NEON MARQUEE FILM FESTIVAL (PART 6): CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) + FANTASTIC FOUR (1994)
While we await the reopening of all our favorite film houses, we’re presenting an ongoing online film festival of a genre (of sorts) of B grade Sci-Fi, legendary cult action and Martial Arts, some ‘so-bad-they’re-good’ faves and unintentionally funny bottom-of-the-video-store-shelf gems! Plus some cinematic misfires and titles that may serve as a great hangover film, movie comfort food or a perplexing head scratch as to how a film like this got made in the first place.
Our procedure will include a pre-show warm up of classic relevant trailers, clips and commercials, then a link to stream either through official channels or via YouTube (multiple options will be presented if possible).
Played in sequence, it’s just like being at the cinema!
TONIGHT’S DOUBLE FEATURE:
We’re diving into ‘not-quite-the-Marvel-cinematic-universe’ territory via two mighty Marvel misfires with CAPTAIN AMERICA (1990) + FANTASTIC FOUR (1994), the notorious Roger Corman produced version that never saw release, plus a reel of retro Marvel trailers and clips!
Prior to Marvel’s name being synonymous with quality cinema, there were a few attempts to bring their properties to the big screen. The 1990 production of CAPTAIN AMERICA was not only laughably bad, it had a bumpy ride to fruition as the rights jumped around to legendary cult movie production house Cannon. Although originally slated to hit screens for Cap’s 50th Anniversary, it didn’t debut until 1992 going direct to home video, with only a handful of international theatrical releases. One is left to endure a fairly wimpy titular character with a habit of hitching rides and then stranding the driver, and for us to wonder just how our hero can stand the temperature in that rubbery looking costume.
Our second feature is the legendary 1994 production of FANTASTIC FOUR. Unbeknownst to the cast, the film was made without the actual intention of being released, and was merely completed so that the Neue Constantin production company could maintain the potentially lucrative cinematic rights to the comic book property. Fan expectation was actually quite high, with trailers landing in cinemas. After being pulled from release schedules, it attracted a certain mystique, gaining cult status and even the subject of a well received documentary. It’s joyously low budget and lacking in production quality but there is a clear passion from the main cast for their roles. As it stands, this version of Marvel’s ‘First Family’ was the beginning of their bumpy cinematic ride, which we do hope culminates in a well deserved blockbuster reinvention by Marvel Studios!
TRAILERS:
PRE-SHOW REEL
Our pre-show warm up will help you settle into the mood with a collection of retro grindhouse trailers and clips!
MAIN ATTRACTION
Stream the fantastic documentary on this version of Fantastic Four on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO.