Customer Reviews

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

5 star:		(75)
4 star:		(88)
3 star:		(60)
2 star:		(33)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

First, the negative reviews below need checking out. The one saying that half of the players won't play it is bogus. It has been determined only two models of Blu-ray players haven't been able to play the movie, not half! Second, the one from Wiggins is obviously a HD-DVD fanatic. Check out his other reviews and you will see he only knocks the two recent Blu-ray titles but gives glowing reviews to anything HD-DVD. It is obvious he doesn't have FF or Day After Tomorrow, that he is just rehashing news to scare away anyone from buying anything Blu-ray. Very immature.

I played the FF: Rise of the Silver Surfer movie last night and it is gorgeous. The story isn't that great, but did we buy Hi-Def for story? No, the visuals make up the story. And, wow, the clarity of the images is something to see, definitely one of the best to come out on Blu-ray. Breathtaking at times in the depth. There is a DTS track, too, which sound phenomenal! Together, audio and video, make a powerful experience.

As to the extras, many of them are also in 1080p, and there are a lot of them. I admit the two games moved a little bit slow, but otherwise okat. (They are nothing special, anyway. One that runs slow is a trivia game, no big deal. The other is a strategy game but you don't do anyting but pick planets in the game.) All the other extras work perfectly. I am sure a firmware uprade will correct the slowness of the games (and HD-DVD fans are jumping all over this, forgetting, however, the HD-DVD machines they have have had to go through firmware upgrade after upgrade after upgrade) (Let he who is without upgrades cast the first stone).

Loading time for the disc is a bit longer than Pirates of the Caribbean, but that's fine, I am in no hurry.

All in all, I would recommended seeing this title.

Plays fine in my 1400.

The firmware is coming real soon for the samsung 1200 and the lg super multi blu.Those are the ONLY players to have the problem.

There's been problems with HD DVD discs too...this kinda thing happens.

So relax.

This is a reference disc!

We've all waited a while to see movies from Fox on Blu-ray, but this one was certainly worth the wait.

I'd say the most amazing thing about this movie is the 3-D pop to an absolutely immaculate picture. Dark scenes, like the starfield and planets in the beginning title sequences and the night skylines of NYC really sparkle. There is no edge-enhancement or pixelization to be found anywhere in the feature.

Bright outdoors scenes like the wedding, and the F4 battle with the Silver Surfer are pure demo material.

The lossless DTS-HDMA is another showcase soundtrack from Fox. Although I can only hear the DTS 1.5 mbps core with my current setup, I can hear the music, rear surround and effects in such a rich presentation that it reminded me of my theatrical viewing of this movie.

There is an awful lot of extra content that I have not begun to explore yet, but the Galactus game is interesting.

Some of the other reviewers here mentioned problems playing the movie. I can understand their frustration, but the insert inside the case clearly advises every viewer to update the software on their Blu-ray player. I would not fault the movie or even Fox studios for this problem, but most likely the player manufacturer's who don't have current firmwares that can play this disc. (Currently only LG and Samsumg are having issues.) I played the movie without a hitch on my Sony BDP-S1 and my PS3. I will mention that the BDP-S1 had firmware that was 2 versions older than the latest. The player handled it flawlessly both before and after I updated to the latest version. It is reported that the Panasonic, Sony, and Pioneer players are working well with this disc.

With the stellar picture and sound quality, extra content and games, this disc is truly worth a purchase if you like this type of film!

I'm pretty critical about most film, but I've never been a snob about genre. I've seen great, visionary work in Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comedy, Drama... you name it.

I've also been reading the Fantastic Four comics for 30 years. As a kid, I used to dream about my favorite heroes making the leap to the big screen. This type of film is a complete embarrassment to the comic, which (as a medium) has been so maligned over the years as a lowbrow form of entertainment. If the comics are lowbrow, this celluloid atrocity is NO-brow.

First, let me comment on the cast:

* Ben Grimm (The Thing) is supposed to be a mammoth, imposing creature. NOT an "aww-shucks" curmudgeon that constantly stares at his feet and apologizes to anyone he brushes against, or even startles from a distance! I felt like I was watching Shemp!! Pathetic.

