Call me a heretic, but I actually liked 'Fantastic Four.' Having missed the film when it hit theaters last year, it wasn't until I sat down for this Blu-ray review that I became aware of how much the film seems to be hated by hardcore comic book movie fans -- at least if you read the IMDB and web reviewers. Perhaps it is the film's more winking tone, or its overly photogenic actors, or the somewhat spotty effects, but no one seemed to like 'Fantastic Four' much. I found it a perfectly fine, fun ride -- the kind of lighthearted superhero movie they don't seem to make much anymore, at least not in this ultra-serious era when the phrase "comic book" has been replaced by the far more PC "graphic novel."
In case you are one of the three or four people unfamiliar with the original 'Fantastic Four,' it is a pretty standard comic scenario. During what is supposed to be a benign space exploration mission, five scientists are genetically altered by cosmic rays. Leader and inventor Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffud) is suddenly able to bend his body in amazing ways. Sue Storm (Jessica Alba) gains the power of invisibility, while her younger brother Johnny (Chris Evans) can control fire, even turning his entire torso into a human fireball. And mild-mannered pilot Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis) is turned into a super-strong rock creature. Together, Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch, and the Thing become the Fantastic Four -- and instant media stars. Which is good news for the world, as the fifth member of the team, Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) has turned to the dark side, reinventing himself as the diabolical Dr. Doom. Can the Fantastic Four defeat Doom and save the day?
I think the reason 'Fantastic Four' may not have been fully embraced by the fan community is because unlike such recent comic book efforts as the 'X-Men' and 'Spider-Man' series, 'Batman Begins' and 'Superman Returns,' it is not particularly dark or serious. Though not a parody nor intentionally campy, 'Fantastic Four' does have a light-hearted tone, with its most broad moments akin to the slapstick excesses of the original 'Superman: The Movie' and the theatrical version of 'Superman II.' That means 'Fantastic Four' also skews a bit younger in appeal, which would explain why the film was such a hit with tween viewers upon its release, but was largely dismissed by older fans.
I found the approach refreshing. Quite frankly, I'd much rather watch a goofy and cheerful film like 'Fantastic Four' than the dour and pretentious mishmash that was 'Superman Returns.' It is also a pleasure to see a comic book film where, for once, the superheroes are not totally tortured souls, and are actually given a few precious moments in which to enjoy their newfound powers. 'Fantastic Four' is hardly as satiric as the old "Batman" television series, but in spirit, they are close cousins. And the good-looking cast didn't bother me, either. Alba and Evans may not give Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep a run for their money, but they both look good in their skin-tight uniforms -- and if I were a superhero, I certainly wouldn't want to be ugly.
Having said all that, 'Fantastic Four' is not a great movie. Perhaps it is not even a good one. All the soap-opera melodrama (Reed and Sue's growing love affair, Johnny's cocky K-Fed routine, Ben's sentimental fling with a blind newspaper reporter) is not very believable. I also felt Dr. Doom could have been a bit scarier, and his formulaic plot to take over the world (or whatever) is admittedly uninspired and forgettable. Still, I find it hard to hate a film as silly and innocuous as 'Fantastic Four.' I guess I'm one of the few (at least in my generation), but I'm actually looking forward to the upcoming sequel.
'Fantastic Four' comes to HD DVD in Germany via Constantin Films. It uses the same source as Fox's domestic Blu-ray release, right down to the 1080p/MPEG-2 encode (at 2.35:1). Although I remember being impressed with the picture quality of 'Fantastic Four' back when the Blu-ray was first released, I must say that a fresh AVC MPEG-4 or VC-1 encode would be preferred. Still, this is good-looking movie, and it has plenty of moments of great high-def.
As with the Blu-ray, the source material is in excellent shape, with not a visible speck of dirt or the like. Blacks are perfect throughout, and is contrast consistent across the entire grayscale. Detail is quite strong, with a nice sense of depth, even in long shots. Colors are bright but natural, with excellent saturation and very pleasing fleshtones.
Like the Blu-ray, however, I found this HD DVD to suffer from an edgy quality, with some halos visible and occasional jitter. There is some noise present (sometimes excessively so), which can be distracting. Again, I wish Fox/Constantin (or someone) would go back and retransfer this, but I guess we'll have to wait for a new domestic double-dip for that luxury.
The Fox Blu-ray of 'Fantastic Four' includes a DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio 5.1 Surround track, but Constantin includes only DTS-HD High-Resolution 5.1 Surround options (both 1.5mbps) in English and German. (A Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo mix and German subtitles are also provided.) While the lack of DTS-MA is a disappointment, what we do get certainly compares to the best DTS-HD High-Resolution tracks I've heard.
High-res audio or not, 'Fantastic Four' enjoys very lively sound design, with the kind of whiz-bang fun you'd expect from a big-budget comic book flick. Dynamics are quite good, with healthy frequency response, from strong and clear highs to deep low bass. The subwoofer does not truly crank, but I remain impressed how the low end extends beyond just loud sound effects to the score and even the Thing's more intense growls. Surround use is pretty active and engaging, with the bridge attack and the Doctor Doom battle sequences standing out as true highlights. Granted, the mix never quite achieves a true 360-degree soundfield type of effect, but imaging is immersive. Dialogue is also nicely balanced, with no volume level problems. This is not a reference mix, but still pretty sharp for what it is.
The domestic Blu-ray of 'Fantastic Four' was pretty supplement-poor, which is the one area where this German HD DVD import excels. The extra package is much more fleshed out, providing a full-length documentary and deleted scenes, amongst other goodies. (However, all the bonus features are presented in rather dodgy 480i/MPEG-2 video only, with optional German subtitles on all the video-based materials.)
'Fantastic Four' was disliked by many, but it made a ton of money at the box office. I quite enjoyed it, and found it a nice respite from the more pretentious comic book movies that have come out as of late. This German import HD DVD release is a tough one. The video is on par with Fox's domestic Blu-ray release, but the audio lacks the DTS-HD MA option. However, the supplements are far superior here, so this HD DVD is worth considering depending on what's important to you. If you think you'll be satisfied with a DTS-HD High-Resolution track only, plus improved supplements, I say it's worth a look.
Portions of this review also appear in our coverage of Dunkirk on Blu-ray. This post features unique Vital Disc Stats, Video, and Final Thoughts sections.
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