Enjoyable account of the making of The Fantastic Four in the 1990s - a film made by Roger Corman's New Horizons output which everyone thought was going to be a (rare for Corman then) theatrical release and help raise everyone's profile.
The film ended up being suppressed because they wanted to make swish new movies and didn't want the brand to be tainted - indeed, the main reason the film was made was because it had to or the rights expired. (There was a Porky's movie made by Brian Trenchard Smith for similar reasons.)
You really feel for the people who made the 1990s Fantastic Four. Those interviewed for the film consistently go "I'm okay with it" when their faces clearly indicate they aren't... particularly star Alex Hyde White (who was really good in the film - this could have launched a new career for him, I get that) and director Oley Sassone. But also the effects, costume and movie people threw their hearts and souls into it and it was really cruel to suppress it... when a DVD release could have gotten the film seen and not damaged the brand. (Is it karma that has made the Fantastic Four such a poisoned chalice?
Other interview subjects include Roger Corman but not Stan Lee or Avi Arad or the writers.
Truth be told the documentary probably doesn't sustain a feature length - it lacks a third act. I suppose you could argue the film becoming widely available illegally is that, but it isn't really. The film is made for not much money quickly then is suppressed and it's upsetting and... that's the end. Maybe a third act about the new films would've fixed this - particularly the 2015 which had such a hard time.
I also felt it might've been good to establish a bit more up front why The Fantastic Four was/is a big deal - I know the target market of this is comic book fans but movie buffs who don't know much about the comic would be interested too.
A good movie - I felt maybe it was better suited to an hour though.
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