Saw this saturday night for free, so I feel bad complaining about it. How do you complain about a free movie?
Getting down to business.
I thought the X2 and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen trailers were the only reason to be there.
Yes. Really.
Daredevil, being one of my favorite comics, was totally wasted. You would only briefly get a glimpse of the potential for the property. Only every now and then did the real grit of the comic show through in the movie. Years of continuity were smashed to pieces in order to cram it all into a two hour movie. Some of Frank Miller's finest writing, destroyed. The Daredvil/Elektra affair, snuffed out within twenty minutes. Bullseye, one of the more interesting villains in the Marvel universe, was wasted.
My frustration with this flick knows no boundary. But notice one thing... I didn't pick on Afleck. That's because I thought he was pretty good here. I knew he'd do alright in the role. I also liked the costume. There are a couple of decent action pieces, LOTS of Marvel references and a cameo from Stan Lee (of course -- but don't get me started on Kevin Smith's shitty cameo).
The movie just suffers entirely from a lack of plot development. It's as if the movie begins, they rush us through some important plot elements that Miller took months to establish during his run on the book in the 80s and then suddenly it's over. Fans of the book will probably see which direction the movie is going in with it's obvious sequel.
I didn't necessarily have high hopes for this movie nor did I expect it to stick to the book's continuity (DD's origin is twisted a bit in this movie) but I was hoping for something that would turn out really cool. Hopefully this will be the end of reckless Marvel comics adaptations.
Daredevil
Moderator: Chris Slack
- Latte Thunder
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Daredevil
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Didn't do much for me, either--and I'm glad I didn't bring the children.
I don't have the DAREDEVIL knowledge/background that you do (I thought the changes they made to Spiderman in THAT movie were pointless enough), but it certainly seems like they could have done a lot more with the characters they used (especially Bullseye, who was quite entertaining).
Perhaps it's time for superhero movies to stop trying to top each other in the "dark and heavy" departments? Just a thought--DAREDEVIL seemed to be trying its level best to cram "gloom and doom" down my throat from the first scene--how 'bout a little exhiliration while we're at it? We've all seen Burton's BATMAN and, of course, THE CROW... and while it's pointless to ask that any such film be "all original," I would suggest that the flaming initials on the floor were just a little TOO much!
I know, I know, Daredevil's story isn't a happy one. Neither is any superhero's, when it comes down to it. Doomed planets, murdered parents, it's all there. But the backstory here (you tell me how faithful it is to the original comic) still resorts to one of the hoariest cliches of all time... the washed-up boxer who won't take the dive??!! Is there one person left in the audience who thinks he'll make it out of the arena in one piece?
Still, and all--good casting all around. Affleck (insert gratuitous J-Lo joke wherever you like), Garner, Farrell... and especially Duncan as the Kingpin (one of the most frustrating characters I ever encountered in comics--I was always asking "aren't they ever going to get RID of this guy once and for all?"). Good visualization of Daredevil's radar powers, and cheerful sacrilege in the church battle (though Homer Simpson beat them to the punch a week or so before DAREDEVIL opened). But it doesn't add up to something special in the end--it's already come to "yet another superhero movie," and we're nowhere near done with this year alone!
I don't have the DAREDEVIL knowledge/background that you do (I thought the changes they made to Spiderman in THAT movie were pointless enough), but it certainly seems like they could have done a lot more with the characters they used (especially Bullseye, who was quite entertaining).
Perhaps it's time for superhero movies to stop trying to top each other in the "dark and heavy" departments? Just a thought--DAREDEVIL seemed to be trying its level best to cram "gloom and doom" down my throat from the first scene--how 'bout a little exhiliration while we're at it? We've all seen Burton's BATMAN and, of course, THE CROW... and while it's pointless to ask that any such film be "all original," I would suggest that the flaming initials on the floor were just a little TOO much!
I know, I know, Daredevil's story isn't a happy one. Neither is any superhero's, when it comes down to it. Doomed planets, murdered parents, it's all there. But the backstory here (you tell me how faithful it is to the original comic) still resorts to one of the hoariest cliches of all time... the washed-up boxer who won't take the dive??!! Is there one person left in the audience who thinks he'll make it out of the arena in one piece?
