First DAREDEVIL review

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

Credit: Ain't it Cool News

 

Spoiler warning for Spoiler Bitches:

 

 

 

Greetings. Dr. Michael Hfuhruhurr here, returning after a long hiatus during which I had to perform my patented Cranial Screwtop Method upon my own head. I am happy to report everything went well, although some of you may doubt it when you here what I have to say about Daredevil.

 

Let me begin by saying this: I HATE BEN AFFLECK. And hate is not a word I'm fond of using or that I apply indiscriminately. My father smoked five packs of cigarettes a day and died from cancer. Yet I don't hate smoking. I caught my girlfriend in bed with my best friend. Yet I don't hate them. What do I hate? Taxes, religious fundamentalists and Ben Affleck.

 

Words can't begin to convey how much I loath this so-called actor. I despise him so much that every morning after taking my ritual shit, I look down in the bowl and name my turd "Ben" before flushing it.

 

Let me also say this: I LOVE THE DAREDEVIL COMICS. As a kid I was all about Spidey. When I got into high school, I was all about DD. I can rattle off all of the writers and artists and can recall storylines and cover art at will. I liked DD because he seemed to be the most real of all the superheroes. So real that it seems weird to call him a superhero. And he had a pretty fucked up psyche.

 

I've been dying to see the film, yet I've been dreading it at the same time. I was pretty sure that Ben was going to ruin it. That he was going to be stiff, annoying and Mr. Magooing his way through all of his "look, ma, I'm blind" scenes.

 

Well, Mr. Affleck, having seen the film, I have this to say to you: there will be no turd named after you tomorrow morning. I know when I'm wrong and I'm man enough to admit it. And as embarrassed and loathe as I am to say this (and I know many of you won't believe it until you see it for yourself): Ben Affleck became Matt Murdock. Almost instantly. And he gave an amazing performance, the best performance of his career. I know that's not saying much, so let's say this: he gave the best performance of both his and Matt Damon's careers.

 

Okay. Start your talkback rants now. Believe me, if I had been reading this before seeing the film, I'd be going apeshit myself: Ben Affleck becomes Matt Murdock!? What, are you? Blind and stupid!? Do you work for him? Burn in hell Dr. H! I know it's going to be hard to swallow. So rail against me and rail against Affleck and AICN and Marvel and whoever else you want to rail against. Get it all out of your system and then... GET OFF YOUR FUCKING ASS AND GO SEE DAREDEVIL!

 

This is the best comic book/superhero movie since Burton's original BATMAN (and it's without the flaws of that film). The comparisons will be easy to make: both heroes are relatively normal men driven to become vigilante crimefighters after their parents are murdered. Both are borderline psychos themselves. Both films are dark in tone. Yet Daredevil succeeds where Batman fails. DAREDEVIL'S darkness is real and the movie is all about the man behind the mask. The villains are not allowed to take over the movie asylum. In fact, this is the first superhero movie where you honestly feel what it is like to be the hero. If SUPERMAN made you believe that a man can fly, this one will make you believe that a man can hurt, both physically and in the depths of his soul.

 

But what about SPIDER-MAN? And X-MEN, you may ask. Loved them both. Spider-Man's first half blew me away. But I thought the film lost some steam and resonance in the second half. The script was pretty weak once Parker officially became the supersuited Spider-Man. I loved X-MEN too. But it wasn't a very personal film for me. I had never been into the comics and I couldn't emotionally latch onto any one character.

 

So I'm going with DAREDEVIL. It's solid on all fronts. It's relatable and it's real. And it's the first superhero film that really, truly let's you inside the heroes head and let's you know what it's like to be in the his boots.

 

[if you don't want any spoilers, you can stop here. Although I promise not to give away any big ones.]

 

Writer/Director Mark Steven Johnson let's you know right away what kind of film he's making. When we first see Daredevil, he is battered, broken, clinging to a cross at the top of a cathedral, his blood dripping down over the religious imagery on a stained glass window.

 

He then takes us to the Hell's Kitchen of Matt's youth, to the moment when he loses his vision. And believe me, when young Matt wakes up in the hospital and discovers that he is blind and that his hearing has become supersensitive, you will know exactly what it is like. Johnson and his Effects team have devised a way for the audience to be inside Matt's head. To "see" what he sees and hear what he hears. Call it DeDeVision. It's amazing. One of the most breathtaking innovations you will ever experience on film. It's interactive. And it's mind blowing. And heartbreaking. Because as cool as it may be to experience it on the screen, you know that a life of "seeing" like this is a life lived in Hell.

