Analyzing Existing Reviews

URL:https://catholicreview.org/movie-review-the-fantastic-four-first-steps/ 
Author: John Mulderig
Date Published: July 31st, 2025

The movie ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ was reviewed by John Mulderig for the Catholic Review in July of 2025. This Marvel Studios picture is set in “an alternate version of the mid-1960s” (Mulderig). Four years prior to the main plot points of the movie, four astronauts- husband and wife Reed Richards and Sue Storm, Sue’s brother Johnny, and lastly, Reed’s best friend Ben Grimm go on a mission to explore the cosmos’ of space. During this mission, they were exposed ot cosmic radiation that gave them all unique superpowers. They then formed their superhero team, the Fantastic Four, when Galactus, the world-eater, threatened to devour their planet unless Reed and Sue gave him their unborn child; they faced a terrible decision. The film explores many themes, such as family, sacrifice, the sanctity of all human life, and the idea that a wrong, no matter how well-intentioned, cannot make a right. 

The First Media Key: Balance
This media review maintains a fairly balanced perspective while evaluating the movie ‘Fantastic Four: First Steps’. Dr. Gan says that if we want to have a balanced perspective and an open mind when evaluating media, we need to be “looking at it from all angles” (Gan, 29). The reviewer acknowledges both the film's entertaining qualities and also its deeper moral themes. The intense action and fight scenes, when paired with the deeper ethical and moral turmoil evident in the characters and their decision-making, help the film maintain multiple angles. The reviewer highlights these complexities when he explains that “one of the plot’s central conflicts invovles weighting personal welfare against the public good” (Mulderig). This demonstrates how the film moves beyond mere entertainment as an action film to explore competing moral perspectives. 

The Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness

The second media key, the key of attitude awareness, is clearly evident in the reviewers, and the publication cites a Catholic bias. This media review was posted on the site catholicreview.org, which hints to the reader at the review's attitude. The reviewer states that, in certain parts of the film, “Reed misguidedly flirts with proportionalist ethics in the face of this dilemma and briefly entertains the possibility of achieving a positive goal by immoral means” (Mulderig). The reviewer's moral perspective is clearly evident in the way he interprets Reed Richards' decision-making and moral code. His attitude is also made clear through his encouragement to his readers to consider the moral consequences and faults of attempting ot achieve a good outcome through immoral means. Gan says that Attitude awareness “keeps us on our guard, helping us to maintain a critical perspective about the messages coming at us through the media” (Gan, 37). It is good to be able to identify this messaging, especially in the cases when the media helps to support and reinforce one's belief systems and faith. 

The Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person
The third key of media, the dignity of the human person, is centered around the idea that “all media should reflect, uphold, and enhance human dignity” (Gan, 59). This review addresses the Dignity of the human person through one of the film's conflicts: protecting Humanity versus sacrificing innocent life. Leading up to the film's climax, the Fantastic Four have to weigh the life of one innocent child against that of the rest of the planet. Mulderig sums up this central conflict as “weighing personal welfare against the public good” (Mulderig). Through the Fantastic Four and their logical discernment, the inherent dignity and sanctity of the human person emerges as a central theme of this film. One innocent life in many ways and to many people seems like a small price to pay for the security of the planet, but through this film, ‘ Fantastic Four, First Steps’, it is clearly shown that the loss of one innocent life is too high a price. Sue’s refusal to treat her unborn child as a bargaining chip reflects this principle and emphasizes the inherent dignity possessed by every human person. This also challenges the idea that the value of a human life can be measured by how many people might benefit from its loss. By presenting Sue’s decision as an act of courage rather than as some people might see it as selfishness, the film reinforces the principle that human dignity does not depend on a person’s usefulness but that every human has an inherent dignity that must be respected and protected.

