Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
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I seem to have spent a large proportion of the weekend once again watching movies. First there was X Files on Friday night, then on Saturday I sat down and slung Daredevil into my DVD player. It follows on the trend of turning comic books into feature length films. With the likes of Spiderman, X Men and the League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen also being moved onto the big screen, Hollywood appears to have gone mad over comic book conversions, but how does this one fair.
During school Matt had things tough, his dad was a boxer but he wasn’t really in any shape to defend himself, always being picked on by the school bullies. He hears a rumour that his dad is working for the local Mob boss, Fallon. He confronts his dad who tells him not to be so silly, however after getting his report card he heads to the docks to see his dad and show him how he did, only to find him trying to get money out of some guy. Young Matt turns and runs and ends up being covered in Toxic waste, which takes his sight but enhances his other powers.
About
a year later his father is killed by Fallon’s men after refusing to throw a fight and from that moment on he vows to help the less fortunate. Many years later and Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck) has become a lawyer and along with his partner Franklin “Foggy” Nelson (Jon Favreau) are working mainly pro-bono cases helping people without much money. However by night Matt is Daredevil a superhero who wrecks revenge on those he feels have done wrong, bringing them to justice, one day hoping to find the man who killed his father.
He meets Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner) the daughter of one of the cities wealthiest men, Nikolas Natchios (Erick Avari). Who just happens to be one of the allies of the new head of the city, the Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) but he wants out. The Kingpin isn’t happy about this and hires Bullseye (Colin Farrell) to kill him and his daughter. This angers Matt and as it was the Kingpin, working for Fallon at the time that killed his father as well he now has two reasons for revenge.
The film is directed by Mark Steven Jones, who is also behind the up coming cartoon spin off movie Ghost Rider (Release date 2005) staring Nick Cage. He also wrote most of the script for this, obviously based on the original concept devised by Stan Lee, the co creator of Daredevil. He managed to get a decent cast together for the film, which for someone only on his second film is very impressive. The special effects are good and reflect the kind of budget that was poured into this film, although no official final figure the rumours are it was almost three times the original $50 million.
The locations suit the film well and have obviously been well researched during writing, but the best part really has to be the subway scene. Though to be honest I feel the script was very weak for this film leaving too many plot holes and not really flowing as well as it could. Although it’s easy to see that Jones has a passion for comic book movies and that will only help to make future efforts a lot better.
The casting is the real success for the film, although despite the fact I like Affleck, I’m really not sure if he was the right choice as Daredevil. He really doesn’t impress me as much as he has in other films, well apart from Pearl Harbour. Maybe as rumoured had Matt Damon been cast as Bullseye perhaps the performance from Affleck would have been better. Instead of course its Hollywood’s new “Star”, Colin Farrell that got the part and to be honest I thing it suits him down to a T. This was really the first film I’d seen him in and I have to say he’s brilliant as the crazy Bullseye.
The casting of Jennifer Garner as Elektra seemed a strange one originally as I’d never actually heard of her but she really does rather well. In fact so well that there’s going to be a spin off film starring her, although I’m not sure how it’ll work as she is killed in this film. The real star of the film though for me is Michael Clarke Duncan and in fact was one of the main reasons I was drawn to this film. Following his performances in The Green Mile and The Scorpion King I really have been a big fan of his films and this is no exception as his performance as The Kingpin really is quite overpowering and believable, which I think seems to have been the main intention.
Overall its a much better film than Spiderman, although that did have Kirsten Dunst in it, sorry digressing. I’d certainly say this was wroth watching but either as a rental or when it actually comes onto Tele. Luckily my DVD was Ex Rental from Blockbusters and only cost me a fiver so it’s just as cheap as renting. I’m not really a big comic book fan but I did find this to be pretty good.
Cheers Andy
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Whether or not one likesDaredevilthe movie probably has a lot to do with whether or not ... more
one likesDaredevilthe comic book. To its credit (or, depending upon your perspective, its detriment),Daredevilis one of the most faithful comic-book adaptations to ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Whether or not one likesDaredevilthe movie probably has a lot to do with whether or not ... more
one likesDaredevilthe comic book. To its credit (or, depending upon your perspective, its detriment),Daredevilis one of the most faithful comic-book adaptations to ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Ben Affleck is Matt Murdock a.k.a Daredevil. As a young boy he lost his sight in a ... more
chemical accident which left him with his other senses superhumanly enhanced (and some incredible acrobatic skills). Flash forward and Matt is working by day as a pro ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Good action, Jennifer Garner in tight leather, cool soundtrack Disadvantages: Jennifer Garner trying to act, Affleck's chin, some of the acting is a little bit cheesy!
![Daredevil - Single Disc Edition [2003] [DVD]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78500895.jpg "Daredevil - Single Disc Edition [2003] [DVD]")
![Daredevil (Special Edition) [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78490195.jpg "Daredevil (Special Edition) [DVD] [2003]")
Oct 26th, 2003
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