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!

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.

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.