 

This is a dark, dark film. It is probably one of the hardest PG-13 films you'll ever see. And as anyone who knows DD knows: that's the way it had to be made. Still, I am amazed that Johnson was allowed to make the film this way. From the opening scene until the very end, Johnson pulls no punches. People bleed, people die. When DD gets home from a night of fighting crime, he pops Vicadin like it's candy. (When you see this scene, you will not see Ben Affleck. You will see Matt Murdock. I promise.)

 

You will see Murdock taking out his anger and confusion on "the bad guys." There is no witty banter and no cool capture. There are moments where you'll squirm, hoping that DD pulls back a little. "Geez, DD, lighten up, he's had enough." But DD does not lighten up. And this becomes the thematic soul-searching core of the film. Is DD a bad guy? He's not even sure.

 

This is the UNFORGIVEN of superhero films. Conventions are turned on their head, twisted, questioned. After a jury sets a rapist free, DD chases him down that very night. Beats the shit out of him. The guys falls onto a subway track as a train approaches. Does DD give him a hand and turn him over to the police like every good superhero is supposed to do? Nope. He flashes the guy an evil grin and says: "See that light at the end of the tunnel? It's not heaven. It's the C-train." And then he watches almost gleefully as the train runs over the guy.

 

In almost every superhero film, there's another conventional scene where the villain has the hero cornered and helpless. Yet the villain never unmasks the hero. That scene drove me nuts in SPIDER-MAN. Goblin has Spidey against the ropes, helpless, yet doesn't seem to be the least bit curious as to who's under the mask. In DAREDEVIL, no one ever hesitates to unmask DD. That's what I mean by this being a film grounded in reality. People act real, do real things. Even if they are wearing silly costumes. (FYI: The costume kicks ass.)

 

There's another great superhero convention that gets redefined in DAREDEVIL. Matt and Elektra are on a date, having their first kiss. Then Matt hears someone in trouble in the distance. He says he has to leave. She tells him to stay. He hesitates. Then stays. he fucking stays! How fucking cool is that!!??? This is as real as it gets.

 

Joe Pantoliano also has a small part in a very conventional role: the noisy reporter trying to uncover Daredevil's true identity. He's the Robert Wohl character from BATMAN. And he does uncover the truth. What he does with that info... well, I'm not telling. But it's not the conventional thing.

 

And now that we're on the subject of supporting players...

 

Jennifer Garner as Elektra. She's hot, she's sexy, she kicks ass. What more could you ask for? A lot. And she delivers it. This is not the token "hot babe/love interest" thrown into the mix. Her relationship with Matt is the heart and soul of the story, and her place in the unfolding plot is crucial.

 

Jon Favreau as Foggy. The perfect sidekick or the "Plus 1" as he calls himself. He provides the right amount of comic relief to bring as back from the Dark Place just when we need it.

 

Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin. Yeah, he was great. But most of all he was subtle. This could easily have become a scenery-chewing role. But Duncan's cool, collected understatement made Kingpin as intimidating and frightening as he has ever been in the comic books. Less is indeed more. However, I still object to the PC-casting. I think that long-standing fictional characters should be treated like real historic figures. Because they are a real part of our history. You wouldn't want a black guy to play Abe Lincoln and you wouldn't want a white guy to play Martin Luther King. Kingpin's a fat white dude. Cast one.

 

Colin Farrell as Bullseye. Um, did I say less is more a few sentences back? Well, Colin didn't get the memo. This is the over-the-top, scenery-chewing role in the film. But that's okay in this case because Bullseye's personality IS over-the-top. And if you really, really like his performance then don't forget to stay through the credits. Nuff Said.

 

Notable fanboy cameos: Frank Miller as a corpse. Kevin Smith as a morgue attendant. Stan Lee as Man Standing on Corner reading Variety. And the names of damn near every artist and writer who has ever worked on Daredevil.

 

Anything I didn't like? Yeah. There were three instances where cheesy WB-TV style pop songs played over what should have been some pretty emotional scenes. The melodramatic songs completely undercut the moment. They belong in TV shows like SMALLVILLE and FELICITY but not in a feature film. And especially not in a dark film like DD. Really, really out-of-place. But, hey, that's nit-picking. Nothing to lose sleep over or get worked up over.

