Science Fiction | At Home with Tech

August 10, 2025

Why Did “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” Stumble at the Box Office?

My son and I went out to the movies to see “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” shortly after the box office turned against it. (Ticket sales plunged 67% during its second weekend in the theaters.) What looked like a big hit was proving to be just a moderate success. It received great reviews. So, what went wrong?

After the post-credit scene, my son looked at me and asked if I liked the movie. I half-heartedly said, “Yes.” He agreed in a similar tone. Clearly, neither of us were enthusiastic. I think we both wanted to enjoy the movie more than we did. (He eventually admitted he liked “Thunderbolts*” much more.)

Not that I’m an ‘official’ movie reviewer (although if you know me, I’ve been chasing that dream since I was in college), but I think I know what’s going on here.

The Alternate Reality of Earth-828
If you’re a Marvel fan, then you’re hoping for a hit, just like me. (It’s been something of a dry spell.) We all wanted “The Fantastic Four” to succeed.

And there’s a lot to like about it. It’s fresh. It’s different. It’s retro futuristic.

But while the 1960s design choice is visually appealing, it also creates an energetic void that limits the movie.

Our main characters are effectively stuck in a type of “WandaVision” faux reality. The movie is so intent on setting up its alternate universe for this Earth-828, it takes up more screen time than it should. We even get to see fictional Saturday morning “Fantastic Four” cartoons, as if this cements the connection.

We get it.

Blast Off to Yesterday’s Tomorrow
This movie works hard to remind us of a ‘better,’ more optimistic and wholesome time in our history. And this nostalgic hook does have some payoffs.

For me, one of the best moments comes during the rocket launch sequence. As we get a beautiful Apollo-type liftoff, complete with rousing music (by Michael Giacchino), we can spot “United States” etched in the ship’s frame and perfectly positioned in the shot.

Yes, I felt a little jolt of adrenaline as the cool ship ascended from its hip New York City launch pad.

Many parts of this movie are designed with a bright, optimistic feel. And to a certain extent, it works.

Family Friendly
Directed by Matt Shakman, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” looks fantastic. But it plays too much like an after-school TV special.

The overall theme is about ‘family’ (though it’s actually more about parenting). There’s a layer of connection and warmth that permeates through the entire film. (Even the spectacle of our heroes’ superpowers is more of an afterthought for much of the movie.)

But that also takes the edge off… just about everything. (Sure, the world may end, but gosh darn it, we’re all going to stick together, right?)

I feel the best scenes occur off world where we’re not reminded of the ‘good-old-days’ era of Earth-828. Deep in the cosmos, our characters are finally allowed to react more authentically to the dangers that confront them.

Where’s the Conflict?
Said another way, there’s just not enough tension in this story. Our Fantastic Four family barely argues. Pedro Pascal’s Reed Richards just worries a lot. Joseph Quinn’s Johnny Storm is way too nice for his brash character. Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s ‘Thing’ is so polite and sweet, you just want to squeeze him. Even the evil Silver Surfer played by Julia Garner (minor spoiler alert) has a soft spot.

Fortunately, Vanessa Kirby’s Sue Storm powers the movie’s major themes. The story orbits her struggles.

This is really a movie about motherhood and doing anything for your children. And it’s beautiful. The movie’s high points all surround Sue Storm.

But I’m not sure this is enough to be at the center of a Marvel movie.

Too Charming to be Believable
A family of superheroes without disfunction is a different formula, and it’s not one that’s powered Marvel’s biggest hits.

Our favorite Marvel characters are flawed. They’re often funny. Sometimes inappropriate.

Chris Evans’ Captain America was the obvious exception. But his character was always a fish out of water, and that was the storytelling strategy. And it worked.

These Fantastic Four are pretty-darned perfect and live on an easy-breezy Earth-828 with analog tech from the 1960s that can somehow power a spaceship faster than the speed of light.

It’s simply fantastic (and skews dangerously close to fantasy).

It’s just not realistic. I know this is science fiction, but good storytelling needs to be grounded in a reality you can believe in and relate to.

Moms, Assemble!
I think parents (especially mothers) will connect most to this movie. And those old enough to remember the good vibes of the ‘60s.

And that’s simply not Marvel’s core target audience. For my 15-year-old’s generation, this movie must be culturally confusing. It doesn’t really feel like a Marvel movie.

