The Fantastic Four: First Steps Review (IMAX Melbourne 3D)
Summary: The Fantastic Four get a Five out of Five in this new take on the beloved group.
5
Fantastic!
For a long time, mentioning “The Fantastic Four” and “movie” in the same sentence was enough to make people cringe. There was the infamous film that was made but never released, the over-the-top characters of the early 2000s, and then an attempt to reinvent them with mixed results. But now, we have the new Marvel Cinematic Universe’s take on the team… and it is truly fantastic!
I’ll be honest, I was apprehensive. I tend to avoid trailers these days to prevent spoilers, but I did see some promotional images that looked a bit “off”—almost too Photoshopped or even AI-generated. All that concern melted away once the movie started.
The film’s visual style is a fantastic retro-futurism that allows the characters to pay homage to their original comic designs without feeling out of place. It even has a touch of The Incredibles vibe, bringing the influence full circle. The designers have managed to make this retro aesthetic look fresh and familiar at the same time. The visual design hints at the era when the comics first made their splash but avoids being swamped in oranges and browns. There’s even a clever reference to the cartoon series, which adds a bit of fun interplay between the “real” Fantastic Four and their animated counterparts.
Seeing the film in IMAX 3D was an absolute treat. The sense of depth and sheer scale on such a massive screen made certain scenes and character interactions have a much greater impact. I’m one of the few who still loves 3D movies—I even import Japanese Marvel films to get 3D versions for my collection. So, it’s a huge compliment when I say this is good enough to go on my future 3D Blu-ray list.
Seeing the film in IMAX 3D was an absolute treat. The sense of depth and sheer scale on such a massive screen made certain scenes and character interactions have a much greater impact. I’m one of the few who still loves 3D movies—I even import Japanese Marvel films to get 3D versions for my collection. So, it’s a huge compliment when I say this is good enough to go on my future 3D Blu-ray list.
I’ve watched the previous film versions, and while I don’t hate them, I can certainly appreciate why they aren’t loved. This new take, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, breaks away from those past attempts and gives the group believable characteristics that feel more natural—well, as natural as mutated people with superpowers can be! And on a side note, The Thing looks great in this version.
Final Thoughts?
If you’re a fan of The Fantastic Four or just love a good action movie—especially one with its own variation of “The Trolley Problem”—get along to see The Fantastic Four: First Steps, and definitely try to catch it in IMAX 3D for that added oomph!
For more IMAX 3D fun, please visit http://imaxmelbourne.com.au/
(*) Synopsis: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch and the Thing face their most daunting challenge yet as they defend Earth from Galactus and Silver Surfer.
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
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