Film review: Marvel reboot just fantastic
Another week, another superhero franchise reboot. This time it's the Fantastic Four hoping to cash in, and the results are pretty impressive.
First Steps is my kind of reboot. Just like the recent rebirth of Superman, Matt Shakman's film doesn't mess around with long-winded origin stories, instead firing you right into the action, and it's all the better for that.
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Telegraph
33 minutes ago
- Telegraph
The new Avatar trailer fills me with despair
I'm trying to think of the nicest thing I can say about the new Avatar trailer and I suspect this is probably it: it definitely looks like more Avatar. Subtitled Fire and Ash, the third of five instalments of James Cameron's shimmery late-career opus will slosh into cinemas worldwide this coming Christmas – when Disney presumably expects it to join its predecessors in the ranks of the highest-grossing films ever made. (The original and the first sequel, The Way of Water, currently occupy the first and third places on that chart respectively.) However much organic excitement for another Avatar sequel any of us actually encounter in the wild, it's highly likely it will be the year's most successful film – even if the trailer, which has already generated countless reaction videos, left me cold. What was most striking (and depressing) about the two minutes and 25 seconds of new material in the clip – which cinema-goers can currently experience in front of screenings of The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and the rest of us can watch on YouTube – was how little any of it seemed to add to the existing Avatar deal. So with apologies to the various TikTokers and influencers claiming otherwise, what we saw could not be described in good conscience as 'freaking insane'. Front and centre are the cosmetic updates which have been installed since Avatar 2.0 – and perhaps it's this immersive travel-brochure material, rather than the meandering plot about tribal squabbles, the repelling of Earthling invaders, and a religion centred on a sort of purple Wi-Fi tree, that has made the series such a global phenomenon. This instalment apparently concerns a war between two previously unseen Na'vi tribes: the peaceable Wind Traders, who drift about in flying airships, and the red-skinned Fire People, who live in a Mordor-like ashy landscape and ride around on flying beasts. The money is on them to be baddies – at least until the remnants of the invading Earth forces show up again, at which point an uneasy Pandoran alliance will presumably be struck. Controversially-slash-foolishly, I suspect the astonishing popularity of the two previous films sprung from different places. In every respect bar technologically, the 2009 original was a blockbuster blowout as Hollywood used to make them in the 1980s and 90s: it was essentially Dances with Wolves transposed to space, and gave audiences their final chance to experience neoclassical Cameron craftsmanship – in the brand new 3D format he'd developed specifically for the occasion, no less – at the very moment the franchise era took hold. But then Avatar disappeared for 13 years – and returned, still banging the 3D drum the industry had otherwise largely abandoned, having reinvented itself as a franchise movie. Unlike its predecessor, The Way of Water was simply a jumbo dose of truly borderless escapism but not actually about anything beyond itself. (I defy anyone who sat through it to describe anything of narrative interest that actually happened in it apart from the whale hunt near the end.) And that latter approach is what Fire and Ash appears to be replicating. Volcanoes, not oceans, are clearly the signature backdrop this time around, all rendered in mineral-water-crisp 3D computer graphics, and in frame rates that vacillate between a purring 24 and slippery 60 per second. A few new bizarre beasts of burden have also been added to the Avamenagerie, including a big airborne stingray with wiggly bits coming out of its mouth and a sort of jellyfish that the Sully clan flies around in, like a sentient hot air balloon. But three years on from The Way of Water, the modus operandi hasn't seemingly altered a jot. The trailer promises more teeth-baring tribal melodrama, wildly expensive virtual nature documentary sequences, some jump-and-shoot forest battles that look like the bestselling video-game of 2045, and digitally rendered characters whose faces' astounding visual intricacy is only surpassed by their supreme slappability. 'You cannot live like this, baby – in hate,' Sam Worthington's Jake Sully tells his bride, Zoe Saldana's Neytiri, in one contextless excerpt, enunciating the word 'baby' like Lena Lamont's elocution coach in Singin' in the Rain. 