MOVIE REVIEW: Family comes first in MCU comic-book adventure 'Fantastic Four: First Steps'
Ironically, the fourth movie iteration of the Fantastic Four is the best as the superpowered family finally make their MCU bow.
Set in the backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Reed (Pedro Pascal), Sue (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny (Joseph Quinn) and Ben (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) must defend Earth from space god Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner).
Family is very much the key word here and the chemistry between the heroic quartet is palpable.
It's what drives every decision made in the film and leaves you understanding why a seemingly small in the grand scheme of things sacrifice to save all of humanity isn't made.
The world long-time television director Matt Shakman ( WandaVision, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia) and his visual effects team have created feels vibrant. lived-in and unlike anything seen before in the MCU.
And setting events on a different Earth from the one we've been used to in the comic-book mega franchise allows the writing team to develop an original world where the Fantastic Four are the only superheroes - and anything can happen.
Pascal plays it low key as the worrisome, always-thinking genius Reed, Kirby's Sue is wonderfully wholesome and commanding, Quinn's Johnny is more than the wise-cracking playboy we're used to seeing from the character and Moss-Bachrach's charm, loyalty and concern shine through Ben's rocky exterior.
It's still crazy to me to see Finchy from The Office popping up in big Hollywood productions but Ineson lends Galactus the gravitas and sheer intimidation required, while Garner makes for an enigmatic presence.
The brisk opening montage showing our heroes in action and blending in details about their origin sets the tone for an infectiously entertaining flick that never loses sight of the little things regardless of how destructive the carnage becomes.
A mid-credits sting also acts as a cracking cliffhanger for next year's Avengers: Doomsday. Thankfully, it looks like the fabulous new Fantastic Four will have a key part to play.
● Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on any movie or TV show recommendations you have to your fellow readers.
●Fantastic Four: First Steps is showing in cinemas now.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Tom Holland divides fans after unveiling updated Spider-Man costume for Brand New Day sequel with Zendaya
has left fans divided after he unveiled a first glimpse of his updated costume for the upcoming sequel Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The 29-year-old actor - who officially kicked off filming for the new MCU project in Glasgow this week - appeared in a short clip uploaded to the movie's Instagram and X accounts on Saturday. The star was seen standing front of a large doorway that began to open up with his back initially towards the camera. Tom then turned around and as the room became brighter, fans were able to see his new Spider-Man suit. As instrumental music played in the background, he paused and questioned, 'We ready?' before bringing his gaze back to directly look at the camera. The reel concluded as he ran off, with the movie's title appearing on the screen. Not long after the video was shared, social media users flocked over to Reddit to share their thoughts on the latest costume. The suit contained colors of both red and blue, while a black spider emblem was embroidered on his chest. Tom's suit has altered over the course of the three previous films he has starred in for the franchise including Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). Before the actor took on the role of the iconic superhero, others have also portrayed the character in the past such as Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. 'FINALLY This suit is what it should have been all along,' one penned, and another typed, 'looks good i just feel the spider is a little low on the chest.' A Reddit user also shared, 'Just don't CGI over it now, or if you have to do it minimally. It looks great, the little wrinkles and bunching make it feel so much better.' 'It's genuinely perfect,' a fan wrote, and one commented, 'looks like he took inspiration from the other spidermen.' Another said, 'So the logo is a nod to Garfield's suit logo and the raised webbing a nod to Maguire's? Cute. Wonder what they'll do with the eyes.' 'Really looks like they took the best elements of past spidey suits. Very nice,' one added, while another voiced concern that the new glimpse of the costume could have possibly involved the use of AI. 'FINALLY This suit is what it should have been all along,' one penned, and another typed, 'looks good i just feel the spider is a little low on the chest' 'THIS IS REAL?!? Feels so AI for some reason, probably Toms NPC movement. Edit: still feels AI after 10th watch,' they wrote, and one replied, 'The fact that we can't tell scares me. I agree with you on it feeling ai but I don't think it is.' Over on X, more fans offered differing opinions on Tom's latest Spider-Man suit as one penned, 'THIS LOOKS PEAKK.' 'Perfect homage to Andrew and Tobey,' another wrote, and an X user added, 'I feel like I'm going to be disappointed.' Another typed, 'This suit is the best of all of the suits we have seen so far!' and a fan shared, 'Liked the old suit better But cannot wait for this movie.' 'The suit from the ending of no way home looked so much better,' one commented, while a social media user also expressed, 'love the detailing but something is a little off.' Another also penned, 'This gives me HOPE,' while one observed, 'looks so much like Garfield's suit.' Tom first portrayed Spider-Man in the 2016 movie Captain America: Civil War and went on to play the leading role for three films beginning in 2017. Late year in October, the actor confirmed that a fourth installment in the franchise was in the works during an appearance on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon. That same month, he also briefly discussed the project on an episode of the Rich Roll podcast and shared that he had already read the script. 