spanishyoda
02/22/2003, 17:10
Ok, with all the hype surrounding comic movies these days I've decided to do a weekly review highlighting the films that have sprung up from comics or comic related material, both past and present.
This week: Daredevil
Ok, I'll admit it. I only picked up about two or three Daredevil comics until Kevin Smith started to write about the man without fear. So going into Daredevil I didn't have same investment in the character that I did in Spider-man or the X-men. However I did have my misgivings.
1. I dislike Ben Affleck. I really have only enjoyed his movies by Kevin Smith, and that was more for the writing the Affleck's "acting".
2. I'm doubtful anytime I go into a comic film, because as a whole, they suck.
That being said, I was pleasantly suprised by Daredevil. First off I love how much detail they put into what it was like to be blind and have supersenses. The way he sorts his money in the morning, how a blind lawyer's computer looks and operates, the sleeping in the sensory depravation tank, the cranking up the music to help drown out all the sounds of the city, all these things bring you into the movie and help the actor make his character believable.
And daredevil also did some nice firsts by showing the after affects of the life of a crime fighter. The vicodin, the scars on the back, the tooth in the shower. All great.
What wasn't great however was the story. To much info, to little time. Mark Steven Johnson tries to fit in both the origin story of Daredevil and the legendary born again stroy arc into one film the same way Spiderman fit in his origin with the death of Gwen Stacey storyline. The only reason daredevil fails is that while Peter Parker has already established his relationships with Harry, MJ, and Aunt May before the film, and builds up the antagonism between Parker and Osborn, Daredvil has to establish almost all of his realtionships in it's two hours. Sure we know that foggy and Matt know each other, but all of sudden we're meeting Elektra, then we meet kingpin, then we meet Bullseye.
Poor Elektra. I had absolutely no connection to her at all. She was just written as an unlikeable person. For no reason she starts a fight with a blind guy. Fortuanately for him he has supersenses. But this just makes me not like her. and whats her story? She fights like a ninja. Why? Her mom ws killed. By who? the Kingpin? What's up with her dad? She's just a barely fleshed out shadow and that bothers me.
And the Kingpin. He's the Kingpin of Crime. And.....? What the hell? The only criminal thing we see him do hire an assasin. Big woop. And what's with the "YOu interfeared in my business for too long" about. That was never established. It just kind of seemed all the suden Daredevil was specifically out to nail the kingpin. These realtionships have to be established!
Now Bullseye was done perfectly! Hired assasin, and he hates Daredevil, because DD made him miss. Perfect! I loved every scene with Bullseye!
Now don't get me wrong, there is some great writing in DD. Kingpin's "It's just business" was awesome! Core of the character right there! The rain scene was great (even though it had soem traces of Spidey in it. When DD hears the kingpin's goons and begins to take off and Elektra asks him to stay, I was dumbfounded when he stays! That kind of stuff doesn't happen in the comics. That happens in real life! DD struggles with faith, and his role as a vigilante were also nice touches.
I was also pleased with the acting for the most part. Collin Farell. Boy, now I know why this guy is in like... 30 movies this month. Dang! Nice job. Michael Clark Duncan also did a great job (considering the poor writing) as the Kingpin. He just oozed confidence and strength. Jennifer Garner. Could have done better. She's hot, don't get me wrong, but she just didn't get into the character enough for me. And last but not least Ben Affleck. Remember I don't like Affleck, but for the first time (aside from Malrats) in his miserable career he turns in a believable performance. This is what happens when you get an actor who loves the character. Ben is an avowed lover of DD and you can see it. He IS Matt Murdock in this movie. Nuff said!
The rest of the movie had great fight scenes awesome special effects. I probably don't need to gush about the radar vision, but I will anyway! Holy #### was it cool!
So as a whole DD is good flick. It has room for improvement, but it doesn't take away too much from the fun of the film. I give two and a half billyclubs out of four.
Next week continuing along the DD vein I'll be reviewing "Trial of the Incredible Hulk"!
This week: Daredevil
Ok, I'll admit it. I only picked up about two or three Daredevil comics until Kevin Smith started to write about the man without fear. So going into Daredevil I didn't have same investment in the character that I did in Spider-man or the X-men. However I did have my misgivings.
1. I dislike Ben Affleck. I really have only enjoyed his movies by Kevin Smith, and that was more for the writing the Affleck's "acting".
2. I'm doubtful anytime I go into a comic film, because as a whole, they suck.
That being said, I was pleasantly suprised by Daredevil. First off I love how much detail they put into what it was like to be blind and have supersenses. The way he sorts his money in the morning, how a blind lawyer's computer looks and operates, the sleeping in the sensory depravation tank, the cranking up the music to help drown out all the sounds of the city, all these things bring you into the movie and help the actor make his character believable.
And daredevil also did some nice firsts by showing the after affects of the life of a crime fighter. The vicodin, the scars on the back, the tooth in the shower. All great.
What wasn't great however was the story. To much info, to little time. Mark Steven Johnson tries to fit in both the origin story of Daredevil and the legendary born again stroy arc into one film the same way Spiderman fit in his origin with the death of Gwen Stacey storyline. The only reason daredevil fails is that while Peter Parker has already established his relationships with Harry, MJ, and Aunt May before the film, and builds up the antagonism between Parker and Osborn, Daredvil has to establish almost all of his realtionships in it's two hours. Sure we know that foggy and Matt know each other, but all of sudden we're meeting Elektra, then we meet kingpin, then we meet Bullseye.
Poor Elektra. I had absolutely no connection to her at all. She was just written as an unlikeable person. For no reason she starts a fight with a blind guy. Fortuanately for him he has supersenses. But this just makes me not like her. and whats her story? She fights like a ninja. Why? Her mom ws killed. By who? the Kingpin? What's up with her dad? She's just a barely fleshed out shadow and that bothers me.
And the Kingpin. He's the Kingpin of Crime. And.....? What the hell? The only criminal thing we see him do hire an assasin. Big woop. And what's with the "YOu interfeared in my business for too long" about. That was never established. It just kind of seemed all the suden Daredevil was specifically out to nail the kingpin. These realtionships have to be established!
Now Bullseye was done perfectly! Hired assasin, and he hates Daredevil, because DD made him miss. Perfect! I loved every scene with Bullseye!
Now don't get me wrong, there is some great writing in DD. Kingpin's "It's just business" was awesome! Core of the character right there! The rain scene was great (even though it had soem traces of Spidey in it. When DD hears the kingpin's goons and begins to take off and Elektra asks him to stay, I was dumbfounded when he stays! That kind of stuff doesn't happen in the comics. That happens in real life! DD struggles with faith, and his role as a vigilante were also nice touches.
I was also pleased with the acting for the most part. Collin Farell. Boy, now I know why this guy is in like... 30 movies this month. Dang! Nice job. Michael Clark Duncan also did a great job (considering the poor writing) as the Kingpin. He just oozed confidence and strength. Jennifer Garner. Could have done better. She's hot, don't get me wrong, but she just didn't get into the character enough for me. And last but not least Ben Affleck. Remember I don't like Affleck, but for the first time (aside from Malrats) in his miserable career he turns in a believable performance. This is what happens when you get an actor who loves the character. Ben is an avowed lover of DD and you can see it. He IS Matt Murdock in this movie. Nuff said!
The rest of the movie had great fight scenes awesome special effects. I probably don't need to gush about the radar vision, but I will anyway! Holy #### was it cool!
So as a whole DD is good flick. It has room for improvement, but it doesn't take away too much from the fun of the film. I give two and a half billyclubs out of four.
Next week continuing along the DD vein I'll be reviewing "Trial of the Incredible Hulk"!