The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Review

On August 4, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies2 Comments

The world is trucking along, experiencing earthquakes in Russia; France, Canada, and the United Kingdom recognising the State of Palestine; Kash Patel hanging out with Winston Peters; and a convicted felon was discovered cheating at golf on his own golf course, as well as a new Some Geek Told Me blog, in the form of The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Review.

It seems only last week that I was writing the preview for the movie, and time has passed in the only way it can: painfully slowly during the week and quickly at the weekend, bringing us to this day. So, without prancing around like a person who likes to prance around, let’s move into one of the world’s most beloved literary works, a Some Geek Told Me movie review!

You know how the classic story goes:

I buy a movie ticket days in advance.
I arrive at the cinema and purchase a drink.
I proceed to enter the theatre without anybody asking to see a ticket. Every. Single. Time. It’s amazing.

Anyway, the theatre was about 1/3 full, which for a Tuesday night, was not too shabby. It was one of those times there was no allocated seating, so I planned to go in the middle of the back row; however, a young couple had already nabbed the coveted section, so I sat a few seats away from them. No one is perfect.

As for the trailers, it was another case of showing trailers for children’s movies, and not a single movie aimed at adults. In saying that, an argument could be made that Pixar’s Hoppers could fit into both groups.

So after the trailers had finished, it was time for the Fantastic Four to enter the MCU! As always, let’s go over the rules of the review.

1.) Please be aware there will be spoilers concerning the movie, so proceed with extreme anxiety and caution.

2.) The aim of my reviews are not to rip apart the subject or trash it. If I liked the subject enough to watch it, then I’ll give my honest (possibly biased) opinion.

3.) I’m not a professional critic, so I’m not going to dive into deeper concepts and themes, or the art of filmmaking. I’m just a geek; always have been, and always will be.

I’m not here to lick windows, so let’s get on with the review!

Credit: Marvel Studios/Disney and my local cinema

First things first, did I like the movie? I did actually. I realise that the MCU has been chugging along since 2008, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the 37th chapter, but I liked it. I really did. I mentioned in the Thunderbolts*: Movie Review, that I hoped that the MCU could continue its momentum, so maybe they have.

Things I liked:

A few things stand out to me from this film. The first topic of conversation was the visuals, which included the sets and special effects. With the way modern movies are filmed, you have no idea if the performers are standing on a physical set or just standing in front of a green screen. It’s the same with The Fantastic Four: First Steps, since some of the sets looked so real and tangible, I couldn’t tell the difference between reality and CGI. To me, that’s a good thing.

This, of course, leads into the gorgeous retro-futuristic aesthetics, which ranged from period costumes to the buildings to the Fantasticar. Earth-828 feels like a lived-in world, and in my humble opinion, that’s an extraordinary thing.

With visuals for the characters, well, I was not disappointed. This was the first time that Mister Fantastic’s elastic powers did not look weird and fake. Also, when the Human Torch took flight to see what was causing the light show, as in the Silver Surfer’s arrival, I think there was a lens flare on the camera, coming off his flames.

The scene with Sue making her womb transparent, so Reed could see Franklin, was creative and beautiful. As a father, I would have loved to have seen UMC1 and UMC2 as Reed had done. The film-makers had thought outside the box with Sue on that one. That was transformative.

Sue also had two awesome moments, when she explained that she would not be sacrificing the world for her son, just like she would not be sacrificing her son for the world. The other was when she started pushing Galactus through Manhattan and into the teleportation portal.

Like I said last week about watching the trailers, Ben Grimm looked spectacular, and he was. It was the best live-action version of the Thing I have ever seen, and that included developing his personality, losing the angst from the previous films, and giving the public the real, “Blue-Eyed Lovin’ Thing.” Grimm was happy being the Thing, which provided an anchor point to the film.

When a comic-book character gains powers or is transformed, they traditionally look the same or have a slight variation. Within Marvel, Archangel has his wings, Wolverine has his claws, and even Bruce Banner can change into the Hulk and back again. But like Nightcrawler, Triton and many others, the Thing can not transform into his human self again, because he is a rock creature, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Ben Grimm is always the Thing, all of the time, but he’s alright with that. He’s upbeat, being a rock creature, so he may not like it, but he has accepted it; he’s relatable. He’s not moping about trying to find a cure, because he was too busy making friends and protecting his neighbourhood. It was stunning to see his eyebrows!

The dialogue among the members of the Fantastic Four was excellent, just as I had hoped. Each character brought something unique to the conversation. It was interesting to see Reed struggling to find an answer to a question, while Johnny was portrayed as intelligent and creative. Ben grew a beard, adding to his character development, and Sue once again demonstrated that she is the most powerful member of the team.

I had previously seen the Silver Surfer’s entrance on a video before the film opened, which featured her saying, “I herald his beginning. I herald your end. I herald… Galactus”. I have to admit, that speech did not lose any of its potency in the theatre. Julia Garner was terrific as the Herald of Galactus.

I thought Paul Walter Hauser’s Harvey Elder / Mole Man was going to be just a cameo, but he came back to play a larger role, along with a few one-liners, with one destroying Johnny by commenting on his clothes. I’m going to remember that burn.

Finally, we have reached the Destroyer of Worlds, Galactus. As I mentioned last week, 2007’s Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer featured Galactus, but it resembled a world-eating cloud entity. The film-makers changed this by having Ralph Ineson play Galactus, and I loved it. Seriously, seeing Galactus sitting on his throne, as well as stomping around Manhattan, was staggering.

Galactus’ height will always be up for debate, but having a man hundreds of metres tall walking around is an unsightly and ludicrous image; however, it was still fantastic. Who else could wear such an audacious helmet but Galactus? I was so pleased with his appearance.

Things I disliked:

This MCU film was a little odd for me, because I really liked it. I came out of the theatre, feeling quite positive about it. Maybe I was still riding the wave from Superman, or watching Galactus and the Thing, but I was thoroughly entertained. However, as I have said before, no movie is 100% perfect.

Over the years, I have noticed a recurring theme in TV shows, movies, and comics that annoys me. While I understand that the Fantastic Four originated from a comic book, I often find it frustrating that alien invasions or attacks from other countries typically take place in the United States, specifically in New York.

DC are guilty of this, but the greatest offenders are Marvel. I know their target audience is Americans, but as a non-American, it can be tiresome to read or watch aliens or foreign countries invade America. Aliens invading New York, or at the least, the United States, has been used so many times in movies that it’s very predictable.

My example to this problem is this: the Silver Surfer arrives on Earth, and she could go anywhere on the planet, absolutely anywhere, but not only does she decide to visit the United States, but New York, no less. And the very first humans on the planet that she meets happen to be the Fantastic Four?!

Why didn’t Shalla-Bal decide to visit India or China, two of the most populous nations on Earth? She could have gone to Indonesia, Brazil, Japan, Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Tanzania, or Greece, but she didn’t. She went to the United States, like no other country exists.

As for the city, New York ranks about 10th in size on the globe, with Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, and São Paulo all larger. Why didn’t the Silver Surfer arrive in Mexico City, Cairo, Mumbai, or Beijing? Is English the only human language she knows? I understand the plot needs to be driven forward, but it still could have worked if the Silver Surfer arrived in another country, and the Fantastic Four travelled there to greet her.

Another point I want to address is that I do realise the film was not about the Silver Surfer, but the scene where Johnny talks to Shalla-Bal in her native language and forces her to confront her actions was creative. The guilt of her being the Herald of Galactus had finally caught up with her, forcing her to face her mistakes.

After surrendering to the torment, Shalla-Bal took off, then finally appeared to save Johnny and to push Galactus through the portal. It’s a small issue, but the Silver Surfer disappeared for maybe 20-25 minutes of film time, to suddenly betray her lord and master; but as the viewer, you’re not given any insight or more explanation about her betrayal. Where did she go after flying away from Johnny? What thought processes led her to rebel against Galactus?

Like I said, it’s a small issue, but as a fan, I would have appreciated seeing the Silver Surfer wrestle with her past deeds against her soul and loyalty to her lord. It would have added more depth to the character and explained why she decided to stand up to Galactus, rather than being a plot device or a deus ex machina.

For my final point, we need to discuss Franklin, because Marvel has opened Pandora’s Box for a fourth time by introducing characters with immense power levels. First, it was the Scarlet Witch, then Adam Warlock, The Sentry, and now, Franklin Richards. Four characters with reality-warping powers or super-enhanced strength abilities.

Yes, the Scarlet Witch is dead, but the multiverse is a massive place, so never say never. So this leaves Adam Warlock, the Sentry and Franklin to solve, possibly, any problem in the MCU. In the comics, Franklin is highly overpowered. I mean, in one future-set story, Franklin became Galactus.

