What critics say about X-Men Films

While it’s not perfect, it is unique: a big-budget comic-book movie populated by superheroes who have very uneasy relationships with Truth, Justice, and the American Way.”- Jason Anderson, Eye Weekly (From www.rottentomatoes/m/xmen)“A sci-fi thriller that taps into the reservoir of feelings we have about diversity, tolerance, and exclusivity.” –Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice (From www.rottentomatoes/m/xmen) “Ideal balance between intriguing characters, spectacular special effects, and ultra-cool comic book style.” – Carlo Cavangna, Aboutfilm.com ( www.rottentomatoes/m/xmen)

“The bells and whistles are terrific -- first-rate special effects abound -- but they always feel like they serve a deeper purpose, something more than just juicing up the audience. By carefully developing the large cast, the film centers our attention on their feelings and motivations, rather than just taking them for granted. The choice of an ordinary human villain is shrewd, suggesting a strong basis for the mutants' sense of persecution, and Cox does a terrific job lending plausible details to Stryker's anger. His actions force the mutants to work together, entering into a shaky alliance with their enemy Magneto (whose escape from prison is another showstopper) in order to halt Stryker's surprisingly complicated scheme. The three-way tension ensures plenty of opportunities for Singer to explore this comic-book world's unique take on prejudice, and his knack for complex plotting ensures that such exploration never gets dull.” Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium (http://www.flipsidemovies.com/xmen2.html).

What critics say about Spider-Man films

“Director Sam Raimi has done a tremendous job of creating a movie that will appeal to a wide range of audiences - from non-comic book fans like myself to the most die-hard “Spider-Man” groupie. His deft touch, his ability to allow a film to unfold without rushing through the story, and his intuition on casting Tobey Maguire have made “Spider-Man” a movie that will touch your heart in one scene and knock your socks off in the next. At its core, “Spider-Man” is a sweet, romantic story enclosed in a campy, comic book wrapping. “Spider-Man's” a mix of love, wonderment, and heart-stopping action brought ever so cleverly to the screen by Raimi and his entire talented cast. Raimi has made a “Spider-Man” fan out of me, and that's something I never thought would happen. Bring on the sequels!” Rebecca Murray http://movies.about.com/

“Guileless and charming with a perpetual look of startled bewilderment at the super powers he possesses, Maguire is perfect as an ordinary guy with a big secret.” –Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter.com (www.rotten tomatoes.com/m/spiderman)

“A good thing too. Spider-Man has always been more complicated than most superheroes. Creators Stan Lee and Steve Ditko gave us a costumed superman with real-world problems, a hero who saves the world but can't pay his rent. Spider-Man director Sam Raimi understands those nuances, as well as the indelible visual style of Ditko's four-color images -- a style that this film must duplicate in order to succeed… As Parker, Maguire is all stammers and puppy dog stares: a sweet kid perennially at the bottom of the adolescent pecking order. Of course, that's before he's bitten by a "genetically enhanced super-spider," granting him all manner of funky powers. Maguire walks the line between badass and science nerd with deceptive assurance, blending the character's dual sides into an utterly convincing package…This time, at least, someone cared as much about the product as the packaging, ensuring that your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man won't go the way of so many other discarded event films. A round of applause to the cast and crew for doing better than "not bad:" with Spider-Man, the annual warm-weather mayhem is off to a roaring start.” – Rob Vaux, Flipside Movie Emporium.

What critics say about Fantastic Four Film

“How fascinating that a film about super-humans was made by a collection of sub-humans; what a topsy-turvy world in which we live.”- Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central (www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantastic_four)

“In trying to nail just the right mix of comic book action, comedy and pathos, the movie emerges as a tone-deaf mishmash of underdeveloped characters, half-baked humor and unhatched plotting drenched in CGI overkill”- Michael Rechtshaffen, HollywoodReporter.com (www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fantastic_four)

From review “Fantastic Four: the Perfect Counterbalance to ‘Batman Begins’"
"As befits one of the most character-driven books in the Marvel stable, Fantastic Four pays more attention to personality than superpowers. For example, the quartet's discovery of their mutated selves is more clever than earth-shattering. A quiet dinner between Reed and Sue goes weird when she disappears over appetizers and he super-stretches to save a bottle of wine. Johnny catches fire mid-slope while careening down an icy mountain with a pretty nurse. And the Thing, whose transformation is the most torturous, is revealed first in shadow, then through the reaction of his repulsed fiancée…Fantastic Four may indeed get clobbered at the box office. The media smoke signals are drifting that way (not even a big story in Entertainment Weekly). And certainly the lack of a name director ("Spidey's" Sam Raimi or "Batman's" Christopher Nolan) isn't a sign of confidence from the studio. But take the movie on its own lighthearted terms and, chances are, you'll be taken in.”- Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Access Atlanta.com

...