Usually the first three months of any year are a dumping ground for any less-than-stellar productions studios make or retool into a kid’s movie. So Twentieth Century Fox did a little counter-programming and decided to release a superhero film in mid-February. The first of 2003’s superhero movies is not based on a mainstream character, but rather the Marvel Universe’s answer to Batman. Due to the questionable actors, questionable superhero and three mediocre trailers, I went into Daredevil wondering if this film would start the downfall of superhero films earlier than expected or be a surprise hit that would lead us into sequel-central.
For those of you unfamiliar with the comic, Matt Murdock is blinded as a child with radioactive material. After he loses his sense of sight, his other four senses function with superhuman ability. Because this is based off of a comic book and the kid’s childhood isn’t bad enough now that he’s blind, his father gets killed by the mob. Matty grows up to be a lawyer (in the movie he’s a pretty awful one) and when the law fails, he puts on a little red outfit, goes vigilante, and kicks criminal ass anyway.
Unlike other superhero epics, Daredevil is not an action-driven film. More so than any other superhero film we’ve seen lately, Daredevil is all about the character’s journey. Sure, there are other characters he must face such as the sexy Electra (Jennifer Garner), the cheesy-as-all-hell Bullseye (Colin Farrell) and the notorious Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan), but at its heart, the film is about one man’s journey and personal growth.
I’ll tell you right out that while I enjoyed the movie, general consensus seems to be “not bad.” Despite having some noticeable flaws, I think the film is a bit better than that estimation. The cast is half-and-half. Affleck and Garner hit the right notes of self-confidence, vulnerability and conflict in their respective characters. The villains leave something to be desired. Self-proclaimed movie-star Colin Farrell earns the easiest paycheck of his life, as his character’s actions consist entirely of grinning and growling. He gives a fun performance, but it’s nothing memorable. Duncan gets the confidence of the Kingpin across, but fails to deliver a good look at the more sinister side of the character.
The film also has some good direction at work. With the exception of the first fight scene, the action sequences have some fine choreography and execution. But what makes the film special in the special effects department is Daredevil’s “radar-vision.” While director Mark Stephen Johnson could have easily turned this effect into an overused gimmick, he exercises perfect restraint when he decides to use the effect. Every time the film cuts to radar-vision, it puts the viewer in Murdock’s position at the most valuable moment. At one point in the film, Matt uses his radar-vision to see Electra’s face, creating a special moment between the two characters.
However, despite a solid cast, fine direction, and good focus on the main character, minor flaws persist throughout the film. I miss the good old days when a John Williams or a Danny Elfman would actually write a score for a movie. Now studios burden us with every flash-in-the-pan artist and thus instantly date the film. However, when these horrendously awful nü-metal or pop songs come up in the film, we only hear about five or ten seconds. Also, it is pretty obvious the film’s been cut up because apparently people don’t have attention spans past… past… sorry, where was I?
Everything feels very rushed and as such, there are some pretty noticeable plot holes and the supporting characters need a little more depth. Hopefully, the special edition DVD with the director’s cut of the film will flesh it out appropriately.
Don’t go into Daredevil expecting the next Spider-Man or Batman (Burton, not Schumacher). Daredevil isn’t about the villains or colorful action sequences. The film is about a vigilante’s quest to better understand his own sense of justice and on that simple level it succeeds. Hopefully, with a bigger budget and less executive meddling the next Daredevil movie will reach the bar set by other superhero films.