Superman Vs the Fantastic Four

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  Before I have to tell you to shut the fuck up, when you say 

"U caN't CompAre the 2 jus cuz tHey r boof comic books movies" 

Let me tell you, that is exactly why they should go head-to-head.  In a comic book match-up, Superman should wipe the Baxter Building with their corpses, unless we are talking about the Superman from whatever comic books James Gunn was reading leading up to the making of his film, in which case, Reed Richards beats him single-handedly.

When it comes to comic book movies, the assignment is simple: bring what we love about the comics to life on screen. Many movies have done this successfully, going back to Richard Donner's "Superman", but have also included "Iron-Man", Tim Burton's "Batman",  "The Avengers", "Captain America", "Dr. Strange", 'Sin City", "Blade" , "Howard the Duck", "Spider-man; Homecoming" and James Gunn's "Guardians of the Galaxy" with the second movie in that franchise being the only one that was a bit clunky.  In fact, Gunn's horror take on Smallville, "Brightburn" showed he knew what could work.

Granted DC has struggled bringing their characters to the big screen, unless it's Batman, though even the last Batman film went down the drain halfway into the movie. Wonder Woman, the second Suicide Squad, "Black Adam" and the Flash are the only real working adaptations they have had, and the end of Wonder Woman felt like they dumped the rest of the budget into a CGI fight that stunk up the theater as if it looked like a video game. To this day, I have still not seen the second Aquaman movie, thanks to the Wonder Woman sequel being one of the worst ways I have ever kissed two hours of my time goodbye.

Fantastic Four has been poorly handled in the hands of filmmakers going all the way back to Roger Corman/s version. They were the staple of the Marvel Universe back in the '60s, more important than the Avengers. They had a lot of heart as the first family, and that is what Marvel tapped into with this version of the film. They knew they had to get it right; that meant no cosmic clouds, the real Galactus, leaving the only misstep being the depiction of the Silver Surfer. But they captured the essence of the characters. They did it in a way that stood apart from other Marvel Movies. 

The only thing that worked about Superman was his dynamic with Lois Lane. Krypto was fun, but overused, and in no way should Superman need him to pull himself out of a jam. Superman should be a god among men. Perhaps the focus group that signed off on this felt younger audiences could not see themselves in an invulnerable character, as they are too self-identifying with weakness as being an integral part of their personalities, so someone like the Henry Cavill Superman, who headbutts Wonder Woman into the ground, is too intimidating. The new actor donning the cape played a better Clark Kent, but Cavill embodied Superman more effectively, too bad he was surrounded by bad writing. 

Superman was entertaining, but mainly thanks to Nathan Fillion stealing the movie as Green Lantern, he needs his own movie in production ASAP. But Superman does not need the Justice League or Gang when he shows up, Green Arrow and Plastic Man breathe a sigh of relief. The scene that solidified how his weakness ruined the movie was needing to be pulled out of the Black Hole, it felt like the scene in "The Batman" when Cat-woman had to help Batman pull himself up onto a platform as he could not do a one-arm pull-up. Um, I can pull my weight up with one arm, and I am just a dude who goes to the gym. Bruce Way is a Billionaire who devoted his life to perfecting his body to the limits of human capabilities so he has state of the art equipment, much like Eddie Hall's basement to grant his muscles hi-tech recovery from both workouts and swinging aroung Gotham city, where he is also pulling his body weight with one hand on a nightly basis. This, like the handling of a Superman who gets his ass-kicked for the entirety of the movie, is not under the assignment.

Granted, there was online grumbling about how the movie was supposed to be 'Woke", claims that were also made about "Fantastic Four",  I saw none of that in either film, there did not seem to be an agenda. I think the studios know by 'woke-fishing" it creates a buz, and perhaps gets butts in seats as people think they are supporting something that is part of their indentity, who might have never cracked open a comic book. Otherwise, the only thing I could see would be, should  Lois and Mr Terrific had less screen time, in favor of placing emphasis on Clark? Sure, but I think that was bad editing. The same could be said of how Fantastic Four could have placed more emphasis on Ben Grimm, but at least when he was on screen, it was like he stepped out of the comic book. Superman would have been more like the 30-second fight the Thunderbolts had with the Sentry, that kind of speed, resilience, and power, it's who the character is, if you don't like who he is, then make another movie. This is why Fantastic Four proved to be a much better movie on most levels, from stylistically to bringing the characters to life. 

  

Film Review - "Fantastic Four - First Steps"

This film finally gets the characters that make up Marvel's first family right. Not only does it set itself apart from the other MCU films in the stylistic visuals that have more in common with the Jetsons than the Avengers. The tone of the film is different as they are family first, and the chemistry of the actors makes it click into place. It might not get everything perfect, but it gets them better, which was enough to make this work. Could there have been more Dr Doom to show how crucial he is to their DNA? Yes, but I understand why there wasn't since he is a contrast to Reed Richards first and foremost, and they needed a villain who was a threat to the family in a larger sense. 

They did have the Super-Apes on screen, which made my day. Was the Silver Surfer in this incarnation a weak link? Yes. They missed the chance to bring Norrin Radd in, but distinguished the difference between him and who was on screen. Mole Man was more impressive as he got the character. While not set in earth 616  they colored the world in such a fashion that made it work, while setting the stage for their return, which they faked out the audience on when it came to how they were going to run from Galactus. Speaking of the big purple guy, he was an impressive sight and presence.  One of the stronger effects moments, though Ben Grimm worked more often than not as well. 