* Sue Storm (Invisible Girl) looks like a Volkswagen full of clowns crashed into her face! If you have to put THAT much effort into convincing us that this is a blond-haired, blue-eyed all-American girl-next-door, why bother? They've bastardized the whole thing so badly already; why not just leave Alba as she is? Otherwise, just cast someone who actually FITS the part! It's not like Alba is any great actress. "Why does this always happen to ME?" (as opposed to it happening to anyone else) laments the oaken-spoken Invisible girl, after an embarrassing scene wherein she becomes visible just after she loses her clothes? I don't know, Jessica.... Is it because you're the only one who can go from visible to INvisible? If you meant that this SITUATION always happens to you, wouldn't you put the emphasis on ANY OTHER WORD besides "ME"??? Just awful.

* Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic).... I understand the need to give the stiff-collared, human computer a "hip" overhaul for today's young audience... but this schlemiel bears NO resemblance to his comic book namesake. He's about 20 years too young, he's a SHRIMP (Reed should be thin, but tall) and, as an actor, he ranks a notch below Dan Marino! NEXXXTT!!!

* Johnny Storm (Human Torch) is probably the only redeeming interpretation of an FF member in the film. He's cocky, impetuous and a superstar w/ the ladies. His performance caused me no pain. No complaints.

As far as the story and the dialogue go.... UGH. This is where I draw the line. Over 60% of this dog focuses on just how difficult it is for super-heroes to have a wedding. WHO CARES? That is no basis for a whole STORYLINE. The whole mess amounts to incessant, insipid and puerile dialogue that gets ZERO miles to the gallon. If you're going to put these characters under a microscope this way, write some dialogue that doesn't sound like a passage from Goofus & Gallant! The characters, again, were so off-the-mark that I thought I might begin to throw up, and never stop. Reed Richards, with a little prodding, becomes a high-steppin' chick magnet on the dance floor? I needed a double scotch after that one.

Doctor Doom was just a pointless addition, and his character is so far removed from what Doom is all about, they may as well have left his entire screen-time on the cutting-room floor.

This is, perhaps, the most witless script I have ever cringed through. Stan Lee's writing was like TOLSTOY compared to this abortion. As big a fan as I am of the FF comics, I held off on seeing EITHER FF movie in the theatre, and after suffering through this wince-a-thon, I know my decision was justified.

Lastly, the special effects looked like something that Sid & Marty Krofft cobbled together after smoking some Sigmund. The above-referenced sequence featuring our Mr. Fantastic on the disco floor had the most pathetic "stretch" effects you can imagine. The Thing looks like a fat brick-layer from Paterson, NJ. He can't comfortably sit on an airplane seat? The Thing would need an entire two ROWS, people. The Silver Surfer looked OK, but the mercurial terminator from Terminator 2 (SIXTEEN YEARS AGO) looked just as good as this. Regardless, if they had spent 40 of the minutes they wasted on the whole wedding nonsense on the Surfer, the film might have been bearable.

Kirby would spin endlessly in his grave, we he aware of how corrupted his creations have become.

Quite possibly the WORST comic-book adaptation ever made.

This was much better than the first movie. I liked it enough to purchase a Blue Ray copy. One thing I didn't like was that they failed to show Galactus who is the Silver Surfers's boss. There is a scene in the end where Galactus is supposed to be in the clouds but that was just plain dumb.

Speaking of dumb, I really hate how they change certain things and events and even people's skin color from the comics that I grew up with. Some things are ok like having Spiderman shoot webbing from his body rather than from those cartridges that he invented in the comic book. There is no way those small cartridges could hold enough webbing to go downtown and back let alone make parachutes and other items. Also there was no way to tell when they were near to empty. But changing a guys skin color is stupid as in the latest video game Ultimate Avengers, which features Nick Fury as a black guy. He is white in the comics and should have stayed white (I'm black by the way)I don't know who the next villian will be but I hope they don't pick one of the weak ones (and keep featuring him in subsequent films)like the Goblin in the Spiderman movies. FFROTSS is a step up from the weak, uninteresting first FF movie and may the next one be even better.

