Daredevil

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Buy This Item Daredevil by Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation  Available from Amazon  Click 'BUY IT NOW' to get price.  on 11-16-2008     Darker than its popular comic-book predecessor <I>Spider-Man</I>, the $80 million extravaganza <I>Daredevil</I> was packaged for maximum global appeal, its juvenile plot beginning when 12-year-old Matt Murdock is accidentally blinded shortly before his father is murdered. Later an adult attorney in New York's Hell's Kitchen, Murdock (Ben Affleck) uses his remaining, superenhanced senses to battle crime as Daredevil, the masked and vengeful "man without fear," pitted against dominant criminal Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) and the psychotic Bullseye (Colin Farrell), who can turn almost anything into a deadly projectile. Daredevil is well matched with the dynamic Elektra (Jennifer Garner), but their teaming is as shallow as the movie itself, which is peppered with Marvel trivia and cameo appearances (creator Stan Lee, <I>Clerks</I> director and <I>Daredevil</I> devotee Kevin Smith) and enough computer-assisted stuntwork to give Spidey a run for his money. This is Hollywood product at its most lavishly vacuous; die-hard fans will argue its merits while its red-leathered hero swoops and zooms toward a sequel. <I>--Jeff Shannon</I> Reader Reviews Marvel comics has launched an assault on moviegoers with a line up of films that are about to undue the bar set by DC comics' BATMAN and SUPERMAN. The success of SPIDERMAN set about a bidding war that resulted in several of their titles being picked up and work is in progress on a number, including IRON FIST and THE PUNISHER. But before those two ever hit the screen, anther title made its way and did well- DAREDEVIL. Ben Affleck stars as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who has abilities that offer him more sight than any other mere mortal. As a youngster, Matt was injured in a freak accident that left him blinded. But the chemicals that robbed him of his sight also gave him greater gifts, a sharper sense of hearing and a sort of radar sense. When his father, a boxer who refused to throw a fight and lose in front of his son, is murdered, Matt dedicates himself to fighting for justice. Developing his senses, his mind and his body, Matt becomes a lawyer who defends those without hope. And at night, he becomes Daredevil, donning a red leather costume and disguise as he tracks down those who evaded justice by twisting the law. In his daytime guise, Matt meets and falls for a woman named Elektra (Jennifer Garner), the daughter of a wealthy man who is a cohort of the infamous Wilson Fisk ( ), an underworld leader known as the Kingpin. It is the Kingpin who has been moving into the neighborhood Daredevil protects, the Hell's Kitchen area of New York, Matt's childhood home. When Elektra's father is murdered by Kingpin's assassin Bullseye (Colin Ferrell), the hit is made to appear as if it was done by Daredevil. Trained in numerous martial arts herself, Elektra sets out on a course for revenge against Daredevil, never realizing who he is or how innocent he might be. And while she pursues him, Bullseye sets his sights on her. More story involving Kingpin and Daredevil in one rivalry and Bullseye and Daredevil in another keep the plot going and offer a chance to find out the character motivations of the man beneath the mask. Filled with religious icons aplenty and morals not often found in most stories today, DAREDEVIL offers plenty of action but with something solid beneath it all. Affleck does a great job in the lead role, offering a caring daytime persona and a fear influencing sight to see at night. Garner is superb while looking the part of the object of Matt's infatuation one minute and the avenging angel of death the next. The standout performance here though is Ferrell as Bullseye, a maniac from top to bottom with a wry sense of humor that will have you laughing while being glad he doesn't really exist at the same time. Perhaps the most important aspect of this film, at least for comic fans, is the fact that this movie looks exactly like a comic book come to life. The images seen are sometimes used from the actual comic, including some created by Frank Miller and Joe Quesada in their runs as artists on the book. Daredevil standing atop a church, arms around a cross in the dark of night are both eerie and offering a glimpse of the motivations of the man without fear. If you're looking for a fun movie, dark and light, filled with story as well as action, then you'd be hard pressed to find one more filled with both than this one. A large number of fans and critics alike pounded on this movie when it was released. I challenge them to go back and watch it again. To me this movie holds up better than the last two Spider Man flicks. See what you think.

Daredevil Available from Amazon Price: Click 'BUY IT NOW' to get price. Updated on 11-16-2008.

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