Fantastic 4 2005 Film Based on Marvel Comics

During a Mission to Space 5 Astronauts Gain Amazing Superpowers

Sep 6, 2009

A solar storm is due to pass Earth and Reed Richards believes it is the key to evolution. He, and 4 others, travel to space and are accidentally exposed to the storm.

Fantastic 4 is based on the marvel comic characters, and follows the adventures of a group of people that are exposed to a bizarre cosmic storm whilst in outer space and return with superhuman powers. Together they become the Fantastic 4 and must do battle with their nemesis, Dr Victor von Doom.

Plot and Members of the Fantastic 4

Dr. Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd), a brilliant but timid scientist has come to conclusion that the key to evolution lies in cosmic storms drifting through space. His old rival and classmate Dr Victor von Doom (Julian McMahon), is now a millionaire and head of Von Doom Industries. Doom gives him the chance to head up to his space station in order to chart an approaching storm just as long as Doom gains any profits Reed’s research generates. Reed goes on the mission with Doom’s assistant and Reed’s ex-girlfriend Susan Storm (Jessica Alba). Along with them are gruff astronaut pilot Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis), and Susan’s hot-headed brother, a fellow pilot, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans). The space station’s shields are supposed to be sufficient to protect them from the radiation of the storm but unfortunately they are not and all five are exposed to storm.

Back on Earth the five discover that they have developed bizarre powers. Johnny can make fire appear on his body, and may be able to use it to fly. Susan can make herself invisible and project force fields. Reed can stretch his limbs and contort his body. Ben is turned into a large rock-like creature and is the only one of the four who cannot turn his powers on and off. It is not initially revealed but Doom has also developed powers of his own, he is mutating as his flesh becomes a metal capable of absorbing and manipulating electricity.

During the course of the film Reed struggles to figure out how the energy of the storm works in the hopes that he can reverse what has happened to them (and Ben in particular) returning them all to normal. Ben, being unable to look human, suffers as he is abandoned by his fiancée and shunned by most of New York City. Doom’s problems also escalate when his company lingers on the edge of bankruptcy, and he starts to lose his public stature.

Doom realises that he can use his new powers to deal with the bankers threatening to shut down his company, and go after Reed Richards, the man he blames for his current misfortunes.

Not Exactly a Super Superhero Film

The continuous highlight is the chemistry between Evans and Chiklis. Ben was once Johnny’s trainer at NASA but Johnny was kicked out off the astronaut programme for crashing a simulator after taking a couple of Victoria’s secret catalogue models onboard. For the mission to the space station, Johnny is in charge which grates on Ben’s nerves, and Johnny pokes fun at Ben’s condition throughout the film. The two characters seem to love to hate each other, but typically they do seem to have affection for one another beneath Ben’s obvious dislike for the cocky Johnny. Johnny is also the only one that thinks having superpowers is cool and does not want to return to being normal.

The sparks don’t really fly between Reed and Susan. In a moment when Susan walks into a room wearing a skin-tight outfit, the first thing Reed does is get excited, about the material the suit is made out of. It does make the audience wonder why a beautiful woman like her would ever be interested in someone like Reed.

McMahon is a rather creepy Doom; he slowly deteriorates as his life begins to collapse in the wake of the failed space mission. His powers are formidable and as he goes after the Fantastic 4, he easily overpowers them on after another. However it is obvious all the way through the film that alone he is no match for the combined powers of the Fantastic 4.

The special effects are impressive, each character looks as though they really do have superpowers, and Doom’s flesh is slowly and convincingly mutated.

Worth watching just to see the two characters lighting up the film whenever they appear on screen.

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