Ben could have gotten to punch more things and do more. The same could be said for Reed who only showed a fraction of what he does in the comics, but the story was served, it never got bogged down into Disney's Hollywood politics and aside from not being a part of the larger universe, felt like it captured what it is that the team does and how they are set apart from the Avengers or the X-men. It was the best movie since "Spider-Man No Way Home" and they understood the assignment better than most filmmakers who have fumbled properties like Thor and Black Panther. 

Film Review : "Dr Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"

 Calling this film Dr. Strange vs Scarlet Witch would have been a more fitting title. Would I have preferred a villain like Nightmare or Mephisto?  Sure, but I will take what we got here. If anyone is going to complain about anything it would be the depth of the story. This lack of depth gave it more of a comic feel and made me think that director Sam Rami might have read some Dr Strange comics from the 70s. Marvel said it was going to be a horror movie, and it was not. Is there talk of demons and a darker tone than say the Avengers movies? Yes, but that does not make it a horror movie, so do not go into this expecting that. Yes, I know there have been comparisons made to "Army of Darkness" but the iconic Sam Rami film might be connected to "Evil Dead" but it's not a horror movie either. Is it a lot of fun yes, but does it scare you ? No thus not a horror movie, the same can be said for this movie.  

The movies biggest enemy was the internet that had set up expectations that everyone was going to be in the movie, and I think the What If Series was helping to set the tone. With that said the number of new characters introduced into the MCU felt right, it did not feel cluttered. The guest appearances of the cheer rousing Reed Richards, who got the loudest applause of any moment in the theater and his Illuminati partners gave me a lot more from these characters than I had bargained for going into this movie. Black Bolt looked and felt better, though I am not sure that mentioned the Inhumans, where the Fantastic Four was mentioned. 

The end could have relied on America Chavez less, since well it was not her move, she is not a character who can hold her own movie but work well with someone like Captain Marvel. I was glad to see Charlize Theron's take on Clea, who I feel might have worked better than the Christine Relationship which never really felt like great chemistry from the first movie. But Cumberbatch shone in his role as he takes the character seriously and owns it. It never felt like they were apologizing for the source material. The action was balanced, and while all the Marvel movies have begun to take on a uniform CGI glaze it worked here.  

Marvel Fall of 2018

Ok trying to not go as long without weighing in on what's going on with Marvel, and by that I don't mean Thanos snapping, I mean what really matters the comics. I'll start with my favorite character and go from there. With Banner is back with his own series. Cho Hulk is relegated to the pages of Champions, and at this point almost feels like he is filling the gap for Doc Sampson. If I was writing for Hulk, Sampson is the first character I would bring back. Also what ever happened with Skaar Any ways lets look at what goes down here. This was the first comic I considered buying a physical copy of. Most of you should know the Hulk is my favorite comic book character and I have been reading him for 35 years. They get credit for reaching back into the Hulk's history to pull more obscure characters from. I am also excited at the real Defenders having a comeback, not this Luke Cage Netflix shit. Namor, the Surfer and Strange. Speaking of Dr. Strange is he one the same planet Black Panther is? Aside from the dwarf in his comics both books are on this Star Wars like kick that feels awkward in both cases, more so with Black Panther as it feels like something I have already seen in Captain America, at least with Dr. Strange magic makes it more interesting.

Spider-man seems like he is getting fucked up again. Bringing this other Peter Parker in is a mistake, Why is he fighting Sentinels ? Spider-geddon will hopefully kill off all the other Spider-people, I am good with just Jessica Drew, Silk, Peter and Miles. With Miles it's only because with the animated movie he is going anywhere. On the street level I am having a hard time caring about anyone else. Old Man Logan is currently occupying the best Daredevil story line that Matt Murdock is not in. Which works cus all the color coordinate X books dont have room for him. Red might be the best of the bunch. Not that the story-line is anything to really applaud for or make me want to read more , but it is more focused than the others. While we are on unfocused the Avengers vs Celestials thing is reading like Justice League. It also proves that Ghost Rider is out of place. I like that Alpha Flight are popping up all over the place , but they just need their own book. It's also sad that the first issue of West Coast Avengers was as bad as it was, Gwenpool alone could ruin a book, so when Hawkeye is the best you have go there is trouble , the book is too much about jokes, if Tigra shrinks down and joins the team to replace Gwenpool their might be hope.

Sentry got my hopes up in the first issue but devolves into what is dreams in another reality and what is real, they throw a fight with Iron-Man on the cover of the third issue and Iron Man is not even in the book. This supporting cast of other Sentries that are not real is getting too much focus, Why did Misty Knight get sent in to law down the law to Reynolds who could kill her with a sneeze did not make much sense either. Last but not least in fake covers is the lingering build to bring back the Fantastic Four. That first issue was a tease. Hopefully this won't get too drawn out. I think Dr. Doom has become more convoluted, when if you go back to the first Secret Wars series he is the premiere villain as he should be. Just cause they cant get him right in the movies is not an excuse to screw him up now. So there is some hope they can get things right by the end of the year, at this point things are too close to call. Thor is once again a mess , the art might have worked for Weirdworld , but not the book is hard to read.