Rating:  -
Marvel comics has launched an assault on moviegoers with a line up of films that are about to undue the bar set by DC comics' BATMAN and SUPERMAN. The success of SPIDERMAN set about a bidding war that resulted in several of their titles being picked up and work is in progress on a number, including IRON FIST and THE PUNISHER. But before those two ever hit the screen, anther title made its way and did well- DAREDEVIL.
Ben Affleck stars as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who has abilities that offer him more sight than any other mere mortal. As a youngster, Matt was injured in a freak accident that left him blinded. But the chemicals that robbed him of his sight also gave him greater gifts, a sharper sense of hearing and a sort of radar sense.
When his father, a boxer who refused to throw a fight and lose in front of his son, is murdered, Matt dedicates himself to fighting for justice. Developing his senses, his mind and his body, Matt becomes a lawyer who defends those without hope. And at night, he becomes Daredevil, donning a red leather costume and disguise as he tracks down those who evaded justice by twisting the law.
In his daytime guise, Matt meets and falls for a woman named Elektra (Jennifer Garner), the daughter of a wealthy man who is a cohort of the infamous Wilson Fisk ( ), an underworld leader known as the Kingpin. It is the Kingpin who has been moving into the neighborhood Daredevil protects, the Hell's Kitchen area of New York, Matt's childhood home.
When Elektra's father is murdered by Kingpin's assassin Bullseye (Colin Ferrell), the hit is made to appear as if it was done by Daredevil. Trained in numerous martial arts herself, Elektra sets out on a course for revenge against Daredevil, never realizing who he is or how innocent he might be. And while she pursues him, Bullseye sets his sights on her.
More story involving Kingpin and Daredevil in one rivalry and Bullseye and Daredevil in another keep the plot going and offer a chance to find out the character motivations of the man beneath the mask.
Filled with religious icons aplenty and morals not often found in most stories today, DAREDEVIL offers plenty of action but with something solid beneath it all. Affleck does a great job in the lead role, offering a caring daytime persona and a fear influencing sight to see at night. Garner is superb while looking the part of the object of Matt's infatuation one minute and the avenging angel of death the next. The standout performance here though is Ferrell as Bullseye, a maniac from top to bottom with a wry sense of humor that will have you laughing while being glad he doesn't really exist at the same time.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this film, at least for comic fans, is the fact that this movie looks exactly like a comic book come to life. The images seen are sometimes used from the actual comic, including some created by Frank Miller and Joe Quesada in their runs as artists on the book. Daredevil standing atop a church, arms around a cross in the dark of night are both eerie and offering a glimpse of the motivations of the man without fear.
If you're looking for a fun movie, dark and light, filled with story as well as action, then you'd be hard pressed to find one more filled with both than this one.
A large number of fans and critics alike pounded on this movie when it was released. I challenge them to go back and watch it again. To me this movie holds up better than the last two Spider Man flicks. See what you think.
Rating:  -
Daredevil, the Man Without Fear, should probably be described as one of Marvel's lesser superheroes; at least, nobody has yet penned a Complete Guide to him, as they have to Spiderman, X-Men, and the Fantastic Four, who have also been given filmic incarnations. And on the whole, so far, I think their versions are better than his. DD, like Spiderman, calls New York his hunting ground, and like Spidey he is perceived as a vigilante. But when DD is "at work," he's all business--there's no humor or lightness to what he does at all, and unlike Spidey, he often sets out specifically to kill those he sees as transgressors against justice. His motivations are to some extent understandable--his alter ego, Matt Murdock, is an attorney whose father, a boxer trying for a comeback, was murdered on the night of his great triumph, and Matt himself, as a boy, was often a target for bullies--and even laudable to anyone who has grumbled about people "getting off on technicalities" or "beating the system." And, as is shown in an early courtroom system, Matt's superpowers, which include greatly enhanced hearing, serve him as a kind of biological lie detector: when an accused rapist claims on the stand that his victim "enjoyed it," Matt knows by the rate of his heartbeat that he's lying. Still, this is a very dark, violent film, and not one that I could really enjoy. To be sure it has its moments: the early flashback to Matt's boyhood, showing his strong bond with his father, how he got his powers, and how he began to train them; the beautifully choreographed "fight" between Matt and the love of his life, Electra Nathios, on the day they meet; Daredevil's heart-stopping leaps from New York's towering buildings. And villain Bullseye is a very creepy psycho--just the kind of person you don't want to meet in a dark alley. At the end, though, I found myself wondering about questions that weren't addressed. How did an orphaned kid from a poor neighborhood find the money to go to college and law school? Why and when did Matt/Daredevil confide in his local priest regarding his secret identity? How does an attorney whose partner gripes (good-humoredly) about their heavy load of pro bono cases afford Matt's sleek, high-tech, almost Fortress-of-Solitude-ish apartment? Why, when he wants to go to sleep (as opposed to sleeping *with* somebody), does he submerge himself in what appears to be a coffin filled with water? How did Matt explain the wound drilled through his shoulder by Electra's sai? Any of these questions could have been answered very simply with a line or two of dialogue. It's the business of a movie to make its "world" real to its viewers, to be plausible within the parameters of the universe it's set in; if it's fantasy, that's one thing, but the Marvel movies are supposed to take place in a reality only a step or two sideways from our own. When the filmmakers don't seem to care enough about their reality to "make it real," they spoil the movie for me. So this is a DVD I *won't* be buying, and not one that I can recommend.
