By rgj
As a movie fan, this is an average film. As a DAREDEVIL fan, it falls much shorter of my expectations. And,
unfortunately, the problem lies with our so-called, "I loved this character since I was a kid," writer-director Mark
S. Johnson.
MSJ obviously relyed heavily on Frank Miller (FM). Regrettably, the parts of the movie MSJ was responsible for, the
parts that spliced FM's epic together, were unoriginal, uninspired, formulaic patchwork.--The Kingpin's gimmick with
roses (the absurd and CONTRIVED linking of young Kingpin with younger Matt), the "in-the-loop" priest, the big formal
ball which allows our unmasked hero to meet his nemisis, Elektra's little necklace at the end (oh, wow!, is she
alive?, please).
MSJ also picked a very complex tale to tell in such little time. The movie seemed rushed. We see Matt in court once
and the Matt/Elektra love tryst seemed more like a ONE-NIGHT STAND instead of the profound encounter MSJ intended it
to be and the characters deserved. Why? Not enough time for character development. We (especially people not familiar
with the comic) had no time to bond with the characters. It was a mistake making THE ELEKTRA SAGA into the first DD
movie. MSJ should have left it for a sequel with more film time or even split it up into moives #2 and #3. This story
was an EPIC, afterall. Kingpin discovering DD's identity was also a bad move. Totally kills the BORN AGAIN sequel
possibility. Yes, BORN AGAIN can still be made (and it probably will be if you listen to the Kingpin at the end of
the film), but it will lack FM's impact. The beauty of BORN AGAIN is that Matt never knew the Kingpin knew his
identity. The beauty was Karen's betrayal and Matt's forgiveness of her. This is now lost forever.
MSJ greatest shortcoming is his characterization of Matt Murdock. It lacked INSIGHT. MSJ doens't know Matt at all. He
changed the way DD's radar worked--for the worse. His version lacks logic since Matt is always being bombarded with
soundwaves (he can hear a whisper a block away, remember)and by MSJ's definition, Matt should then always "see"
clearly. (In the comic, DD's radar is independent of his other senses--MSJ SHOULDN'T HAVE CHANGED THIS!) And, for the
most part, DD's radar was seen in the perspecive of his eyes--very bad directing. MSJ also downplayed DD'S sense of
smell and touch.--And the kicker--he makes DD a murderer. MSJ does this to be clever. To prove he's trying to be a
writer. He puts this in the movie to show the audience how DD grows as a hero. (I'm the good-guy." DD tells a
frightened kid.) He puts this in so Matt can teach Elektra that vengence is hollow. BUT THIS GOES AGAINST EVERYTHING
MATT MURDOCK IS. Justice, not vengence, is what defines him. It defines his love for the law. In the movie, Matt says
he only represents people who are INNOCENT. As someone who considers the law sacred and is concerned for his mortal
soul enough to go to confession, how can Matt consider Daredevil innocent if he's comitted murder. MSJ contradicts
himself in his writing. Killing bad guys and popping pain killers isn't what makes Daredevil a "darker" character.
It's DD nobility in a dark, cold world that makes him a "darker" character. The darkness is around him, not inside
him. It seems MSJ was blind to that fact.
Sure, the movie didn't have to be exactly like the comic, but is some cases it should have stayed faithful. Superman
can't fly. Batman is poor. Spider-man kills bad guys. No, some things shouldn't change.
The only good thing MSJ did was in selecting the actors. Affleck was effective as DD, Garner excelled as Elektra,
Duncan was the perfect Kingpin and Farrell was just a blast as Bullseye. It's just too bad they didn't have enough
time to develop these characters.
Hope the sequel is better.