Fantastic Four: The First Steps

[BrianL]

I turned to my sister after and said, "Wait, Reed doesn't actually need to be insufferable?". He has been in all of the other iterations I've seen (never saw the Miles Teller one).

Is he not in this movie? That is good! I have been a little nervous about seeing it because of the way they often play Reed. They seem to always make the "smart guy" so aloof and cold as to be unlikeable. He's been like this in the comics for a LONG time now, and even some of the runs that the director cited as favorites are like that, where Reed is just a...well, let's just say "jerk" though other words would apply. I hate that so much, and it is not in line with his original character. I should have figured that the movies would make it better as they typically have when adapting questionable material, but still.

 

[Moliphino]

Is he not in this movie? That is good! I have been a little nervous about seeing it because of the way they often play Reed. They seem to always make the "smart guy" so aloof and cold as to be unlikeable. He's been like this in the comics for a LONG time now, and even some of the runs that the director cited as favorites are like that, where Reed is just a...well, let's just say "jerk" though other words would apply. I hate that so much, and it is not in line with his original character. I should have figured that the movies would make it better as they typically have when adapting questionable material, but still.

He's still a bit of a dick at times (mostly to Johnny) and still analytical, but overall he's mostly likeable. He does clearly care about his family and the world.

 

[BrianL]

He's still a bit of a dick at times (mostly to Johnny) and still analytical, but overall he's mostly likeable. He does clearly care about his family and the world.

Well, it's hard not to be toward Johnny, who should be played as a bit self-centered, so that could be warranted. I swear though, in the comics, they have made Reed so bad that I don't even know why Sue stays with him/ Really, Marvel has done that to ALL of their characters really. It's like they think that people can't be nice, which says a lot about the people running the comics division and working as writers there.

 

[MIChessGuy]

Reed tried to be reasonable when he and his alt-universe team confronted Wanda Maximoff in the Doctor Strange movie. Unfortunately, he revealed exactly how their heavy hitter was going to come at her, thus making that universe's Reed a good candidate for dumbest man in the world. He and his entire team were killed immediately. Still--I liked the beard.

 

[Obi-J Kenobi]

https://deadline.com/2025/07/fantastic-four-first-steps-global-international-box-office-1236468911/

Box office numbers from the weekend, via Deadline. Not bad. Just not spectacular.

 

[nancipants]

Saw it on Thursday and really, really enjoyed it. Loved seeing a powerful mother get **** done. The retro figure vibes were fantastic (ha) and I hope we see more of this Earth.

Also, the score by Michael Giacchino is some of his best work.

Between this and Superman, it’s been a great summer for superhero movies.

 

[clappyclaps]

I went to see this last night and I was pleasantly surprised. It wasnt amazing, but it was certainly one of the better efforts Marvel has put out for some time.

I loved how different it was compared to other Marvel films and I'm so happy they didnt go down the origin story route again. Loved the cast and really enjoyed the fun/silly moments with Johnny and Ben. I also really appreciated how Sue was portrayed as a strong capable woman and mother, showing her characters true powers much better.

I did think parts of it were a little cheesy and some of the plot was predictable and a little clichéd, didn't help that a lot of it was in the trailers. Didn't like how the film didnt tie in with the end credits scene from Thunderbolts either.

 

[bcla]

Is he not in this movie? That is good! I have been a little nervous about seeing it because of the way they often play Reed. They seem to always make the "smart guy" so aloof and cold as to be unlikeable. He's been like this in the comics for a LONG time now, and even some of the runs that the director cited as favorites are like that, where Reed is just a...well, let's just say "jerk" though other words would apply. I hate that so much, and it is not in line with his original character. I should have figured that the movies would make it better as they typically have when adapting questionable material, but still.

Traditionally, Reed Richards had graying temples and smoked a pipe. I like how they let Pedro Pascal's natural gray take over and obviously the pipe smoking wasn't going to work these days. I did a little research into the Fantasic Four, and Reed Richard's stretching power was actually inspired by Plastic Man, which originated in the 1940s.

Someone mentioned that you don't really need to know a whole lot of stuff about the MCU to see this. It is however useful to know a little bit about the Fantastic Four. Not necessarily expert level, but having heard about characters like Galactus, Silver Surfer, Dr. Doom.

I remember hearing about the 90s Fantastic Four that was produced by Roger Corman. It sounded like a disaster, but I suppose there are bootlegs of it even though it wasn't officially released. It was more or less TV movie quality. I understand that some actors from that movie made cameos in the new one.

And then there are all those superhero franchises inspired by the Fantastic Four. Obviously The Incredibles, although they kind of mixed it up. But then there was the whole family thing, stretching powers, super strength, and invisibility. Then a baby.

I like the parodies. Especially Professor Impossible from The Venture Bros. He was basically Mr. Fantastic with stretching powers and a genius scientific/engineering background. But then his wife (based on the Invisible Girl) can only turn her skin invisible. His brother in law (based on the Human Torch) painfully catches on fire if exposed to oxygen and is kept in an airtight chamber to prevent that. And then the cousin who is developmentally disabled, but still has a tough skin and super strength, but can't really use it and is hidden away.

Mr Fantastic from Multiverse of Madness was also a parody.