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Picture Source: http://www.imdb.com

Main Cast:
Chris Evans - Johnny Storm
Michael Chiklis - Ben Grimm
Jessica Alba - Susan Storm
Ioan Grufford - Reed Richards
Julian McMahon - Victor Von Doom

Rating: PG-13 for violence and few thematic elements.

Plot Synopsis:

The movie “Fantastic Four” is the story about five astronauts who go out into space and are affected by a cosmic storm. When they come back to earth they realize they have changed and have powers that no other human beings have. Four of them use their powers for good while one of them uses them for evil.

Content Review:

The movie “Fantastic Four” is an excellent movie to watch over and over again. It is such a feel good movie that you can watch it over and over again after you have watched it. The movie has some interesting one-liners and some touching moments. It mainly addresses issues such as the role of evolution which cannot be proved, acceptance, true love, friendship, family, and good vs. evil.

Spiritual Insights: SPOILER ALERT

The movie starts out with a statue image of Dr. Victor Von Doom (played by Julian McMahon). This doctor later becomes the evil doctor who uses his powers to kill and destroy life than preserve life.

I was reminded of the Bible verse that talks about not making images.

“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.” (Deuteronomy 4:15-19, NIV)

As the movie progresses, we see Reed Richards (played by Ioan Gruffudd) who loves to cure humanity of all its diseases but relies on the evolutionary process and the answers that lie there for humanities healing. So, they decide to go into space to look for answers to man’s DNA.

The problem is that evolution does not have the answer to humanity’s problems, sickness, or DNA. It never did. I did not like this part of the movie corrupting viewer minds with an aspect of the theory of evolution. That is all it is!

I am reminded of Bible verses that refute the theory of evolution.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, NIV)

“God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day. (Genesis 1:16-18, NIV)

“God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” (Genesis 1:25-27, NIV)

“Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?” (Deuteronomy 4:32, NIV)

“Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:26, NIV)

"This is what the LORD says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts.” (Isaiah 45:11-12, NIV)

“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8:3-9, NIV)

“I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.” (Proverbs 8:27-31, NIV)

Reed goes on to talk about human DNA without even acknowledging who created the DNA.

I am reminded of Bible verses dealing with DNA.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” (Psalm 139:13-18, NIV)

Five of them are given funding to go into space to learn more about humanity’s DNA. A space storm occurs and one of them, Ben Grimm (played by Michael Chiklis) is trapped in the storm. Even when Doom did not want him rescued and jeopardize the mission, three of the other astronauts wanted him rescued.

This reminded me of the Bible verse about caring for and carrying one another’s burdens.

^“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:4, NIV)

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2, NIV)

Later, all of them come back to earth and get medical checkups. During one of the checkups a nurse puts a thermometer in the mouth of astronaut Johnny Storm (played by Chris Evans) and tells him, “You are hot”. She meant his temperature was beyond the normal body temperature. His response however was, “Well thank you, so are you!” It was a comical moment.

Eventually, he becomes one of the Fantastic Four who can turn into a ‘ball of fire’ that preserves life than destroy it. He loves his new found powers after his DNA was altered and calls himself ‘The Torch’

In one scene, he sees Doom intent on destroying a building by sending a heat seeking missile where he is since he is made of fire. To protect humanity, ‘The Torch’ lets the missile chase him putting his own life on the line for his friends.

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13, NIV)

As I thought about ‘The Torch’ and how his DNA was altered to allow him to become fire and use it to preserve life, I was reminded of what happens when we give our lives to Christ. We receive a fire that ignites inside of us which changes our lives forever. This fire helps lives than destroy it.

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night.” (Exodus 13:21, NIV)

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” (Matthew 3:11, NIV)

“They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:3-4, NIV)

^“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-22, NIV)

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:28-30, NIV)

Grimm is so much in love with his wife but when his DNA is altered he becomes a walking rock and is called ‘The Thing’. His wife leaves him because of his appearance even when they had so much going and were in love. I guess it was not love for her because she left him after seeing his appearance. That is so sad!

I am reminded of the Bible verse about appearances.

“The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7, NIV)

Grimm could have been broken-hearted and given up on humanity or receiving love from anyone else but he did not. While down because of his looks, he sees a man about to commit suicide and comes to the aid of him saying, “If you think you got it bad, look at me.”

He is still down on his condition and makes a statement, “if there is a God then he must hate me.” Eventually, he is befriended by a blind woman who loves him for his character than his looks. The saying is true that love can be color blind. When he was thinking about hate, he was being loved.

Is there a God or what?

“The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good.” (Psalm 14:1, NIV)

^“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:8-11, NIV)

As a rock, he is able to help so many people and rescue them from destruction. When his DNA was altered, he had become a rock. This reminded me of what happens when we give our lives to Christ! We are given the Rock of our Salvation. We are able to be helped and help others because Jesus becomes our Rock.

“I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:3-4, NIV)

"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2, NIV)

“For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?” (2 Samuel 22:32, Psalm 18:31, NIV)

"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!” (2 Samuel 22:47, Psalm 18:46, NIV)

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14, NIV)

“He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” (Psalm 62:2, NIV)

“They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.” (Psalm 78:35, NIV)

“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.” (Psalm 95:1, NIV)

“Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” (Psalm 144:1, NIV)

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” (Isaiah 26:4, NIV)

“They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:3-4, NIV)

In another scene, we see Reed who is able to stretch out his hands to save people or keep them from destruction. This reminded me of what Jesus did for us. Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross and died a violent death to save us from destruction as we turn to Him. His blood was shed for you and me! I am also reminded of the works of the Lord’s Hands in people’s lives.

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said: "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?” (Job 38:1-5, NIV)

"This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself” (Isaiah 44:24, NIV)

"He made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.” (Jeremiah 51:15, NIV)

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11, NIV)

In another scene, we see Susan Storm (played by Jessica Alba) who becomes invisible and also a force shield after her DNA is altered. She uses her powers to help humanity too as invisible girl.

I am reminded of what happens when we come to Jesus Christ! The sin that is in us becomes invisible to God because when God looks at us, He sees Christ’s Righteousness and His cleansing Blood covering over us. So, we can have access to the Lord. It made me want to also look at things that mention ‘invisible’ in the Bible.

“For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20, NIV)

^“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20, NIV)

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1Timothy 1:17, NIV)

Jesus also becomes our shield protecting us from the enemy. This is exciting to know.

“After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (Genesis 15:1, NIV)

“He said: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior— from violent men you save me. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (2 Samuel 22:2-4, NIV)

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?” (2 Samuel 22:31-32, NIV)

“Many are saying of me, "God will not deliver him." But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” (Psalm 3:2-4, NIV)

“My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart.” (Psalm 7:10, NIV)

“I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1-3, NIV)

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (Psalm 28:7, NIV)

“We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.” (Psalm 33:20, NIV)

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” (Psalm 84:11, NIV)

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” (Psalm 119:114, NIV)

In another scene, we see Doom causing destruction and the ‘Fantastic Four’ coming to the rescue of humanity to eradicate evil. Doom reminded me of Satan and his destructive force in the lives of humans who do not hold on to Jesus. Those who have Jesus in them can fight the enemy. In the conclusion, Doom is defeated and contained.

The ‘Fantastic Four’ can figuratively symbolize what happens to a person when they come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Personal Savior. They become a new creation and the old is gone. Still, they have to fight the enemy from gaining a hold on their lives.

Jesus said, ^“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:9-10, NIV)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV)

“And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:10, NIV)

Questions to Ponder: