reason he considers their space mission to be his greatest failure.

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Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#1120: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:04:39 AM

There’s a lot of subtle touches in the film

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Shadao Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins. (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
Dorzma Forever! Artwork by Kris Dobbins.
#1121: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:05:37 AM

The film is rather subtle about Ben's desire to be normal. Mainly because it makes no sense for Ben to be feared and hated by the populace after four years of service as a hero. Especially if they're the only superheroes around.

The only time it made the most sense to focus on that Ben's character beat is at the beginning of his career, which honestly is the character arc that people remember the most from the 2005 film (and most fondly to boot).

KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#1122: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:12:56 AM

Off to see the film! Wish me luck!

Demetrios Lucky Seven from Des Plaines, Illinois (unfortunately) Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#1124: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:46:53 AM

About my only issue with Ben here is I'm confused by Rachel's existence, and why she isn't Alicia.

[up][up] Good luck.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
king15 Have Faun Since: Mar, 2024
Have Faun
#1125: Aug 3rd 2025 at 8:48:01 AM

[up][up][up]Hope you enjoy it. I'll be watching it after I go on holiday this upcoming week.


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