Daredevil Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)February 12th, 2003
DAREDEVIL
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): * 1/2
A colossal misfire, DAREDEVIL is the BATTLEFIELD EARTH of superhero films, which isn't surprising given its pairing of charisma-free actor Ben Affleck (PEARL HARBOR) with saccharine writer/director Mark Steven Johnson (SIMON BIRCH). DAREDEVIL wants badly to be the next SPIDERMAN but fails miserably at every turn
Ben Affleck plays a comic book character who was blinded in childhood in an accident which so heightened all of the rest of his senses and skills that he can do anything a sighted person could do and much, much more. Affleck's character is known as a lawyer named Matt Murdock by day and as the masked Daredevil by night. Since his father (David Keith) was murdered when Matt was young, Matt, as the Daredevil, lives to deliver vigilante justice and to seek revenge.
The sappy and silly script has Matt sharing little messages with us. Typical of these trite little thoughts for the day are: "Revenge won't make the pain go away," "There are days I believe, and other days that I've lost faith," and "Justice isn't a sin."
Filmed darkly and edited confusingly, the movie is quite uninviting. The director doesn't have a clue on how to direct an action picture so that it has the requisite energy and proper pacing. Only a good supporting cast makes the movie sometimes watchable. Jennifer Garner plays Matt's sexy, superhero girlfriend, Elektra Natchios. Michael Clarke Duncan is the sneeringly suave, big bad guy named Kingpin. Colin Farrell plays Bullseye, Daredevil's cocksure opponent. And Jon Favreau turns in a fun little performance as Franklin 'Foggy' Nelson, Matt's law partner. Foggy's main interest is getting someone to admit that the alligators-in-the-sewer urban legend is true.
Now for the big question. Will there be a DAREDEVIL 2? I'm afraid so.
DAREDEVIL runs 1:43. It is rated PG-13 for "action/violence and some sensuality" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
My son Jeffrey, almost 14, gave it *** 1/2. He found it entertaining, and he liked the action.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, February 14, 2003. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC and the Century theaters.
Web: http://www.InternetReviews.com
Email: [email protected]
***********************************************************************
Want free reviews and weekly movie and video recommendations via Email? Just send me a letter with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
