Fantastic Four — First Steps: Immersive, viewable, exciting

The 2005 version was set in the contemporary world but this fourth movie iteration, ‘First Steps’, of the comic book superhero created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in 1961, is set in a futuristic world called Earth-828, and hopes to be a harbinger of good times for the freshly re-imagined Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Director Matt Shakman, renowned for his TV work and stints as artistic director of the Black Dahlia Theatre, takes a leap of imagination, making this film a definitive statement of his interdisciplinary talents and capabilities.

This film, set in an alternate universe, has an all-new cast, with Pedro Pascal playing Richard Reed/Mr Fantastic, Vanessa Kirby as his wife Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Joseph Quinn as her brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Reed’s bestie, Ben Grimm/The Thing.

We already know that they’ve gained superpowers by being cosmically compromised and after four years of battling criminals and saving earthlings, they now have an enviable position in the hearts of the people.

This film takes place after the family has made a name for themselves as saviours of the world, with advertisement agencies and talk shows clamouring for their time. But, soon enough, a crisis looms.

Richard and Sue are about to have a baby when a warning comes from Silver Surfer Shalla-Bal (Julia Garner), that earthlings will be destroyed by Galactus — a billions of years old, viciously hungry alien who eats planets from the inside.

The Fantastic Four try to make peace with Galactus (Ralph Ineson), but he wants Richard and Sue’s unborn child as the peace offering, as he believes that the child has the power to rid him of his ravenous hunger. It’s a standoff since the Fantastic Four are unwilling to part with the child they are so excited about.

The retro-futuristic setting of 1960s’ New York in the sci-fi avatar looks wondrous.

Shakman concentrates his efforts on the comic book origins, with superpowers consolidating along the way and a sense of family becoming prominent in this telling. Reed’s fear about the kind of world his baby will inhabit makes it all the more imperative for his team to extinguish all the evil that he manages to track down. The baby-at-risk construct is a strong one and keeps the audience invested in what happens thereafter.

This film is not as long as other MCU offerings and that’s a blessing. The costuming, production, set design and other tech specs are first rate. The CGI is not always consistent, but manages to augment conviction.

Composer Michael Giacchino, lends music in such a way as to increase the excitement and threat perception.  The pacing and smooth transitions make the film imminently viewable, immersive and exciting.

‘First Steps’ is a positive step in the right direction for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.