Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27634 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-06-11
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 120 minutes

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. This extended edition of the film is longer than the theatrical version.

Customer Reviews

More Depth to the Principal Characters
The extended version at 120 minutes is good value if you like drama as well as action. Many of the additional scenes are centred on understanding better each of the main characters, their motivations and reactions to what has happened to them; and how they interact in relationships outside the four. This applies particularly to "Thing" and and the Human Torch. Note that the extra footage includes material that was not included on the two disc edition as deleted scenes.

Th extended version also provides better continuity between scenes, strengthening the overall story telling. Overall, the film is enhanced considerably with the new material and I strongly recommend it if you enjoyed the original. I won't spoil the enjoyment by describing the new elements.

Resist the urge...
...to buy this version of the DVD. While there may be an extended version of the movie, there are few other extras. And what there is, relates to the second movie, Rise of the Silver Surfer.

From what I can see, the region 1 'extended edition' is a better buy - the original 2 disk special edition which now includes the extended cut, as well as the original theatrical version, of the movie.

The one star rating is for the DVD content, not the movie - which I enjoyed immensely.

Fantastic for all the right reasons
This film has been I believe unfarely hammered by the critics and some on these amazon reviews. As much as I enjoy the recent film versions of Spiderman and Batman, what with spiderman's teenage angst and Batman's dark crusade ever weighing him down they have all been a bit 'oh so serious'. Lets face it the old Marvel comics were good fun and that's what Fantastic 4 is. watching it at the cinema it struck me just how faithful it actually was to the comic. How refreshing it is to see the Human Torch actually enjoying his powers and not endlessly worrying about them as most super heroes do! All in all this is an enjoyable romp, well acted, with some very nice special effects and an entertaining sense of humour.