Franklin is a significant and complex character in Marvel lore, which makes his introduction into the MCU challenging. Film-makers must take their time to explore his powers thoroughly, providing detailed attention to the plots of future projects. They need to exercise caution in how they portray him. I have concerns about their approach, as they cannot overlook Franklin, just like they cannot ignore Adam Warlock and the Sentry.

The die may have already been cast because of the time-jump in the mid-credits scene, when Sue left the room to retrieve a book for Franklin, to discover a person kneeling and talking to Franklin. That person was Doctor Doom. So, it appears that the Ruler of Latveria is trying to recruit, or maybe already has recruited Franklin, which will directly lead into Avengers: Doomsday, which is out in December 2026.

Ironically, I discovered this video explaining a theory of Doctor Doom’s origin in the MCU, which is compelling.

And speaking of theories, my theories about Galactus and Franklin were wrong, but not 100% wrong. The correct answer was a little from Theory A, and a little from Theory B, to create Theory C.

Theory C: The Silver Surfer finds Earth as per her instructions to locate planets full of life. She alerts Galactus of the snack. However, before Galactus can get his Uber ride ready, the Fantastic Four turn up to talk with him. It’s at this point that Galactus detects Franklin’s power level. He then offers Reed and Sue a deal, to trade Franklin for the Earth.

Like Superman, I have only added these criticisms because I’m just being pedantic, as I liked the majority of the movie.

So, what about my preview questions?

Where is the film’s continuity in the MCU? I would say it is set before Thunderbolts* but before or during Avengers: Doomsday.
Does Galactus destroy the Earth, or will he be defeated by the Ultimate Nullifier? To the best of my knowledge, there was no Ultimate Nullifier reference, as he was defeated by being pushed through a teleportation portal, thus saving Earth.
Will the dialogue between the members of the Fantastic Four be smart, witty, and heartfelt, or will it tank? I think overall, the dialogue was great. It was witty and sharp when it needed to be, just as it was dramatic and serious as the plot developed.
Considering the movie takes place on another Earth, will there be any main MCU cameos or references? Even though there were no direct MCU cameos and references, there were still Marvel references. We had the Fantastic Four battling Peotr the orangutan, one of the Red Ghost’s Super Apes. Apparently, John Malkovich played Red Ghost, but the scenes were cut from the film. We also had Reed mention he had been tracking the Puppet-Master, the Wizard, and Diablo, as well as featuring the Giganto fight scene, mirroring the cover of The Fantastic Four #1.
Will the Yancy Street Gang appear? Please be a yes! No, however, I believe a news report mentions, “The Yancy Street Bookies.” I may have misheard it, but that’s what it sounded like.
Does Franklin develop and grow super quickly? No, Franklin developed at the normal rate. The film established the pregnancy discovery in Act 1, then did a montage of events to signal time passing. Franklin was born, and when the mid-credits scene appeared, there was a time-jump of 2-3 years, with Franklin appearing as a preschooler.
How large a role will H.E.R.B.I.E. play? It concerned me that H.E.R.B.I.E. may have been a punching bag or been used as a jester-type character, but I was wrong. All of the members of the team treated H.E.R.B.I.E. like he was a part of the family, because he was.
Will the origin of the Fantastic Four be explained as being set in the present, but with a flashback, or will the characters gain their powers in Act 1, then have a time jump to progress the story? This was clever because when we meet the Fantastic Four for the first time, they already have their powers. Their origin story was told through the means of The Ted Gilbert Show, which used “old” TV footage of the Fantastic Four’s departure to space and arrival back to Earth, four years ago.
Are Reed and Sue aware of Franklin’s abilities? Do they witness him doing things or just detect his power level using technology? As you can imagine, both parents are concerned; Reed more than Sue, that Franklin could inherit some abilities or powers from his parents. Reed conducted several tests, and the results are negative. They only learn of Franklin’s powers because Galactus used the Power Cosmic to detect and scan Franklin while he was in the womb. Later on, Franklin resurrects Sue from the dead after the final battle.
Will the Silver Surfer betray Galactus? Yes, she did, and I’ve already discussed that question. Thanks for asking.
Will there be any Negative Zone, Doctor Doom, Annihilus, or Valeria Richards references? Yes and no. There were no Negative Zone, Annihilus, or Valeria Richards references, but Doctor Doom made a mid-credits cameo, along with his empty Latverian seat at the United Nations.
For Galactus’ origin, how will it be explained? Reed tried to explain Galactus’ origin, but because of Galactus’ power level and age, Reed was not confident of his findings, since Galactus was beyond Reed’s level of understanding and research. In saying that, Reed mentioned that Galactus may have come from a time before the Big Bang, which paired with the information Galactus was chatting about, while sitting on this space throne.
On Earth-828, is Reed considered to be the smartest person on the planet? That was unclear, but he’s certainly regarded as one of the smartest people on the planet.
Does Johnny say “Flame On!” to activate his powers? No, he didn’t; however, his action figure did.

Just before I end this awful review, I want to say how important it was to have a small tribute to Jack Kirby at the end of the film. It brought a smile and tear to my face.

Overall, I have to say well done to Marvel, because I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Fantastic Four: First Steps was indeed a great first step into Phase Six.

Anyway, don’t trust me, go watch it for yourself, so you can be the judge. Have you seen The Fantastic Four: First Steps? Please tell me your thoughts about it. I would love to know.

Ok, that’s another blog for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. I toil away to keep myself sane and hopefully entertain you. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, keep pushing for more international recognition of Palestine, and I’ll see you on Saturday for an extra blog.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Preview

On July 28, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

I have just wrapped up the first movie preview/review for the DC Universe (DCU) with Superman, but here we are once again, at the dawn of a new Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film, The Fantastic Four: First Steps.

I typically don’t do movie previews/reviews back-to-back, but since DC and Marvel decided to duke it out this July at the box office, what’s a geek to do? I checked with my wife to see if I was allowed to go out twice in a month, even on a work night, and I was given the green light! Cool.

As you are well aware, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is the third MCU film to be released this year, after Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*, in addition to being the 37th film in the franchise. In New Zealand, the film opened on Thursday 24th July, which is a day before it opened in the United States. There were no advanced screenings for the film; however, I have obtained a ticket for Tuesday 29th, because, say it with me, I’m a geek.

For the uninitiated, this will be the fifth live-action movie featuring Marvel’s First Family, which includes The Fantastic Four (1994, an unreleased movie), Fantastic Four (2005), Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), and Fantastic Four (2015). This, of course, does not include the Mister Fantastic cameo in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, or the Fantastic Four references throughout Deadpool & Wolverine, along with the Human Torch cameo.

Since 20th Century Fox owned the movie rights to the Fantastic Four and other characters related to them, they produced Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, and Fantastic Four, with the 2015 version being a reboot. I’ll be coming back to these films for further discussion, so in the interest of speeding up the writing process, I’ll refer to Fantastic Four as 2005, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer as 2007, Fantastic Four as 2015, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps as 2025. Clear as mud?

The original 1994 film has never been released, and its history is too stupid to really mention, so we’ll just move on and not mention it again.

To lay some groundwork, Disney purchased 20th Century in 2019, and since Disney owns Marvel, it has given Marvel the first real opportunity to bring the Fantastic Four into the MCU; although Namor, a traditional Fantastic Four friend/enemy, was introduced in 2022’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The Fantastic Four were first introduced in…would you believe, The Fantastic Four #1, back in 1961, so comic book fans are well-versed with the characters and their powers. In saying that, the 2025 movie has been a long time coming.

We know that the cast has Reed Richards / Mister Fantastic (Pedro Pascal), Sue Storm / Invisible Woman (Vanessa Kirby), Johnny Storm / Human Torch (Joseph Quinn), Ben Grimm / The Thing (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Harvey Elder / Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser), Shalla-Bal / Silver Surfer (Julia Garner), H.E.R.B.I.E. (Humanoid Experimental Robot B-Type Integrated Electronics) being voiced by Matthew Wood, and arguably, the big attraction, Galactus, played by Ralph Ineson.

I believe the film’s budget was about $200 million, similar to Thunderbolts* and the expectations for 2025 to be a success at the box office, and with critics and fans is high, considering Superman is soaring, and recent MCU films like Thunderbolts*, Captain America: Brave New World, and The Marvels have not fared too well.

Will The Fantastic Four: First Steps be the first great step into Phase Six? Let’s not watch the paint dry because, It’s clobberin’ time!

Am I looking forward to watching The Fantastic Four: First Steps?

I always ask this question, and the answer is always yes. Apart from the two cameos from Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and The Human Torch in Deadpool & Wolverine, we have not had a film where the Fantastic Four are set in the MCU.

As I understand it, the film is set on Earth-828, which is in the MCU’s multiverse, so at some point, the Fantastic Four will interact with the main MCU characters on Earth-616. This was hinted at with the end-credit scene in Thunderbolts*.

