The film opens with an object — meteor, comet, maybe — penetrating the Earth’s atmosphere. It releases powerful cosmic energy fluctuations which cause drastic weather disruptions, outages, and giant craters on Earth. As these anomalies occur, the U.S. military enlists Reed Richards, who is also known as Mr. Fantastic, to observe the object’s movements. At the same time, Reed and Susan Storm, the Invisible Woman, are preparing for their high-profile wedding, while Reed secretly acquiesces to a request of the government.
As the wedding takes place, the object approaches New York, picked up by Reed’s tracking system. Suddenly, an unknown figure streaks across the sky (later revealed to be the Silver Surfer). This resets the event and results in a widespread power outage and mass panic. A news helicopter almost crashes into the attendees in the commotion, but Susan uses her force field to stabilize it while Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, pursues the creature.
Johnny attempts to chase the Silver Surfer to no avail, as the Surfer is far too fast for him and is able to phase through solid matter, rendering him unable to be caught. The pursuit finishes with the Surfer grabbing Johnny and flying into the upper spectrum of the atmosphere before releasing him. It hurtles Johnny back to Earth, where it ultimately lands him in a desert. Once Johnny arrives back at the Baxter Building, he learns he can exchange powers with his teammates via touch, a power Reed and Ben theorize is the result of Johnny’s molecular structure gone haywire.
At the same time in Latveria, Victor Von Doom is accidentally resurrected by the cosmic energy that the Surfer emits. After his last encounter with the Fantastic Four, he had been frozen in a metallic state. Doom chases the Surfer to Antarctica, trying to forge an alliance. When that does not work and Doom comes for him, he is easily overpowered. In a surprising turn, Doom's exposure to the Surfer's energy repairs his scorched and metal-clad body, making him whole again.
Due to the ongoing conflict, General Hager chooses to allow the Fantastic Four to work alongside Doom since he feels that his genius and resources would help in catching the Surfer. Though their erstwhile enemy remains untrustworthy, Reed complies. In the Black Forest, they use a modified pulse generator to shred the Surfer from his surfboard, a marine-derived primary power source. The hapless Surfer falls into the clutches of a secret military base in Siberia.
Using her invisibility, Susan sneaks into the Surfer’s detention, and proposes that maybe the Surfer isn’t even the problem. The Surfer is revealed to be merely an emissary of Galactus, a cosmic entity who munches on planets. The surfboard he uses to surf is a guide to when Galactus will eat the Earth.
Before the Fantastic Four could react, Doom double crosses them, stealing the cosmic energy from the Surfer's board and becoming powerful beyond belief. Relying on his newfound power, Doom heads for China, laying waste to everything in his path. The team frees the immobilized Surfer and pursue Doom in theirimproved ships, the Fantasticar.
In Shanghai, during a climactic face-off, Doom uses his augmented power to mortally wound Susan with an energy spear. Reed cradles her as she dies of her wounds, heartbroken. Johnny has no choice but to absorb all of the capabilities of his team and he acquires powers over flexibility, invisibility, immense strength and fire. He later defeats Doom in a thrilling face-off in the skies.
If he cannot do to the Earth, the Surfer soars back up to his board, trying to take control of it again and in an act of deflection, flies into Galactus. The implication of this move engoulds the sky in a cosmic rift, preventing the Galactus possibly wiping out with it.
In the aftermath, Susan is brought back to life as the Surfer’s last act of energy. At the same time, being in the tremendous field of the Surfer has made Johnny immune to unstable molecules, making it impossible for him to exchange powers.
Reed and Susan later marry — in Japan. As they celebrate, there’s another distress call, and the Fantastic Four head out in the Fantasticar, forming a glowing ‘4’ sign in the sky.
The film ends with the now apparently dead Silver Surfer floating in space as his eyes snap open, and his board flies to him, suggesting he survived.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Directed by Tim Story
Character Details:
Reed Richards / Mr. Fantastic: Ioan Gruffudd The leader of the Fantastic Four, a scientific genius who can stretch and mold his body. He is too busy being a superhero to think about his bride-to-be Susan Storm. His smarts is key in designing the pulse generator that separates the Silver Surfer from his board.
Susan Storm / Invisible Woman (Jessisca Alba) A kind and tough member of the Fantastic Four, she can render herself invisible and create force fields. One story has Susan falling in love with the Silver Surfer, who is actually an agent of Galactus, but she eventually convinces him to rebel against his master. Her near-death experience is an emotional game-changer.
Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Chris Evans) The hot-headed, thrill-seeking younger brother of Susan Storm, who can engulf himself in flames and flies. His pills turned into unstable molecules, causing him and the rest of the team to switch powers. During the series' final fight, he assimilates all of their powers to battle Doom.
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
Directed by Tim Story
Character Details:
The team’s powerhouse, whose rocky, superstrong body makes him virtually indestructible. However, Ben eventually reaches a strong bond with his teammates and helps take down Doom.
Victor Von Doom / Doctor Doom (Julian McMahon)
The Fantastic Four’s oldest foe, resurrected by the Silver Surfer’s cosmic energy. Having stolen the Surfer’s board, Doom is now more powerful than ever and faces off against a climactic battle in Shanghai. His prideful ambition and avarice become his downfall.
Norrin Radd / Silver Surfer (Doug Jones, voiced by Laurence Fishburne)
A mysterious silver-skinned alien whose surfboard lets him fly and shape cosmic energy. Originally portrayed as a villain, he is revealed as a tragic and desperate figure who made a deal to serve Galactus in order to save his own planet. He eventually sacrifices himself to defeat Galactus.
General Hager (Andre Braugher)
An all-business military officer who recruits the Fantastic Four to help him apprehend the Silver Surfer. He never learns to trust the team, and even ultimately relies on Doom, which is also his undoing, as Doom betrays him.
Alicia Masters (Kerry Washington)
Ben Grimm’s blind girlfriend and loves her, who adds emotional and human touch to the group.
Galactus (Unseen)
A massive cosmic entity that devours planets to sustain itself. Though never fully shown, its presence looms over the entire film, and it is ultimately destroyed by the Silver Surfer.
Post a Comment