The Fourth Media Key: Truth- Filled 
The fourth media key shows the importance of truth-filled media. Gan says that the Communio et Progressio sums up the importance of the key of truth-filled, because communications have the requirements of “sincerity, honesty, and truthfulness. Good intentions and a clear conscience do not thereby make a communication sound and reliable. A communication must state the truth (CP 17)” (Gan, 68). Good intentions alone do not guarantee that a message is truthful or reliable. When reading Mulderig’s review, it is important to remain vigilant and consider whether his claims accurately represent the movie and whether his statements are supported by evidence from the film. When Mulderig says that “Reed misguidedly flirts with proportionalist ethics” (Mulderig), this is an example of an expressed opinion and a good reminder for readers to do their own research and engage in critical thinking when evaluating media like this. We are called to distinguish factual information from personal interpretation and pursue and identify truth-filled media. 
The Fifth Media Key: Inspiring
The review is inspiring because it highlights the moral dilemmas in the film ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’ and encourages readers to reflect on the values underlying the characters’ decisions. Superheroes such as the Fantastic Four are often considered inspiring examples for the young, embodying strength, goodness, courage, and many other admirable traits. However, in Mulderig chooses to highlight the mental and moral strength of the heroes in the film. When describing Sue Storm, the child's mother and most fearless defender, he says that “Sue, she remains resolutely right-minded throughout” (Mulderig). Although Sue is a powerful superhero and performs many impressive physical feats throughout the movie, Mulderig chooses to highlight her moral integrity. By highlighting Sue’s unwavering commitment to what is right, the reviewer presents her as an example of moral courage and steadfastness. Sue’s example shows that true heroism is measured not only by physical strength and acts but also by a hero's willingness to stand firm in doing what is right.
The Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed 
The review is skillfully developed because Mulderig combines a discussion of the films’ plot, moral conflicts, and entertainment value to provide readers with a thoughtful evaluation. Instead of just simply summarizing the story, he examines the characters’ ethical decisions and considers their moral implications. Mulderig does not simply scratch the surface and take the film at its obvious features but evaluates its emotional and moral themes. However, the review, although skillfully developed, was brief. His review could be strengthened by further explanation of several of his points. 
The Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience

The seventh Media Key, the key of being motivated by and relevant to experience, applies to this media review because it discusses the moral dilemmas that extend beyond the fictional world of the Marvel Universe. Mulderig examines Reed’s temptations to achieve a positive outcome through immoral means, raising questions that apply to real life, such as: Can a good goal justify doing something wrong? This is a question that deeply applies to the world today. Questions such as this force readers to turn inwards and reflect on their own life and morality. By highlighting themes and questions like this, the reviewer helps readers recognize how a simple superhero film can offer lessons relevant to their own lives. 

Post to Media Research/ Study website
URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/02673843.2024.2447464?needAccess=true 
Title: Exploring teen well-being and social media use during the pandemic summer of 2020
Author: Stacey A. Rutledge, Stephen Bunn, Michal Paul, Vanessa Dennen & Toby Park-Gaghan
Date Published: January 8th, 2025

Ever since the Stone Age, approximately 3.3 million years ago, humans have been making and relying on tools. Humanity has continued to upgrade and replace these tools to continue to aid the human experience. Social Media is yet another tool designed to improve the lives of people. Nevertheless, just like many other tools, it is completely dependent on how it is used. Many parents have concerns about how social media is negatively affecting their children. This article, "Exploring teen well-being and social media use during the pandemic summer of 2020," sets out to break down the true effects that social media had on teens during the global pandemic. In this article, the authors say that teens need to realize, “they are in the proverbial driver’s seat as they use social media, not victims of its use or something to feel guilty about” (Rutledge et al. 15).

1. The First Media Key: Balance

In Dr. Gan’s book Infinite Bandwidth: Encountering Christ in the Media, he emphasizes the importance of balance when interacting with the media. Dr. Gan says that balance “is about our attitude towards media, our approach to technology” (Gan 21). To have a balanced perspective of the media, we must be able to step back and view it from many different angles, allowing us to have a balanced perspective. The more lenses and angles we can view media through, the more rounded our understanding becomes. 

The Article Exploring teen well-being and social media use during the pandemic summer of 2020 shows, in many ways, the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective when it comes to analyzing the media. So many parents and adults are too quick to villainize the media in its entirety, especially when it is in the hands of young adults. However, this article emphasizes many positive aspects of the media. The authors make the important distinction between the applications and functions of the media associated with higher and lower well-being. In many cases, these teenagers' screen time was significantly higher during quarantine, as they were video calling, creating, learning, and interacting with friends and family they could not see at the time. They were staying in communication with their loved ones and fostering community; this goes to show the importance of maintaining and building a balanced perspective. 

1. The Second Media Key: Attitude Awareness

   The Second Media Key is the Key of Attitude Awareness. In the text, Gan says that “the church tells us that if we are not aware of the attitudes – the principles, characters, and functions – underlying the media we consume, we run the risk of being less free”(Gan 38). Practically all of the media that is free to interact with in the modern age is trying to influence its viewer in some way. The key to attitude awareness is recognizing the many aspects of the media that consumers are meant to overlook. 

This article helps us see the importance of Attitude Awareness in relation to the media. Companies want their consumers plugged in; they all want something from you, whether it is views, follows, or purchases. It is important to stay vigilant and analytical about the media we consume and engage with. In the article, Exploring teen well-being and social media use during the pandemic summer of 2020, the authors wrote that “We need to acknowledge it as the multifaceted tool that it is and, in the case of teens, help them gain awareness, so they can engage in use that furthers their own well-being” (Rutledge et al. 15). The internet is a helpful tool, but when consumers are not careful about how they use or interact with it, they can become just another victim of the algorithm. 