Like many other comic book fans, I was excited about 2007 to see the Devourer of Worlds, Galactus, in all his immense glory. However, in my personal opinion, instead of portraying a gigantic man, towering above buildings and wearing a ridiculous helmet, the studio opted for the safer, but less accurate adaptation of Galactus by presenting him as a world-eating cloud entity. It was a disappointment to say the least.

But do not despair, because in this movie, the God of Oblivion will be presented as comic book accurate as possible, with a live-action performance from Ralph Ineson, as an enormous man, rocking one of the coolest headpieces in pop culture.

To be honest, I’m going to the movie to see the Fantastic Four, but the main draw for me is Galactus. I’ve always believed, and others seem to agree, that Galactus transcends concepts of good and evil. He simply exists as a force of nature and cannot be defined by human morals.

If a lion is chasing a zebra, the zebra perceives the lion as evil. The lion is trying to kill the zebra, which places the lion as a villain and the zebra as a victim, or at the very least, a heroic figure.

However, from the lion’s perspective, it does not see itself this way. The lion is a carnivore, so if it does not hunt, kill and eat prey, it will die of starvation, and so will its family. The lion is simply operating as it was born to do, which is similar to Galactus.

If Galactus marks a planet for consumption of its life force, the sentient organisms of that planet will view Galactus as the ultimate villain. He is going to destroy their world, lives, art, history, culture and everything else, because he wants to. To them, Galactus is evil personified.

And just like the lion, Galactus does not see himself like that; he’s beyond this. Galactus is cursed with a hunger that can only be sated by the consumption of a planet’s life force. The greater the amount of life on a planet, the greater the substance for Galactus. If Galactus does not consume planets, he will die. To him, he is simply doing what he needs to do to survive.

This makes him a fascinating antagonist, because yes, he commits evil and villainous acts, but it’s not because he’s evil. If he does not destroy worlds, he will die. Galactus is choosing to live, which means all life in the universe needs to fear his arrival, or pray he never finds them.

This, of course, brings us to the Silver Surfer. The original Silver Surfer in the comics and in 2007 was Norrin Radd, who was a native of the planet, Zenn-La. Eventually, Galactus came knocking on Zenn-La’s door, so Radd offered him a deal: if Galactus left Zenn-La alone, along with his lover/wife, Shalla-Bal, Nadd would serve Galactus by seeking out other worlds for him.

The Devourer of Worlds agreed to this and shared a part of the power that he has, the Power Cosmic, and transformed Nadd into the Silver Surfer, the Herald of Galactus. As the Silver Surfer, Nadd travels the universe, seeking out worlds with an abundance of life for his master’s diet, although Nadd tries to get around this by supplying Galactus with planets that support little or no life.

In 2025, Julia Garner plays the Silver Surfer, but she is also Shalla-Bal. Whether her origin is explained or her connection to Norrin Radd is revealed or mentioned remains to be seen.

Over the years, the Silver Surfer has rejected Galactus numerous times, as well as seeking out adventure in the universe, by redeeming themselves by helping and saving lives, using the Power Cosmic. To me, the Silver Surfer is on a never-ending quest to gain back their soul by correcting their past mistakes; it’s a great character. In saying that, the character has probably changed since I read about them.

To some people in the universe, the Silver Surfer is just as guilty as Galactus for the destruction of planets. Yes, it’s true that the Silver Surfer personally does not consume a planet, but they identify the planet and reveal its location to Galactus. Whether Galactus would ever find that particular world, with or without the Silver Surfer’s assistance, is moot when it is being consumed.

The Silver Surfer offers us an amazing moral dilemma: to protect and save your family and loved ones, would you sacrifice millions of worlds and billions of sentient life-forms, in order to maintain their protection? Would you sacrifice your soul, or even a part of it, to protect the people you love, but at the cost of billions, if not trillions of people? Could you trade a planet for a person?

This awkward and complicated question of morality is presented to us in the most often mocked and ridiculed literature, which to some, is viewed as intellectually inferior or only for children: comic books.

What is the movie about?

According to Marvel.com, the premise is this:

Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet.

What can we expect?

The running time is 114 minutes, which means it’s less than Captain America: Brave New World and Thunderbolts*.

In the teaser trailer and following trailers, we have been given footage of the various members of the Fantastic Four. The 2005 and 2007 special effects for Reed, Sue, and Johnny were fine for their time, with 2015 improving on them.

2005 had a budget of around $100 million, 2007 had $130 million, while 2015 had $120 million to work with. Because 2025 has the backing of Disney, bankrolling $200 million, we should expect some upgraded visuals, especially with Mister Fantastic.

To add to this, The Thing looks amazing! 2005 and 2007 required Michael Chiklis to wear practical effects to be The Thing, but for 2015‘s Thing, Jamie Bell’s performance was motion-capture. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s portrayal of the Blue-eyed lovin’ thing was another motion-capture performance, but this version of the Thing looks a lot more comic-accurate than others presented before.

There should be great detail in examining the different relationships within the family, as well as how they interact with each other. Reed will be clever, but aloof, Sue will be caring and strong, Johnny will be a joker and playboy, and Ben…well, he’s the nemesis of the Yancy Street Gang, isn’t he?

I can also imagine the destruction caused by Galactus will be impressive, along with his size and his spaceship, Taa II. Because of the retro-futuristic aesthetics and the Silver Surfer’s visuals, we can expect to see some wonderful scenes.

This incorporates witnessing people displaying elasticity, flight, projections, invisibility, superhuman strength, H.E.R.B.I.E., and a glimmering woman on a silver surfboard that can fly. These powers should be eye candy for us.

Now, to the best of my knowledge, I have never issued a prediction for any of the movie previews before, but with 2025, I’m going to make an exception. Fuelled by the end-credit scene in Thunderbolts*, featuring a spaceship with a “4” logo on it, and the threat of Galactus, I’m wondering if Marvel is going to break something that can’t be fixed.

I think, maybe, that Galactus will win and destroy the Earth, leaving the Fantastic Four to flee to another universe, using Reed’s technology, or someone else’s powers. It would be a bold move from Marvel, but considering Galactus is such a threat, they may want to explore this by having the heroes lose.

This way, when the Fantastic Four visit Earth-616, they will be more determined to fight harder and redeem themselves, because they failed to prevent their own Earth from being destroyed. It’s just an idea, but it would shake up the MCU, and that could be a positive thing, with no time travel or rock collection that could alter it.

The last thing I want to discuss is the Fantastic Four’s fifth member. No, I’m not talking about H.E.R.B.I.E., though that would be funny. I’m talking about Franklin Richards, the son of Sue and Reed, who possesses abilities not limited to matter and energy manipulation, flight, teleportation, reality warping, precognition, astral and energy projection, telepathy, telekinesis, time-travel, and durability. Essentially, Franklin is like a Swiss Army knife; he can do anything he wants.

Two pieces of information have led me to Franklin’s admission in this section of the preview. Firstly, the details about Reed and Sue in 2025 were released to explain that they were married, then she was pregnant, and finally, she would give birth to Franklin. I don’t know what the time frame of the film is, but I remember reading these reports, along with the trailers, to identify this fact:

One of the most powerful characters in Marvel Comics, Franklin Richards, would be in the film.

The other piece of information is Galactus’ appearance. Based on a trailer I’ve seen, I have two different theories about why Galactus has arrived at Earth.

Theory A: The Silver Surfer finds Earth as per her instructions to locate planets full of life. She alerts Galactus, who turns up for a snack, then detects Franklin’s power level, and is open to giving Reed and Sue a deal, to trade Franklin for the Earth. He did it with the Silver Surfer; he can do it again.

Theory B: Using his ultra-high tech on his spaceship and the Power Cosmic, Galactus detects Franklin’s power level. He orders the Silver Surfer to pinpoint Franklin’s location to find and capture him. The Fantastic Four offer a tiny amount of resistance, but he offers Reed and Sue a deal to trade Franklin for the Earth. He did it with the Silver Surfer; he can do it again.

The question of whether Galactus was aware of Franklin’s power level before the film began is irrelevant. At a certain point during the movie, Galactus knows about Franklin’s abilities and presents his parents with a dilemma: Will they choose to save Franklin or the Earth?

The only reason I know this is because in one of the trailers, Reed is talking to the media about the proposal, which they rejected. Now, whether this was a positive or negative move from Marvel to include this key plot point in a trailer, once again, remains to be seen.

Do I have concerns?

Of course I do, I wouldn’t be a geek if I didn’t. In my defence, though, I always have concerns about comic book movies. Nevertheless, let’s proceed with my concerns for the 37th MCU film.