I thought this was a great action flick. Looks great in High Definition. Worth the extra $ for the Blu Ray Disc.

thank GOD and 20th CENTURY FOX this movie is on BLU RAY. the picture and sound is unbelievable. for this movie to fit on a HDDVD it would not even have stereo for audio. the movie itself is action packed and fun for all. highly recomended.

I saw this movie at the theatre and thought it was really good. I then was psyched when I saw that it was being released on Blu Ray. The video and sound are even better than what I would have expected. This is a must own for any fan of comic book movies or if you want to show off your blu ray player.

Being a fan of the silver surfer and Marvel comics, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The PQ and AQ are stunning, this is definite reference-quality material that you can use to show off the Blu-ray ability to your doubting friends.

Also, please ignore the negative 1-star reviews that have been given regarding this movie. If you look at the people who left these negative feedbacks, their previous reviews show that they are HD-DVD supporters/trolls. They do not own blu-ray, and are just bitter that blu-ray is going to win the format war.

Buy this movie, it wont disappoint.

Of all the sequels we've been fed this summer, I have to admit that "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" best meets its expectations. While other major sequels ("Spidey 3" and "Pirates 3") take a decidedly darker tone, "Surfer" kicks up the fun a notch. This should be expected since the previous film and the comic that it is based on is a lot more lighthearted and family-oriented than other films and books of this genre. In "Surfer," director Tim Story isn't tied down to an origin story. He is given free reign of the action in the film and does not let anybody down. All of the original core actors (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis) have returned (including good ol' Doom, Julian McMahon). The newest addition to this film is the Silver Surfer, the galactic herald of Galactus, a cloud-like being that consumes planets to stay alive. I won't go into comic geek mode, but just know that Galactus is not a cloud in the comics. I do think that the handling of the character in the film, however, is perfect.

When the Surfer arrives on Earth, an Army general (played wonderfully by the underappreciated Andre Braugher) demands that Reed Richards create a sensor to track him and find out what he's doing on Earth. The only problem is that Richards is helping Sue Storm plan their oft-cancelled wedding, Ben Grimm is heating up his relationship with Alicia and Johnny Storm is trying to get sponsorships and girls. It all leads up to the return of Victor Von Doom who gladly offers to assist the military in figuring out what the Surfer is all about.

From there, we are given a healthy dose of light comedy and action in the form of a bickering/normal family trying to battle an old foe and figure out if the new guy is a friend or foe. The special effects, especially those involving the Surfer and Johnny, are wonderful. The only effects miscue that I noticed was with Mr. Fantastic which, honestly, is passable due to the fast-paced and well plotted storyline. Scientific terms fly all over this movie in a fun fashion. Mr. Fantastic steps it up a notch and shows that his confidence is growing. Ben and Johnny are still at each other's throats and Sue is just trying to prevent them from killing each other. It's a fun family-oriented film for the most part.

**Spoiler**
However, there is one part in the film where Dr. Doom has his way with a few military men. One of them is turned into ash. This part of the film made me think that perhaps the MPAA should have edged this flick up to a PG-13 rating. Other than that particular part of the film, everything else is fairly PG-oriented. There's one brief implied nudity scene with Alba. There's also a little bit of strong language but the characters who attract the most attention from kids, Thing and Torch, have very few curse words to throw around. I'm just throwing this bit of info in for parents still pondering on whether or not to take their child to this film. If they're under eight, you might want to preview this film before taking the kiddoes.
**End Spoilers**

Overall, "Rise of the Silver Surfer" is the best sequel of the summer. Is it better than the original film? Only slightly. Is it better than the first two "Spider-man" flicks? Probably not, but this is sort of like comparing apples to oranges. Just rest assured that by viewing "Surfer," you'll be getting an action-packed, fairly family-friendly comic book flick. The interaction between the fantastic foursome alone is worth the price of a movie ticket or, in a few months, a DVD. Highly recommended, especially to families with children who love comics and action film fans.