Rating:  -
A world where Ben Affleck is a superhero could only be Sesame Street. I know Kevin Smith had something to do with this movie and since he for some reason likes Ben he had to get him in the movie. I would lke this movie if it had a competent actor to play Daredevil.
Rating:  -
Daredevil The Director's Cut is kind of a redemption film for me. I know Mark Steven Johnson wishes he released this film into theatres instead of the "cut & stitched" abridged version that didn't impress most. After seing this film, I treat it as the original faithful artwork, while the theatrical release is just an imposter.
So many great elements were lost from this film. All the extra material definately raises the movies credibility and worth. And all for what? We cut it out to save bathroom breaks? And we added a sex scene to appeal to lovers and perverts? In my opinion, some of the artistic bits were cut from the film, in attempt to "Hollywoodize" the flick.
The Director's cut is the fan's movie. I may be biased being a fan of comic book movies, but I think anyone could agree that the pieces taken out were not only to satisfy fanatics, but they were important building blocks to these characters and stories.
Every character has more meaning: Dardevil has a stronger relationship with her father, Elektra shows more of her Greek culture, Kingpin displays more cruelty, Bullseye becomes a better villain. And did anyone say "Hey I saw Coolio in the trailer! Where the heck did he go?" Well he's in this film and he's actually not a bad actor at all. And finally, for those that wished there was more humourous dialogue between Foggy and Matt, your dinner is served. I think the old/new jokes are funnier than the originals.
Bottom Line: See Daredevil in an entirely new movie. If you were dissapointed by the '03 film, then pick this up and I guarantee it will show itself as the "better" film.
Rating:  -
The theatrical cut of Daredevil is garbage compared to the director's cut. If you watch the Director's cut you will see that many great pieces of the movie were robbed by the producers. Important chemistry between young Matt and his Father was lost in the final cut which was essential to the development of both those characters. Catchy dialogue was cut out that remained in the Director's cut, like "Time to give the Devil his due." Pieces of fight scenes were cut out for time, which any fan would be displeased with. Also, a whole sideplot with the Lisa murder and Coolio's character did not make it to the final cut. This whole sideplot was very important to Daredevil's character as a lawyer and the audience was robbed of their movie.
So what did they add to the theatrical cut?? A love scene. That's it! Someone guessed that millions of fans and the general audience would need a love scene to survive through a superhero movie. When actually this scene ruined the pace. In the director's cut, Daredevil says "I have to go," because he hears someone getting beaten in an alleyway. In the theatrical version he decides "Well sleeping with Elektra sounds better than fighting crime.....so why not?"
When I look at both films I think the theatrical version is the movie that deserves bashing from critics, because the Director's cut has so much more to offer. It's not some UNRATED marketing scheme. It's really an attempt to save the cut of the film that Mark Steven Johnson meant for his audience. The Director's Cut is a honorable and loyal adaptation, while the Theatrical cut is Cut & Pasted in an attempt to appeal to more audience and pump more money in.
See the movie the way it was meant to be seen. Get the Director's Cut. It is NOT a scheme to just obtain more money. It actually has around 30 minutes of additional scenes. Don't cheat yourself. Get the better version.
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