Where is the film’s continuity in the MCU?
Does Galactus destroy the Earth, or will he be defeated by the Ultimate Nullifier?
Will the dialogue between the members of the Fantastic Four be smart, witty, and heartfelt, or will it tank?
Considering the movie takes place on another Earth, will there be any main MCU cameos or references?
Will the Yancy Street Gang appear? Please be a yes!
Does Franklin develop and grow super quickly?
How large a role will H.E.R.B.I.E. play?
Will the origin of the Fantastic Four be explained as being set in the present, but with a flashback, or will the characters gain their powers in Act 1, then have a time jump to progress the story?
Are Reed and Sue aware of Franklin’s abilities? Do they witness him doing things or just detect his power level using technology?
Will the Silver Surfer betray Galactus?
Will there be any Negative Zone, Doctor Doom, Annihilus, or Valeria Richards references?
For Galactus’ origin, how will it be explained?
On Earth-828, is Reed considered to be the smartest person on the planet?
Does Johnny say “Flame On!” to activate his powers?

Ok, I believe that’s it, provided I don’t think of anything new. Are you planning on watching The Fantastic Four: First Steps? As always, please let me know.

I seem to be closing these vanity musings in a similar vein lately, but I meant it. Please look after yourselves. The world this week was full of scandals, controversies, border conflicts, solar and wind storage capacities, genocide, trade arguments, high food prices, passport designs, and an AI penis. It can be bleak, but not all is lost; it never is.

This may sound tired and cliché, but hundreds of millions of people around the world feel the same way, and that’s ok. It means you’re not alone, you’re never alone.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and if you’re feeling down, watch the South Park Season 27 premiere; I promise you’ll feel better. Hang in there, and I’ll see you next week for The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Review.

The Rise of the Pocket Universe Monkeys: Superman Haters

On July 21, 2025July 21, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, Movies, Social Media

Welcome back, I’m so glad you could join me today. This week’s incoherent and mysterious blog is a follow-up to my Superman: Movie Preview/Review posts.

Superman has been out for over 10 days now, and it’s been receiving a lot of praise, as well as negative attention, particularly in conservative and right-wing circles. I noticed this when the first reviews came trickling in, but it exploded over James Gunn’s statement about Superman:

“Superman is an immigrant” and that, “Superman was the story of America”.

“An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost,

These words, coupled with superhero movie fatigue and Snyderverse enthusiasts, have led to criticism of the movie for various reasons, with the main argument being that the movie is woke, and it has turned Superman into a woke character. It’s been hilarious watching them decry Superman for being woke, even though he’s been woke since 1938.

Wait until the MAGA crowd discover that Clark Kent’s son from the comics, Jon, is bisexual, or the fact that Superman fought the Ku Klux Klan and Nazis. They won’t recover from that!

I have no problem with anybody praising or criticising a movie, or any other form of art. However, that statement can only take me so far, because over about two weeks, I have seen and heard some hilarious and ridiculous arguments and comments, especially from people who have ever seen the film. Haters have to hate, I guess.

Having seen the movie and being a fan of Superman, I’m somewhat embarrassed to admit that I find it entertaining to watch conservatives and right-wing individuals overreact to minor and absurd topics. I’ve gathered some of the most ridiculous responses to the new Superman movie for your enjoyment.

Before I go on, you may have noticed the title of the blog included the phrase, Pocket Universe Monkeys. No, that’s not the name of my autobiography, but it’s a term used to describe some characters from the movie. In one scene, Luthor is monologuing to Superman about his plan to defame and destroy him, while they are in a pocket universe that Luthor created.

While Luthor was talking, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of monkeys posting anti-Superman propaganda online; hence, the new term for Superman haters: pocket universe monkeys. I’m talking about people jumping on the “Superman is woke” train.

Credit: Warner Bros./DC Studios

And with that delightful thought, let’s crack on and enjoy reading some foolish Superman-bashing comments.

I’m going to leave you with two things I have said before, plus something new.

1.) So when someone starts talking smack about things that I love or have an interest in (whatever it is), I listen. Basically, it’s so I can determine if there is any truth to what they are saying, because I may agree with them, or to see whether they are just talking through their arse.

Everybody on this list is entitled to their opinion, but sadly, when discussing Superman, they are indeed talking out of their arses.

2.) For the record, comic books have always been political, by exposing readers to important social issues, from Superman being an illegal immigrant to the X-Men fighting for civil rights. Comic books have always been political.

When was the last time anybody on this list read any comic book? Superman has been talking about inclusivity and diversity since 1938; that’s why he’s the good guy; he’s Superman. That’s the point.

3.) Superman is a fictional character who does not exist in real life, no matter how much we might wish he did. However, just because a character is created in literature, movies, TV, or any other medium, it doesn’t mean we can’t relate to them or learn valuable lessons from their stories.

Yes, creators can make characters do whatever they want, because it’s business to make money from them, but also to tell stories. In every single story that has ever been passed on, there is a message. That message could be laced with positivity, or it could be a warning. And Superman’s message is simply hope. From my point of view, what’s wrong with that?

And with that, I’m done. Did you enjoy the comments from the pocket universe monkeys? If you have seen Superman, what are your thoughts? As always, please let me know.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to read a banned book, please adopt a dog, stay away from red kryptonite, and I’ll see you next week for The Fantastic Four: First Steps-Movie Preview. Take care.

Superman: Movie Review

On July 14, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

Because you eat your vegetables and wash behind your ears, you would have realised that this week’s blog post is the follow-up to last week’s stunning Superman: Movie Preview.

Since I was old enough to identify the Kree warrior Captain Marvel (or his replacement) from the other one who likes shouting out his friend’s name, I have recognised that comic books are inherently political, and Superman is no exception. A great amount of my political leanings have come from reading comic books, which bleeds through from time to time, if you haven’t noticed.

Comic books have always been political.

I would love to discuss this further, but important blog posts don’t write themselves, plus, I don’t get paid per word. I don’t get paid at all. Let’s move on to one of the world’s most sought-after literary treasures, a Some Geek Told Me movie review.

Sadly, I had to break tradition to purchase a ticket. Physical tickets weren’t available to be presold for some weird reason, even though it was Tuesday, and the film opened on Thursday. Desperate times called for desperate measures, so I bought an online ticket for the first screening at 11.15 am.

I was at the supermarket about 90 minutes before the film started, where I was rocking one of my two Superman t-shirts. I chose my Superman logo t-shirt, since it’s been an important piece of clothing to me, and I wanted to celebrate Superman.

In the past, I have worn that t-shirt under my suit at my wedding and during the births of UMC1 and UMC2. I also wore it when we buried Indy. I know it’s silly and illogical, but whenever I anticipate a challenging event where I need to be brave and strong, I put on that t-shirt for the strength it gives me to push through and get it done.¹

Anyway, I was at the supermarket comparing the sodium content between two items; because I’m cool, when a child I had never seen before walked up and told me that he was going to see Superman that day. I told him I was going to see the movie as well, and that I hoped he enjoyed it. He replied that he loved Superman and proceeded to walk off. That kid was pumped for the movie, and so was I.

Since I had never purchased an online movie ticket before, I had the email open on my phone, so I could show anybody who needed to check it. I felt stupid, because just like all the other times after buying cinema food, I walked straight into the cinema, without anybody checking the ticket.

For an 11.15 am Thursday screening, the cinema was roughly 1/3 full. Superman was here, and people didn’t care about jobs! They played trailers for Predator: Badlands, and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, but also, surprisingly, Peacemaker: Season Two. That TV show had no right to be as good as it was.

As always, let’s go over the rules of the review.

1.) Please be aware there will be spoilers concerning the movie, so proceed with extreme anxiety and caution.

2.) The aim of my reviews are not to rip apart the subject or trash it. If I liked the subject enough to watch it, then I’ll give my honest (possibly biased) opinion.

3.) I’m not a professional critic, so I’m not going to dive into deeper concepts and themes, or the art of filmmaking. I’m just a geek; always have been, and always will be.

Let’s not just stand with our capes flapping in the wind; let’s get on with the review!

Credit: Warner Bros./DC Studios and my local cinema

First things first, did I like the movie? Yes, I mean, of course I did. It was about the world’s biggest boy scout, Clark Kent. I love Marvel and their characters, but I also love DC, so it was fantastic to see Superman on the big screen again, along with his friends, enemies, robots, and a special canine.

Things I liked:

These are in no particular order; it’s more like I remember them, like the names of capital cities or the All Blacks. I appreciated the film’s exposition, giving a very quick history of the DCU, with details referring to how metahumans have existed on Earth for at least three hundred years. In future projects, those events will be revealed to us, I hope.

Another topic is the use of colour. By this, I mean the visuals, from Clark’s costume to Metropolis, to Guy Gardner, the colours were bright and warm. Even numerous scenes filmed against a clear blue sky were, to me at least, associated with Superman.

When you think of Superman flying around or saving people, the images you conjure up wouldn’t be at night or on a rainy day. No, it would be a clear, blue, and sunny day. I’m not a movie expert, because if I were, I would be making movies, but I feel that James Gunn went out of his way to canvas the film with explosions of colours, of varying degrees of brightness.