'One of the things is that, with Marvel, your film is a small cog in a large machine,' Tom explained. 'That machine has got to keep running. You have to make sure you can fit into that timeline at the right time to benefit the bigger picture. 'That's one of the challenges we're facing. The time in which we need to get that done is a tall order but definitely achievable with the people we have working on it now.' He further stated, 'We have a creative and we have a pitch and a draft, which is excellent. It needs work, but the writers are doing a great job. I read it three weeks ago and it really lit a fire in me. 'Zendaya and I sat down and read it together and we at times were bouncing around the living room like this is a real movie worthy of the fans' respect.' And production for the movie officially began this week on August 1 in Glasgow, Scotland - with the streets being transformed into NYC. Along with Tom, other cast members for Brand New Day include Zendaya, Mark Ruffalo, Sadie Sink and Jon Bernthal. The project is being directed by Destin Daniel Cretton with a script penned by both Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. Zendaya has portrayed the character of MJ since 2017 and has also been in a relationship with Tom since 2021. The couple confirmed their engagement in January of this year, but due to their busy schedules, wedding planning has been put on hold. Her stylist Law Roach told E! News last month in July, 'The process hasn't even started yet. 'Zendaya is working on so many movies. She's now filming the next iteration of Dune, so she's away doing that. It's so many movies, so we have time. We have a lot of time.'
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment Spider-Man film crews perform tank stunt on streets of Glasgow
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOVIE lovers were in for a treat as film crews performed a tank stunt for the new Spider-Man flick on the streets of Glasgow. Bothwell Street in the city centre has been transformed into downtown New York for the latest instalment of the masked web-slinger's story. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 8 A Spider-Man stunt was filmed on Bothwell Street Credit: Splash 8 Tom Holland's stunt double was on top of the tank as it barrelled down Bothwell Street Credit: Splash 8 Vehicles were launched into the air as part of the stunt Credit: Splash 8 Several of the tanks are on Bothwell Street for the filming Credit: Splash Tom Holland will reprise his role as the friendly neighbourhood superhero in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which will be released next year. Crews working on the big-budget Marvel movie spent the sunny Saturday prepping an intense stunt involving a TANK. Several of the armoured vehicles being used for the movie have been parked along the street. One of them was set up with a huge scaffolding structure around it for stunt doubles to be harnessed in and attached to cables allowing them to perform the iconic flips and jumps Spidey is well-known for. But the stunt that had the public stopping in their tracks was a chase scene which saw cars thrown into the air. A huge crowd lined the bottom of Bothwell Street as the stunt was prepared. There was a sense of excitement as location crews ushered onlookers behind barriers and told them the stunt was about to start. When the director could be heard yelling action, a black film car raced ahead of the tank as it rumbled down Bothwell Street. A taxi and a van attached to hydraulic ramps were thrown into the air as the war machine sped past, with punters gasping in excitement as the vehicles were left suspended in the air. A high-tech drone with a camera attached was zooming overhead to get aerial shots of the stunt. Spider-Man 4 starts shooting in Glasgow as Hollywood film swings into city The tank then came to a screeching halt at the bottom of the street. There were some cheers and applause after the stunt ended, bringing some excitement to both movie fans and people going about their day. In later scenes, a stunt double for Tom Holland was spotted on top of the tank as it sped along the street. Glasgow is starting to resemble the Big Apple for Tom Holland's latest MCU appearance. Historic street signs have been covered with decor from Manhattan. Hot dog carts and newsstands are scattered among the streets. American adverts for flats to rent and insurance firms are even plastered over buildings on the street. 8 Tom Holland's stunt double Credit: Splash 8 NYPD cars are being stored on West Campbell Street Credit: John Kirkby 8 Rows of iconic New York yellow cabs have been brought in for the movie Credit: John Kirkby 8 Glasgow has been transformed into New York Credit: John Kirkby Movie vehicles are also being stored on West Campbell Street. The road is lined with an ambulance and New York Fire Department pick-up truck. There are also scores of iconic New York yellow taxis and NYPD police cars. It has brought movie-fever to Glasgow once again, with some punters dressed as Spider-Man putting in an appearance. Holland, 29, returns as the titular character, with real-life girlfriend Zendaya, 28, as Michelle Jones "MJ" Watson, Jon Berntha, 48, portraying The Punisher, and Charlie Cox, 42, as Daredevil. Filming is set to move further along into Merchant City after Wednesday, August 13, with scenes are also expected to be shot on Glassford Street and Virginia Street. It is just the latest lot of filming taking place in Glasgow. Earlier this year, Hollywood hunk Glen Powell filmed scenes for sci-fi flick Ghost Writer on Bothwell Street. It is his second time in the city in a year, as he filmed on the exact same street for the remake of 80's hit Running Man in November. World War Z, which starred Brad Pitt, 61, previously used George Square to represent Philadelphia, while the city was also transformed into Gotham City for Batgirl and The Batman. And the Merchant City got turned into 1960's New York for a parade chase scene in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Netflix movie dominates global top 10 with 47 million views in just 3 days
