How I Would've Made 2015's Fantastic Four Differently

FANTASTIC 4: WHAT LIES BETWEEN



We are intro'ed to genius college students, Reed Richards and Victor Von Doom. Both are invited to the annual *Lee Kirby's Young Prodigy Awards. An event where only 1 out of 20 young, future scientists are rewarded with a 5 year contract that can be extended upon meaningful progress, in their specific field, at the famed Baxter Labs (*founded in November, 1961), office and home to the world's greatest minds. The 2 present their individual inventions and theories, along with 18 other young prodigies.

Board members consist of the following:
Dr Elder
Dr Santini
Dr Ebersol
Dr Kragoff
Dr Shinsky
And headed by Dr Bentley "The Wizard" Wittman, known as the most brilliant man alive.
The liaison for Baxter Labs; the one who awards the prodigy, is Baxter's leading radiology scientist, Phillip Masters.

(Any of those names ring a bell?)

Each apprentice has a name tag; as an Easter egg, the names have first names and first letters of the last; the only other prodigy to take any screen time is Alyssa Moy.

The others will barely be noticed:
1) Amadeus C. (The youngest, below 10 years old)
2) Anthony S. 3) Bruce B.
4) Curtis C.
5) Henry M.
6) Hector E.
7) Henry P.
8) Maris M.
9) Norman O.
10) Red W.
11) Sorba R.
12) Rhona B.
13) Moira M.
14) Vita R.
15) Suzi E.
16) Monica R.
17) Maya H.
18) Alyssa Moy (Do you know who they are?) Before the event, Moy shares a flirtatious moment with Richards. It is interrupted by Doom. In attendance is Reed's closest friend, NASA recruit, Ben Grimm. During the showcase, Doom presents a Von-bot. By far, this Von-bot is the most advanced robot today. Next up, Richards presents a devise that can open the door to the N-Zone, named after his late father. The portal, hypothetically, leads into this zone and out, into parallel dimensions.

He gets a standing ovation after showing a small window, 6 in. by 6 in. Furious, Doom storms the stage screaming that this small window proves nothing and, when he kicks it over, it explodes in his face, leaving him with a single scar that covers eye to lip.

He is introduced to the head of Baxter Labs, Franklin Storm. The next few quick scenes show Richards' years of research, his first meeting with Dr Storm's newly hired daughter, Sue, and Doom's self-deportation to his homeland in Latveria.

A side note to Reed's adjustment is Sue's battle to fit in. Not only is she perceived as "spoiled" by the belief that she does not belong there (proven incorrect time and time again) and is only there through her paternal connections, but, by being breath-takingly beautiful, she's a fish-out-of-water among the nerdy, dweeby, scientists. (If they were to get the rights of Namor over at Fox, this would have played heavily into her connection with him)

Doom finds a home amongst gypsies, he is seen dealing in magic and donning the mask to conceal his scar (burning his entire face as it is red hot; it sears but he does not scream), as Richards rises to prominence. Richards, working closely with the rookie Dr (Sue) Storm, a bioengineer, works to perfect the N-Zone portal, while Dr Masters takes on an advisory role.

Reed is also reacquainted with Dr Alyssa Moy, when she is eventually hired, for whom he grows fond. The idolization/crush Sue has for him is obvious to everyone but him. Moy, nearly as smart, and closer in age, rivals for his attention. The 3 work the program together. Sue's younger brother, Johnny, often stops by. Through out all of this, mishaps and scares occur within the small portals, leading the trio to surmise that something lives within the N-Zone, and to make a pact to keep the secret among themselves. The scientific curiosity to accomplish the goal outweighs the fear of the unknown.

As the program nears it's completion, a carrier is built to transport the 4 scientists (Reed, the ladies and Masters) into the portal. A pilot is needed and Richards offers up his old roommate and NASA astronaut, Ben Grimm. The expedition becomes quite public and takes a few years before they are ready. As the "Fantastic Voyage," the expedition's given name, nears, the world watches every step of these 5 on TV.

Doom becomes the dictator of his 3rd-world Latveria, complete with royal green cape.

