Daredevil (2003)

Growing up in Hell's Kitchen Matt Murdock was taught to avoid fights by his father, a washed up boxer who is working as an enforcer for a local mobster. When Matt learns the truth about what his father does he runs off and is involved in an accident; toxic watched is splashed in his eyes; he is instantly blinded but as a side effect his other senses are drastically improved; notably his hearing which is now so acute that he can use it like sonar! He uses these skills to train himself to fight for justice.Grown up he has become a lawyer who represents the innocent by day and takes vengeance against those who have escaped justice by night in the guise of Daredevil; a masked avenger. His ultimate goal is to discover the identity of 'King Pin' a notorious, almost legendary, crime lord who is behind most of the crime in the area. While doing this he meets and falls in love with Elektra Natchios, the daughter of a businessman who has dealings with King Pin, who is trained in martial arts to a level that matches his own skills. King Pin brings assassin 'Bullseye' into the country to eliminate Elektra's father when he tries to end their dealings. The events that follow will turn Elektra against Daredevil before he can finally confront King Pin.While this isn't one of the best superhero movies it is rather fun. Ben Affleck does a solid enough job in the lead role; especially when in the 'Matt Murdock' persona… when he is in the Daredevil costume he is still entertaining but is mostly involved in action rather than things that show his character's development. Jenifer Garner is equally impressive as Elektra; it helps that her character gets stuck into the action rather than being a stereotypical damsel in distress. Michael Clarke Duncan is suitably imposing as King Pin and I liked Joe Pantoliano's performance as a journalist obsessed with the Daredevil; it was fun seeing him play somebody good for a change. I was less convinced by Colin Farrell as Bullseye; this was largely down to his ridiculous appearance… a shaved head with a target on his forehead; something that probably looked cool in the original comic but here looked a bit too silly rather than scary. The overall story is entertaining and the action is plentiful and exciting. Overall I wouldn't say this is a must see film but it is worth checking out if you are a fan of the superhero genre.

Having praised beyond the necessary the Netflix series Daredevil ,I though to take a dip in to the disappointing film was the first time the Devil of Hell's Kitchen was in to the spotlight, the 2003 film. And here we go!The film tries more or less to give the origin story of Daredevil and that the same time tell the most well known story-line of him, the Elektra series. Also puts him against his most famous antagonist Kingpin. OK thinks you say may go OK, but now it is time to find out what went so, goodness so, wrong and we got that. Grantend the film it isn't a abomination like Batman and Robin, Fan4stic and X-men Origins: Wolverine, but it is pretty bad.The funny part is that when I was in my teens ,I used to like very much, yea I am guilty for that. However I can see now that is bad!So what are its flaws ?One,the character are badly written and portrait. Ben Affleck portrait is totally missed, you see that he tries, but the character is written in such a manner that Mat is practically a womanizer jerk ,who at times only remembers that has catholic up bringing, so Ben Batman" has no room to work. His suit is... leather, sink tide leather, you supposed to be a ninja not a early 2000' heavy metal fan. Elektra there only for eye candy (I see why a teenage would like this movie) and her character goes nowhere what so ever. The late Micheal Clark Duncan an Kingpin isn't suited for him, that's how far I can go with him, sorry Mr Coffrey, but you didn't give anything good to your role.Two, the effects are bad to a point that are hilarious and break the dark and serious tone the movie tries to pass. Side note here this fashion of over using CGI characters or body-doubles was a dumb idea, proved by that flick and many movies from the late 90' and early 00' and I am glad that it is over and the effects have evolved and used in a much more controlled and organized manner.Three, it is like they tried to remake Spiderman, but make him dark and edgy and R- rated but didn't wanted to lose the audience so they went in the middle and it sucked. When want to make a serious film go and do it, a dark one go all out , a funny the same ,never mix them and hope for the best. It is like the producers of 20th Centure Fox tried to carbon copy the 2002 Spiderman, but wanted to avoid copy cat claims (Just stick to the X-men OK, you going well with them and not with any other superhero team or character, wow and sell fantastic four to Marvel ,I want a good movie with them in before I go bold).Lastly, the music, no clue if they try to find the worst soundtrack of the time, but if they did, they hit on point for the soundtrack is cheesy as hell and hurt my ears to here it, apart that is boring like the flick itself in truth. All in all if something good could be said about this misfire is that is show the end of bad superhero films and when add that next's year Elektra flopped, Fox didn't try again to make a movie again when the , so after a while Marvel took the rights for the characters back and we got the series and everyone is happy now. In short from something here is the proof that we as humans as can learn from our pasted mistakes, for further evidence look the Dark Kinght Trilogy and this year Deadpool, if Batman and Robin and Origins didn't had the backlash they had then we would had got these masterpieces of comic movies.

Daredevil is kind of shallow fun, and if you've seen the director's cut (which is the version I've rated) you will know that this version would have been much better received had it been released in the cinema.Ben Affleck ain't great in this, to be honest; but he's not terrible. I liked Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin and enjoyed an OTT Colin Farrell as Bullseye. Jennifer Garner is better here than she was in the terrible Elektra solo movie, and the origin story is faithful to the comics.It certainly isn't as dark as it could be, but strikes a balance between humour and tragedy. Elektra believing Daredevil is her father's murderer is ripped straight from Spider-Man, though. Farrell offing the old lady on the plane is pretty funny.If Daredevil tries to be all things to all men it's at least partially successful in most of what it attempts. And the climactic battle in the church between Daredevil and Bullseye is rather well done.Pretty decent, then. And nowhere near the disaster some have made it out to be.

This is probably slightly better than its reputation, but not great by any means. Affleck's good in the title role, but Jennifer Garner doesn't really keep up with him, and her delivery of that one "Liar!" line when Daredevil tells her he didn't kill her father is just laughably awful. The villains are good though, Colin Farrell especially hits it right with his over the top portrayal of Bullseye. The soundtrack isn't very good either, although that Evanescense song is kind of a guilty pleasure, bombastic as it is. The director's cut is supposedly far superior, but really the only differences are some profanity and a subplot where Murdock defends Coolio, nothing that special really.