To be a blockbuster, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” needs to connect with just about everyone.

First Steps was Bound to Stumble
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is not a bad movie. It’s good. Just not fantastic.

And in an era of declining box office returns and growing fatigue with mediocre Marvel films, it’s no surprise “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” underperformed.

Silver Lining
Here’s the good news: If you’re generally not a big Marvel movie fan, because there’s too much violence, or you’ve lost track of the extended storyline that links all the films together, then this is the perfect Marvel flick for you.

It’s a standalone story in its own corner of the multiverse and doesn’t even deserve its PG-13 rating (maybe it’s a bit intense here and there).

“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is a solid summer movie for someone who doesn’t like the typical sci-fi blockbuster.

The 1960s Never Looked So Good
The movie’s earnest energy and gee-wiz sense of wonder may not totally wow everyone, but Earth-828 in the MCU is still swell and groovy.

Still, I prefer our much messier Earth-616.

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May 25, 2025

Why Andor’s Success Makes Rogue One a Better Star Wars’ Movie

I never liked “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” Back in 2016, this movie seemingly broke all the rules of traditional Star Wars’ storytelling. It changed the narrative on what it was to be a rebel hero. It was dark. It was bleak. It was depressing. This was not the Star Wars’ movie I wanted.

The truth is I wasn’t ready. A lot of fans weren’t. I couldn’t handle a gritty expansion outside the cozy cocoon of Force-fueled characters.

When the “Andor” prequel series came out in 2022, I first rolled my eyes. What was the point? We knew how it all ends. How can you build a successful prequel based on that?

Well, I could not have been more wrong.

Put “Andor” at the Top of your Disney+ Streaming Cue
“Andor” is arguably the best Star Wars’ vehicle out there. Certainly, the best series. It’s mature. It’s thought provoking. It’s jarring. It’s not really Star Wars as we know the nine core movies. It’s more… Star Wars-adjacent.

And if you don’t already know the premise… it focuses on the early years of the rebel alliance that lead up to “Rogue One” and then the original “Star Wars: A New Hope.”

Headed up by actor Diego Luna, “Andor’s” entire cast is fantastic. Luna plays spy Cassian Andor who is recruited to join the rebellion after a series of encounters with the evil empire. All the characters are properly developed, both the rebels’ and those serving the soul-crushing dark side. That’s because this well-written series takes its time to do exactly that.

They spent a ton of money on this series, and every dollar shows. It’s as cinematic as any of the movies.

Why my Family hasn’t Watched “Rogue One” Yet
For the past two and a half years, I’ve successfully delayed a “Rogue One” screening for our 15-year-old son until after the conclusion of “Andor.”

Why?

I didn’t want his enjoyment of “Andor’s” two seasons to be marred by the knowledge of what happens next. (He agreed to my subtle but clear warning that we should wait.)

I worried that he would have that same pit in his stomach as I’ve been carrying about for the past several years.

Throughout the many cliffhangers of “Andor’s” season two, both my son and wife (she hasn’t seen “Rogue One” either) repeatedly asked me about the movie. My only response was simply, “I’m not talking about “Rogue One.” (It became a recurring joke.)

Frankly, I’d been dreading watching the final two episodes of “Andor,” because I thought I knew what would happen to many of the characters.

Wrong again.

Why “Andor’s” Finale is So Good
“Andor” creator Tony Gilroy gave us (minor spoiler alert) an uplifting and satisfying finale that entirely sticks this series’ landing. And it happily broke an unwritten rule that if you don’t see a character in the future story, that spells doom for them today. There are, in fact, other ways to disappear into a galaxy far, far away.

Just as importantly, both seasons of “Andor” provide the necessary backstory to better enjoy “Rogue One.”

The idea of any rebel alliance can’t be a two-sentence plot point. This one really needed two seasons to fully set up the context and conflict of “Star Wars.”

And with that knowledge, rewatching “Rogue One” will be an entirely different experience.

“Andor” Makes “Rogue One” Better
I’m glad I delayed “Rogue One” in the Lester household for as long as I did. But now, I realize it was never about ruining “Andor” for our son. (I think that’s probably faulty parent logic.)

Waiting for “Andor” to wrap simply makes “Rogue One” a better movie to watch.

It’s Finally Time for “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”
MCU fans often talk the proper order to screen Marvel movies. With “Andor’s” conclusion, I feel the entirety of Gilroy’s work from “Andor” through to “Rogue One” is now required viewing ahead of “Star Wars: A New Hope” (for anyone who’s may have avoided this movie since 1977).

