Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Rating:

Huge persuasive advertising bringing about excitement and high anticipation, the Silver Surfer looking strikingly sleek in the trailers, everyone else talking about this movie not opting for any movies to watch but this and ultimately not having much of a choice as almost all movie houses are showing just this movie, not to mention the gorgeous leading actress; name every reason why you should watch this movie, this movie has it. But does it live up to its hype? I don’t think so.

Yeah it’s better than the first of the series yet not enough an apology for how bad the first turned out to be. In fact, it’s still disappointing. Talk about great action, this movie does it in precision but does not really have it in abundance. Talk about solid special effects, it’s at par with other great rival comic book movies——the big guns like Spider-Man, Batman and X-Men. But lacking character development, cheesy script with despicable and campy gags push this movie down to just another comic book movie.

It seems Hollywood’s getting more and more obsessed nowadays with the “look/style” shelling out huger amounts than ever to ensure its success (not to mention advertising and marketing) brushing aside substance, which what really gives lasting admiration in my opinion. Watching this movie and listening to the actors deliver their cheesy, childish, gawky lines was giving me this discomfort soon developing into a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will for not being hinted beforehand that the movie’s target audience are the Cartoon Network fans——as how it appeared to be.

The saving grace is the Silver Surfer brought to life with real intense precision true to the Marvel Comics character beloved by fans worldwide. Thanks to the visual effects house Weta Digital. But apart from the precision of the dimensional representation, the Silver Surfer’s appeal comes from how a multifaceted and tragic a character he is. Heroic having sacrificed himself to serve Galactus in order to save his planet yet destructive coz in so doing, he’s annihilating all other worlds. Looking at the world and humanity in an outsider point of view but still feeling compassion, Silver Surfer’s an interesting and fascinating character you would want the movie to revolve just around him. Yet to the dismay of many, the movie is still all about the Fantastic Four now dealing with the downside of being famous and a celebrity also neglecting yet another interesting character Dr. Doom.

Looking forward not to the third installment but to a Silver Surfer movie sometime in the future.

© 2007 Jonathan Susvilla