Reviewing Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

I never read comic books as a child. I didn't have time. I was busy taking care of my siblings. Maybe that is why I now find myself enjoying Hollywood's rash of movies over the last few years that have been based upon comic book characters.

While I think that movies have done justice to Spiderman, Superman, and the X Men, they have had some problems in other areas. Some of the Batman endeavors were pretty good, but Daredevil and Elektra fell flat. Unfortunately, the same can be said for the Fantastic Four. While the second one is definitely better than the first, that's not saying much.

My son loved the Fantastic Four when he was growing up so I had a smidgen of knowledge about them. I know that he mentioned the Silver Surfer a time or two but I honestly didn't know if he was a good guy or a bad guy. After watching the recently released DVD, I'm still not that sure that I know.

As this movie opens, we find that Von Doom isn't dead, just hiding out in his homeland of Latveria. The Fantastic Four are feeling pretty good about ridding the world of his terror, not knowing that he is very likely to come back. Reed Richards and Sue Storm are planning their wedding and Sue is hoping for one day of privacy.

Of course, the chances of that happening are pretty much nil and none. Even with Von Doom on the back burner, so to speak, that doesn't mean that the world is safe. Far from it as a matter of fact. Another evil genius - - Galactus - - has become tired of destroying other worlds and has set his eyes on earth. He has sent his hitman, the Silver Surfer, to destroy the world. As might be expected, somewhere along the line Von Doom also gets back into the act.

The Human Torch is the first of the Fantastic Four to encounter the Surfer. The results of their battle leave Johnny a bit out of control. And for once I'm not talking about his temper tantrums or typical self-centered point of view. It seems that contacts with the Surfer can alter an individual's molecular chemistry, making it possible for them to trade places with the next person they touch. It also makes their powers go a little wonky.