Top Of Mind

While I am still waiting for Tim Story to show us what is a Fantastic about this movie, it is a far better movie than the first one, which really didn’t have much of a plot and suffered from a rather limp climax. ahem..

This review is spoiler free - not that there are any major spoilers to begin with. The movie starts off with the destruction of a planet as Galactus finishes ‘devouring,’ it and the Silver Surfer heads to earth where we find our heroes getting on with their lives..

Richard and Sue are trying to get married amidst the media circus which asks “Reeds Richards Scientist or Celebrity?” Jessica Alba, despite how she graces the screen doesn’t have much of a role to play other than to nag at Richard. Also she looks a little too dolled up - too blond and too much make up. Ioan Gruffudd has grown to be the leader of the FF, but his ’stretchy,’ thing still freaks me out. Especially the dance-floor scene.

Ben has found happiness with a returning character Alicia after the heartbreak of the first movie and he is in a good place. Michael Chiklis as the Thing, feels just ‘right.”

Chris Even’s Johnny Storm kept the first movie going and in here he doesn’t disappoint. He is still the rascal and has some funny moments - where he wonders how Ben is ‘getting it on,’ with Alicia. The special effects for the Human Torch is pretty cool, and his flames look much more powerful this time around. And there is a really cool chase scene with the Silver Surfer.

And Victor - yes, Victor Von Doom, the most evil villain known to me (when I was but 8 ) makes an unexplained return to try to get back at FF. This time his costume is much closer to the comic book one, but still doesn’t look ‘right.’ I mean here is the coolest looking evil villain (that was until I saw Vader walk through the hole in the blockade-runner) and they still haven’t managed to make him look menacing.

Oh and Stan Lee does make an apperance as himself in case anyone is watching.

Now to the herald of Galactus, the Silver Surfer. Sure he is cool and has some great moves, but didn’t elisit much of a wow. Much has been made of the fact that Weta designed and animated him, but I just don’t see it. Having Laurence Fishburne voice him didn’t help either.

Lastly Galactus. Well he is a black space-cloud here - not the squat looking giant with spiky things from the comics. Hardly enough to keep us at the edge of our seats.

There are some nice action scenes - the Human Torch Vs. Silver Surfer chase scene, the fight scene between the FF and the more powerful Dr. Doom. There are also some funny moments - like the one where Johnny transfers his power to Thing and Johnny becomes the Thing like Thing. Or the not so funny one where Su becomes the Torch.

In conclusion, I walked out happy with the second effort and entertained. Obviously FF : ROSS will in no way threaten the overloaded Spiderman 3, but it is a decent movie. Yes, do stay a bit when the credits roll so you don’t miss the little snippit which may or may not be the topic of the next FF movie.

Go see it if you happen to have some time and don’t know what to do. Otherwise just wait for it to be on HBO sometime soon.