Daredevil
Last week broke the news that Ben Affleck would be playing Batman in the up and coming Zack Snyder sequel to Man of Steel. Some sparse people nodded with agreement; conjuring images of a cheeky Bruce Wayne reminiscing his Argo, The Town and older days. The other, more populated group of people are still wailing into their Dark Knight posters, re watching Bale and shouting (typing) their worries (insults) all over. And the movie that comes to mind when all the naysayers is the flop of a superhero movie Daredevil.
So let’s talk about it now.
Daredevil is a 2003 superhero flick which saw Affleck take up the role of Matt Murdock. As a boy he is involved in an accident which blinds him. Luckily, the radiation also super heightened his other senses and gives him a sixth one where, he can actually see. After his father is murdered by mob boss Kingpin, Murdock vows revenge by becoming a superhero and fighting crime (as you do.) He grows up to be a small town lawyer, but he hasn’t forgotten his dreams and soon enough, he attracts the attention of Kingpin, his right hand man Bullseye and the attractive Elecktra.
Why is it Bad?
Daredevil is one of those movies that tried to monopolise on the new superhero movie hype. Unfortunately, it missed all of the targets it was trying to hit. Daredevil was extremely stale, bringing nothing new to the superhero table. Certainly, it promised a much darker superhero than the spandex wearing Spiderman, but failed to deliver, cutting too far from the bloodier action and focusing on the romance angle of the movie. And Colin Farrell as the deadly assassin Bullseye is just a little too over the top teetering the film into the ridiculousness. There is something truly missing from Daredevil, feeling like there was a great movie that was cut up into a bad one, shifting between moments quickly and not really building on the action or characters. It all feels a little bit awkward really.
Why is it Good?
That’s because it was a bad chop and shop job driven by Hollywood and the produced. In fact, go get yourself the Directors cut of Daredevil as it is definitely much better than the theatrical release. It is intensely good. Focusing on the violent undertone and less on the smooching, the director’s cut is a darker, broodier and ultimately better movie. Affleck brings his best game as Murdock, layering complexity and his chemistry with Jennifer Garner, his now wife, in battle and in bed is brilliant. Michael Clarke Duncan towers terrifyingly in the film as King Pin and there are shocking, intense moments. Daredevil also has a wickedly good soundtrack.
The director’s cut is proof that more people should have faith in the man behind the helm. Daredevil isn’t as bad as people make out and although many still feel that Affleck didn’t fit the mask as well as another actor would, there is still a surprisingly turn from him. This may restore your faith in his casting, it may not but you certainly should see a better tailored Daredevil before you make up your mind about Batffleck....
Or you’ll be making blind decisions.
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