‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ feels fresh, but takes too big a first step toward the MCU

/ Ian Casselberry / 1 Comment

The Fantastic Four: First Steps appears to be the film that the Marvel Cinematic Universe needs right now. It doesn’t depend on other movies to establish its world and story. Watching the dozens of other MCU films and TV shows isn’t required to follow what happens.

So it effectively serves as a necessary reset for a superhero movie universe that has felt tired and unfulfilling over the past few years. Especially when the guy with the red cape flying over Metropolis just brought a jolt of freshness to movie theaters and pop culture.

Yet The Fantastic Four feels new and exciting as well because it’s not set in the very same MCU as the familiar one occupied by the Avengers. The best decision made by Marvel and director Matt Shakman is putting these characters in a retro-future 1960s that looks unlike anything seen in an MCU film before.

There’s no cynicism here. It’s a culture full of wonder, which has also built trust between the world and these superhuman heroes who protect it. Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Ben Grimm and Johnny Storm are media sensations, rock stars and monoculture icons, which wouldn’t happen in a modern setting. The movie probably could have had more fun with that. But Shakman has cut a tight film and the story has to move along — which is also part of the problem.

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Reminiscing about magazine dreams

/ Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

I’ve always loved magazines. The way they look, the way they feel. How they capture a moment and immortalize an image. The content can be fun or serious. Short or long. And many of them have contained some of the best writing — nonfiction and fiction — ever produced.

Magazines set the cultural conversation and influenced taste. Before the internet catered to any and every interest, magazines served that purpsoe. If you have a long layover at an airport, the newsstands and magazine racks are an oasis.

Yes, I dreamed of writing for magazines. Seeing my name in glossy print; my byline on an in-depth feature, celebrity profile or funny opinion piece. Though almost all of my professional writing has been online, I was fortunate enough to start my career with a local magazine, the now-defunct Motor City Sports.

I was reminded of that while listening to The Press Box podcast last week. It’s one of my favorites (listed in the old-school blogroll on my site). The Ringer’s media critic, Bryan Curtis, with co-hosts David Shoemaker and Joel Anderson, recaps developments in the media — and often, how they influence or reflect culture — each week.

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‘Superman’ restores a classic hero with an exciting new setting created by director James Gunn

/ Ian Casselberry / 2 Comments

James Gunn gets Superman. That’s easily the best aspect of his Superman movie. The writer-director knows the Man of Steel isn’t cool.

Superman is a dork. “The Big, Blue Boy Scout” is a nickname that’s been attached to him for years in DC Comics mythology and among comic book fans. Maybe it’s largely derisive, but it also explains what Superman is all about. He sees the good in people. He will do the right thing, even if he doesn’t always think through all of the ramifications of those actions.

What Gunn’s Superman gets right is that it doesn’t try to modernize the character for current audiences. The movie embraces what makes Superman distinct, what makes him the first superhero — maybe the only superhero — that comes to mind for many when imagining the concept.

Superman is a hero because he helps people when he could so easily hurt them. It’s not that he can catch a falling building, fly to the Arctic in minutes, or shoot lasers out of his eyes. He’s supposed to be decent and kind. To portray him otherwise is an attempt to make him cool instead of goofy.

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Watched ’em, read ‘em: June 2025

/ Ian Casselberry / 1 Comment

If this is your first time seeing one of these posts on the blog, they’re inspired by Steven Soderbergh’s annual “Seen/Read” list. At the beginning of every year, Soderbergh posts his chronicle of all the media he consumed during the prior year.

However, I don’t think my choices of movies, TV shows and books will be nearly interesting enough to sustain people scrolling through a long list. So I’m doing it month by month, which is more engaging to me as a writer and easier to track. It’s also something that holds me accountable at the end of a month.

As you’ll see, June was occupied by two TV shows that I loved. However, my mother also took a hard fall on her shoulder and needed a lot of help around the house. So by the end of the day, I didn’t have the energy to watch or read much else when I wasn’t working.

06/02 – Murderbot; S1, Ep. 5: “Rogue War Tracker Infinite”

06/03 – Dept. Q; S1, Eps. 1 & 2: “Episode 1,” “Episode 2”

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Watched ‘em, read ‘em: May 2025

/ Ian Casselberry / Leave a comment

These posts are inspired by Steven Soderbergh’s annual “Seen/Read” list. At the beginning of every year, Soderbergh shares his chronicle of all the media he consumed during the prior 365 days.

Yet my choices of movies, TV shows and books likely aren’t interesting enough to keep people scrolling through a long list. So I’m doing it month by month, which keeps it fresh for me as a writer and is easier to track.

Most notably, I finally got back to a movie theater. Thanks, Marvel! And thanks to spoiler culture for getting me to watch The Last of Us every Sunday, even though Season 2 was rather unsatisfying. (I know; I should write about that.)

05/01 – Andor; Season 2, Episodes 5 & 6: “I Have Friends Everywhere,” “What a Festive Evening”

05/02 – Your Friends & Neighbors; S1, Ep. 5: “This Tourist Has Balls”

05/04 – Thunderbolts* (2025), Jake Schreier

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