Dir. Mark Steven Johnson
DareDevil is about how a kid who is blinded by radioactive waste turns into a super-hero when he grows up. The radioactive waste, while taking away his sight, enhances his other senses, which is how he can beat up bad guys who escape justice. He is set on this path by his father, a boxer who had been dirty, then went clean for his son. His father (who was known as The Devil in the ring) is killed for not throwing a fight. The son takes the nickname, becomes a lawyer during the day and vigilante during the night. He meets a girl, and you know its true love, because they get to know each other while kung-fu fighting/flirting in a playground. Maybe it is a Valentine movie after all. So, its a movie about him, his relationships, and his job of dealing out blind justice. (I know that one hurt.)
I would say this is not to everyones taste. Some of the visuals are hokey, some of the action scenes have definitely been kissed by the computer, and the story line does come from a comic book. Who cares?! I grinned the whole way through the movie, except the sad parts. Not crying sad parts (NOT a chick flick, no crying allowed,) but parts that show consequences and pain. That was kind of unexpected, but nice. It raised it to a higher (not high) level. Ben Affleck really does a good job, and lets face ithe has a heros jaw. Its a look its high time he exploited. Colin Farrell is a delight as a psycho who can turn anything he lays hands on into a weapon. You can tell hes having a blast with the role. Michael Clarke Duncan is always solid (that one wasnt intended) and with that amazing voice brings a lot to any movie hes in. Hes the only major player not in leather, probably due to the cost. He is a very big man. Jennifer Garner is good as Elektra, but I wish she had been more the focus, rather than her chest. Of course, chest focusing is true to comics, where gravity shall have no sway, so maybe they were just being accurate. (Yeah, sure.) And then theres Joe Pantoliano as the reporter. He is, as always, fantastic and, as always, should have a bigger part.
I rate it: Full Price
Ben Affleck as Matt Mudock/DareDevil
Jennifer Garner as Elektra Natchios
Michael Clarke Duncan as Wilson Fisk/Kingpin
Colin Farrell as Bullseye
Joe Pantoliano as Ben Urich
Look for cameos from Stan Lee and Kevin Smith. Oh, and there is an easter egg.