Though the character of Daredevil has been a Marvel Comics mainstay since his introduction in the ’60s, his first blockbuster outing hasn’t stood the test of time quite so well. Released in 2003, Daredevil‘s reputation precedes it: it’s a cheesy, unintelligent example of what superhero movies once were before the genre was refined for more discerning audiences. Ben Affleck’s red-leather-clad vigilante has been the subject of ridicule for many years, and the film itself has been summarily dismissed as mid-’00s garbage.
For those not in the know, Ben Affleck stars as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer in Hell’s Kitchen whose heightened senses allow him to fight crime as the eponymous hero. Alongside Affleck, the film stars Jennifer Garner as Elektra, Colin Farrell as Bullseye, Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin, and Jon Favreau as Matt’s partner Foggy Nelson. Released in the wake of Sam Raimi’s hugely successful Spider-Man and Fox’s fledgling X-Men franchise, Daredevil came in on a wave of freshly confident superhero movies attempting to gain dominance over the box office.
Generally speaking, the film serves as an origin story for the hero. It doesn’t seek to reimagine him or his world, but rather but an edgy ’00s spin on proceedings, complete with a grungy alternative soundtrack. So, why is it that despite taking a similar approach to other superhero movies of the time, Daredevil can’t shake its abysmal reputation?
Daredevil Is Incredibly Clichéd & Overly Ambitious
Bringing a hero to life for the first time is rarely easy, particularly one with as storied a history as Marvel’s Man Without Fear. One thing the film does that works against it is that it tries to include as many elements of the hero’s story as possible, with two villains, multiple major supporting characters, an origin story, and various other narrative elements and themes thrown in. It’s a gumbo of superhero clichés, and it comes off as far more cheesy than it does unique.
With that said, there are some redeeming elements of the movie. Affleck’s performance is brooding and needlessly dark, but there are flashes of humor thrown in amongst the excessive angst. Many of its action sequences are well-choreographed, and there are also some well-written interactions between characters that hint at untapped depths in its story. Sadly, much like Matt Murdock’s sensory inputs, all of this is lost in the relentless static of the film’s overindulgent soundtrack and pointlessly winding narrative.
Though its central figure is certainly a tragic movie superhero, Daredevil too often descends into The Crow-like theatrics that it doesn’t have the atmosphere to pull off. Amongst its characters’ brutal violence toward one another and the film’s intended edginess, it all feels rather dull as a result of being overstuffed and somewhat directionless. It’s a shame, because all the components for a good movie are there, but they’re thrown together so haphazardly that it’s genuinely hard to see them.
Rating: 45%
Summary: Daredevil has some strong points that are weighed down by cheesiness and excessive angst, but it’s still an important part of superhero movie history (for better or worse).
Highlight: Colin Farrell’s gleefully violent Bullseye and Michael Clarke Duncan’s imposing Kingpin are perfectly conceived antagonists for Affleck’s brooding vigilante, and their magnetism is undeniable throughout.