45-60 minutes into the movie, it is the day of the televised voyage. Johnny, found flirting with the daughter of Dr Masters, Alicia, is grabbed and chucked away by Grimm, who jokes about the kid bothering her. He follows that with a wink and walks away from the blushing blonde. As soon as he turns the corner, the brash Johnny is back at it. This time, he's interrupted by another jealous man; her father. Masters nervously pulls the young man aside and confesses that, minutes ago, he was contacted by the police and that his wife had been found dead. His head was not clear and it would be unsafe if he took part in the voyage. However, televised, and with Baxter's reputation, as well as Sue's on the line, he explains that Johnny should secretly suit up and take his place; Johnny agrees.

As Masters walks away he grins devilishly and calls... Himself. He tells himself (#2) it's done and now no one can take Alicia away from me. Those amateurs, they won't make it out of there alive, not with that creature in there (revealing he knows), waiting for them. #2 walks into his house (the crime scene) and the cops are baffled by there being no explainable trail outside of her puppet collection covered in blood. One doll grins.

Johnny quickly suits up to avoid any bad press on his sister's big day, going in the Dr's place instead. They are successfully transported, in full space suit garb, into the N-Zone. Regretfully, many in attendance were unable to project the immense explosion that took place upon entry. Several scientists were killed and several more were severely injured. Among the dead was Dr Franklin Storm and among the injured was, the now blind, Alicia Masters.

As they unmask, with the the air proven breathable, they discover, to their dismay, that Johnny has taken Masters' place. Weeks go by, and each voyager displays signs of his or her ability. Johnny becomes dehydrated and overheated. Ben grows so heavy he shows signs of momentary paralysis and his skin hardens to painful extremes, similar to ichthyosis. Sue is losing her breathe, nearly, and often, suffocating at times. Reed's feet are dragging, ripping his ankles open, he seems to be melting. Moy is suffering from migraines, seizures and hemorrhages. Days go by and they are starving and angry. Reed surmises that the imbalance has a direct correlation with the dimension. Their symptoms worsen; Moy can no longer speak.

Scouring for food, the 5 are discovered and captured by other-worldly soldiers but not after they valiantly fight back. They bring the protagonists to their ruler, Annihilus. Within minutes, the incredibly intelligent insectoid is able to communicate with Reed and the others. Reed analytically breaks down the science behind the warlord and decides they must break free. Several more weeks go by and the warlord badgers and tortures the prisoners, attempting to pry from them a way to escape this world and re-enter theirs, hoping to conquer that one as well.

Moy is unconscious. One by one, the Earthlings evolve. Each one becomes a version of a classic element; Earth, fire, water (Reed), air (Sue) and time & space {empathy/telepathy}(Alyssa).

Annihilus begins to study the 4 mobile prisoners as they cope with, and learn, their powers. On the brink of being able to re-enter Earth, the 4 stage an attack after escaping. Alyson Moy uses her powers to unify her team, defying the negativity that overwhelms every inhabitant. As well, she is able to reopen a portal to home. Annihilus enters the portal and the heroes chase him as Grimm carries a comatose Moy. On their tails is the Warlord's faithful armada. Telepathically, Moy communicates with the others to leave her and she will make sure the armada does not enter, closing the portal for good.

Shocked, the world watches as Annihilus enters and demolishes the Baxter Labs, the streets and moving towards the rest of the city. The Fantastic 4 emerge and immediately defend their world. Doom watches from his throne, reveling in Richard's apparent end. Eventually, when all seems lost, a voice speaks in the minds of each of the 4. Moy tells them to stand back and never attempt to re-enter the N-Zone. She's not sure how long she can keep him at bay. In that instant, as the world watches, and we learn through news anchors filming the battle, it has been less than an hour since the exit of the Fantastic Voyagers, the other-worldly creature is sucked back into that in which he dwells.

After Alyson Moy's, Dr Franklin Storm's and the other deceased scientists have a memorium, weeks pass by and the 4 surviving heroes are revered. Dubbed the Fantastic 4, they become celebrities.

A door to a huge room within his castle (yup, no longer a 3rd world country, thanks to Doom) opens to reveal thousands of Doombots. He turns to a minion and says "It is time."

I would have made it with HERBIE!