Link is copied Comments Summer blockbuster season is in full swing at the cinema - and it's the same story on Netflix. Because just as we're all flocking to the movies to catch Superman and the Fantastic Four in full flight, so too are people embracing the streaming platform's seasonal offerings in their millions. In fact this week's top three all boast viewing figures which at any other time of year would have secured them the number one spot - but like we said, it's competitive out there at the moment. Read on for this week's global most-watched movie chart... (Picture: Getty Images) Tyler Perry's on a Netflix roll at the moment following the enormous success of his psychological thriller Straw, and now his latest comedy is following suit, which sees the return of mouthy matriarch Madea. This outing sees the comic character heading to the Bahamas, as the daughter of Madea's nephew Brian (also played by Perry) prepares to tie the knot with a rapper. Plenty of slapstick and hi-jinks ensue, along with a healthy dose of heartwarming family drama (Picture: Netflix/Everett/Shutterstock) The first of this week's new entries comes courtesy of the ongoing Trainwreck series, which aims to shine a light on events, celebrations and situations which all went drastically wrong. PI Moms takes a deep dive into the 2010 Lifestime reality show of the same name about soccer moms turned private investigators - which ended badly when the head of their agency became embroiled in scandal (Picture: Netflix) Moving down the chart is this Brazilian comedy‑drama from director Felipe Joffily that's charmed audiences across the world with its messy familial twists and warm humour. It boasts a cast that sparkles with chemistry, though critics were quick to point out that it has more than a few predictable plot points - although the fact it's added another six million viewers to its tally suggests that's not too much of an issue (Picture: Netflix) The second new entry of the week is this psychological drama from Indonesia, which is keeping viewers across the world enthralled. A Normal Woman tells the story of a socialite whose life is disrupted by a mystery illness, which in turn forces her to confront her environment and question her own identity. Expect some complex themes, including madness and isolation, to be explored in this one (Picture: Netflix/Everett/Shutterstock) It might have been described as 'the ultimate grandmother of all bad movies ever made', yet this German sci-fi thriller continues to prove popular. The movie follows couple Tim and Olivia, who find themselves trapped in their apartment block after a mysterious, impenetrable brick wall springs up outside their door. When they discover their neighbours are facing the same fate, they are forced to work together to find an escape route (Picture: Netflix/Sasha Ostrov) Netflix's South Korean psychological thriller set in a claustrophobic apartment building is continuing to keep audiences gripped. The film centres on a man who invests his life savings into an apartment - only to discover there are some unsettling secrets lurking beneath his new home. Film reviewers applauded its tense atmosphere and sharp production design, though some found the specifics of the 'mystery' a little predictable (Picture: Young-Uk Jeon/Netlix) This quiet indie flick, which combines fall foliage with emotional isolation, continues to impress, vaulting up the top 10 this week and nearly doubling its viewing figures in the process. One of those movies that does what it says on the tin, it's the true story of Donn Fendler, a 12-year-old boy left to fight for survival after a storm separates him from his family - and leaves him trapped on a treacherous mountain (Picture: Everett/Shutterstock) Given the arrival of the long-belated sequel to Happy Gilmore, it's no surprise to see the original make an appearance in the charts. And what an appearance it is, with the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy driving all the way into the top three. The funnyman plays the title character, an aspiring hockey player who joins the PGA tour in a bid to make some money and save his grandmother's house. Mayhem ensues, of course (Picture: Universal/ Kobal/Shutterstock) In any other week KPop Demon Hunters' huge viewing figures would have seen it taking the top spot very comfortably. However the animated musical fantasy's time at the top has come to an end this week, despite adding more than 26 million more views to its tally. It follows Huntrix, a world-renowned K-pop girl band who are leading double lives as demon hunters - which comes in handy when they have to face off against a rival boy band, The Saja Boys - who are secretly demons (Picture: NETFLIX) And so to the movie that's seen off all competition over the past few days, scoring a hole in one with an astonishing number of views in just three days. Nearly 30 years on from the original Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler once again picks up his golf clubs and returns to the title role, this time with our hero - now a retired, widowed alcoholic - heading back to the golf course in a bid to finance his daughter's overseas ballet school. Will there be chaos? You betcha (Picture: Netflix/Shutterstock)
