Fantastic Four - Rise Of The Silver Surfer [2007] (DVD)

Very average Rise of the Silver Surfer - I'd read so many 3 star reviews of this film before I saw it, and darn they're all on the money. At times the film threatens to become a five star effort, but then rapidly steps back into its safe formula. The film makers appear to have gone through the formula ticksheet and ticked off all the boxes, and thereby added nothing new or surprising. It's not a bad film, but much like its predecessor it's so instantly forgettable. All of the cast are likeable, but the four leads have their screen time divided up equally so none of them gets a real chance to shine. Most superhero movies are only as good as your bad guy, and in this you don't really have one. The Silver Surfer is a tortured soul, Galactus doesn't even appear and Dr Doom has a kind of pointless cameo. Which leaves the army General as the ridiculous bad guy who doesn't like or trust the heroes but happily hands power over to Doom. And that's just plain daft and annoying. On the plus side there are some good action sequences, and the studio have had the good sense to keep the film to just under 90 minutes which is why there is little character development. Overall this was a disappointment, but probably has reasonable appeal to kids who aren't overly familiar with the formula that adults have seen a thousand times before.

Not quite as good as the first, but still great As a fan of the first film, not to mention the divine Chris Evans, Fantastic Four - Rise of the Silver Surfer was on my must-watch list. The film starts with Reed and Sue arranging to get married after several aborted attempts, due to various catastrophes the world over, which the Fantastic Four have felt obliged to avert. But this time Reed has promised nothing will get in the way of their nuptials, which of course is a recipe for disaster. For as soon as the wedding draws close, the world is in peril once more. This time, a mysterious force is causing odd things to happen the planet over, like the freezing of entire oceans, and enormous craters in the Earth's surface. It is soon realised that a strange silver alien on what looks like a surfboard is causing these anomalies. The Army come to Reed for help, much to Sue's indignance. Cut to the wedding of the two superheroes - another aborted attempt. The Silver Surfer, as it is now known, knows that Reed has built a tracking device to see what it is up to, and comes directly to the source to destroy it - just as the two lovers start to exchange their vows. Sue is distraught at another failed attempt to get married, but also comes to realise that because of who they are, their lives will never be normal. Now, however, the chase is on. Reed works out where the Surfer will next strike using a set of complicated calculations, and they immediately go there to try and avert the next disaster. It doesn't quite work - and the Army General loses faith in their ability, and looks for another answer - Victor von Doom. Von Doom has somehow gotten himself out of the container we saw bound for Latvia at the end of the last film. He still has his powers, but doesn't let on. So he jumps at the chance to work on a project to catch this Silver Surfer - though as we soon realise, it's not for the good of humanity - just himself. Things become increasingly complicated - even after the Surfer is captured. Turns out it is not the Surfer himself that is trying to destroy the Earth, but his Master. And the surfboard is what is drawing this mysterious force closer and closer to Earth to suck out all its energy and leave it completely barren. To make things worse, Von Doom has now disappeared with the board - as the end of the world draws nigh. The Four must work hard and fast to prevent the end of the world - using all four of their unique powers to save humanity. What happens next - well you'll just have to wait and see. An excellent film. I wouldn't say it was quite as good as the first, but I felt there was more humour in the first which is what made it so appealing to me. It's definitely a great sequel, and if there's one downside, it's that Chris Evans didn't take his clothes off so often!

The Silver Surfer arrives! At last the enigmatic silver surfer gets his screen debut, and this film does him justice. His presence adds a mysterious and sinister edge that the first FF film didn't have, and the action sequences of the carnage the herald of Galactus brings are superbly executed. Equally impressive are the Fantastic 4's efforts at thwarting the Silver Surfer's chaos, as well as their attempt to understand his motives. This film has far more substance than the first film and makes for an excellent sequel.

Confused... I agree with most of the reviews here - I enjoy a lightweight actioner as much as the next person, but I found this film really pointless. I watched the first FF film a few years ago, and didn't think much of that one, and consequently forgot most of the details. FF - Rise of the Silver Surfer assumes you remember some of the plot details from the first which I unfortunately didn't so I found the storyline confusing as well as dull. Not great.

Fatalistic Fear After the mediocre showing of the Fantastic Four movie a few years ago it was always questionable if a sequel would follow. Sadly though they went ahead and did it. The result is this hodge podge of a movie. It is never sure whether it is an attack on celebrity or escapist tosh. It therefore falls between the two stools. In so doing it offers only two dimensional characters and a watered down version of the original Stan Lee story. If you were a fan of the original movie you will enjoy this fast mix of stunts, CGI, questionable humour and implausible science. If however you are like me a fan of the comics, you will be disappointed. It will keep the 12 year olds amused for a wet afternoon, which if that was the target audience is a good thing. However if you can think for yourself then think about getting something else.