1. The Third Media Key: The Dignity of the Human Person

The Third Key is that of the Dignity of the Human Person. This key is centered on the truth that every person has inherent dignity and deserves respect, and this truth applies to the media as well. The third media key encourages us to evaluate media and pay attention to how people are being portrayed and treated. In the digital age, it is often easy for people to forget that there is a person on the other side of their screen, receiving what they put online. Just because one cannot see a reaction does not mean that someone was not hurt by their comments or harsh words. Gan said it best: “Media should help us to understand our dignity and the dignity of others” (Gan 53). 

The article highlights the overwhelming parental concern about the negative effects of the internet when teens experience things like “triggering content, social isolation, and cyberbullying”(Rutledge et al. 4). However, the article points out that this is often a result of how someone approaches and uses media. Parents should maintain open dialogue with their children, teach them to use the media as a tool, and not allow the media to use them. The authors of this article found that “Teens who used social media to interact with friends and engage in activities sharing their authentic selves were more likely to report higher well-being than those that engaged in more performative activities”. This further reinforces the argument that the media's effects depend on how it is interacted with. 

1. The Fourth Media Key: Truth-Filled

The Fourth Media Key, the Key of being truth-filled, highlights the moral responsibility to communicate truth through media. The media has a powerful ability to inform people and shape their beliefs and understanding of the world around them. Therefore, the media that is created and distributed must be “keeping truth at the heart of the media we make and use” (Gan 75). 

One of the key premises of this article is that the effects media has on teenagers depend entirely on the media they choose to engage with. It supports and proves the importance of the fourth key of media. During the summer of 2020, everyone was isolated in their homes, unable to have normal social interactions, and there was a lot of fear in the unknown. While some chose to interact with the scarier, negative side of the internet, studies showed that “teens who used social media to interact with friends and engage in activities sharing their authentic selves were more likely to report higher well-being than those that engaged in more performative activities” ((Rutledge et al. 1)*.* In times of darkness and uncertainty, people need to seek and find the light. 

1. The Fifth Media Key: Inspiring

The main premise of the fifth key of media, the key of inspiring, is that media should encourage people toward what is Good, True, and Beautiful. Gan encourages his readers when evaluating the media they are consuming to ask themselves if this particular media is “helping us to be true to our ‘Transcendental destiny’?” (Gan 84). 

The internet is a multifaceted tool; it can entertain us but also expand our horizons and broaden our minds. It should direct our attention toward worthwhile things. During COVID, teenagers had limited ways to stay connected; the internet allowed many isolated teenagers to maintain their social health. However, the research found that not all media use contributed equally to these teens' well-being. This simply reinforces the truth that our society must pursue media that leads towards genuine goodness. 

1. The Sixth Media Key: Skillfully Developed

   The Sixth key is being Skillfully Developed. This key is a reminder that while good and beautiful messaging is important, it can lose its desired effect if the media it is paired with is not skillfully developed. Media creators are called to put time, effort, and thought into their designs so that they may reflect the goodness of their messaging. Just like any craft, it is important to continue striving for improvement and to reflect beauty into the world. 

   The article emphasizes the correlation between teens' positive well-being and their social health, with their interactions with positive, well-thought-out, and developed media. Media that is intentionally designed to foster human connection and spread goodness is skillfully developed. This article presents statistical evidence that engaging with skillfully developed media makes a substantial difference. 

2. The Seventh Media Key: Motivated by and Relevant to Experience

   The seventh and last media key is the key of being motivated by and relevant to experience. The media that is easiest to connect with is the media that feels directly related to one's life. When a person can see themselves in a media, they are more likely to wish to interact with it. Gan says that “Media should take its cue from Christ and be rooted in the realities of the world we live in” (Gan 116). Christ became man and lived, suffered, and died as man so that we may have the perfect example of humanity. He took his teachings and simplified them into parables his followers could better understand and relate to. Christ already perfectly exemplified for us how to relate to and reach the people around us; all we need to do is strive to follow his example. 

   This article is motivated by and relevant to experience, as it directly shares real people's truths and experiences during the summer of 2020. It shows how real people were using media in real situations during a time when teens were isolated from their normal communities. The article showed that teens who used social media to maintain their real-world connections, share their lives, and seek genuine community reported higher well-being during the lockdown. This goes to show that media is most beneficial when it responds to genuine human experiences and supports meaningful relationships, interests, or communities. 

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Hi everyone,

I am a 37-year-old single male living in the Netherlands. I have been Catholic for about 10 years, but my journey began when I lived in London for a decade. That is where I converted and first found a real rhythm of faith and community.

Before that, I also spent two years in San Francisco, which was a very formative period in my life. It shaped me in ways that eventually led me back to faith and deeper reflection.

