sonotadream

Daredevil (2003) directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Written by Mark Steven Johnson

Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrel, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano

Synopsis: A man blinded by toxic waste which also enhanced his remaining senses fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero.

Did I watch it when it first come out? I don’t think so, but I had the DVD.

Highlights: when this movie gets over-the-top fun - Daredevil suiting up and back-flipping through the city; Elektra training to Evanescence; the playground fight; every time Bullseye is on screen - it's very good and entertaining. When it tries to get serious, well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Also, Michael Clarke Duncan makes a good Kingpin.

The “sonar sense pov” effect looks very cool.

Worldbuilding Notes: Daredevil is the only vigilante around and mostly rumour. He does have a good setup going.

Little things that stood out: all minor characters were named after comic creators.

No idea what’s going on with Matt's place. Looks like a bunker, has cherub sculptures in the walls. All the living-as-a-blind-person details were neat. The isolation tank might be too much, but it also makes a lot of sense.

The Plan: there isn't much of one. Kingpin decides to pin his crimes on Natchios Sr because he's trying to leave. (Also, maybe because there's a journalist sniffing around?)

The Other Stuff: oh boy!

First, Foggy is annoying and mercenary.

Second, the romance is a rollercoaster: starts with stalkerish tropes, gets fun and flirty, devolves into cutesy and cheesy, and they don’t milk the fact that Elektra believes Daredevil killed her father for all its worth.

Third, the story never quite comes together. there are connections between the different plots, but it never clicks.

And, this might be mean, but Ben Affleck is a better actor when he’s wearing the mask.

Also, the movie forgets that Matt is a very good lawyer. There is one courtroom scene and, besides not being very good, knowing the defendant is lying is not the same thing as proving it. That guy didn’t need an expensive lawyer to get away with it.

And one more thing: Daredevil has no qualms about killing, except at the end, when he decides to spare the Kingpin. Could be character growth, except Matt never expresses guilty about murder.

Ranking (for now) (100% subjective; based on personal enjoyment only):