By Jason Haskins
Like that amazing Godsmack song goes, I stand alone. [Author's Note: Sarcasm] When it comes to that blasted Daredevil movie. Remember the one—it’s with Ben Affleck in …red leather with a weird looking helmet made out of fruit roll-up.
Released in 2003 after the critical and financial success that was Spider-Man, this film sought to begin an all-new trend of superhero movies where Hulk, Fantastic Four, and other properties would follow to similar expectations.
Daredevil is one of those amazing comic book characters that thrives in darkness—literally. Matt Murdock is a contemplative and sad blind man with heightened senses and an acrobatic nature that makes him far different from other comic characters out there. I always liken him to Marvel’s Batman figure because of how his past is built on ruin with a sense of dedication to ending corruption.
The flick begins with Daredevil wounded in a church where we then flash back and get the atypical origin story. After seeing his once-great boxer father roughing up some guys for an infamous gangster in Hell’s Kitchen, he runs away only to get into an accident which takes his vision (but leaves him with superpowers).
Years later and after his father is murdered he becomes the vigilante Daredevil who preys on the wicked and seeks justice when his day job of being a lawyer just doesn’t cut the mustard. The flick is about Murdock falling in love with Elektra and also introducing us to the dastardly Kingpin, who is basically the Lex Luthor of Daredevil’s world.
Daredevil is played by Ben Affleck and while some would be quick to make fun of the guy, he actually does a decent job as Matt Murdock. I think that he’s definitely superhero material, but the costume takes away some of his power because of how awkward and bland it looks compared to the comics. His chemistry with Foggy Nelson (played excellently by Jon Favreau) is also to be commended—they are funny and good together, which makes their relationship actually stronger than the whole Elektra romance.
Jennifer Garner plays Elektra, one of the quintessential supporting characters to Daredevil and one that writer Frank Miller heaped with development and interesting tidbits. She is completely neutered here not just in the way that her character is written, but in how stiff Garner is. Couple that with the completely asinine music that goes with her character (including two Evanescence songs in a damn row) and you have reason to be pissed—I know I am every time I watch her.
The supporting cast is pretty good with Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin and while he’s pretty goofy at some points and doesn’t harness the same intellect and edge that his comic opposite does, he definitely has size on his side. Jon Favreau is definitely a delicacy and surprisingly Colin Farrell shows up as bad guy Bullseye to really mixed results. He’s dangerous and cunning…but so effing lame that the threatening nature of his character is lost.
The version of the film I’m reviewing is the Director’s Cut version, which is definitely the better of the two (with the Theatrical, of course, being the second). The Theatrical omits a lot of little subplots and a few truncated bits of material that was probably too hard for a PG-13 such as a forced ‘f’ word and some violence, but the Director’s Cut puts up twenty extra minutes of material that actually helps the movie make more sense. Granted, you’re going to have to deal with Coolio, who Nelson and Murdock are representing in some previously cut scenes.
There is a good amount of action and awesome acrobatic work that flourishes in all of the Daredevil charm with some obvious dated CGI effects and plastic-looking set pieces that detract a little bit, but with the thumping score that’s actually quite good (when it’s not trying to be metal or Evanescence) really amplifies the experience of the film.
The story isn’t one of the best attempts as they could’ve tried something much easier like introducing us to Karen Page, who’s relationship with Matt Murdock is much more interesting than Elektra’s and could have worked better in this atmosphere. Perhaps they could have brought in something cooler than just having Kingpin hire Bullseye to kill Daredevil as the plot, but this is a piece of comic book cinema growing pains.
What I really dig about this movie every time I watch it is that it does get some things right such as the darkness of Daredevil, his reliance on prescription drugs, and the tank he has to sleep in so that he can block out all of his senses. The depth of the character is there, but is definitely poorly written at times. Mark Steven Johnson does succeed in some directorial ways in terms of setting up shots and creating some interesting things with Daredevil’s imagery, but it’s all muted so much in the mostly bland script he actually penned himself.
Aside from hardcore Daredevil fans I can’t see anyone giving this an honest look because of how awkward it is. The costume is a definite eye sore, the soundtrack (minus the main score) is atrocious, and the performances are all quite bad across the board. The biggest detriment is the script, which could’ve introduced many people to an amazing comic character, but took the easy way out. Hell, I can’t even see honest Daredevil fans digging this as much as me. I stand alone.
© Jason Haskins, 2011
3 out of 5 Stars