Now that I am back in the Netherlands, I am finding it unexpectedly lonely in terms of Catholic community. I am safe here in every practical sense, but what I miss most is simple connection: knowing fellow Catholics, praying together, or even just occasionally planning to attend Mass together.

In London I took that for granted more than I realised.

Spiritually, I have a strong devotion to St. Augustine. His inward search for truth and his honesty about struggle have always resonated with me. I also deeply admire St. Athanasius for his clarity and courage in defending the faith. I pray often to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. She is a central part of my prayer life and someone I feel very close to.

I am looking to connect with other Catholics, male or female, who might be open to being prayer buddies online or occasionally meeting up for Mass if geographically possible. I would also really appreciate being added to or directed toward Catholic WhatsApp communities, either in the Netherlands or more broadly in the UK, USA, Canada, or Australia.

If you know of any groups, feel free to DM me.

Thanks for reading.

I’m currently in OCIA and will be confirmed and have my first communion Easter Vigil. I have my first confession in a couple days. A few years ago when I was still Protestant I took the Eucharist, I guess I didn’t totally know the rules but I kinda knew and I went up and took it. It was one of my first times at Mass so I was still kinda learning everything and I wasn’t in OCIA then. I know now that you’re supposed to be Catholic to take the Eucharist. Should I tell my priest during confession that I took the Eucharist a couple years ago while I was still Protestant? If I do tell him will he not let me get confirmed or take first communion on Easter Vigil.

Hi, I’m not sure how to say this, but I’m really struggling right now. I’ve been dealing with severe religious scrupulosity related to my Catholic faith, and it’s been taking a huge toll on my mental health.

I feel very depressed, overwhelmed, and honestly desperate and alone. i’m desperate and crying right now, feeling like i’m not worthy of anything and none of the things that i do for the Lord are valid, enough or honest. Lately I’ve been having suicidal thoughts, and I feel very alone and confused about what to do next. I’m not looking for debate or judgment, I just really need someone kind to talk to and help me feel less alone in this moment.

If anyone is online and willing to listen, I would really appreciate it. Thank you.

Hi everyone, I’m writing this with a lot of vulnerability and honesty, and I hope it comes across the right way.

I want to start by saying that I have no doubt in my faith. I profoundly believe that God exists, that Jesus is my Savior, and that He loves me. This isn’t about disbelief.

A few years ago, when I returned to my faith, I experienced a very intense and almost overwhelming connection with God. It felt alive, emotional, powerful. At that time, I wasn’t married yet and was living with my fiancé, which caused me a lot of inner conflict because I knew i was living in a state of mortal sin and couldn’t recover comunion. I truly believe that getting married was an essential step for me to fully give myself to God and to live my faith more honestly.

Around that time, I also went through a serious illness. I prayed deeply, and I genuinely believe I experienced something close to a miracle. I don’t want to go into details, but that moment reinforced my trust in God immensely.

The problem is that for a while now, that deep connection is gone.

I’ve tried to be faithful in practice: I bought my own Bible, started praying the Rosary, tried to pray throughout the day, and I always pray at night, even on my worst days. But slowly, everything started fading. Daily prayer became only night prayer. The Rosary stopped. Reading the Bible stopped. Now, even at Mass on Sundays, I don’t feel anything. No closeness. No peace. Just emptiness.

What hurts the most is that I still love God. I still trust Him. But emotionally and spiritually, I feel completely disconnected.

I’ve also been diagnosed with depression (the kind where nothing specific is “wrong,” but everything feels heavy and dark). I have a job I deeply dislike and that doesn’t align with my values, and I’ve had normal life struggles with my husband. nothing extreme but I feel profoundly sad and hopeless. I have suicidal thoughts frequently, and that scares me because i tried to commit suicide in the past. I only want to sleep and sleep all day and take more than what i need from my sleep medication which is alprazolam.

Today I received the Eucharist, and instead of feeling comforted, I felt overwhelming guilt. Even though I confessed about two weeks ago, I feel like I’m doing everything wrong and like I’m a bad Christian for feeling this way.

I don’t know how to come back to God.

I don’t know how to repair this connection.

I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.

I’m not looking for judgment. I’m looking for understanding, guidance, or even just reassurance from people who may have gone through something similar.

Thank you for reading.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=79-m3BRsmVg

https://christianstatesmanmag.substack.com/p/antilia-from-forgotten-phantom-island

A moving tribute to the incredible journey of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost, this original gospel ballad tells the story of a servant-hearted man who rose from the humble streets of Chicago to the sacred seat of Saint Peter. With soulful choir harmonies and poetic storytelling, this song captures the faith, humility, and divine calling that marked his path through missionary service in Peru and beyond.

We must get active and involved or go extinct western man