Watch Doomed!

Doomed! is a documentary film that tells the story of the making of one of the most notorious superhero films in history, 1994's The Fantastic Four. Directed by Marty Langford, the film takes viewers on a journey into the world of Hollywood filmmaking, exploring the highs and lows of the process and the toll it takes on the individuals involved.

The Fantastic Four was a low-budget independent film that was produced in the early days of the comic book movie boom. The project was spearheaded by German producer Bernd Eichinger, who acquired the rights to the comic book characters from Marvel Comics in the early 1990s. Eichinger hired director Roger Corman to make the film, and production began in 1992.

The documentary traces the development of The Fantastic Four from its early days as a low-budget film to its eventual demise. The film is full of interviews with the people involved in the project, including director Roger Corman, producer Bernd Eichinger, and several of the actors who appeared in the film.

One of the key themes of the documentary is the struggle between artistic integrity and commercial success. The Fantastic Four was made with a tiny budget and a tight schedule, and the filmmakers were forced to make compromises in order to get the film completed on time and on budget. Many of the people involved in the project felt that the film was not given the respect it deserved, and that the constraints of the filmmaking process prevented them from realizing their full potential.

Another theme that emerges in the documentary is the role of ego in the filmmaking process. The interviews with the people involved in the project reveal a web of competing interests and personalities, each struggling to assert their own vision of the film. Director Roger Corman is portrayed as a dedicated filmmaker who was passionate about bringing the Fantastic Four to the screen, but who was also willing to compromise in order to get the film made. Producer Bernd Eichinger is shown as a savvy businessman who was more interested in securing the rights to the characters than in making a great film.

The documentary also explores the aftermath of The Fantastic Four's release. The film was actually completed in 1994, but it was never released to theaters or on home video. The reasons for this are a matter of some controversy, and the documentary explores several different theories. Some people involved in the project believe that the film was shelved because Marvel Comics was unhappy with the finished product. Others believe that the film was never intended to be released, and was simply made as a way for Bernd Eichinger to hang onto the rights to the characters.

The documentary is well-made and engaging, and is sure to be of interest to comic book fans, filmmakers, and anyone who is interested in the creative process. The film is full of fascinating insights into the world of filmmaking, and it paints a vivid picture of the struggle between art and commerce that lies at the heart of the movie industry. Although The Fantastic Four may not have been a great film, Doomed! shows us that the story behind the film is just as fascinating as any superhero story.

Doomed! is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 24 minutes.