Oldschool Galactus is in FF2 after all?
While I enjoyed Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer for its escapist fun, I was a bit down that the traditional depiction of Galactus from the original comics didn’t make an appearance. I kind of expected he wouldn’t, but I missed it nonetheless.
Well, like most kids on my block I picked up my own copy of the DVD of FF:RotSS on Tuesday and watched the film again. It’s about 90 minutes long so it’s no big chore!
I had heard that a homage to the oldschool Galactus did indeed appear in the film, but didn’t really catch it in the theaters. Well, I think there is something to this argument. Some screen captures follow.
One very compelling image happens around 1:05:48 of the film – Galactus’s shadow is seen on Saturn as he crosses our Solar System. That’s one big guy to cast a shadow like that!
That sure looks like his helmet to me! WOW!
At around 1:21:25 or so, there is another scene. This time a close-up of the outline of his head and helmet.
That’s Galactus’s head and helmet alright – it’s the right shape. DOUBLE WOW!
Only a few moments later, at around 1:21:49, we catch another peek at Galactus’s head & helmet:
There is the oldschool Galactus’s head once again – you can see the outline of his helmet and especially the distinctive protrusions from the sides.
Yes, this is just circumstantial evidence, I know, but looking back, it’s clearly deliberate and a nice touch. So looks like the Galactus we know and love was in FF2 after all!
Excelsior!
Well, that is fairly convincing. Especially screenshot #2. So why, then, fer cryin’ out loud, didn’t they just show the Big Guy? Would it have detracted from Alba’s screentime? Was it too expensive to add him? I mean, in the classic version of the tale, Galactus is the indispensable foundation of the moral/philosophical crux of the story: blind obedience to duty vs. moral conscience, and in the context of the more intriguing question: is serving Galactus good or evil? Or neither? Does Galactus have a right to survive, even though the cost is trillions of lives? For all our high opinions of ourselves, are we just food? All this would have been brought to the forefront if he had been allowed to speak, and it would have made the movie infinitely more interesting than it was.
I agree, Galactus should have personally made an appearance as well as a case for himself. One throwaway line about he has adopted an appearance that humans could better accept is all that would be needed, though I suppose we would be left to wonder why he would even bother. It’s a comic book, after all!
Note that in the original story, in the legendary FF #48-50, The Watcher was a prominent character, as well as serving an important narrative function of explaining to them (and the reader) what was happening. A presence like that, as well as a Galactus who could personally interact with the FF, would have improved the movie immensely.
And also, while I enjoyed the film I found the ending unappealing. Actually, I’m being kind – it made no sense.
The thing to remember about the FF movie franchise is that it’s clearly made for the younger set. Around age 10-12 or so, I suspect. In itself, that’s ok – I just wish that they bothered making it not only for the average 12 year old, but also to appeal to the 12 year old in everyone.
I’d forgotten about the Watcher! Another shameful omission! Maybe it’s just as well, though. They’d probably have reinterpreted him as a 12-foot tall lesbian.
I certainly agree that the movie’s target audience seems to be the young boys, which kind of makes featuring Jessica Alba as the central character in the FF illogical. Unless she was in a lot of revealing costumes which – tasteful brief nude scene aside – she wasn’t! I didn’t particularly enjoy the movie, and I have to say I’m fairly disappointed with the way they’ve handled this series. These characters deserve at least as intelligent a treatment as Spider-Man has had, and they’re not getting it.
Jaytee,
Yes, you’re right about the Watcher – we would have found her to be a giant lesbian voyeur. “Dr. Richards, Mrs. Richards, they don’t call me ‘The Watcher’ for nothing!”
Jessica Alba is the biggest star in the movie, and also the weakest ink in the team. She just stinks the joint up, sad to say. At no point in either film in the series is she very convincing.
I thought FF2 was good enough, but I had problems with it, too. The strange swishy Dr. Doom, for example. I also didn’t appreciate that he didn’t wear his armor for most of the film. It made no sense. At least in the comic, Ben Grimm would revert back to normal human form for short spurts, so his film character’s brief human interludes are ok with me.
They compromised the original story enough that while I was happy at what made it to the big screen, I was disappointed by what didn’t make the big screen. Like I said, I don’t mind the focus as a kid’s movie (it probably makes sense to the accountants), but that can be done well and still appeal to adults, too. The 1978 ‘Superman’ managed to do it very well, as did ‘Superman II.’ The ‘Spider-Man’ films are fun for kids of all ages, too. I think that’s what a comic book movie should be.
Keep the faith, True Believer – maybe the third big-screen go-around for the FF may get it right! Lots of story potential – The Inhumans, The Negative Zone, a subplot with the Impossible Man, etc. The FF has a rich history, lets hope more of it gets to the big screen!