 

Well, folks, it looks like Marvel has done it again. They've got this whole superhero game figured out. Rule Number One: Find a passionate filmmakers who loves and respect the material. You will actually see and feel Mark Steven Johnson's passion and love in every single frame of this movie.

 

Rule Number Two: Stay close to the origins and source material. There's a reason the comic's worked and endured decade after decade. Because they got it right! Why, oh, why can't the folks at Warner Brothers/DC accept this simple premise??? The end result is box office gold. And it looks like DAREDEVIL will prove it once more.

 

 

 

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Well, I know where my ass will be Feb. 14, and I'm pretty sure you do too.

[Guest TonyJaymzReloaded]

nice review. But you underestimate Ben too much, i think its the Hollywood syndrome. Same tihng happened to Brendan Frasier.

 

But DD has/does doun so cool, and ive been waiting for it since it was first annoucned...now if they can only do a good batman movie i'd be happy.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

nice review. But you underestimate Ben too much, i think its the Hollywood syndrome. Same tihng happened to Brendan Frasier.

 

But DD has/does doun so cool, and ive been waiting for it since it was first annoucned...now if they can only do a good batman movie i'd be happy.

I didn't write this.

[Guest Crucifixio Jones]

The one thing I've always hated about Ain't It Cool News is that every one of their reviewers sound like a 13 year old at times and their tone and style is like that of a messageboard post. If this is where movie reviews and "journalism" is headed in America then I feel sorry for the nation.

[Guest Flyboy]

In almost every superhero film, there's another conventional scene where the villain has the hero cornered and helpless. Yet the villain never unmasks the hero. That scene drove me nuts in SPIDER-MAN. Goblin has Spidey against the ropes, helpless, yet doesn't seem to be the least bit curious as to who's under the mask.

 

Um, that's because the Goblin knew who Spider-Man was.

[Guest DrTom]

Um, that's because the Goblin knew who Spider-Man was.

Absolutely correct. And even if he hadn't, there wasn't much left of the mask by that point, anyway, so pulling it off to unmask him would have been kind of pointless.

[Guest EQ]

I think he meant the scene where Goblin and Spider-Man were on the rooftop and Goblin proposed the alliance -- not the huge fight scene at the end of the movie. Remember Goblin had drugged Spidey when he attacked the Daily Bugle?

 

At that point in the movie, he didn't know who Spiderman was. He found out later at Thanksgiving dinner.

 

That bothered me too. Why wouldn't Goblin have looked under the mask?

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

Should I feel bad that I've yet to see Spider-Man, and don't really care much about the comic book movie adaptations? I keep feeling as if I'm missing something huge, but yet I just don't feel a need to check any of it out.

[Guest What?]

I think he meant the scene where Goblin and Spider-Man were on the rooftop and Goblin proposed the alliance -- not the huge fight scene at the end of the movie. Remember Goblin had drugged Spidey when he attacked the Daily Bugle?

 

At that point in the movie, he didn't know who Spiderman was. He found out later at Thanksgiving dinner.

 

That bothered me too. Why wouldn't Goblin have looked under the mask?

I think that at that time, Goblin just didn't care...I just don't know why.

 

 

 

It didn't bug me in the least, though...mainly because I just didn't notice.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

The supervillain isn't necesarily going to know who the hero is. They could just unmask him and be like "Oh... it's... some guy."

Unless the hero happens to be someone high profile, it won't really do them any good.

[Guest EQ]

It just bugged me cause I know that if I were in Goblin's position there, my curiosity would get the better of me.

 

"Aw fuck it, let me just see what the guy looks like"

 

You know? And who knows, he might reckognize him.

[Guest Lethargic]

The one thing I've always hated about Ain't It Cool News is that every one of their reviewers sound like a 13 year old at times and their tone and style is like that of a messageboard post. If this is where movie reviews and "journalism" is headed in America then I feel sorry for the nation.

That's because most of the reviews and submitted by readers. They're not trying to be journalists. They're just fans who got a chance to see the movie and want to let everybody know how it was.

[Guest EQ]

Yeah, there's nothing wrong with that. I actually would rather read something like that instead of something that a regular film critic might have to say about the movie.

[Guest Lethargic]

Moriarty from AICN just put up his review too...

