THE FANTASTIC FOUR

Film Review by Tek Pa I've sent out many e-mails explaining about the movie. For y'all that want a Academy Award Winning Film, just remember, it was made by Roger Corman, the man that has brought us many of the B-classics shown on Elvira and the Late Late Shows. In other words, if you buy it expecting Terminator 2 quality and get Attack of the Killer Tomatoes quality (this is really pushing it though), don't blame me.

Directed by Oley Sassone latter Roger Corman

Written by Craig J. Nevius and Kevin Rock, based on the Marvel Comics characters

Cast Alex Hyde-White........Reed Richards

Rebecca Staab..................Sue Storm

Jay Underwood............Johnny Storm

Michael Bailey Smith.......Ben Grimm

Carl Clarfalio.....................The Thing

Joesph Culp............Victor Von Doom

MPAA Rating Unknown, if rated.

Running Time Approx. 90 minutes

The Director's skills were known already, although few recognized the actors who did quite well.

Alex Hyde-White has been seen in Battle Star Galatica as well as Pretty Woman, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as well as others, just click on the link above for more. The part was his, of a Reed a bit younger. Reed is in his late 40's, Alex Hyde-White just wasn't old enough for the part yet. The persona though was excellent. He captured Reed like no other with the wording and movements. If only the movie could have included more money to make those movements a little more flexible.

Rebecca Staab-Seen a few times in the series Chicago Hope, an episode of Cheers called Smotherly Love, in her own movie Stray Bullet, Dark Shadows from 1991, once in Seinfield, and many,many more, Staab did a fantastic (bad pun, not intended) job with the part of Susan Storm. Her voice, her looks, and her personality; she truly was the Invisible Girl

Jay Underwood-Best known for his title role in the acclaimed The Boy Who Could Fly, Jay Underwood has also appeared in John Hughes' Uncle Buck, The Invisible Kid (talk about irony), Desert Bloom, and Stalked. His TV credits include a recurring role as Ernest Hemingway in The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and the TV-movies Best Intentions, Blind Faith, and A Year in the Life. He made a excellent young Johnny Storm. I've received many letters mind you against him because not many of us remember how Johnny has grown over the years. Underwood captured the fear and thrill of the part and was badly burned twice through the film, yet he went on. Talk about dedication.

Michael Bailey Smith-an ex-Dallas Cowboy, one time actor on Deep Space Nine and Babylon 5; I was really hoping for something more at first. Then, I saw it. The roughness yet personality that I've grown  to admire in the character of Ben Grimm. Lets hope he makes it into the next film.Carl Clarfalio- The unknown actor in my lack of info on the movie, he is a professional stuntman and president of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures. He's doubled for Lou Ferrigno and Tom Cruise and worked on over 200 films doing dangerous stunts. I loved him as the Thing. I only wish he had more screen time.

For the fans of Nick Fury Agent of Shield and such, this really isn't a bad movie. While a comet passes close to the Earth, Reed and Victor make an attempt to harness its power through a device housed in an observatory. Reed, recognizing the danger of the comet, urges Victor to flee from the energy collection device. Victor, being himself, refuses, and gets killed early on. Reed, who is saved with-in seconds by the heroic Ben Grimm from the barrage of Cosmic Energy, watches Victor carried off, lifeless.

Years latter, Ben and Reed collect Sue and Johnny (the only other two people who knew about the experiment, and with a superdense crystal at the core of their star ship, plan to head out into space to collect the energy.

Sadly the Jeweler (don't ask) steals the jewel and escapes living a fake in it's place. As the team is flying through space, Reed realizes to late the truth of the crystal, the ship's computer blows, and the quartet is sent hurling back to earth where they discover their amazing powers. Sue fades out, Reed stretches his arm, Human Torch sneezes fire, and the Thing later turns rocky.

Help comes, and after they escape the lab that the government has them in, Ben goes out on his own and has a bout with the Jeweler to save Alicia. Sue whips up some new costumes and as Ben returns they fly off in the Fantastic Car to fight Doom. During the battle, you might notice Sue's force field, and the only shot of the human torch fully flaming on in a grand ending.