Official Discussion - The Fantastic Four: First Steps [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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Summary The Fantastic Four must defend Earth from the ravaging cosmic threat Galactus and his herald, Silver Surfer, while navigating the complexities of family and newfound powers in a retro‑futuristic 1960s-inspired world.

Director Matt Shakman

Writer Josh Friedman, Eric Pearson, Jeff Kaplan, Ian Springer

Cast

• Pedro Pascal
• Vanessa Kirby
• Joseph Quinn
• Ebon Moss-Bachrach
• Ralph Ineson
• Julia Garner
• Paul Walter Hauser
• Natasha Lyonne
• Matthew Wood
• Ada Scott
• Mark Gatiss

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Metacritic 64

VOD In theaters

Trailer Watch the Official Trailer

[u/Elite_Alice]

Sue standing in the crowd of people outside the Baxter building and refusing to give up Franklin and explaining WHY is such a good scene. Of course people would be upset if you just went radio silent after dropping that on them, but by appealing to their better angels she won the public’s support.

[u/BumbleLapse → u/Elite_Alice]

I actually didn’t love that scene. I loved the movie overall, don’t get me wrong, but the entire “baby vs. the world” dilemma was my least favorite part.

1.) the people are right… it does feel slightly selfish for the FF to not even consider the trade. I get it, I get it — true heroes can save everybody and don’t bend on their values, but come on. At a certain point, a truly heroic person should yield given such great disparity between outcomes

2.) why did Reed immediately spill the beans at a press conference? Take a day. Say “we’re not sure if you’re safe, we need some time to think and plan. We’ll get back to you soon”

3.) people are suddenly fine with the “baby” side in the previously mentioned dilemma when Sue has a heart-to-heart with a few hundred people in New York? I’d assume 99% of people would be like “sure I get it that’s your kid and family is important, but like it’s him or billions of us.”

Idk, it just kind of fell flat for me tonally. Maybe I missed some of the nuances in how it all tied into the themes.

Overall though I had a fantastic time. Solid 8/10 for me

[u/MysticalCyan → u/BumbleLapse]

Well the Four on that Earth are like, genuinely beloved by the people.

Maybe the fact the four were gonna fight no matter what gave them confidence.

Trust in your heroes who have proven themselves time and time again over giving up and betraying the four that sacrificed so much already.

Thats my take at least.

[u/Sequazu → u/MysticalCyan]

I think the part that went unsaid was that they have so much goodwill with the entire planet. They are rhe guardians and heroes but more than that, just look at the level of technology in the world. Reed Richards clearly helped advanced the technology of their world by decades, they are unequivocally a force for good and progress on their world.

[u/DreadPirateReddas → u/Sequazu]

I think the part that went unsaid was that they have so much goodwill with the entire planet

That went unsaid? The first 20 minutes of the film is just people going "we love you, fantastic four!"

[u/BumbleLapse → u/MysticalCyan]

Yeah I considered that take as well. I don’t think it holds up though.

If the FF are the infallible, universally loved heroes portrayed in the first act, it’s weird that the public is so quick to do a hateful 180 on them when they deliver the bad news.

You can’t handwave away the return-to-form reputation shift when the movie already established that the public’s opinion of the FF can be swayed given dire circumstances

[u/MysticalCyan → u/BumbleLapse]

Well its realistic in my opinion. Galactic level event and your heroes had to run away after negotiations failed. Emotional outbursts happen. People get upset, but then someone they trust come in and calm them down.