 

I’ll do a short, non-spoiler version of this first, then a more detailed reaction, so it’s up to you which one you read. I loved the film. I thought it was smart, well-written, well-directed, and struck just the right tone for the material. Ben Affleck manages to make you believe in Matt Murdock, Jennifer Garner is quite affecting as Elektra, and both Colin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan do solid supporting work as the villains of the piece.

What makes DAREDEVIL stand out for me is the way the film focuses on the lead character and pushes almost everything else to the background. So often, these films are spectacle, giant scaled stories that feature colorful characters clashing against giant backdrops. I think that X-MEN and SPIDER-MAN both did a nice job at giving us character touches that humanized the people in them, but they are still essentially large canvass movies. DAREDEVIL is intimate, and for the first time, this movie seems to be about what it would feel like to be that person who goes out at night and faces death with little or no thought for your own safety. This is a film that plays largely from Matt Murdock’s point of view, so to speak, and as a result, it feels more personal. Another thing that distinguishes the film is how special effects are used. There are no real show-stoppers here. We see how he gets around the city, but only in a few scenes, and it always cuts back to Ben as quickly as possible. Everything is in service of the story or the characters or creating a persuasive reality. After a while, you don’t really think about effects, and that’s a good thing. Instead, you’re pulled into a story about people. And that’s a great thing.

Writer/director Mark Steven Johnson deserves much fanboy love and mainstream crossover success for what he’s accomplished here. Ericsson Core, his cinematographer, helps him create a look and feel that is essentially comic book, yet grounded in a real world we recognize. Most of this film takes place on rooftops or in back alleys, in a sort of shadow world just above or beside or behind the one where most people live. Special credit must also be given to the designers of Daredevil’s enhanced sonar vision, which is both logically functional and incredibly beautiful. We never just cut to Daredevil vision because it’s “cool,” either. It’s always meant to draw us into Matt’s world, to make us experience things the way he does. There is some bold sound design in an early fight scene at Josie’s Bar, where certain sounds rush up at us and others recede to near-silence, that gives you an idea of how Murdock might be able to handle himself amidst such complete chaos.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the relationship between Matt and Elektra. It is the heart of the film, literally. For the first time, a love story isn’t marginalized in one of these films. It’s not the excuse to shoehorn in some hottie of the moment. Instead, it is central to the idea that Matt is finding his place in the world. When he meets Elektra, it’s as if he finally finds something besides revenge to make his life worth living, and both Garner and Affleck make this work. There is genuine chemistry between them. Releasing this on Valentine’s Day is smarter than you’d think, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an ad campaign directed entirely at the date audience, playing up these two and the heat they generate.

Overall, DAREDEVIL is one of those litmus tests for fandom. We all say we want character-oriented superhero films, movies that manage to bend and break formula and that take the material seriously, and we claim that it’s not about empty spectacle, that we want good stories first and foremost and that we would reward those films. Here’s your chance to put up or shut up. If it’s giant scale destruction and mayhem you want, HULK and X-MEN 2 are both looking like sure things for later in the year. If it’s non-stop action and physics-bending reality, then hold out for the MATRIX.

But if it’s a human hero you want, one we recognize in ourselves, one who bleeds and who hurts and who loves and who dares to face a dark world without fear, then DAREDEVIL delivers, and it promises a different kind of franchise, one I would welcome with open arms.

[Guest Sassquatch]

It looks like the movie squeezed every DD/Bullseye/Elektra storyline ever made.

[Guest wwF1587]

It just bugged me cause I know that if I were in Goblin's position there, my curiosity would get the better of me.

 

"Aw fuck it, let me just see what the guy looks like"

 

You know? And who knows, he might reckognize him.

that bugged me too.. i mean he had him right there.. he could of took his mask off or killed him right there... i liked the ending fight scene and all but

[Guest Mole]

I read that their are some spoilers, so I don't wanna be spoiled. However, I just read the part about how much the guy hates Ben.

 

I guess I am one of the few people, but I like Ben Affleck as an actor. He isn't the greatest actor in the world, but he sure isn't bad. I would put him in the same league as Richard Gere.

[Guest imajackoff?]

I think he meant the scene where Goblin and Spider-Man were on the rooftop and Goblin proposed the alliance -- not the huge fight scene at the end of the movie. Remember Goblin had drugged Spidey when he attacked the Daily Bugle?

I just figured that GG didnt want to chance getting caught looking under the hood. Remember, he was trying to get SM to work with him.

[Guest Flyboy]

Why waste time trying to see who the super-hero is when you could be kicking him in the face?

