Daredevil (Directors cut)

***Daredevil*** is a 2003 superhero film directed by Mark Steven Johnson and based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The film stars Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights for justice in the courtroom and on the streets of New York as the masked vigilante Daredevil. Jennifer Garner plays his love interest Elektra Natchios; Colin Farrell plays the merciless assassin Bullseye; David Keith plays Jack "The Devil" Murdock, a washed up fighter and Matt's father; and Michael Clarke Duncan plays Wilson Fisk, also known as the crime lord Kingpin. Daredevil was released on February 14, 2003. It received generally mixed reviews from critics, with praise aimed at the action sequences, acting performances, soundtrack, storyline, visual style and stunts, while criticism is aimed at Affleck's performance and its perceived lack of ambition.

In 2004, an R-rated director's cut of Daredevil was released, reincorporating approximately 30 minutes of the film, and received significantly more acclaim from critics than the theatrical version.

## Plot

Matt Murdock was raised by his father Jack “The Devil” Murdock, who was a boxer. Matt got blinded by radioactive fluid and gained a radar sense. Jack Murdock was killed by Fallon after he won a boxing match. As Matt Murdock got older, he became a lawyer and vigilante named Daredevil. He attended a trial with Jose Quesada, an alleged rapist. As the day passed, Daredevil followed Quesada to Josie’s Bar and killed him at the subway. Matt talked to his legal partner and friend Foggy Nelson about Daredevil on the news as a Greek American woman named Elektra comes by. Matt learned who she was after they had a fight at a playground. Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin of Fisk Corp is now aware of Daredevil and talks to Elektra’s father. Matt and Foggy learned of Dante Jackson, who was put on a trial for an alleged murder of Lisa Tazio, a prostitute on August 9th. They decided to help him after Matt learned that Jackson is telling the truth. An Irishman simply known as Bullseye arrived to Hell’s Kitchen to help out the Kingpin. Matt encountered Elektra on a rooftop with the rain as he heard a man call for help. Daredevil saved the man’s life. Karen Page informed Matt and Foggy an invitation to Nikolas Natchios’ ball. At the ball, Foggy got to meet Wesley, the Kingpin’s right hand man whose initials were WOW. As Nikolas got in a limo, Bullseye used his motorcycle to follow him. Daredevil tried to stop Bullseye but his stick landed on Nikolas, killing him. Matt attended Nikolas’ funeral. Ben Ulrich of the New York Post came to Matt and told him that Jackson is innocent. Elektra found Daredevil and attempted to kill him. Bullseye arrived and killed her. Bullseye was attacked by Daredevil at a church. Foggy learned that the note that reads “MOM 6-8” is actually “WOW 8-9”, proving that Wesley Owen Welch was the killer of Lisa Tazio. As a result, the police went to Fisk Corp as Daredevil fought against Kingpin. Kingpin got sent to jail, Jackson was proven not guilty and Daredevil continues as the Guardian Devil of Hell’s Kitchen.

## Good Qualities

**NOTE: Some pointers will focus on theatrical cut, but most of the pointers will mainly focus on director's cut.**

1. The director's cut is a better movie to watch. It reinserted 30 minutes of footage.
	* A subplot that leads up to the film’s climax shows Matt and Foggy defending a man (played by Coolio) from a murder trial, explaining why the Kingpin got sent to jail by the end.
	* The fight scenes are longer and more violent, resulting in a more realistic and gritty tone.
	* The pacing is more consistent.
	* The director’s cut focuses more on Matt’s daily life and Catholicism, including a flashback where a nun who is Matt’s mother talks to a young Matt. Also, Jack Murdock feels more fleshed out.
	* The mid-credits scene where Bullseye jabs a fly with a syringe was incorporated for Matt’s ending speech so that viewers wouldn’t skip the credits.
	* The release of the director's cut made many people reconsider the film as a whole and it is the only version on Blu-ray.
	* Most of Foggy Nelson's screen time was restored with some of Elektra's screen time deleted.
	* This version is rated R, promising a grounded and realistic film.
2. The costume of Daredevil looks very similar to the one from the comics.
3. Collin Farrell and Michael Clarke Duncan as Bullseye and Kingpin are rather fun to watch. In fact, many people think Bullseye is the best character.
4. Some of the minor characters are named after Marvel employees, which has good fan service.
5. Pretty much every song heard in the soundtrack is amazing to listen to, especially "Bring Me to Life" by Evanescence, "For You" by The Calling and "Won’t Back Down" by Fuel.
6. Ben Affleck did a respectful portrayal of a blind person.
7. Stan Lee had such a good cameo, it was first shown in the trailers.
8. Jon Favreau as Foggy Nelson is a great comic relief.
9. Ben Affleck got romantically inclined with Jennifer Garner after the film came out.
10. Mark Steven Johnson is a big fan of Daredevil, which helps that he wanted the film to stay to the source material. He even did some of the storyboards. It also helps that Ben Affleck has read the Daredevil comics to prepare himself.
11. The action scenes outside of the playground fight were well choreographed.
12. Matt Murdock using his sensory tub and taking his pills show his human qualities while having a radar sense.
13. The film helped inspire the more well-received hit Netflix Daredevil show.
14. The adult oriented tone makes it more distinct to last year’s Spider-Man (2002).
15. There is a realistic color palette throughout the film.
16. The film is based on Frank Miller’s influential take on Daredevil.

## Bad Qualities

1. The theatrical cut forced in-studio interference that caused more problems. It was Tom Rothman's idea to have the theatrical cut be shown in theaters instead of the director's cut.
	* Bullseye saying “I want a fucking costume” was badly dubbed to “I want a bloody costume.”
	* There is a gratuitous sex scene between Matt and Elektra.
	* The theatrical cut feels more like a Spider-Man clone than a Daredevil film.
	* The pacing is unnaturally fast.
	* Elektra’s screentime was increased and Foggy’s screentime was decreased.
	* Most of the theatrical cut focuses on just Daredevil and Elektra.
	* The removal of the 30 minutes shown in the directors cut resulted in some plot holes.
	* The few scenes leading up to the ball scene are rearranged in a haphazard manner.
2. Elektra and her father's actors aren't played by Greek people. Even her father doesn't have a Greek accent while talking.
3. The playground fight seems ridiculous.
4. Unlikeable characters like the bullies of Matt Murdock, who do get beaten by Matt.
5. The CGI doesn't hold up and the clothing seems more like a Matrix clone.
6. The release of the theatrical cut and the spin-off film, Elektra resulted in a sequel getting scrapped.
7. Elektra saying “liar” sounded like a quote from a shampoo commercial.

## External links

* Template:IMDb
* Template:Rotten Tomatoes