Still, and all--good casting all around. Affleck (insert gratuitous J-Lo joke wherever you like), Garner, Farrell... and especially Duncan as the Kingpin (one of the most frustrating characters I ever encountered in comics--I was always asking "aren't they ever going to get RID of this guy once and for all?"). Good visualization of Daredevil's radar powers, and cheerful sacrilege in the church battle (though Homer Simpson beat them to the punch a week or so before DAREDEVIL opened). But it doesn't add up to something special in the end--it's already come to "yet another superhero movie," and we're nowhere near done with this year alone!
My dog's breath smells like peanut butter...
...and I don't even have a dog!
...and I don't even have a dog!
- Darth Tanner
- Posts: 505
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- Location: Midlothian, VA U.S.A
I have to chime in and say I was sort of disappointed by DAREDEVIL as well. I only paid matinee price to see it and I'm glad I didn't pay more. While it wasn't a complete waste, it definitely could have been better. Supposedly a lot of editing was done on this movie (to avoid an R?!?) which may explain the unbelieveably short running time. This movie could have benifitted a great deal by having the characters more developed and the story being more than just a series of cliches. I must also add that it I thought it was very light in the action department. While I appreciate that Affleck and Garner did most of their own stunts, the action scenes seemed to be very few and far between. Hopefully the DVD will contain some extra scenes or better yet.....a director's cut. As for the performances, Affleck and Garner were both very good. Duncan and Farrell were good too but their characters were not well utilized to the movie's advantage. Bullseye was a cool villain and I would have loved to see more of him. Joe Pantoliano also handles his small part well and I hope he gets more to do in the sequel(s). But the most frustrating thing about this movie for me was (BIG SPOILER BELOW).........
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I thought it was a big mistake to have Elektra killed off just when she was starting to get down to business. As I said above, Jennifer Garner was very good in this role and her character definitely deserved better. Talk about a big waste:mad:
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I thought it was a big mistake to have Elektra killed off just when she was starting to get down to business. As I said above, Jennifer Garner was very good in this role and her character definitely deserved better. Talk about a big waste:mad:
"I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the heavens. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and so... I am a God." - Malcolm McDowell, CALIGULA
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SPOILERS CONTINUE.....
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.I thought it was a big mistake to have Elektra killed off just when she was starting to get down to business. As I said above, Jennifer Garner was very good in this role and her character definitely deserved better. Talk about a big waste...
Ah, but don't forget the Braille bracelet he found at the end... you saw her heart stop, but there's no final proof that she wasn't somehow saved when Daredevil turned his attention to Bullseye. Sure, she SEEMED dead, but we ARE in the comics.
They want to do a sequel? I'm sure they'll bring her back.
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.I thought it was a big mistake to have Elektra killed off just when she was starting to get down to business. As I said above, Jennifer Garner was very good in this role and her character definitely deserved better. Talk about a big waste...
Ah, but don't forget the Braille bracelet he found at the end... you saw her heart stop, but there's no final proof that she wasn't somehow saved when Daredevil turned his attention to Bullseye. Sure, she SEEMED dead, but we ARE in the comics.
They want to do a sequel? I'm sure they'll bring her back.
My dog's breath smells like peanut butter...
...and I don't even have a dog!
...and I don't even have a dog!
- Latte Thunder
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Two things, guys:
Elektra is dead. It was a massive plot point in the Frank Miller comics of the 80's. She was a major player and quickly became a fan favorite, but to really kick the grit and put DD on the warpath, Miller wrote her out of the scripts and she was killed by Bullseye. Of course, a couple of years ago, as is typical with Marvel comics, she was resurrected. To bring her back for a sequel would really piss on the original continuity and Mark Steven Johnson is a massive fan of the comic.
Two, according to a friend of mine who is in the know, the DVD for DD is already finished. There are two versions. The theatrical print and the original pre-MPAA cut. I had read an Ain't It Cool script review a long time ago about this particular script and they commented on just how dark it was and how brutally violent it was and how it harkened back to the Frank Miller days of DD. It had me pretty excited. That period of Marvel comics was a good one. Between Daredevil and The Punisher, I don't know how they got these books past the Comics Code Authority.
I guess a Punisher movie is also in production. After Daredevil, I can't say I'm excited about it.
Elektra is dead. It was a massive plot point in the Frank Miller comics of the 80's. She was a major player and quickly became a fan favorite, but to really kick the grit and put DD on the warpath, Miller wrote her out of the scripts and she was killed by Bullseye. Of course, a couple of years ago, as is typical with Marvel comics, she was resurrected. To bring her back for a sequel would really piss on the original continuity and Mark Steven Johnson is a massive fan of the comic.
Two, according to a friend of mine who is in the know, the DVD for DD is already finished. There are two versions. The theatrical print and the original pre-MPAA cut. I had read an Ain't It Cool script review a long time ago about this particular script and they commented on just how dark it was and how brutally violent it was and how it harkened back to the Frank Miller days of DD. It had me pretty excited. That period of Marvel comics was a good one. Between Daredevil and The Punisher, I don't know how they got these books past the Comics Code Authority.
I guess a Punisher movie is also in production. After Daredevil, I can't say I'm excited about it.
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Punisher and Daredevil
Daredevil and The Punisher were both of my favourite comics for a long time and I haven't went to see Daredevil yet, by the sound of the reviews from you guys it doesn't look promising. I've heard from other people its not that great either so I'm having second thoughts about checking it out in the theater. They made a Punisher movie with Dolph Lungrawhats his face and it was a straight to video cheapie, The Punisher comics were my favourite by far until Marvel started in on this 2000 craze of future heroes and fucked up the whole story line, so fucked up I couldn't go back to reading it again. I'd love to see a big budget, gritty, faithful to comic story of The Punisher, just don't let Jerry Bruckheimer to get involved.
- Darth Tanner
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I saw THE PUNISHER on HBO several years ago and thought it played pretty well. It definitely seemed to be cheap when compared to its big-budget counterparts, but sometimes less is more. IMO THE PUNISHER did something different and went for the "gritty and violent" without all of the flash and style of other comic-book adaptations. Let people say what they will about Dolph Lundgren but he played the part pretty well (heck...I even thought he did a good job as He-Man in the live-action MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE movie). Unless I'm mistaken, this movie DID have an R rating but supposedly had some of the violence slightly trimmed.
And yes, a remake of THE PUNISHER is supposedly in the pre-production stage and is tentatively slated for release sometime next year. No word yet on any cast, but it is being helmed by a first-time director. We'll have to see how that turns out.
And yes, a remake of THE PUNISHER is supposedly in the pre-production stage and is tentatively slated for release sometime next year. No word yet on any cast, but it is being helmed by a first-time director. We'll have to see how that turns out.
"I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the heavens. Although I have taken the form of Gaius Caligula, I am all men as I am no man and so... I am a God." - Malcolm McDowell, CALIGULA
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[url=http://www.dvdprofiler.com/mycollection.asp?alias=ctanner5]My DVD collection[/url]
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- Latte Thunder
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I really can't say how the Punisher will go over right now. It was a comic for the 80's. Urban crime was at an all time high, crack was killing the streets, gangs were all over the urban landscape. The comic was a fascist reaction to the declining urban setting... it just happened to kick a lot of ass at the same time. It was a different book in the 90's. It got silly and weird and finally got the axe sometime in the middle of the 90's. They've tried to bring it back several times (once where Punisher was an angel with a magic coat that contained all the magical guns of heaven -- quite possibly the worst comic I've ever read). These days the book is back, but it's really back on a nostalgic level. It's not very serious, it makes no social observations, it's not even written very well. It's just a book with a lot of senseless violence (not that that's entirely a bad thing). So I just have to wonder how a new Punisher movie will go over in the current social context since that's what made the original comics work so well in the first place.
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