[Guest EQ]

I just figured that GG didnt want to chance getting caught looking under the hood. Remember, he was trying to get SM to work with him.

Hey, that could be it. But at the same time, Spider-Man was knocked out for a good length of time and Goblin could have easily taken a quick peek and Spidey never would have known.

[Guest EQ]

I guess I am one of the few people, but I like Ben Affleck as an actor. He isn't the greatest actor in the world, but he sure isn't bad. I would put him in the same league as Richard Gere.

I don't see why people hate Ben Affleck. I think he's a good actor too. Matt Damon aswell.

[Guest Mr. Pink]

I think people hate Ben because he's been in some pretty shitty movies (Reindeer Games, anyone?) and only had mainstream success with "Good Will Hunting" (but he was the bomb in Phantoms) and every other movie was either shit-tacular or a Kevin Smith movie.

 

 

I like him, though...I mean...he is tapping J Lo's ass...he must be doing something right....right?

[Guest Lethargic]

It's because he's a popular. Sure there are people out there that really don't like him. There are always people out there that some people aren't going to like. Some person you think is the best actor in the world, somebody else thinks that person is the bottom of the barrel. But then there are other people out there that see him and they just hate him for no real reason other than he's popular and succesful. That always happens with popular people. I'm the same way myself sometimes. I hate Titanic because it made money, I've never actually seen it. He's not the best actor ever but he's not bad in anyway. I like him because I like mostly all of his movies. That to me is all that matters. Even if I did think he sucked himself, his movies have all been pretty good to me. I like that he's a guy that constantly goes back and forth like Bruce Willis does. Does some big budget action Hollywood thing like Armageddon or Pearl Harbor and makes a buttload of money, then does some small production for next to nothing for his friends like the Kevin Smith movies. He seems to be a geniunely good guy unlike a lot of other actors, which makes me a fan.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

MORONS! The Goblin is INSANE, he isn't really thinking all that clearly. He is a creature of raw emotion. Of greed and lust. He isn't cool-headed enough to think "Wonder who this guy is?" he's thinking "Hope, Spidey akes up soon so we can KILL."

 

Sheesh, between this and the number of people who needed the ending explained to them, I'm wonder if anyone but me paid attention to it.

[Guest Kahran Ramsus]

Probably the main reason people hate him is because he was the star in Pearl Harbor, which was the worst, most-overhyped piece of crap in years.

 

This year people ignored him in Changing Lanes in which he delivers the performance of his career, and only talk about Sum of All Fears. There is a backlash for him playing a beloved character like Jack Ryan too.

[Guest IDrinkRatsMilk]

I like Affleck. He was the bomb in Phantoms, yo.

But seriously, I'll say this. If I was a supervillain, I would not give a shit what the hero looks like. I honestly wouldn't. So I can relate.

[Guest Mr. Pink]

He was the bomb in Phantoms, yo.

See?

[Guest El Satanico]

I don't care for Affleck as an actor. Changing Lanes has been his only good performance to this point. He was good in the Kevin Smith movies, but he was likely just being himself instead of acting.

 

I think his biggest problem is that he makes some terrible movie choices. He could be a decent actor, but we'd never know with the terrible movies he's made. Just look at George Clooney. He's a pretty shitty actor, but he makes good movie choices which covers it up alot.

[Guest the pinjockey]

MORONS! The Goblin is INSANE, he isn't really thinking all that clearly. He is a creature of raw emotion. Of greed and lust. He isn't cool-headed enough to think "Wonder who this guy is?" he's thinking "Hope, Spidey akes up soon so we can KILL."

 

Sheesh, between this and the number of people who needed the ending explained to them, I'm wonder if anyone but me paid attention to it.

So Goblin was thinking clearly enough to go to the Daily Bugle, ask for the photographer taking the photos, who could then lead him to Spider-Man, and then he would propose an alliance with SM, yet he is not thinking clearly enough to peek under SpiderMan's mask?

[Guest Steve J. Rogers]

BTW, I've heard that Affleck himself doesn't think that the movie is all that good and doesn't expect it to do well.

 

He could also not expect it to do well based on the fact that Dare Devil isn't exactly up there in big name comic book superheros.

 

But then again Blade did well and how many people knew who he was (in the main stream mass-pop culture followers) before the movie came out. Hell they had to remove "Vampire Slayer" just so no one would confuse it with Buffy (the movie, I don't know if it came out before/after the series came out)

 

Steve