Daredevil
This is a somewhat misunderstood film. Sure, it didn’t live up to the hype, but why do we always think the next superhero movie is going to knock our socks off, anyway? It was not as good and timeless as the Spiderman movie was; but nor was it the piece of trash that some critics would have you believe.
In fact, Daredevil, takes on a character that embodies much of the messiah complex that characterizes many a superhero – a "not much to speak of" guy who’d fit many people’s profile as a loser and nobody, fighting for the defenseless against the predators around him. Even his daytime hidden identity as Matt Murdock is heroic – being an attorney in the Hell’s Kitchen community that fights for the downtrodden. Of course, the public he serves doesn’t appreciate him. The action and fight scenes are fun, exciting, and played out well. There’s an amazing action sequence where he rides a body down a rail like a board that’s as tripped out as that dead body surfing bit in XXX. Adapted from a comic, the love story (with coyly named Elektra Natchios, played by Jennifer Garner) comes off as pure and young. And the fact that the Daredevil is blind and uses hyper overcompensated olfactory and hearing senses is downright cool.
Two discs of bonus features load this up with plenty of additional entertainment. The on-screen pop-up text commentary is a great way to re-watch the film a la VH-1 "Pop Up Videos," with little tidbits of information about the comic character and the making of the film. Of course, Evanescence’s claim to fame – the "Bring Me To Life" video – is featured, alongside "Won’t Back Down" by Fuel, and "For You" by The Calling. The "Enhanced Viewing Mode" provides additional insight into the film, which takes the viewer on bunny trails that expound on certain scenes and story details. The second disc is packed with documentaries, and offers more than one person could possibly take in with one sitting. A "Must Own" DVD? Quite possibly. It’s certainly better than one of those, "Rent Only" packages. [Fox Home Video / Doug Van Pelt]
Ratings
Obscenities: 09
Graphic Violence: 02
Nude Scenes: 0.5
% Spiritual Relevancy: 51
This DVD review was not printed in ISSUE 104 of HM Magazine, and is therefore an "online exclusive."
DVD rating key:
Obscenities (fka: BL (Blue Language)) # of "blue" / cuss words.
Ideal rating = 0
Graphic Violence (fka: BG (Blood ‘n’ Guts)) # of scenes with graphic violence.
Acceptable rating = <50
SC (Spiritual Conversations) An arbitrary rating based on the ease of starting a conversation on spiritual things.
Ideal rating = 50+
Nude Scenes (fka: NP (Naked People)) # of nude scenes.
Ideal: 0 (A rating of less than 1 signifies questionable scenes)
©2003 HM Magazine _ All Rights Reserved.
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