An entertaining Marvel romp with a unique visual flare.

I wanted to hate Fantastic Four. It’s the third revamp of these superheroes, and I’m growing weary of movies that reek of film executives in a boardroom discussing the easiest possible path to half a billion (of note is that it looks like the film will fail to hit half a billion at the box office).

I actually enjoyed this one though. It had just enough visual uniqueness to keep me engaged. It’s set in some sort of retro-futuristic alternate universe, which allows the movie’s visual effects artists to have some fun. It’s also convenient for keeping the narrative separated from the other Marvel superheroes (thankfully). The movie is all the better for being a standalone.

I’ve read some banter online of Pedro Pascal fatigue (because he seems to be everywhere). Here’s my take. He’s an excellent actor, and I thought his performance as Reed Richards (Mister Fanastic) was a highlight of the movie. I also thought he was the only reason to keep watching Max’s show, The Last of Us. And he was a highlight in the Nic Cage meta film, Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. So I can only conclude that he’s simply a great actor who gets a lot of roles because he’s talented. No problem there.

Narratively, the movie was a bit overstuffed. It’s tough to feel much emotionally for four superheroes in a film that’s going to be heavy on special effects and spectacle. Something has to give. I left the theater thinking that I liked all of the characters, but only got glimpses of each of them. Hey, it’s a Marvel film. What can you expect?

That almost made me wonder if the project would’ve been better as a television series. It seemed as though a lot was left on the cutting room floor, and there was obviously a lot more in this universe to explore. A series arc would’ve really given us a sense of what makes these superheroes tick.

But hey, at the end of the day, it’s a movie about a stretchy guy and an alien that eats planets. It isn’t meant for high art. And as such it’s a perfectly fine afternoon diversion.

6/10

A bonkers horror/comedy that helps resurrect original concepts in Hollywood.

The only expectation I had for this film prior to seeing it was that it would defy my expectations. And defy my expectations it did.

Weapons tells of a small-town classroom of children who mysteriously disappear one night, all at the same time. Told with an unconventional film narrative divided by six chapters, with each chapter focusing on a different character, the plot steadily reveals its rotten secrets layer by layer.

Detailing the intriguing premise gives no spoilers away. Director Zach Cregger take it to gonzo directions and deftly ties the chapters together as this film reaches its horrifying and hilarious climax. I can’t recall the last movie I watched that dialed up both suspense and comedy to such extreme levels.

Based on the box office results, it looks like original concepts are back in full force. Potentially, so is the age of the auteur. Cregger has a style and voice uniquely his own.

10/10