'Your goddess has no dominion here,' hisses a shaman (perhaps?) from Pandora's stern-looking, red-painted mountain tribe – presumably referring to Sigourney Weaver's Teenage Na'vi Jesus-like character (Kiri te Suli Kireysi'ite to you, or so says Wikipedia), who apparently spends the entire film gazing beatifically at CGI fronds. Amid the flurry came two moments of despair. One was the return of Stephen Lang's Colonel Miles Quaritch, the electrifyingly charismatic human villain from the first film, in the identikit Na'vi body, which I forgot he'd transferred into in the second. The other was the reappearance of Spider, Quaritch's rebellious and dreadlocked teenage son, family friend of the Sullys, and essentially the most annoying gap-year kid in the galaxy. He's glimpsed at death's door (good), and also jumping across a series of falling slabs, like Sonic the Hedgehog. Aside from the awful Spider, I counted a grand total of one shot that featured human beings, and which may or may not foreshadow the journey from Pandora to Earth that is supposed to take place in Avatar 4, coming in 2029. Of course there's no reason for either Cameron or Disney to change a single element of the Avatar recipe, since The Way of Water won an Oscar and made $2.3bn. Even so, this trailer's proud sameyness grates on a spiritual level. The original Avatar was so valuable in part because it barked a defiant last hurrah for original blockbusters. But the series it went on to spawn seems to have succumbed harder than any of its contemporaries to the deathless curse of more of the same.
Time Out Dubai
3 hours ago
- Time Out Dubai
Here's a kid-approved itinerary for exploring Abu Dhabi this summer
Here for the summer? Good news is the ultimate staycation destination is just a short drive away. Abu Dhabi's got the sights, the thrills and best of all – your kids will love it, trust us. Whether you're planning a family break or want to feel like you're holidaying, the capital's serving up everything from adventure park fun to heritage site tours. What's more, to keep the little ones entertained, the city has gone all out with a summer line-up that's been approved by the experts themselves – the kids. Here's how to have a jolly holiday in Abu Dhabi. Book the Kids Go Free package at Yas Island Across Yas Island, the kids under 12 enjoy free dining and stays at iconic hotels and get free access to three record-breaking indoor theme parks. And there's plenty to do and see, all within a few minutes of each other. Chase the high-speed thrills at Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, meet your kiddo's (and your) favourite action heroes at Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi or cool down in more than 20 new rides, slides and splashy experiences at Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Book now Kids get their very own 'Abu Dhabi passport' In the Abu Dhabi Little Do activation, Kiddos will get their own Abu Dhabi passport at a hotel check-in desk for free. On the passport, you'll find fun activities, as well as pages to collect stamps at key attractions across Abu Dhabi like theme parks, Saadiyat Beach Club and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, while you're creating unforgettable memories as a family. However, the real fun is this – the more stamps they collect, the more prizes they can redeem. Collect the prizes at Passport HQ, at Manarat Al Saadiyat and Louvre Abu Dhabi. From sun visors and beach balls to water bottles, sand toys and even an Abu Dhabi Monopoly Game, something exciting is up for grabs for everyone. From heritage to art: There is a lot to see And that's one of the best things about staying in Abu Dhabi is the ease of it all. Mornings can be spent discovering ancient artefacts and space-age wonders at the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi. Afternoons can be packed with meet-and-greets with the hero of the hour, Superman, or animal encounters. And when the sun begins to set, there's time for a relaxed wander along the Corniche or a family dinner at a Michelin-starred spot. You can also slot in a day for a heritage tour by visiting the ancestral home of the Royal Al Nahyan family, Qasr Al Hosn, or meeting traditional artisans who handcraft sadu at the House of Artisans. Super fun summer camp, the kids won't want to leave The city is hosting the fun-est, most immersive and curiosity-sparking summer camp. At the Yas Island Summer Camp, kiddos will go on different adventure every day. So don't be surprised if they don't want this summer camp to end. Over at Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the Waves of Discovery programme lets young campers dive into a water-filled day of splash games, imaginative