Many thanks for all the reads, rates and comments - all are appreciated. An accountant by day and a ...
Many thanks for all the reads, rates and comments - all are appreciated. An accountant by day and a random reviewer by night I am not a professional writer, nor do I have any ambitions to be I guess I am just opinionated.
Member since:07.03.2007
Reviews:247
Members who trust:66
Daredevil is a further adaptation of a super hero comic that is written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson that was released back in February 2003.
****Story line****
Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck), a schoolboy, loses what most consider to be the most important sense after a run I with some toxic chemicals. With the loss of a sense all his other senses become stronger in order to compensate, with one becoming very strong. Matt develops a sixth ‘radar’ sense and the city, “Hell’s Kitchen” becomes his playground.
A string of events sees Matt orphaned and he vows to help out the residents of the city in any way he can. Move forward 20 or so years and Matt is a qualified lawyer helping out the residents of Hell’s Kitchen, as promised all those years before.
Matt falls for Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner) and things go well until there is a case of mistaken identity that throws a spanner in the works. However, this is not all bad as this allows Matt to identify the killer of his father and the opportunity to avenge his untimely death.
****Characters****
This film contains loads of characters, which is to be expected, and whilst Matt and Elektra are the key players in the main story there are many other characters including:
i) Jack Murdock (David Keith) – Matt’s father ii) Nikolas Natchios (Erick Avari) – Elektra’s
father iii) The King Pin (Michael Duncan) – Leader of Hells Kitchen’s criminals iv) Bulls Eye (Colin Farrell) – A newly appointed assassin
The supporting actors do a good job and are just as good, and in some cases even better, than the main characters. In most films it is the main actors that steal the limelight but I don’t think this is the case in this film.
In particular, I think that Colin Farrell and Michael Duncan do a fantastic job in their respective Bulls Eye and King Pin roles.
****My opinion****
In my opinion a super hero requires the following:
i) Some “thing” that is over and above that of a ‘normal’ human being. Be it a sixth sense, the ability to fly, turn invisible, immense strength and the like. It needs to have a ‘super power’.
ii) A superhero needs a secret identity and an individual costume. An individual that is selfless will win the public over a lot more than some glory hunter with a big ego.
iii) A superhero needs to have a purpose that helps out the lesser mortals, such as crime fighting or stopping someone from ultimately taking over the world, as well as every thing in between.
Whilst points i) and ii) are there I don’t think that point iii) is. Whilst he does help out those in need, they are not members of the ‘general’ public. The people he helps out are his fee paying clients both in the courtroom, as the solicitor, and out of the courtroom as Daredevil. What about that old lady on the street being mugged? What about the taxi driver that has been car hijacked? These are the sorts of people that Batman and Spiderman would have assisted.
The underlying story line is great and well thought out but the all important side issues are not present, and whilst the primary focus of any film should be on the main story line I find the side issues keep my attention whilst the main story is being played out. Unfortunately, I found my attention starting to wander during this film.
Whilst super hero films are meant to be dark, in order to get the right mood, I think that this is too dark and dank and there are very few scenes that are shot in daylight. Personally, I don’t like watching films that solely deal with night time or dark clubs/bars etc. but I appreciate there are those that do.
The acting is good and whilst the whole cast do a good job I don’t think there are any amazing performances or ‘wow’ moments. Out of all the actors I think that Colin Farrell does the best job and he is the most appropriate person to play the role of Bulls Eye. He looks really demonic and evil throughout this film, as he should be, and his facial expressions as he is taking out his opponents is just great. In my opinion the best scenes with Colin Farrell are where he’s showing his skills in a pub whilst drinking a pint and when he experiences his first ever miss.
My mates think that Jennifer Garner is the perfect person for Elektra Natchios, but I’m afraid I think otherwise. I think there are far more suitable candidates and think that Angelina Jolie would have been perfect as she is, in my opinion, one of the best action film actresses around.
Whilst there are some special effects these failed to blow me away, which I found strange. Personally, I think that super hero films are the best type of film for special effects since the producers have a free reign to let their imaginations run riot as it doesn’t matter how far fetched and unrealistic things get. The producers of this film failed to exploit this and the special effects are a bit low key.
Compared to other super heroes I don’t think that Daredevil is that good. His ‘super power’ if you can call it that, is poor in comparison and I struggle to see how it can get so powerful, especially since he is ‘self taught’. I appreciate that when you lose one sense the other senses are meant to improve to compensate for it but I don’t think that if you lose one sense all of a sudden you become powerful. The way that Superman got his powers (i.e. being an alien) and Spiderman got his powers (i.e. being bitten by a spider) or even Batman (i.e. his powers come through his utility belt and gadgets) are much better than the way Daredevil’s powers developed.
This film has a great sound track consisting of rock/goth style music. It is very dark and really compliments the film.
Overall this is a mediocre film. If there is nothing else available and you like super hero movies then this may be worth a watch, just don’t expect too much. There was the potential for a great film but, in my opinion, the producers failed to capitalise on this.
****Other****
Run time – 103 minutes Certificate 4 wins and 14 nominations
(Originally posted on Dooyoo under the name of Yackers1)
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 1996 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Daragh O'Malley, Oliver Cotton, Jason Durr, Sean Bean, Allie Byrne
Action/Adventure - Director: The Wachowski Brothers - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Monica Bellucci, Jada Pinkett
Production Year: 1995 - Action/Adventure - Director: Tom Clegg - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Sean Bean, Daragh O'Malley, Allie Byrne, Oliver Cotton, Emily Mortimer, Michael Cochrane
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: Michael Clarke Duncan is superb as always Disadvantages: Probably the casting of Affleck, Im still not convinced and the scripts a bit poor
Andy.mack 26.10.2003 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Daredevil (DVD)
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]")
Mar 18th, 2009
exceptional by (6%):
very helpful by (94%):