It is always great to see Clark’s concern for others while various battles were happening. This concern also covered protecting all life, even when it came to subduing the kaiju and caring for his robots. His ethos for protecting and saving life is plain to see when he saves a dog, a squirrel, and anybody else. Unlike Hawkgirl, who casually kills the President of Boravia, Vasil Ghurkos.

In regards to the battles, it was one of my biggest criticisms of Superman in Man of Steel, that even though Clark was fighting another Kryptonian in the form of Zod, Clark came out of the battle with no injuries, like no bruises, broken bones or cuts. The opposite has been true in Superman, with Clark sustaining several injuries throughout the movie, reinforcing that he may have the power of a god, but he is not a god or invincible; Mark Grayson is.

Clark’s interview with Lois was profound because he uttered a magic sentence with five words that sums up a huge portion of his philosophy: “People were going to die!” Just like what Ben Parker told his nephew, Peter, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Clark is arguably one of the powerful people on the planet, so he takes that responsibility very seriously. If he can save and help people, he will. I think David Corenswet did a brilliant job with this, as well as portraying Clark Kent as a developed character.

And speaking of Clark, his relationship with Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) was interesting, since we’re seeing them at the beginning of their relationship. It was a strong point differentiating between Lois and Clark when Lois mentioned that she questions everybody, whereas, as she explains, Clark thinks everybody is beautiful. For me, at least, it wasn’t that Lois was falling in love with Superman; she was falling in love with Clark. That is a massive difference.

For this middle-aged crybaby, I thought the scene was beautiful and that Brosnahan gave a strong performance about a strong woman, who was dating a very strange man. I also thought it was spot on with Lois, as Brosnahan was detailing the news story to Perry White (Wendell Pierce), as Metropolis was getting ripped in half because of the black hole/rift.

When I explained to my wife that Nicholas Hoult was going to play Lex Luthor, she responded by saying she couldn’t take him seriously, because she could only see him as Beast from the Prequel X-Men films. Having said that, and seen the film, Hoult was outstanding. One of the interesting aspects of Luthor’s personality is that, from his perspective, he was king of the world until an alien freak show turned up and stole his spotlight and attention.

Hoult did a marvellous job at displaying Luthor’s brilliance and intellect, as well as his rage, narcissism, being a master manipulator, and his utter disregard for anybody other than himself. Luthor is Clark’s opposite, in every conceivable way; that’s why he is such a great villain. Clark cares, while Luthor does not, and Hoult nailed this. You could feel the contempt and hatred radiating from Hoult’s Luthor towards Superman. He was sadistic.

The top ten richest people in the world, Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Bernard Arnault, Larry Page, Warren Buffett, Steve Ballmer, Sergey Brin, and Jensen Huang, have a combined total of at least US$2,009,500,000,000 ($2.009 trillion). It’s sad that with all of this wealth, not one of these people has become Batman; however, it’s a miracle that no one has become Lex Luthor, though Musk seems to be walking down that path.

I’ve always liked the character of Michael Holt, aka Mister Terrific. Since his first appearance in 1997, Holt has become a much-loved icon with DC and the wider world of comic books. Supposedly, he’s the third-smartest person on the planet, and Edi Gathegi was amazing at displaying Holt’s intelligence and morality. People have said that he stole every scene, and I have to admit, his no-nonsense attitude was funny when compared to Guy and Clark. He was the breakout star of the film.

Nathan Fillion was Guy Gardner personified, and I loved his “upgrade” comment and his haircut argument with Lois. It was very on brand for Guy to be a jerk, especially tossing Boravian tanks around, while giving them the finger. Classy.

I could be wrong about this, but watching Anthony Carrigan’s Metamorpho was like watching the alien from John Carpenter’s The Thing. I’ve said this before, but Metamorpho is a criminally underrated character, so it was satisfying to see him using his quirky powers.

I know introducing Krypto the Superdog could be considered corny, and it is, but like it or not, Krypto is a big part of the Superman mythos. Long-time readers will know my connection to Krypto, so I surprised myself by not crying; I was just happy to see him. They did an amazing job of creating a CGI flying dog.

There’s more positive things I could talk about, like Clark acknowledging that his real parents were Jonathan and Martha Kent, the children of Jarhanpur calling out for Superman’s help, the anti-war and pro-immigrant themes, the Boravia and Jarhanpur situation (Israel and Palestine), but it boils down to this: Superman is something that Clark can do. You can take away Superman’s powers, but you still have Clark’s ideals and philosophy. That’s what makes him super.

Things I disliked:

This is difficult because it feels like I’m nitpicking, but no film, ever, is 100% perfect from start to finish, and Superman is no exception. For example, even though I love the Star Wars films, there are still issues with them.

I have previously voiced my admiration for Superman & Lois, it was a phenomenal TV show. I enjoyed Tyler Hoechlin’s Superman, but I enjoyed his Clark Kent even more. At home with his wife, Lois, he would still wear his glasses because, even though he didn’t need them to see, the glasses were part of his personality.

Having said that, it was slightly disappointing to see Corenswet only wear the glasses for maybe two scenes in the entire film. Like I said, I’m nitpicking.

I would have loved to see more of the Engineer, or at least see her try to redeem herself. She seems to have been in debt to Luthor, so hopefully she will do that in future projects.

I felt the same with Hawkgirl. Mister Terrific, Metamorpho and Guy Gardner all had their time to shine, but Hawkgirl didn’t get the same chance, or maybe I’m imagining it. Regardless, I would love to see more Hawkgirl’s character.

I also got the impression that the Justice Gang were shoehorned into the film, but at the same time, I understand why.

There were two scenes that I found odd. The first was when the giant kaiju appeared, and the citizens of Metropolis were running in panic. I could almost picture Gunn shouting, “Action!” It felt humorous and unconvincing to me.

The second scene was when Krypto sat on Lois’ lap. It was obvious that nothing was actually on Brosnahan’s lap and that she was talking to thin air since Krypto would have been added in post-production. It was strange.

I’m being overly critical by nitpicking in this section. I enjoyed the film too much to find any more faults, as I realise I’m just being pedantic now.

So, what about my preview questions?

Will the plot make sense, or will it be riddled with holes? The plot did make sense, though it did feel rushed. The pocket dimension and the tensions between Boravia and Jarhanpur could have done with some more explanation.
Will any of the other superheroes be meeting Superman for the first time? From what I saw, Mister Terrific, Guy Gardner, and Hawkgirl had all met Superman before, while Metamorpho met him for the first time in the film.
How long have Clark and Lois been a couple? You could debate that Clark and Lois have known each other for about three years, but they have only been together for three months.
Will there be references to other superheroes? Though they were not all superheroes, we had Maxwell Lord (Sean Gunn), Bradley Cooper (Jor-El), Angela Sarafyan (Lara Lor-Van), Peacemaker (John Cena), and Rick Flag Snr from Creature Commandos (Frank Grillo), along with several famous voice acting roles, especially with the Fortress of Solitude robots. Here’s a shout-out to the Gotham City road sign!
With the inclusion of several superheroes, will Superman be a supporting cast member in his own movie? Upon further reflection, I would say no, he was not a supporting cast member. Gunn did an excellent job of balancing this with the other characters, but Clark was still the main attraction.
Will adding Krypto turn the movie into a spoof or comedy? Yes, adding Krypto did make it a bit corny and silly. However, that automatically did not make it a negative thing; it just made it more comic-accurate.
How will Krypto be introduced? Krypto is introduced within the first four minutes of the film. Later on, I thought Clark was vague about how Krypto came to Earth, which I thought was odd. Having said that, there’s a reason that Clark did not explain that information to the audience.
What is Lois’ relationship with Krypto? Lois first meets Krypto at Clark’s parents’ house, and is surprised that he has a dog, as she knew nothing about it.
Do Clark and Lois live with each other? After the scene in Lois’ apartment, I would have to say they do not live with each other.
Will there be a Supergirl cameo or reference? Good question. We had to wait until the end of the film for the twist: Clark was only dog-sitting Krypto because his owner was partying on a planet that orbits a red star. Krypto’s owner is Kara Zor-El, aka Supergirl. It’s nice that Clark still has a connection with Krypto, even though Krypto is not his dog. I can imagine that Krypto’s origin story will be linked with Kara’s, which will be explored in Supergirl, due to be released in 2026.
Will Luthor be a pawn for another villain, or is he the one in control? Luthor was the puppet master in this film, with nobody controlling him. I mean, Luthor couldn’t even control Luthor.
How many different villains will there be in the film? There were several villains for the heroes to handle. We had Lex Luthor, the Engineer, the President of Boravia, and Ultraman, who wore the Hammer of Boravia suit. I need to add two other villains that slid under the radar to a certain extent. When Ultraman was introduced in the trailers, fans assumed that “Ultraman” could have been Ultraman from Earth-3, the home world of the Crime Syndicate. It was interesting that after laying breadcrumbs throughout the film, Luthor revealed that Ultraman was a failed clone of Superman. With that revelation, it was obvious that Gunn had hidden Bizarro in plain sight, similar to Bizarro from Superman & Lois. The second secret villain was Clark’s comment to Lois about why he was not going to help the Justice Gang with the fight outside her apartment. He said that it was a dimensional imp, which fans will know as Mister Mxyztplk.
How will Superman inspire the audience? That’s a hard question to answer. I can’t answer on behalf of society, however, people posting positive content before and after the film gives me hope about this. In my February blog about Superman, the character reminded me that I can be a better person; I just need to try harder. I had forgotten a lot of Clark’s qualities, so I’m reinvesting them in myself. Clark’s speech to Luthor at the end of the film was…well, super. It defines his character.
Will David Corenswet’s portrayal of Clark Kent be Pre-Crisis or Post-Crisis Clark? I would say that Corenswet’s Clark Kent was definitely a Post-Crisis Clark, which does offer a difference from Christopher Reeve’s Pre-Crisis Clark.
Does Krypto survive? Yes! How It Should Have Ended predicted a darker outcome for him, along with Clark looking for Krypto, but he survived!

