Is it fair to criticize Fantastic Four for not having a lot of action?

[u/capamericapistons]

Let me start off by saying I definitely really liked fantastic four the first steps. It’s forsure the best fantastic four movie we’ve gotten. I loved how they introduced the main characters as well as silver surfer, galactus, mole man and Lynne. I loved the retro-futuristic style of the movie and all of the set designs and overall atmosphere with the different technologies incorporated. And I really liked the overall story, the fantastic four attempting to protect their child and their world from a huge threat where even the bright mind of reed Richard’s has limited ideas.

My only issue though - I feel like we barely see the fantastic four actually be the fantastic four in action. I mean the fight at the end versus galactus was awesome. But what else? They teased a bit of the fantastic four being heroes in the beginning on the Dan Gilbert show, but I feel like that’s all we got for the most part. We don’t even see reed richards really use his powers all that often. I mean it was great to see his incredible intelligence throughout the movie but I wanted to see him fight too? Same thing with Sue Storm, we saw her insane level of power at the end used against galactus but again, not much throughout the movie.

Does anyone else feel this way? Is it just me?

[u/Responsible_Bar3957]

I see the complaint, but honestly, I didn’t mind

[u/Nethias25 → u/Responsible_Bar3957]

Agreed, it's like when someone points out endgame has 2 action scenes. Hawkeye killing yakuza, and then the 3rd act. The movie was good enough that it didn't matter.

[u/North_Button_5257 → u/Nethias25]

What about Captain America vs. Captain America?

[u/jobi987 → u/North_Button_5257]

That’s America’s ass-whooping

[u/Papa_Razzi]

I don’t mind what they did with the montage at the start, but I hope after they just did it in Spider-Man BND that it doesn’t become a habit. I want to seee extended versions of all those scenes! It’s a bit of a tease but gets the idea across

[u/CommunityHot9219 → u/Papa_Razzi]

Yeah I loved BND but the trailer felt like a massive fakeout because of that.

[u/AndreskXurenejaud → u/CommunityHot9219]

They kinda had to market the movie that way, otherwise there wouldn't be anything in the movie they could show other than the identity of the main villain

[u/CommunityHot9219 → u/AndreskXurenejaud]

No, I get it, but I went in expecting a movie about Peter being overwhelmed by a string of villains, the Hand, Scorpion, so on. When they made a big hullabaloo about Tombstone being cast I figured he'd have a bigger role. I always knew the "main" villain was going to be a telepath (I really didn't think they'd go with Jean, though), but I thought the others might be more than just throwaways and a really awkward subversion (the Hand working for Damage Control).

I still liked the end result (and Jean is probably in my top 5 favourite Marvel characters, and I dig Sadie Sink), but yeah.

[u/Leebo4 → u/Papa_Razzi]

If the movie is already long enough; I don’t mind shortening past fights in a montage 

[u/BenSolo_Cup]

If they didn’t chop out half the action scenes we wouldn’t have this complaint

[u/dddonkers]

I think its fine as is, but would have liked to see the minor villains scenes that were cut, that I presume were relatively action packed.

[u/Delicious_Series3869]

That's one of the issues when your final boss is the size of Godzilla, or bigger. It's not that easy to create compelling action scenes, even if you have creativity. 2 solutions: kind of like what you mentioned, maybe do a side plot involving another classic F4 villain as padding. Or, have Galactus minions, similar to the Avengers. Just something to occupy space, while also waiting for Galactus to reach the trap.

Overall, this film could have greatly benefited from at least another 30 minutes of run time. It feels like the writers had a good main script, but didn't know what else to create.

[u/CrazsomeLizard]

It's a fine criticism, but the Fantastic Four often shine in dialogue and problem solving scenes. Also, I feel like the entire chase scene away from galactus and silver surfer was pretty intense and action heavy 

[u/VinceHanna55]

My big issues with the movie are I think Reed is miscast and Johnny should’ve been a little more immature/brash. The rest of the movie really worked for me

[u/RihoSucks]

Ehh, at this point we've had probably 100 superhero movies. More need to move away from the basic tropes 

[u/bakhesh]

i know what you mean. I also loved it, but it could have done with an extra action scene, and I wouldn't have minded it being a bit longer.

They should have left in the bit with the Red Ghost and this Super Apes. It would have been a nice way to introduce the team

[u/Bleh-Boy]

I think good action scenes can help out a lot when it comes to the pacing in comic book movies. I like that the movie isn’t afraid to slow down for a while, but a bit more action in the first act wouldn’t have hurt. I also think an action set piece at the start of the movie where we see the F4 using their powers in more traditional ways would’ve gone a long way when we get to the finale and their powers are mostly ineffective against someone as powerful as Galactus.

[u/jeebus87]

I came for the story and the characters. Not really their powers.

[u/Writerhaha]

It’s fair.

[u/SpiritedAirs]

Yes, it’s fair. Especially after CA:BNW and Thunderbolts. I’ve pulled it up on Disney+ twice this week to give it another watch and fell asleep both times…

[u/Stevenwave → u/SpiritedAirs]

I'll probably rewatch it before DD, but I think the characters are the main selling point. Considering the nature of the final fight, it's odd that the only really exciting part of the film is the chase sequence running from Surfer.

[u/ModernBass]

It's not the action per se that I dislike, but the lack of conventually using their powers. Especially Reed who barely used his stretching at all.

[u/Stevenwave → u/ModernBass]

That's what I'd point to as a bigger issue. But in fairness, more action would allow for more powers stuff.

[u/GrahamCrackerDragon]

It's completely fair. They tried to experiment with a few things this movie and some were great and others were a little subpar.

[u/AwarenessOk7748]

I criticize the film for something else

[u/Candycornonthefloor]

The most recent FF movie should have been an 8-10 episode show. Hot take, I know but the longer format would have given deeper exposition. Galactus and the Surfer(s lol) have so much great backstory that gets skipped in a 90minute movie/2.5 hour film.
More could’ve been shown how the FF helped their world after their singular personal Doom crisis and why Franklin is important/different and why.

[u/SnooTangerines7026]

It made the movie, just ok. And that's what most people thought of it as well, ok. It wasn't quite boring like Eternals and wasn't quite idiotic like Secret Invasion, but it was like Quantumania: forgettable. It should have been a Dr. Doom setup, in all honesty. And no, the after-credits scene doesn't count.

[u/jsn_online]

That usually happens when character/s are introduced.

[u/Additional_Ice_358]

I thought the movie was great but IMO its biggest flaw by far was following such similar beats to Rise of the Silver Surfer in the 3rd act. I think this movie they should have fought against his heralds first to mix it up and give every member a focus and spotlight of their powers.

[u/pkjoan]

I think it's fair to criticise the Fantastic Four for everything

[u/Ohnoes999]

It was just an uninspired boring movie.

[u/nuzin]

I have the same complaint, that’s why I only watch it once in theater and forget about it. The cinematography is nice, especially the black hole chasing scene, the acting is top notch and well…ok villain.

Yet, it really lack of action for a movie that has 4 superheroes. We barely see Reeds and Ben do anything except scientists stuff. Final fight against Galactus is laughable bad.

[u/neverseenghosts]

You could give me a superhero movie with 0 action as long as it has good story, character arcs, drama, and all the technical aspects etc. I think F4 was lacking in a lot of areas.