A review of 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps'

With a lot of hoopla surrounding its release, we finally get this second reboot of The Fantastic Four, and it's the first film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 6. And if you're still counting, it is the MCU's 37th film.

- By PHILIP CU UNJIENG

Without a doubt, there’s intense curiosity about this film, as The Fantastic Four has always been a firm comic book favorite. Still, for some reason, its transition to live-action cinema has always been problematic.

Mark Shakman directs, and he’s probably best known for the Marvel Limited Series WandaVision. And true to form, his stylized retro-futuristic look can be found in this film, and I would best describe it as ‘Jetsons being shot in live action’. Similar to Wanda, beyond its trademark visual style, there is also a strong emphasis on narrative and dramatic storytelling. When there are action sequences, they’re driven by the tension and the suspense, as much as by the fighting and action itself.