Daredevil **** (2003, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau) – Classic Movie Review 546

In 2003’s superhero comic-book action thriller written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson, Ben Affleck looks suitably heroic if admittedly a bit shifty in a red leather suit as the Stan Lee screen superhero Daredevil aka Matt Murdock.

As crime-fighter Daredevil, he’s stalking the city streets to tackle the scum who killed his dad (David Keith) and are now threatening his new lover Elektra (Jennifer Garner). Affleck fits the role nicely.

Blinded by toxic waste as a kid, Affleck’s other senses are superhuman – luckily so, because he’s got loony Bullseye (Colin Farrell overacting wildly) and nasty Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) coming at him.

A dark, laddish, commendably adult comic-book movie, this gets the tone and mood of Stan Lee’s creation for the Marvel comics just right. Though a little flimsy story wise, this blockbuster’s a lot of fun, with exciting action scenes, impressive visual effects and suitably intrepid performances.

Jon Favreau plays Franklin ‘Foggy’ Nelson, Scott Terra is young Matt, Ellen Pompeo is Karen Page, Joe Pantoliano is Ben Urich, David Keith is Jack Murdock and Leland Orser is Wesley Owen Welch.

Also in the cast are Lennie Loftin, Erick Avari, Derrick O’Connor, Paul Ben-Victor, Frankie Jay Allison, Joe J Garcia, John Rothman, Jim Fitzgerald, Casey McCarthy and Josie DiVicenzo.

There’s a running time of 103 minutes but the satisfying director’s cut runs half an hour longer at 133 minutes. Stan Lee appears as the old man at the crossing.

Garner returns for the spinoff sequel: Elektra (2005).

A TV series followed in 2015 with Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio and Deborah Ann Woll.

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 546

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