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Preview by Jack Foley |
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NOW that Spider-Man has helped to
turn the superhero genre back into a huge money-spinner, the next batch of
action men are preparing to do battle with evil at the Box Office, beginning
with Daredevil.
Based on the Marvel Comics character first created in 1964 by Stan Lee and
Bill Everett, the movie finds Ben Affleck's Matt Murdock dealt an unfortunate
blow when he is blinded by a freak radioactive isotope, while saving a man's
life.
But while Murdock loses one of his key senses, his remaining four become amazingly
acute, surpassing those of the average citizen. While working as an attorney
in New York years later, however, Murdock uses his ability to fight crime
and reach those the courts cannot, becoming Daredevil, or 'The Man Without
Fear', while also battling his arch-nemesis, the Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan).
Also pitted against him is Colin Farrell's Bullseye, a villain whose deadly
aim turns anything he chooses into lethal weapons, while Alias star, Jennifer
Garner, supplies the love-interest, as high-kicking assassin, Elektra.
The movie, which has been directed by self-confessed Daredevil fanatic, Mark
Steven Johnson, is due for release in both the US and the UK in February (Feb
13, here), and while rumours persist of a re-shoot, to spice things up between
Affleck and Garner, advance word on the project remains hot; no doubt boosted
by the current revival of the superhero genre (see also The Hulk, as well
as a new Batman movie, and the return of Spidey) and a fairly impressive couple
of trailers.
Johnson is also promising that fans expecting a tired attempt to cash-in on
the success of other comic book heroes should rest easy, as Daredevil promises
a different, even darker, spin on the subject. He cites the Japanese animation
style as a primary influence on the action sequences, while promising that
things will start with a bang - the movie is told in flashback, following
a particularly bruising encounter for our hero.
It is a point with which Affleck concurs, saying that while Matrix-inspired
wire work has been used, the fighting is grittier than usual, mixing 'smash-mouth
street fighting with kung-fu and karate'.
Not convinced? Then there is also talk of Johnson preparing two versions for
the DVD, when it is eventually released - a PG-13 for younger fans, and an
R rating for those who like their action to be darker and harder.
As
for the prospect of a franchise, producer, Avi Arad, is fully confident that
there will be one - citing a definite sequel, as well as a possible spin-off
for Elektra. Though when asked whether the likes of Daredevil and The Kingpin
would be flitting between franchises (as they do in the comics), he was less
sure, explaining that the logistics of achieving such a movie feat would be
difficult.
Roll on the release of the movie, then. To whet your tastebuds still further,
however, why not click here to access the trailer,
via our AV Room (scroll down to the Twentieth Century Fox section).
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