How does Lois cope knowing her superhero boyfriend is a target for Luthor and others? I don’t know why I asked that question, so I’m unsure how to answer it. On one hand, she was thinking about breaking up with Clark, while on the other, she recruited Mister Terrific to locate and save Clark, as well as Metropolis, risking her own life in the process.
How does Clark manage that Superman is a global hero, and not just an American? The Boravia/Jarhanpur conflict highlighted this. In Clark’s mind, Superman belongs to the world, not just one country. By stopping a war, Clark was no longer a neutral player; he had chosen a side. This speaks volumes about his character. Over the years, various storylines have explored the theme of Superman’s identity and role in the world. This culminated in the Pre-52 reboot, where Superman (not Clark Kent) renounced his American citizenship. He realised that as Superman, he was needed to help people everywhere, regardless of their sexuality, religion, or nationality. By renouncing his citizenship, he aimed to avoid being controlled by the U.S. government. Clark knew Superman was more than an American hero; he was a hero to everybody, from the Ivory Coast, Romania, Peru, Iran, Canada, Vietnam, and even New Zealand. James Gunn just reinforced that Superman belongs to the world, and not just one country.
Can I bring my 10-year-old and 7-year-old boys to the film and not regret it? I wanted to take UMC1 and UMC2 to see it, because my dad took me to Superman IV: The Quest for Peace at the cinema. I wanted to watch Superman first, so I would know what to expect. The first issue was when the kaiju was killed; UMC2 would be EXTREMELY upset with that. He hates that people kill and eat squids, so killing a CGI kaiju would turn him into John Wick. He would have been rooting for the kaiju. The other point was when Luthor murdered the Metropolis native. Because of this, I thought UMC1 would be able to see it, but that wouldn’t be fair to UMC2. However, it was a moot point because they both wanted to see Elio instead.

If you’re a movie fan, then Superman may come off as silly and corny, or even predictable. However, if you’re a comic book fan, then you will love this film because it is very comic book accurate. I enjoyed seeing Clark flying around saving people, and being a dork so much, that I can only offer this praise for the film: I don’t have to see it again, but I want to see it again. I’m starting a new job this week, so after I get paid, I’ll go and see Superman for a second time.

So, should you go and see Superman? If you don’t know who to believe after reading various reviews about the film, whether they are praising or trashing Superman, don’t trust anybody. Go watch it so you can judge yourself. Please tell me your thoughts about it, I would love to know.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, stay away from red solar radiation, and I’ll see you next week for an unplanned blog. Mysterious, isn’t it?

¹I graduated university wearing a black Superman t-shirt underneath my graduation gown, but I also wore Superman cufflinks to my wedding.

Superman: Movie Preview

On July 7, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Movies

And I’m back in the room. My winter break is over, after staring into the cold abyss of a New Zealand winter, and I have emerged with my phalanges still cold. However, there is no time to settle and decry winter’s embrace; no, someone must continue the long struggle of producing inadequate writing for the faceless public, and that burden falls upon my scrawny shoulders.

In my mission to view more comic book movies at the cinema, my next project is not a Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film; I’m as shocked as you. My last preview/review was in May with Thunderbolts*, but this time, we are headed into the DC Universe (DCU), which is the rebooted and rebranded version of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU).

The movie in question is Superman, which is the first cinematic entry of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters phase.¹The film’s working title was Superman: Legacy, but “Legacy” was dropped in early 2024, so the title became Superman.

This, of course, can not be confused with 1978’s Superman, starring Christopher Reeve and Gene Hackman. The difference is that the 1978 movie is known as Superman, but technically, it was marketed as Superman: The Movie. Facts matter, ladies and gentlemen, facts matter.

As per tradition, I would have purchased a ticket to an early screening to avoid spoilers, to give myself enough time to write the review, and because I’m a geek. That being the case, I haven’t got a ticket because they don’t go on sale until Tuesday, 8th July, at 12 pm (NZ time). You can bet that I’ll be at the cinema at 12.05 pm to buy a ticket, though! Since it’s the only cinema in town, I may have to look at buying shares in the business because of the amount of money I have spent there.

I have previously discussed Superman in February of this year, and since his introduction in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman has entered our lexicon and consciousness, the world over. I’m not going to launch into a speech about who Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El is, or who they are to me or you; that would take too long, considering this blog post is about his movie, not an analysis of his character.

However, in saying that, Clark means a lot to me. A lot.

As you can guess from the title, Superman heralds the return of Kal-El to the big screen. The film was written and directed by James Gunn, with an estimated budget of US$225 million, which is, to be honest, quite steep by today’s standards. I’m not smart enough to know whether that’s a possible or negative thing.

I’ve seen the teaser trailer and various trailers for the film, and if I’m honest, the teaser trailer was one of the reasons I left my job. Superman inspired me to try to do better. Seriously. That and seeing Krypto, which resulted in the below tweet.

I am also aware of the Pro-Henry Cavill camp, as well as the Pro-Zack Snyder camp, which have been mocking and criticising DC Studios for any shortcomings of Superman, while ignoring any potential positive aspects of the film. This backlash has been ongoing since the announcement that Cavill would not be returning as Superman and Snyder would not be involved in future projects.

Even if Superman earns over $1 billion, wins multiple awards, and achieves a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it still won’t be enough for them.

For an introduction to one of my movie previews, this is somewhat subdued. With that in mind, let’s get on with the preview!

Am I looking forward to watching Superman?

As always with this question, the answer is a resounding, YES! Following my stupid commitment to view new comic book movies at the cinema, instead of on a streaming service, watching Superman is a no-brainer.

I’m excited because this is the first time since 2017’s Justice League that we have had Kal-El on the big screen. Yes, I know Henry Cavill also had a cameo in Black Adam, and whatever Nicholas Cage’s cameo was doing in The Flash, but I’m talking about Superman as a main character.

I’m a little biased since I love various superheroes for different reasons; what geek doesn’t? But my first superhero was Superman. As I said before, Superman means a lot to me, and I don’t know if I could ever truly explain or articulate why.

Another reason that I’m looking forward to the movie, as I mentioned before, is that it’s the first cinematic entry of the DCU’s Chapter One: Gods and Monsters phase. We have David Corenswet (Clark Kent/Superman) wearing the cape, Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane, and Nicholas Hoult as everybody’s favourite bald megalomaniac, Lex Luthor.

Rounding out the supporting cast, we have Edi Gathegi (Michael Holt/Mister Terrific), Anthony Carrigan (Rex Mason/Metamorpho), Nathan Fillion (Guy Gardner/Green Lantern), Isabela Merced (Hawkgirl), Skyler Gisondo (Jimmy Olsen), Sara Sampaio (Eve Teschmacher), María Gabriela de Faría (Angela Spica/The Engineer), and Wendell Pierce as Perry White.

Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl are some of the most underrated characters in DC’s toybox, so it will be great to see them saving lives and kicking arse. As for Guy Gardner, I hope Nathan Fillion has understood the assignment, because Guy’s infamous haircut is an awesome start.

I have high hopes for the DCU to be a more streamlined version of the DCEU.

The final reason I’m pumped for the movie is Krypto. He debuted in Adventure Comics #210 (March 1955), and although he’s starred in various animated series and films before, along with the lead role in DC League of Super-Pets, and live-action appearances in Titans and Superman & Lois, Superman is his first live-action film appearance. ²

I would often joke about Indy looking like Krypto, now Krypto looks like him. I may cry watching Clark’s interactions with Krypto, but I’ll be ok. Indy was a good boy, just like Krypto.

What is the movie about?

According to DC.com, the premise is this:

“Superman,” DC Studios’ first feature film to hit the big screen, is set to soar into theaters worldwide this summer from Warner Bros. Pictures. In his signature style, James Gunn takes on the original superhero in the newly imagined DC universe with a singular blend of epic action, humor and heart, delivering a Superman who’s driven by compassion and an inherent belief in the goodness of humankind.

On my local cinema’s website, it states:

Superman attempts to balance his Kryptonian heritage with his human upbringing in this DC superhero film from James Gunn.

What can we expect?

The running time is 130 minutes, so pace yourself while drinking, since you don’t want to run off to the toilet while an epic fight is happening! I want to take UMC1 and UMC2 to see it, but since the rating is M, I have to watch it first to determine whether it’s alright for them. Don’t let me down, James, don’t let me down.

Based on what I understand about the film and the overall impressions of the DCU, superheroes are already an established part of this world. As a result, we may or may not see any origin stories. Instead of focusing on how citizens of the DCU come to accept super-powered humans and aliens, the film will likely explore how they co-exist with them and the consequences of this co-existence. Maybe.

I can imagine that we’ll see several fights, Luthor’s monologues, Clark’s relationships with Lois, Perry, and Jimmy, as well as the relationships between Superman, Mr Terrific, Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho. There needs to be examples of Clark saving a lot of people, but also inspiring people to be better. The message needs to be about hope. Also, the shenanigans that go with training a super-powered dog.

I know it’s a huge amount of pressure, but if the DCU has any real chance of succeeding, Superman not only has to generate a vast amount of money, but it also needs to win over critics and fans. However, if anyone at DC can knock the first ball out of the park, not counting Martian Manhunter, then it’s Superman.

Do I have concerns?

I always have concerns with movies like this, and Superman will be no different. Since this is the first cinematic entry in the DCU, they need to stick the landing with this, especially with a beloved character like Superman.

Here are some of my questions:

Will the plot make sense, or will it be riddled with holes?
Will any of the other superheroes be meeting Superman for the first time?
How long have Clark and Lois been a couple?
Will there be references to other superheroes?
With the inclusion of several superheroes, will Superman be a supporting cast member in his own movie?
Will adding Krypto turn the movie into a spoof or comedy?
How will Krypto be introduced?
What is Lois’ relationship with Krypto?
Do Clark and Lois live with each other?
Will there be a Supergirl cameo or reference?
Will Luthor be a pawn for another villain, or is he the one in control?
How many different villains will there be in the film?
How will Superman inspire the audience?
Will David Corenswet’s portrayal of Clark Kent be Pre-Crisis or Post-Crisis Clark?
Does Krypto survive?
How does Lois cope knowing her superhero boyfriend is a target for Luthor and others?
How does Clark manage that Superman is a global hero, and not just an American?
Can I bring my 10-year-old and 7-year-old boys to the film and not regret it?

There are probably more Kryptonian questions to ask, but I’m out of time and beauty sleep.

That wraps it up for me here, as the only thing left to do is to buy a ticket when they go on sale tomorrow. I’ll wear one of my two Superman t-shirts to the movie, because, well, how can I not?

Before I go, I mentioned this in a previous blog, but I would like to reinforce it. The world is very dark at the moment, but it’s not all bad. There are slivers of hope and light. Keep your head above water and remember to be kind. Your words and actions can help lift people up. Hang in there.

Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, always say no to kryptonite, and I’ll see you next week for the Superman: Movie Review.

¹I think Creature Commandos was the first true entry in Chapter One: Gods and Monsters, but that was a television series. Also, the show was a lot better than I thought it would be. It was insane, but fun.

2 Krypto is one of my favourite unlockable characters to use in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1958

On June 16, 2025September 26, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn History, Music, People, Politics

I was thinking the other day about our finite time on this beautiful planet. We try to use it by developing various skills and spending time with our loved ones. And then there is this project, which I don’t fully understand where it would fall.

Yes, dear reader, one of the worst ideas I have ever had has returned with a vendetta against logic and reason. Some Geek Told Me is proud to present the latest instalment of We Didn’t Start the Fire, where we examine the historical references of the song.

For the previous non-award-winning entries of the song, please see below to be stunned into submission!

We Didn’t Start the Fire: The Beginning

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1948-1949.

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1950

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1951

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1952

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1953

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1954

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1955

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1956

We Didn’t Start the Fire: 1957

In 1957, there were many shenanigans, so 1958 might be a nice change of pace. So strap yourself in, because we’re going back to 1958! Make it so!

Credit: Collinson & Cunninghame Ltd: Publisher

1958

Lebanon

Lebanon is a country that can be found in the region called the Middle East and has a deep and rich history, dating back to at least 5,000 BCE. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, with Cyprus just 240 km off the coast. Syria lies to the north and east of Lebanon, with Israel and the Golan Heights to the south. Lebanon has a population of approximately 5.84 million people, similar to New Zealand, which has a population of about 5.3 million. The capital city, Beirut, has an estimated population of 2.3 million.

1958 was the year of the Lebanon Crisis, where the country was thrown into political and religious turmoil. At the time, the President of Lebanon was Camille Chamoun, and he was in the sixth and final year of his term.

Some of the issues Lebanon were facing included tensions between Christians and Arab Muslims flaring up; Egypt and Syria had merged to create the United Arab Republic (UAR) and wanted Lebanon to join them; an armed rebellion had formed; along with Chamoun wanting to seek another term, which went against the Constitution of Lebanon.

The problem was brought to the attention of the United Nations Security Council, and one proposed solution involved United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower leading an intervention at the request of Chamoun. Under Operation Blue Bat, he sent 5,000 marines to secure the Port of Beirut and Beirut International Airport. This lasted from 15th July to 25th October 1958.

The legacy of the Lebanon Crisis was that Chamoun did not attain a new term, with Fouad Chehab becoming the President of Lebanon, and a national reconciliation government was formed. Sadly, Lebanon went on to suffer a civil war for 15 years, which killed an estimated 150,000 people, coupled with conflicts with Israel, the Syrian Civil War, the Arab Spring, the October Revolution, and a financial crisis, Lebanon is now identified as a failed state.

US Marines move into Lebanon 28 July 1958. Copyright Life Magazine
LIFE Magazine Cover b/w © Time Inc.

Charles de Gaulle

Charles de Gaulle remains a famous French icon, over 130 years after his birth. Born in 1890, de Gaulle was a veteran of the First World War, and after the war ended, he stayed with the army. This led him to gain worldwide attention later on during the Second World War, after de Gaulle was promoted within the army and the government, to the point where he was in charge of the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany.

After the war, de Gaulle remained within the government in various roles until 1946. However, in 1958, Algeria was involved in an armed conflict to wrestle its independence from France.

Charles de Gaulle re-entered French politics during a crisis in the Fourth Republic, particularly regarding Algeria, during the 1958 election. He was appointed Prime Minister and granted special powers to address the Algerian Crisis, as many believed he was the only person capable of resolving it.

This led to de Gaulle drafting a new French Constitution, which established the Fifth Republic of France, where he was subsequently elected as the first President of the Fifth Republic. Although Algeria won its independence from France on 5th July 1962, de Gaulle remained President until 1969.

A contemporary equivalent for de Gaulle would be someone who was a war hero and then entered politics. History is filled with such people, however, I’ll go for George H.W. Bush, Bajram Begaj, Hashim Thaçi, Aslan Maskhadov, and Min Aung Hlaing, along with many others.

Charles de Gaulle gives a press conference, 1958. Photograph: Daniele Darolle/Sygma via Getty Images

California baseball

This is not the first time a baseball team has appeared as an entry on one of our lists. California baseball refers to the New York Giants, who had played in the National League, in MLB (Major League Baseball), since 1883. They were based in…wait for it…New York; Upper Manhattan to be precise.

One of their rivals was the Brooklyn Dodgers, who managed to grace the 1955 edition of We Didn’t Start the Fire. At the end of the 1957 season, the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers left New York and moved to California. They transformed into the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers, all ready for the 1958 season so they could continue their feud.

After moving to California, the Giants won the World Series in 2010, 2012, and 2014. I’ve stated this before, but I’m not a baseball expert, so for a modern example of a baseball team relocating recently, I think the Oakland Athletics moving to Las Vegas, Nevada is a clear winner.

Giants first practice at Seal Stadium on April 15, 1958. Starting line up: Davenport, O’Connell, Mays, Cepeda, Sauer, Spencer, Thomas, Gomez. Starting Pitcher Ruben Gomez. Credit: Art Frisch.

Starkweather homicide

Alright, here’s a historical reference from 1958 that is still sending ripples through time. Between November 1957 and January 1958, Charles Starkweather killed 11 people and two dogs, accompanied by his girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate. The victims’ ages ranged from 2-70 years old, with the 2-year-old being Betty Jean Bartlett, Fugate’s sister.

