Daredevil (2003) Movie Information:

Daredevil (2003) Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson Daredevil (2003) Written by: Mark Steven Johnson Daredevil (2003) Cast: Ben Affleck, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Garner, Michael Duncan, Jon Favreau, David Keith, Joe Pantoliano, Scott Terra, Ellen Pompeo, Paul Ben-Victor

Daredevil (2003) U.S. Distributor: 20th Century Fox Daredevil (2003) U.K. Distributor: 20th Century Fox

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Daredevil (2003) Synopsis:

Attorney Matt Murdock is blind, but his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness. By day, Murdock represents the downtrodden. By night, he is Daredevil--a masked vigilante stalking the dark streets of the city, and a relentless avenger of justice.

Daredevil (2003) Movie Review:

Exciting, and mostly faithful, adaptation of Marvel comic’s ‘Man Without Fear', ‘Daredevil’ is a good movie that could’ve been great, but despite an eclectic cast, some nice action sequences and atmospheric cinematography, still comes in as a bit of a lightweight, when judged alongside the likes of ‘Blade’ and ‘Spiderman’.

Ben Affelck makes a good Matt Murdock/Daredevil; blinded as a child only to gain super-sensory skills and death defying abilities. By day, Matt’s that rarest of things; a lawyer with a conscience, by night, he’s red leather-clad superhero Daredevil, cleaning up the mean streets of Hell’s Kitchen, and gunning after sai-weilding-minx-in-a-catsuit Elektra (Jennifer Garner).

The whole ‘Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin’ issue is a bit of a moot point by now; I mean on one hand you could argue that whilst studios will have a white villain played by a black man, they’d never have a white hero played by an African American actor (Omar Epps as Batman?, Nona Gaye as Psylocke?; if only). But then again, at least ‘DD’ allows Michael to bring his larger-than-life persona/acting talent to such a prominent role, and judging by the movie itself, I don’t reckon any other actor (besides Marlon Brando or Anthony Hopkins) could’ve done a better job.

I thought Ben Affleck was great as Daredevil ‘The Man Without Fear’, and though a lot of people seem to have something against him, Affleck’s a pretty good actor (re: ‘Chasing Amy’, ‘Dogma’) who just about manages not to look like a complete twat in that rubious outfit, (Ben’s got it easy folks; remember Billy Zane in ‘The Phantom’?!).

He works well with Jennifer Garner, who, despite showing promise way back in ‘Dude, Where’s My Car?’ (And yes; I am serious) seems a tad uncomfortable here. For ‘Alias’ has to be one of the most overrated TV shows since ‘Frasier’ (how many people have I just pissed off with that comment I wonder?…a million surely) and though Jen comes over as Elektra, (for ‘DD’ boasts some of the best Sai work since Rachel Wiesz and Trish Velasquez in ‘The Mummy Returns’) it seems more likely that she’ll go onto be the next Andie McDowell, as opposed to next Michelle Yeoh. Future star Colin ‘Tigerland’ Farrell hams it up big-time, as bike-riding-skinhead Bullseye (the most ludicrous Marvel supervillain since Baron Zemo), Joe Pantalano is always a welcome addition to any move whilst Jon ‘Swingers’ Favareau does his utmost to make Affleck look good in the Matt Murdock scenes.

‘Daredevil’ is an enjoyable, undemanding little movie, no real aspirations to be the new ‘Batman’, it’s dark enough to convey a certain atmosphere, but also light enough to get the pre-teens and Affleck fans in, everyone does what’s required; nothing more, nothing less. And though it’ll be twice the film on DVD (where the extras should compensate for the breezy 90 min running time) ‘DD’ is worth checking out at your local multiplex; for there’s action, darkness, atmosphere and even a cameo appearance by Kevin Smith.

‘DD’ is a movie that isn’t afraid to be what it wants to be, its just a little disappointing that it doesn’t wanna be all that much. Fearless.

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Daredevil (2003) review written by: Kasif Ahmed