Author: Mark Capaldi

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” review

It’s no secret that Marvel Studios has been on a steady decline since the release of Avengers: Endgame in 2019. Since then, they have tried to incorporate many new characters into their universe, with mixed results. Here we have their first attempt at introducing the Fantastic Four. While there have been a few F4 movies before, they have all been mediocre to downright bad, and none have been able to crack the code, until now. Thanks to director Matt Shakman’s tight direction and an excellent cast, Marvel has produced by far the best F4 movie to date.

Similar to what James Gunn did with Superman, The Fantastic Four: First Steps decides not to rehash the same origin story we’ve seen multiple times already. Instead, we are quickly caught up to speed with a few short scenes, which lays the groundwork for where the superhero team is at now. Set in the 1960s, the plot follows Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Ben Grimm, and Johnny Storm as the known and beloved Fantastic Four. After Reed and Sue announce that Sue is pregnant, many people, including themselves, wonder if the child will also have special powers. In the meantime, a being known as the Silver Surfer visits Earth to warn of a cosmic entity called Galactus, who is targeting Earth for destruction. Without going into too much detail to avoid spoilers, this is the main conflict that sets the tone for the rest of the movie.

One of things I admire about this movie, among other things, is how smooth the pacing is. Oftentimes, comic book movies tend to be bloated and feel like a slog to get through, but not this one. Much of the credit for that goes to director Matt Shakman’s tight, well-paced direction and a well-written script. We’re introduced to the characters briefly, and we’re given enough time to get familiar with them before the main conflict is introduced. The movie is also incredibly self-contained. What I mean by that is that it feels like its actual own movie with a story to tell, instead of trying to do too much or set up other events and storylines down the road. Of course, at the end of the day this is a Marvel movie and there is a post-credits scene that does set up future events, but at least it’s just a post-credit scene. This all feels like such a breath of fresh air in the crowded comic book movie genre.

Of course, this movie wouldn’t have worked nearly as well without its stellar cast, particularly Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic and Vanessa Kirby as Sue Storm/Invisible Woman. These two are a step-up from past iterations of these characters. That’s also true for Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm/The Thing. The cast also have good chemistry with one another, which not only adds to the believability of them as a superhero team, but also simply makes the interactions between the characters fun to watch. But it is Pascal and Kirby that really stand out, and their performances are some of the best in a Marvel movie in a long time.

Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the movie Fantastic Four fans have been waiting a long time for. Shakman’s tight, well-paced direction and a stellar cast elevate it above many of Marvel’s recent entries, and it actually feels like its own movie without trying too much to set up other events. It’s been a while since you could say that about a superhero entry.

Rating: 4/5

October 22, 2025
“I Know What You Did Last Summer” (2025) review

I must admit, I admired the original I Know What You Did Last Summer. It had that late 90s charm to it while also being effectively creepy. The sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, wasn’t quite as good but still worked well enough. And we don’t talk about the third movie. Almost 30 years later and there’s a new installment in the franchise, with the same exact title as the original. It’s following the trend of “legacy sequels” that have been releasing in the horror genre over the past decade or so. So, does this movie represent a return to form for the franchise? Sadly, the answer is no.

I Know What You Did Last Summer, directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, follows a group of five young adult friends – Danica, Ava, Milo, Teddy, and Stevie – on July 4th weekend. While hanging out on the side of a road to catch a view of the fireworks, Teddy’s antics cause a pickup truck to swerve and crash. Frantically deciding whether to call the police or disappear and act like it never happened, the friends choose the latter. The film fast forwards a year later when Danica receives an ominous note at her bridal shower containing the words “I know what you did last summer”, setting the stage for the ensuing murder spree by a person dressed in fisherman gear. It’s a very similar premise to the original, with minor differences here and there.

Like many horror movies that are part of franchises these days, the film brings back legacy characters from previous installments, namely ex- husband and wife Ray Bronson and Julie James, played by Freddie Prinze Jr. and Jennifer Love Hewitt, respectively. Although it’s a welcome sight to see these characters back, it feels more like nostalgia bait, as they’re not given much to do other than offer small pieces of advice here and there. The inclusion of these legacy characters opens up the possibility of exploring themes such as trauma and its lasting effects, but the film only briefly touches on it.

When talking about horror movies, the main question that tends to be asked is, is the movie scary? Well, not really. Granted, the original wasn’t known to be an all-time scare fest, but at least at the time it had an original plot, and it had its moments, whether it was jump scares or tension built through suspense. In this movie, there’s just not much there, not even any of the usual cheap jump scares. It’s also not very interesting past the initial setup when Danica receives the ominous note. It’s often too chatty, especially towards the end, which is where the film ultimately falls apart. From characters making questionable choices, to a weird plot twist involving the killer reveal that feels out of place, the movie fails to stick its landing.

In the end, I walked away from this movie feeling disappointed and wondering why it was even made. It doesn’t bring anything new to the table, and I think that’s partly why it’s so uninteresting and pointless. Other horror franchises like Halloween, Scream, and Final Destination breathed new life into their respective franchises with recent entries, so why couldn’t this one follow in their steps? Maybe some things should stay buried in the past after all.

Rating: 2/5

October 22, 2025
“Superman”(2025) review

A hopeful start to the DCU

Out with the old, in with the new. The first official release of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Cinematic Universe has arrived. Moving away from Zack Snyder’s darker vision, many will be wondering, does Superman stick its landing? Other than a few bumps, it mostly does.

What’s important to note right away is that this is not an origin story. Gunn smartly decided not to rehash Superman’s same old origin, instead quickly catching the viewer up with a few lines of text in the first scene, while also explaining where the hero is currently. The story follows Superman a few years into being, well, Superman, and his popularity has never been higher. However, there are a few conflicts going on. There is a war escalating between two foreign countries (sound familiar?), and we learn that somehow the villainous Lex Luthor is involved. Lex, played very well by Nicholas Hoult, has it out for Superman and is determined to bring him down by any means necessary. It’s a basic premise that has more layers than meets the eye.

Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

Where the film shines most is when it comes to its casting. The two leads, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, knock it out of the park. Corenswet embodies the look and qualities of the title character, which leans more into the classic Christopher Reeve version that we all know and love. Brosnahan brings her own take to Lois Lane that feels fresh but also stays true to the character. It also helps that they have excellent chemistry, and many of the film’s best parts are when these two share the screen. I really wish we got more interaction between them, but unfortunately the film has to make room for other characters, and this is where things get a bit messy. It is established early on that there are other “metahumans” in this world, namely Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific. Naturally, all three must be given some time to shine, and they do, but the issue is that it takes away the focus on Superman. This is his movie after all, and it would have been better if these characters were saved for the sequel instead. It’s not that these characters are in it a lot, but they are in it just enough to make the movie feel unfocused at times.

Another issue with this film is that it is ultimately sort of forgettable. There are some cool action scenes, but none that are memorable or stand out. Some of the film’s more interesting dynamics, like Lois and Clark’s relationship, don’t get enough spotlight. There are some interesting themes and ideas that are explored, notably the idea of Superman being an immigrant and trying to fit in. It’s a timely subject matter, but in the end it doesn’t get explored enough. Perhaps this is all just the nature of a popcorn action flick, where there’s more flash than substance.

All in all, Superman is a superhero film that, despite a few bumps along the way, delivers a solid start to Gunn and Safran’s DC regime. For many, it’s a welcome departure from the previous few movies featuring Superman and falls more in line with his classic interpretation. While I wished the movie was more focused and memorable, I left the theater hopeful and eager to see more of this universe.

Rating: 3.5/5

October 22, 2025