Next up for our Lester movie night at home: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”

We’re finally ready. And it’s going to be good!

Thank you, “Andor.”

March 23, 2025

I’m Going Mad Trying to Find a Mystery Sound in my Kitchen

I used to recognize every sound throughout our house. Then, a faint digital tone began pinging. I can’t locate this ghost in our kitchen, and it’s challenged my very existence.

I grew up in an apartment in Manhattan. The background roar of New York City flowed through me day and night. Our apartment building also echoed the nosy lives of dozens of people living around us. Strange creaks, bangs, bumps and even occasional screams were just a normal part of existence. I mostly tuned it out, but every so often, a new alien-like sound would pique my interest.

Then I moved out of the city, and throughout most of my adulthood, I’ve lived in houses in suburban neighborhoods. Though not exactly the wilderness, there was always enough quiet ambience that allowed me to mentally catalogue the origins of every sound my home made.

The click of the furnace kicking into gear
The low rumble of our garage door opening
The high-pitch whoosh of water flowing to hydrate our lawn
The happy tune from our LG washer machine when it’s done with its cycle
The thump of the cat jumping off our LG dryer
The three pings from my new Behmor Brazen Plus 3.0 coffee maker after brewing

I knew our house’s every mechanical, digital and biologic whisper and where it came from.

Until one day recently… I didn’t.

Smoke Detector Madness
The only problem I’ve previously had with noises in my house was tracking down the annoying cry of my smoke detector looking for fresh batteries. Sure, I’ve got a more advanced Google Nest Protect monitoring the second floor by our bedrooms, but our first floor and basement still host old-school First Alert models.

And honestly, I could never tell which sibling puck was in distress. So, I had to painfully wait in front of one of them for 90 seconds until the next piercing chirp. And of course, that always happened after I’d been rudely awakened by this cruel (but necessary) warning at 2am.

Fortunately, even these basic smoke detectors have evolved over time, and the most recent First Alert model I’ve installed has a 10-year lithium battery sealed into the unit. So hopefully, my excruciating dead-of-night searches won’t be so frequent.

You Can’t Find Me
But recently, a ghost ping has cropped up in my house, and it is completely unknown. The sound is faint and just one ping. I hear the digital note only every few days, and there is no pattern to it.

It’s entirely infuriating, and I feel this brief tone is taunting me.

Sure, I could ignore It. (This innocuous accent isn’t loud enough to wake me up at night.)

But its existence challenges my control… my authority… my human dominance over our little kingdom.

The Digital Ghost in our Kitchen
The best I can tell, this evil ping comes from somewhere in our kitchen. The faint digital heartbeat doesn’t give me enough information, because it’s too infrequent. (I can’t stand around for a day waiting for the next one.)

Logic tells me the culprit is one of our newer devices… my Brazen coffee maker or perhaps our Instant Pot.

They’re both usually plugged in. Perhaps this is just a little friendly reminder that one is unnecessarily sucking energy in standby mode.

So, what’s the big deal?

Open the Pod-Bay Doors, HAL
Well, I can’t stop thinking about this silly audio ping that currently remains outside my control. I consider it a form of defiance.

As I’ve worked hard over the years to make our home ‘smarter,’ that also means I’ve bolted in more tech to track. Most of it is ‘set-it-and-forget-it.’ But that can’t last forever. So, isn’t this a problem just waiting to happen down the line?

Eventually, your home may take on a life of its own. It can start with a little mystery ping. But it probably won’t end there.

Life isn’t set-and-forget. Your tech shouldn’t be either. And now we’ve got AI to improve everything. See where I’m going?

Don’t Lose the Manual
I’m no Luddite. But it’s clear to me that as we continue to embrace technology in every part of our existence, we must pay attention and not lose too much control. AI is allowed to occasionally hallucinate, but we can’t afford to do that even once. (Humanity doesn’t come with that disclaimer.)

If you think my concern is only worth considering as a screenplay plot device for your next Sci-Fi blockbuster, please considering offering me a screen credit.

Otherwise, I’d recommend you always track down that next digital phantom that crops up in your house. Sure, it may just be an innocent ping.

But when your home talks to you, it’s always best to understand what it’s saying.

Category: Science Fiction

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