sketching sessions and lessons in pearl diving heritage. Meanwhile, over at Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, DC heroes band together in Gotham City and Metropolis. Children can try on the red or black cape, solve park-wide mysteries and even meet the heroes after going on their favourite rides. At SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, the summer camp experience is part education, part exploration, and all kinds of fascinating. Kids get to learn about animals through fun exercises, up-close feeding sessions and create upcycled sea creatures using craft materials. Super hands-on, this experience. If your young ones are into climbing walls and flight science, CLYMB Yas Island, Abu Dhabi has them covered. Here, the camp experience includes indoor skydiving, climbing challenges, flight showcases, and confidence-boosting moments that'll have them chatting non-stop at dinner. These themed experiences are part of the Yas Island Summer Camp offer, which runs until Friday August 22, every weekday from 9am to 2pm for kids aged seven to 13. Campers will receive a daily lunch along with a goodie pack that includes a T-shirt, water bottle, bag, notebook and pen – perfect for taking notes on all their adventures. Like what you're reading? Register now at Time for stress-free holidaying Running until Sunday August 31, you can book a 6-night, 7-day stay at select hotels across the capital city and enjoy access to an exciting summer camp experience for the kids at no extra cost. Whatever it is that floats your kids' boats – reading, playing with slime, venturing outdoors, movies or board games – rest assured they'll love it and will be in safe hands while you're out enjoying your book by the poolside or lunching at a world-class restaurant facing the sea. Participating hotels include Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Rixos Marina, Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Resort, Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi and Saadiyat Rotana Resort & Villas. Book your summer camp-inclusive staycation: Find out what summer looks like in Abu Dhabi:
Metro
4 hours ago
- Metro
Fantastic Four beats Superman with $218,000,000 box office win
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The Fantastic Four: First Steps has soared onto the big screen with an almighty bang, toppling Superman at the box office. The Marvel movie, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, was released in cinemas on July 25, and has already seen huge numbers. According to reports, the flick earned around $218million in the opening weekend alone, raking in $100m internationally. Deadline reports that the overseas debut beat James Gunn's Superman by 11% – and has had the biggest superhero opening this year so far in the UK, Italy, France, Spain and Mexico. As well as this, the new awesome foursome also landed a higher Rotten Tomatoes score with both critics and fans, at 87% and 93% respectively. In comparison, David Corenswet's stint as the titular hero was met with an industry ranking of 83%, and 91% from viewers. Fantastic Four was set in a retro-futuristic world in the 1960s, with Pedro leading the gang as Mr Fantastic alongside the Invisible Woman (Vanessa), the Human Torch (Joseph) and the Thing (Ebon). Following a cosmic accident, they gained extraordinary powers and set about protecting the world from other harmful forces. However, they found themselves going up against villains Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and the Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), who were hell-bent on destroying Earth. Without spoiling the fate of the family, a mid-credits scene teased Doctor Doom's future role – marking Robert Downey Jr's surprise return to the MCU. Although his face was obscured in the footage, Vanessa confirmed that it was definitely RDJ on set. 'Yeah! Robert's never not been on set,' she previously told Variety when asked if he was actually present for the shoot. 'He's always there. He is our leader. We call him our Godfather. He's looked after us. More Trending 'It's such a joy working with the Russos and him, because they've had such deep collaboration for so long. 'And it's been amazing being pregnant and working on Avengers. I felt so inspired and so relieved that I've been so taken care of. It's been a really beautiful journey. 'Robert is just doing incredible work. I'm so excited.' Fantastic Four is in cinemas now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 7 films celebrating women in sport after the Lionesses win Euro 2025 MORE: Ulrika Jonsson says younger men 'aren't bothered by ageing bits' after podcast backlash MORE: Film hailed 'best sci-fi of all time' now available to stream for free
