Hello, everyone! Welcome to me finally taking my first steps in actually writing many speculative fiction media reviews, coming to this website!
Last night, after months of waiting, I finally sat down to watch The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which is the FIRST movie in Phase Six of the MCU. And I was a combination of surprised and relieved by what I saw.
Because I had no faith in the quality of this movie after what Marvel had been giving me previously (This was before I watched Brave New World and Thunderbolts*). In contrast, I had absolute faith in James Gunn’s writing for Superman (2025), which it came out two weeks prior. I watched it exactly on July 11th.
And to say that I was severely disappointed would be a bigger understatement than saying that the Sequel Trilogy of Star Wars was a little bit not planned out.
Needless to say, after watching the near-masterpiece I saw last night, I wish it was Fantastic Four: The First Steps that was my movie that I saw in theaters, instead of Superman.
But this contrast is the reason why this movie is the perfect first actual movie review that you are now reading
WHAT I LIKED AS A WATCHER AND WRITER
Each of the main four characters’ journeys were excellent. From Reed’s intelligence to Sue’s diplomacy and support of the team to Johnny’s fiery nature to Ben’s…strength, the film did a good job establishing these characters and what they bring to the table. It never felt these characters were weakened too much (unlike another movie I know).
And I also love that even though that this movie drops in the middle of the Fantastic Four’s career, like it’s a day in the life of them being established superheroes, I still got a lot of information that I needed to understand the world more and how heroic and strong these characters. (Again, unlike another movie I know).
And that mid-credit scene. Great set-up to what’s coming in Phase Six. If you know, you know.
WHAT I DIDN‘T LIKE/WHAT IT COULD HAVE DONE BETTER
- The pace at the beginning was a little bit too slow. I think the inciting incident could have been introduced a minute or two earlier.
- There could have been a bit more screentime with Galactus (one of the very few things Superman did better)
- There could have been even more time with Ben. I didn’t really connect with his character as much as I did with the other three.
- I also think maybe the whole Silver Surfer turn was maybe a little bit rushed.
WRAPUP
But all in all, The Fantastic Four: First Steps pleased me as a Marvel fan and as a fellow writer and aspiring screenwriter. It’s a reminder of quality storytelling and that Marvel can make good stories—they just need to have the right writers.
If you love:
- Character-driven super stories
- Sci-fi
- Movies with family at the center
- Marvel movies
Then, I say: watch this movie.
Because I give this movie an A-.
The movie that I am glad I took my first steps in writing movie reviews for this movie. The movie that’s another reminder that sometimes the stories that we doubt the most become the ones that surprise us the most.
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