Lynneth Sulpico

Writing a detailed review of this movie isn't worth the effort, just like watching it wasn't worth the time. It was going well until the chasing scene with the alpha—after that, just aimless scenes that don’t do well altogether. I commend the attempt to integrate philosophical viewpoints of life and death in the movie, but it just didn’t work. It’s an incoherent mesh of things with a very weak plot and core. And the ending… what was that? Just what was that?

There is a subtle oversimplification of the difference in family dynamics in the context of the rich vis-à-vis the poor. The poor family is more commonly viewed as being more tightly bound to one another, as a family is all that there is to value. On the other hand, the rich family is often regarded as detached for their wealth keeps them apart, a rather opportune to indulgence in luxury and vices. The film, however, disproves this conception and shows that the rich can honor their familial relationships, as the central theme of the story follows the Corleone family. The Corleones, a part of the syndicate that conducts “dirty” businesses, dwells on liquor and gambling. Along their venture, they inevitably grow into conflict with other families as well, this being a mere part of business. Aggrandizing criminals as they may appear, the grounds for the wars among these families are, from the outset, deeply rooted in personal feuds. It is a war over which family is the most powerful, in which victory is sustained by how power is derived—coercion or loyalty. Power derived in coercion crumbles in a dispute, whereas power derived in loyalty endures and triumphs.

The movie underlined themes of nihilism, absurdism, and existence all at once. It tells us that at every possibility that exists, so too is our perception of that reality, which gives it meaning. The attempt at such depiction, however, results in a cacophony of chaos and mess, as is the point of the movie. It is an invariable pain in the eyes as well as the mind, which makes it hard to watch.

The plot was flat. What I think nevertheless carried the movie was its cinematic showcase, compelling acting, and its use of metaphors to depict identity, retaliation, and redemption. It reveals what rightfully belonged to whom, and lays bare the chaos that unfolds when possession is seized unjustly. Yet through this unraveling, it also illuminates the path of redemption—showing how even the gravest sins, when brought into the light, may be answered with grace and restored through truth.

A vibrant, action-packed superhero movie that stays true to its comic book roots. The film reintroduces inspiration and hope—values embodied by Superman—in a world where those ideals were seen obsolete. The story arc is clearly defined and well-structured. The pacing is excellent, keeping the scenes engaging without ever feeling dull or dragging. However, the film's one notable weakness lies in its introduction of other major characters, such as Mr. Terrific and Green Lantern. Their appearances felt underwhelming, lacking proper context or development. Without any backstory or emotional buildup, they came across more like visual set pieces or ‘design’ to add more to the movie than fully realized characters, making it difficult for the audience to connect with or root for them.

Superheroes are introduced in our culture as monster- or crime-fighting figures who protect humanity from harm and maintain peace. That popular description, although accurate, only scratches the surface. Superheroes provide sanctuary—like a family. This is what makes Fantastic Four: The First Steps a one-of-a-kind superhero film. The film successfully anchors the meaning and depth of family, featuring a more profound relationship among the characters. It showcases how the four triumphed over a cosmic being not solely by relying on their superpowers, but through the strength of their love and trust in one another—mirroring how their people value them: as one big family. On another note, it was by far the most faithful and best portrayal of the Fantastic Four comics, with the characters being definitive representations. We saw how Reed was able to stretch not only his body but also his intellect, allowing him to strategize and lead the team in defeating Galactus. In contrast to the tough and hard-headed Reed was the caring and loving Sue, who wielded the power of invisibility and force field manipulation. We also saw the humor and charisma in Johnny as he manipulated fire, while also presenting himself as clever and selfless. And don’t be fooled by Ben Grimm’s indestructible body, incredible strength, and durability—deep inside, he has a soft spot, especially for children. He truly is the rock of the family. Special mention goes to the terrifying and devouring depiction of Galactus and his herald, the Silver Surfer (Shalla-Bal), who was portrayed as stoic and brave. Overall, it was a truly FANTASTIC movie!

I was excited about this film. Having watched Cunk on Earth induced high expectations for this film. Watching it, however, was a disappointment. The jokes were predictable and repetitive. Unlike the documentary series I mentioned, the experts interviewed in this film were underutilized and, in a way, ridiculed. I shall say that their appearance and efforts to provide the answers to such lame questions were a complete waste of time on their part (I can perceive their irritation). Although the subject matters are indeed interesting, the poorly-written script obliterated it.

An intriguing piece of a psychological horror story. To most of us, the horror genre has been classified as one that utilizes ghosts or ghouls to instill fear among the viewers. Horror is not limited to that, however. It can also be seen as a feeling of vulnerability and of an enigma, just as the movie is able to depict it. It did not depict horror by showing it, but letting the viewer experience the vulnerable–a reality that could happen to anyone–made it much more terrifying. I want to make a point about how the movie is excellently depicted from the lead's perspective. It made a significant allowance for the viewers to see her perspective while having these hallucinations and also showed glimpses of reality when she is abstinence of such. It indeed is the horror depicted by exposing to us the vulnerability like when the door is open in the dark of night.