Given its less than stellar Rotten Tomatoes rating – and overall reception – I’m surprised at how effectively 2005’s Fantastic Four managed to introduce the first version of Doctor Doom we got to see in cinemas. While Marvel’s Fantastic Four almost got their cinematic debut in the planned 1994 movie, the film was never officially released, meaning 2005’s Fantastic Four instead holds this тιтle.

Ultimately, though, this foray into the world of cinema began a complicated movie history for the Fantastic Four, since 2005’s Fantastic Four was found wanting by many who saw the film. However, looking back, the way the movie introduced Doctor Doom demonstrated just how close it came to having a far different legacy.

2005’s Fantastic Four Is A Controversial Take On The Marvel Hero Team

The 2005 Fantastic Four Movie Is A Divisive Part Of Marvel’s Movie History

The 27% Tomatometer rating that 2005’s Fantastic Four has on Rotten Tomatoes – and the 47% Popcornmeter that comes alongside it – speaks volumes about how lastingly divisive the film and its story was. Negative reviews about the movie generally cite its lack of substance, and the ways in which it fell foul of the more dated trends of 2000s superhero films.

While the initially poor reception of 2005’s Fantastic Four was due to the way in which the movie weaved its story, the timing of the film certainly doesn’t seem to have helped. Having released the month after Batman Begins, this natural comparison with one of the most critically successful superhero movies of all time further highlighted Fantastic Four‘s flaws.

While some are able to turn a more favorable eye upon the film now because of the time that’s pᴀssed, the consensus still largely remains that the film wasn’t a prime demonstration of what the superhero genre is capable of. However, looking at the opening of the movie, it’s easy to see what could have been for the film.

The 2005 Fantastic Four’s Introduction Of Doctor Doom Actually Worked On A Lot Of Levels

Doom’s Introduction In The Film Is Executed Solidly

The journey Fantastic Four‘s Doctor Doom took in the movie brought the character further and further away from a version of the character that resonated with audiences. Doom’s turn from disgruntled business owner to murderer happens jarringly quickly, and the movie’s decision to tie him getting powers in with the heroes in the same accident lands a little awkwardly overall.

However, the film’s opening is without any of these issues. Instead, Fantastic Four begins with a down-on-his-luck Reed Richards having to come to ask Victor Von Doom for financial backing with his work, which Doom clearly takes inevitable and immense joy in.

Seeing Doom get satisfaction from “winning” a rivalry Reed doesn’t even seem to fully realize he’s a part of feels undeniably in-character for the Marvel villain, starting things off on a strong note. Doom’s decision to bring Sue Storm into the meeting, seemingly more for the purpose of also taunting Richards about the fact Doom is now dating her, also feels unmistakably petty in a suitably Doom-esque way.

Though the path taken with this live-action Doctor Doom becomes far more fraught from this point onwards, this demonstrates the potential the film’s story had, and of Doctor Doom in live-action movies more generally. As it stands, this shows there is more to Fantastic Four than it might otherwise seem, even if its track record is by no means spotless.

2005’s Fantastic Four Is A Perfect Demonstration Of What To Do & Not Do With The Heroes & Doom

The 2005 Movie’s Introduction Shows A Lot About How To Get Superheroes Right, Despite What Came Next

The opening of 2005’s Fantastic Four simultaneously sets up Doctor Doom as powerful, needlessly antagonistic, and jealous of Reed even as he’s trying to laud his own accomplishments over him. All of this quickly and effectively communicates a lot about the villain to audiences in the span of the first minutes of the film, which doesn’t seem an easy feat.

Showing Doom belittling Richards before revealing the minute that he leaves the room that he’s convinced Reed is always right and he only suggested otherwise to get a business deal unfairly in Doom’s favor also works well. It’s clear that even though Doom doesn’t like Reed, he does respect his mind, even if he actively doesn’t want to.

Doctor Doom’s introduction scene additionally works effectively to build up both Reed Richards and Ben Grimm as protagonists. Richards’ willingness to come to Doom hat in hand and weather his barbs shows the scientist is willing to put his pride to one side, and Ben’s efforts to defend his friend and boss reflect his morals and their bond efficiently.

2005’s Fantastic Four contains a lot of lessons about how Doom can be pulled off on-screen, even as it crafts one of the more divisive versions of the character. With the MCU’s The Fantastic Four: First Steps impending, hopefully Marvel can create a version of these characters that mirrors the good in the movie while avoiding more controversial elements.