Starkweather killed his first victim on 30th November/1st December 1957, then went on to terrorise the US states of Nebraska and Wyoming. The Starkweather homicides gripped the American public, which had resulted in a large manhunt for the couple. They were finally captured by authorities near Douglas, Wyoming, on 29th January 1958.

After he was found guilty, Starkweather was executed by an electric chair on 25th June 1959, while Fugate was given life imprisonment, though she was released in 1976.

The Starkweather homicides have spawned many adaptations and variations across television, film, books, comics, music, and video games.

Starkweather has been characterised as both a serial killer and a spree killer. The term spree killer is often used interchangeably with rampage killer or shooter. If you’re looking for a modern equivalent in 2025, simply reading a newspaper or watching news videos will help you find the latest incidents of spree killings, no matter where you are in the world.

Casper Tribune-Herald on 30th January 1958, describes Starkweather’s capture. Credit: Casper Tribune-Herald

Children of Thalidomide

Children of Thalidomide refers to the Thalidomide scandal that swept the globe. Thalidomide was first introduced in 1957, under the name of Contergan, and it was a revolutionary new drug. It was marketed as an over-the-counter medication, that could help with tension, sleeping, anxiety, and morning sickness.

Health authorities around the world began to observe three troubling trends: an increase in infant deaths shortly after birth, a rise in miscarriages, and a growing number of babies born with deformities such as heart, arm, leg, eye, and urinary tract defects. A common factor associated with these alarming trends was the use of thalidomide by pregnant women. Approximately 300 million tablets of thalidomide were sold during this time.

By 1958, the Thalidomide scandal was in full effect across the planet. Soon, country by country were starting to stop the sale of thalidomide and introduced legalisation to ban the drug. It was later discovered that thalidomide caused birth defects by disrupting the development of blood vessels in the embryo.

The Thalidomide scandal prompted many countries to review their drug regulatory policies, resulting in enhanced monitoring of these regulations. The effects of this are still observed today with stronger drug regulations worldwide.

In the last 15 years, many drugs have been withdrawn because of safety concerns, which have included Ingenol mebutate gel, Lorcaserin, Ranitidine, Flupirtine, Tetrazepam, Drotrecogin alfa, Propoxyphene, Gemtuzumab ozogamicin, Ozogamicin, and Rosiglitazone, to name but a few.

So for 1958, we covered a country, a war hero-turned-politician, a baseball team, a spree killer, and a dangerous over-the-counter drug. One of the biggest points about the historical references for 1958, is how these events are still being echoed in 2025.

So that’s it for another week. The 1960s are just months away, but we need to face 1959 first, so hang in there. Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. My accounts on Twitter and Mastodon, are still there, doing whatever the opposite of cool is.

This is a good time to remind my amazing audience that my mid-year break is coming up soon, where I take a well-deserved two-week holiday from running New Zealand’s 5th least favourite website. It’s hard work producing low-quality content.

Anyway, please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, swipe right on diplomacy, and I’ll see you next week.

Random things my wife is now into

On June 9, 2025August 9, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn People, Social Media

It’s been a while since I’ve discussed my wife and her quirky traits, so I thought I would remedy that. For previous insightful entries about analysing her, please see here about her choices of books, TV shows, and movies.

To set the scene, I shared some ideas with her, but she considered my suggestions and proposed a topic that was far better than what I had originally come up with. Like anyone else, she often talks to me about various unusual topics that pique her interest, and these interests have evolved over the years.

This includes when I’m watching rugby or reading, she will start discussing some new or crazy topic. I love her, but the All Blacks would be playing, and she decides now is the best time to talk to me about her new interest in following Mongolian throat singing, or something to that effect.

I have compiled a collection of her new and random interests, along with the rationale behind each one, presented in her own words whenever possible. Additionally, my wife has noted that she has interests beyond just watching things; these are simply her latest random pursuits. She believes that this makes her pretty cool.

So, without further fanfare, let’s get started!

Watching snake eggs hatch:

I think its fascinating and the eggs are soft and just so un-egg like (Molinaro Snake Lab to be precise).

Watching restoration videos:

The rustier the better, I just like all the steps and processes involved. (Chip Channel Restorations and The Fabrick to be precise)

Manufacturing videos:

Like food factory stuff. It’s just great what people have come up with to make life easier and I find it exciting.

Prop making:

I like watching other people make stuff, while I’m making my own stuff. It’s great to understand their thought processes around problem-solving. It’s like you’re working with an arts and crafts buddy. (Rachel Maksy to be precise)

Bardcore music:

I have no explanation for this, I just like it because it’s cool. (Hildegard von Blingin’ to be precise)

British Football chants:

So hilarious, unexpectedly funny and just really creative.

Keith Richards memes:

Another illogical one because I’m not even a fan of his; they are just funny.

Comedy music artists:

Music + humour. What’s not to like? They tickle my brain. I really like Tom Cardy, Rhett and Link, and Flight of the Concords. Also ERB (Epic Rap Battles of History) has the bonus of learning stuff too.

That is just what’s happening with her in the first half of 2025. I’m anxious about what the remaining months of the year hold for her.

Do you enjoy any of these interests like my wife? Is she correct, and agree that she’s cool? As always, please let me know.

This blog is shorter this week, but I’ll make up for it next week because we’re going back to 1958. Yes, Billy Joel would likely be disappointed in me.

Thanks again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and I’ll see you next week.

Also having two conservative billionaires having a very messy public break-up, at the beginning of Pride Month, via their own social media platforms, is catty, petty, and bitchy. I’m ashamed that I love it.

Peter David: Writing genius

On June 2, 2025 By somegeektoldme@gmail.comIn Comics, People

In this week’s blog, I want to discuss the death of another giant of the comics and entertainment industry, Peter David. He passed away on 20th May at NYU Langone Hospital, New York, at the age of 68.

Over the last week, many articles have been written by professionals about Peter, across various media. In saying that, I’m going to offer my humble tribute to a man I had never met.

Comic-book writer Peter David ‘PAD’ attends “Stan Lee’s World of Heroes” during Comic-Con International 2012 held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel on July 12, 2012 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Each time I reflect on someone who has influenced my life from afar and has passed away, I feel grateful for the various genres that exist, including comics, television shows, movies, and novels.

I love comic books, and as long-time followers and readers may know, I was captivated by them when I was a boy and have never recovered. Among the many reasons for my enduring passion, one of them was Peter David.

For those of you who have never heard of Peter, he was a proficient writer who had penned hundreds of comics, but also novels, videogames, and screenplays. He had worked for both DC and Marvel, but also added a large volume of work to the Star Trek canon through various mediums.

Peter David was always somebody who was in my sphere of knowledge, even though I didn’t know it. I can’t tell you the first comic I read that was written by Peter, but over time, I started recognising his name and work.

For me, his work on Supergirl, Aquaman, X-Factor, Spider-Man, and the Incredible Hulk, has become immortal, along with his status as a writer. From a comic book lover’s perspective, I enjoyed his stories because they included a collection of social issues, mixed with action.

Peter’s Incredible Hulk #420 may have been the first time that I can recall, reading about a character who was dying from AIDS in a comic book. It was relevant then, and it’s relevant now. It’s been my understanding that Peter’s life would bleed through onto the pages, helping to shape and guide characters.

Through his hard work, Peter also gave us The Maestro, a future evil version of the Hulk, who remains a key Marvel villain, and still a warning about ourselves when we allow our morality and compassion to be stripped away, to gain more power. I still have Hulk: Future Imperfect #1–2 and Incredible Hulk: The End #1; I probably always will.

I always liked his strong female characters, who rarely needed a man to save them, because they were always strong enough to save themselves, as well as other people. He also tried to champion people not just on the page, but also off it, with his views and dedication; especially about supporting creators and many other causes.

Over the last few years, I was deeply saddened to hear about his financial and medical issues. Even though he was living in another country, in reality, he might as well have been living on the Moon.

From Spider-Man 2099 to Talos, to Cyber, to Joe Fixit, to Random, to Fallen Angel, Peter’s characters are unique and beloved. I wish I had the opportunity to have met him, but the universe doesn’t work like that. So instead, I’d like to thank Peter for his amazing literacy work that helped expand the mind of a boy living in a small town, half a world away.

What’s your favourite Peter David story? As always please let me know.

Alright, that’s it for another week. Thanks once again for reading, following, and subscribing to Some Geek Told Me. I’m also on Twitter and Mastodon, where I bumble around in various echo chambers.

Please remember to walk your dog, read a banned book, and if you had a bet that PSG would win the UEFA Champions League Final, over Inter Milan, 5-0, then you’re a lot smarter than me. I’ll see you next week.

SOME GEEK TOLD ME

Author: somegeektoldme@gmail.com