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Created Apr 25, 2008 01:26AM PST • Edited Apr 25, 2008 02:01AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Great 4.0

   This movie was just a cool movie to see. For me, a lifelong comic book reader, it was great to finally see the Silver Surfer on the screen. That aside, it was actually a pretty decent flick. You can’t go into it expecting Oscar worthy, well, anything, but have fun and enjoy the ride. The first movie was fun, but really was better as a setup for this movie than a stand alone film. It introduced the characters so you can go into this one without any down time. Its a simple story, heartfelt and true to the spirit of the comic of the same name. If you break it down to details, it won’t hold up in many areas. So just sit back and enjoy.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Overall the acting was good. Not great by any means, but not bad either. The actors, and the performances, fit the tone of the movie.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

   Chris Evans is great. The guy has a natural charm that makes him always enjoyable and he plays Johnny Storm (aka The Human Torch) with just the right amount of humor. He’s loving the celebrity the FF has gained and plays the Torch just like he is in the comics. Michael Chiklis is good as the Thing, he has just the right amount of heart. But it sometimes feels funny as he almost tries to be too gruff. Ioan does well as Mr. Fantastic. The real star is Doug Jones as the Silver Surfer. This guy is the greatest guy to put in a costume. His movements are fantastic and he does more acting with his body than most would ever even think of. Even though Laurence Fishburne provided the voice, Doug Jones is the reason the Surfer is so great.

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

   Jessica Alba. She’s gorgeous and that right there should give her a 5, but her acting is just good. She has a bit more fun with it this time around and I think comes out much stronger than before which is good for Sue Storm. She does, however, look funny with those blue eyes. Most of the time they look noticeably unnatural.

7. Female Costars Good 3.0

   Just Ben Grimm’s blind girlfriend. Not much to rate here, but she didn’t take away from the movie which makes her good in my book.

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

   Julian McMahon is much better as Doom in this one than he was in the first. He’s not as over the top with his acting, he seems to be much more relaxed. But I still think he comes across as too smug. In the comics this guy rules a country and I don’t believe McMahon in that role at all.

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

    Much better than the first movie. There were bugs that they worked through in the first film that didn’t give slip here. It was still has its cheese factor, but I think it all fits with the tone of the movie.

11. Direction Great 4.0

    Tim Story did a great job with this one. He handled the action well and hit some good character pieces. Not that the direction in the first FF was bad, but this one felt much cleaner. Things worked better. And I’ll be honest, the final fight with Doom was tremendous. I had tons of fun with it.

12. Play Good 3.0

    It’s natural to a point, but still has a few moments that make you cringe. A few jokes that they really should have passed on. The character interactions between the 4 were great, the best lines and delivery belong again to the Torch.

13. Music Good 3.0

    Not memorable, but did not take away from the movie. The end scene with the sacrifice of the Surfer actually is the only part that sticks out in my mind from the whole movie.

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5

    Incredible special effect. The Silver Surfer looked amazing. You can tell that they really put a lot of effort into making him believable. There were a few parts at the end battle where it looks like more time could have been spent, but if just go with the excitement of the final battle, you won’t notice.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Tame 1.3

    Really no sex, no violence or rudeness. This is a family comic film and the FF really don’t need that edge to be successful.

17. Sex Innocent 1.4

    Jessica Alba gets kinda naked when she switches powers with the Torch and burns all her clothes off. But everything is very much covered. But you do see a little skin – enough for most comic geeks to love Alba forever.

18. Violence Gentle 1.5

    There is fighting, but nothing graphic or brutal.

19. Rudeness Polite 1.0

    Nope.

21. Reality

    Fantasy 4.5

    Complete fantasy. This is a comic book movie in every way. The characters got their powers from cosmic rays and a silver alien has come to bring a world devouring god.

22. Circumstantial Fantasy 4.1

    If you look past the powers and think, for a second, that is a normal occurance then things fall in place to a point. For example, a large part of the FF’s funding comes from all the patents Reed has. There are little links like that to reality that ground the movie just enough.

23. Biological Fantasy 5.0

    One guy lights on fire. Another guy is a rock. Then there is another guy who is a silver alien. Pure fantasy.

24. Physical Fantasy 4.5

    The battles actually do take their toll, but not as they should. Cosmic rays give you powers, though, so maybe it makes you extra tough as well. Silver Surfer took the most convincing physical punishment.