Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27529 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-12-02
• Rating: Parental Guidance
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 101 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Fantastic Four is a light-hearted and funny take on Marvel Comics' first family of superherodom. It begins when down-on-his-luck genius Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd) has to enlist the financial and intellectual help of former schoolmate and rival Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) in order to pursue outer-space research involving human DNA. Also on the trip are Reed's best friend, Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis); his former lover, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba), who's now Doom's employee and love interest; and her hotshot-pilot brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). Things don't go as planned, of course, and the quartet becomes blessed--or is it cursed?--with superhuman powers: flexibility, brute strength, invisibility and projecting force fields, and bursting into flame. Meanwhile, Doom himself is undergoing a transformation.

Among the many entries in the comic-book-movie frenzy, Fantastic Four is refreshing because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Characterization isn't too deep, and the action is a bit sparse until the final reel (like most "first" superhero movies, it has to go through the "how did we get these powers and what we will do with them?" churn). But it's a good-looking cast, and original comic-book co-creator Stan Lee makes his most significant Marvel-movie cameo yet, in a speaking role as the FF's steadfast postal carrier, Willie Lumpkin. Newcomers to superhero movies might find the idea of a family with flexibility, strength, invisibility, and force fields a retread of The Incredibles, but Pixar's animated film was very much a tribute to the FF and other heroes of the last 40 years. The irony is that while Fantastic Four is an enjoyable B-grade movie, it's the tribute, The Incredibles, that turned out to be a film for the ages. --David Horiuchi, Amazon.com

Synopsis
In this thrill-filled live-action Marvel Comics adaptation, director Tim Story ('Barber Shop') balances comedy, romantic intrigue, special effects, high action, and even scientific trivia for a rounded 'Fantastic Four'. Here, Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, The Human Torch, and The Thing come together on a space mission that goes wrong. The ship's owner - who later transforms into evil Doctor Doom - refuses to abort the mission during a solar storm, which electrifies the ship and its entire crew, causing radical changes to their DNA. Back on earth, the transformed 'heroes' adjust to their new powers, which are specific to their personalities. Mister Fantastic, who lacks assertion, has stretchy limbs of rubber. Invisible Woman, who loves Fantastic but thinks he can't see her for who she really is, does a disappearing act. The Human Torch, an immature guy who is brimming with energy, can burst into flames. And finally, The Thing, a great friend who is as solid as a rock, actually turns into one - and loses his wife due to his weighty disposition. Holing up in Fantastic's scientific lab where they run experiments on themselves in hopes of changing back to normal, the crew learns that Doctor Doom - who is so power hungry that he turns into metal and is able to conduct electrical currents - poses a serious threat. The heroes quickly master their abilities and channel their scientific smarts for one truly fantastic five-way face-off. Visually, action sequences give way to tranquil interludes such as the New York City skyline with the Fantastic's lab glowing atop a skyscraper, while plot-wise, the interplay between the characters brings a human element to the film, with some touching moments from The Thing. At the end, a door is left open for what could be a super sequel.

Customer Reviews

fantastic four lives up to its name!
I remember watching the cartoon as a little kid but it was only tiny bits that i remembered. when the film came out i had to see it but i waited until it was out on dvd. i was really surprised with the film as i had wished i remembered the comic cartoon series because it certainly is like all the other marvel films. it got me hooked and i hope it becomes a triology. so if your like me and have seen spiderman, x-men, batman and superman then i'm sure you'll warm to this film too.

Why to get the two disk edition?
I personally do not have this version but I have the original but am sick that I did not get this, the reason why 'MORE JESSICA ALBA'. None of the other stuff on the extras disk matters much except if your actually interested in that stuff but being able to see Jessica Alba about 1 hour longer is a 100% bonus. Come on, be serious! Who would'nt want that?

Hopefully the start of a great franchise
As a fan of the Fantastic Four from the late 1960's I was looking forward to this movie.
With a few minor grumbles I am not disappointed. This is a scene setting movie much like X-Men was, it has to be as there are so many characters to introduce. So many hints to be dropped as to possible future characters.
The new origin of Doctor Doom does work better in this age than his coming unstuck whilst meddling with the black arts. It is far better to have them all suffer from the radiation together and Ben's catching the brunt of it is a better explanation of why his change was so permament.
It also ties Reed Richards up with Doom as the early comic books did with their brief college meeting. I feel the movie characters do tie in well with the way they are portrayed in the comics. Johnny Storm IS a pain in the ass youth with a fast car fixation a part played really well by Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis IS Ben Grimm he wanted this role and you can feel how he empathises with what both Ben and the Thing feel. Reed Richards IS a blinkered brainiac who did not know how Susan Storm felt about him. Sue Storm also started off with just invisibilty and only developed the force field after using one of Reed's machines.
Julian McMahon's Doom may be a little melodramatic but by God it does work. In the comic he rarely took his mask off as he was disfigured, the movie shows Doom developing a metal skin which works just as well, and thanks for using the green cape. From that instant he WAS the comic book Doom. Great to see Doom sailing off to Latveria in the end as you know he will be back, with diplomatic immunity maybe?
I look upon this movie as a pre-cursor to something great with the Silver Surfer having been tentatively announced as appearing in the next movie, with Galactus maybe at the end....?
As a comic fan I would love to see the Sub-Mariner appear as well as the Skrulls and any gathering of the Frightful Four but I'm happy enough with the prospect of Ghost Rider coming early next year as well as Hulk and the Abomination.
The extra documentaries on the second disc are interesting but I will not be watching these too many times, the film itself I will though. For those comic book fans who think it is not true to the spirit I say you are wrong. The characters feel right and having Alicia played by a black actress is a cracking idea as the whole concept of their relationship is that you've got to look beneath the surface, and even better what about the Puppet Master now his step-daughter has appeared.
Good movie, great effects and I want more from the next one.