The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025)

I have been a long-time fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe ever since it made its official debut through 2008's absolutely excellent "Iron Man". The run continued, as did my associated fandom of the films, through the utterly EPIC 2019 finale "Avengers: Endgame". This was the cap on what could arguably be considered one of the preeminent film series of all time when it comes to the superhero genre being brought to life through such vibrant, affecting character development and stunning visual spectacle. It was simply awe-inspiring.

Then came the post-"Endgame" era. Yeah. NOT my favorite span of time. This critic became so disenchanted with most (not ALL, mind you) of the offerings released and I honestly felt it might be "The End" of quality Marvel theatrical gems. This is when I will firmly and confidently state: "THANK GOODNESS for "Fantastic Four: First Steps"! Bringing back the overall mood, tone, and storytelling that made that original 22 films so entertaining and worthwhile to view, this newest installment to the MCU finally re-discovers the magic.