Alterations to a super hero's costume are often made when the star inside the suit needs to be somewhat recognizable to the audience. The Tick is a prime hatchet of this, rubber-chinned in the animated series and comics, yet fully fleshed out for Patrick Warburton in the seriously dumbed up live-action version. While the world pretty much knows the look of Spider-Man's outfit without having ever read the comic, the same can't be said for those who know about Daredevil.
It's more likely that the only ones who are aware that Daredevil exists for something other than stunts over a ravine are the kind to spot a continuity mistake from three panels beyond. But despite this fact, if a motorcycle body suit ever had sex with the Devil himself they might have given birth to a child in the form of the costume donned by Ben Affleck in the above film.
This perversion of logic and humanity does nothing for the story of the film or the comic and is why it never takes place. But what does take place is the bond shared between little Matt and his boxing dad, Jack 'the Devil' Murdock. A bond that lives on in Matt through his life and actions. Tragedy has already befallen the titled hero as the film begins and through flashback we're shown the evolution and journey of his character.
For all the justice that Daredevil metes there is a price to be paid and that payment comes in the form of a handful of painkillers. The scars on his back just show how tough he can take the battle. Yet he is still just a human with radar sense who manages to flit about the New York cityscape as if he was bitten by a radioactive spider. The comparison has to be brought up with the steroid pumping Batman. But since the batsuit is more like the Iron Man armour it'll have to wait.
Daredevil is one fit man which is far more than I could ever say for the pudgy fellow not more than three seats on my right. Not once during the movie did he stop eating whatever the hell he was eating. And his brother must have flunked some kind of remedial classes for all the scene changes and camera angles were just "wow" to him. Constantly.
Watching an M rated action film is quite dangerous if you're not old enough to choose when you're not at school and the guy on your left is balling up a fist and leaning over to smack you when he thinks your irresponsible parents aren't looking. One hit. That's all it could take. Bullseye.
When the Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan) wants some cleaning to be done he calls for Bullseye (Colin Farrel) who comes in with both arms holding onto rather sedated pigs. Now, since Bullseye doesn't sport anything like what the comicbook incarnation does he rattles and hisses like the snakes that make up his attire. I have no idea why.
Light moments and humour pepper the film throughout and for this the clenched fists were often relaxed and the film was a whole lot more enjoyable for this reason. Elektra (Jennifer Garner) provides the light to Murdock's dark world and pretty much follows the destined path set out in the comics despite not having the black hair she should.
But that's nitpicking and such time should be instead spent spotting the scatterings throughout the film of the names of major people who worked on Daredevil: Miller, Kirby, Quesada, Bendis, Mack and Jolly John Romita.
In an attempt to simulate the worldly experiences of the world of the blind the theatre's speakers were beyond the thunderdome. Scenes which had Daredevil in pain from the reverberating echoes of the soundwaves had like minded patrons' ears wide open and drums apounding. In the world of the blind all is dark. If the world was lit up then the blindness may have been temporary. Of course, when the lights are left on during the credit roll then the credits will roll up and out something worth staying around for. A hint lost on over half of the fleeing imbeciles - who in all fairness kept the shenanigans down.
Slightly incoherent, as is this review. Suit you eh, sir?
Reviewed on Thursday, 20 March 2003