Review of Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

Finally saw Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer today. I never saw it in the cinema when it first came out because the first movie was terrible. I'm happy to say; Rise of the Silver Surfer was much, much better.

A warning though, the movie starts slow. Set two years after the first film, Reed Richards and Sue Storm (Jessica Alba looking blonder than ever) are preparing for their wedding when a silver object enters Earth's atmosphere. The object is radiating cosmic energy and starts digging deep craters at different locations across the Earth. Reed build a sensor to track the movements of the object, something the object isn't happy about. The object destroys the sensor during the wedding and The Human Torch pursues the object, only to have his ass handled to him by the Silver Surfer. The fight however set The Torch's power in flux, allowing him to switch powers with his teammates through physical contact.

The Surfer's movements around the globe bring him to the attention of Dr.Doom. Doom traced the Surfer to the Arctic and makes him an offer to join forces. The Surfer rebuffs him, Doom attacks, and Doom got his ass handled to him by The Surfer as well.

In the end, the Fantastic Four has to work with Doom to save the planet. Deducing that the Surfer's board is the source of his power, the group develops a pulse generator that will separate him from it. The Surfer revealed he is only a servant to Galactus, the destroyer of worlds. The pulse works and separate the Surfer from his board. The U.S military imprisons the Surfer in Siberia and began torturing him for information. The Surfer tell Sue that his master is Galactus, a massive cloud-like cosmic entity which must feed on life-bearing planets to survive, and that his board is a homing beacon which summons him to the planet. The Fantastic Four tries to break the board free.

Unfortunately, Doom has already stole it using a device to gain control of the board and its powers. The Fantastic Four rescue the Surfer, and pursue Doom in the Fantasticar (which look kind of cool actually). The fight ends in Shanghai. During the battle, Sue is mortally wounded. The Torch absorbs the combined powers of the entire team in order to battle the cosmic energy-empowered Doom. He managed to break Doom's control over the Surfer's board, and the Thing uses a nearby crane to knock Doom into the harbor where he is last seen sinking.

Too late though, because Galactus has already arrived. The Surfer regains the control of his board, and his power is restored. He revives Sue and chooses to defend Earth by flying into Galactus and confronting him. The conflict results in a massive blast of energy, seemingly killing Galactus in the process (I know, Galactus dying? Ha!).

The movie is kind of short but it works because it is all action. Any longer and it may look draggy. The special effects were good and overall, it was much more fun than the original. It's not great; it is simplistic, and at times pretty idiotic but hey, the title IS Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

It's a huge improvement over the first movie, so take it as it is. The movie ends with a shot of the Silver Surfer's seemingly lifeless body floating through space. Just as he drifts off the edge of the screen his eyes open and his board races towards him. Silver Surfer movie coming up!

Storm of the Dead by Lisa Smedman

In April, I wrote a review on Sacrifice of the Widow by Lisa Smedman, I loved it. Storm of the Dead is Book 2 and Lisa Smedmen again delivered a fast pace book on the gods of the Drow.

The book starts with Eilistraee and Lolth playing over a sava board again, only to be interrupted by another drow god, Kiaransalee, the deity of undead and vengeance. Wanting to play in this game of power (and believing Lolth and Eilistraee will never work together), Kiaransalee entered the game, turning it into a three way battle.

Eilistraee however has problems of her own. Since her victory over Vhaeraun, her flock has became a strange mixture of her followers and new converts to her church, the leftover followers of Vhaeraun. Since the Masked Lord's power and portfolio has went to Eilistraee, his nightshadows has joined Eilistraee's church and the inevitable internal power struggles begin between them and Eilistraee's protectors. Eilistraee herself has began being more like Vhaeraun, even her high priestess, Qilue of The Seven Sisters, has been affected.

In the midst of the games by the gods, Hallistra Melarn (The Lady Penitent herself) and her brother Q'arlynd Melarn were once again drawn into the power plays, despite their own wishes. Q'arlynd played a pivotal role in the story, and was the ultimate winner at the end of the book.

Things are happening in the Forgotten Realms, but the one thing the book suffer from is that it is set-up to be a showdown between Eilistraee and Lolth (with Vhaeraun being the wildcard). The moment Kiaransalee showed up, you knew she is dead. Drow goddess of undead she may be, but no one will stop high noon. However, the pace was so fast that you will ignored this obvious plot.

Another solid book by Lisa Smedman and I am looking forward to the last book in the series.