Moral Assessment + Abhorrent + + Disturbing + + + Acceptable + + + + Wholesome + + + + + Exemplary Technical Assessment • Poor • • Below average • • • Average • • • • Above average • • • • • Excellent CINEMA Rating Guide VA For viewers of all ages V13 For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance V14 For viewers 14 and above V18 For mature viewers 18 and above NP Not for public viewing

Title: DAREDEVIL Running Time:  114 min Lead Cast: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Michael Clarke Duncan, Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, Jon Pantoliano, David Keith, Scott Terra, Erick Avari Director:  Mark Steven Johnson Producers: Stan Lee, Bernie Williams Screenwriter:  Mark Steven Johnson Music: Randy Edelman Editors: Chris Lebenzon, Joel Negron Genre: Action/Fantasy/Crime/Drama Cinematography:  Deam Semler Distributor: 20th Century Fox Location:  California, New York, US Technical Assessment:  • • • ½ Moral Assessment:  + + + CINEMA Rating:   For viewers age 13 and below with parental guidance   Matt Murdock (Ben Affleck) is left blind when as a young kid he is hit by a radioactive isotope while running away out of disgust as he witnesses his idolized boxer father (David Keith) doing some loan shark work. Although his eyes can no longer function, Matt's other four senses become hypersensitive, thus making him develop and acquire a secret radar-like ability. After his father is murdered for refusing to throw a fight, Matt grows up into a lawyer by day in Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan and a superhero Daredevil by night prowling the alleys and rooftops, seeking out evildoers and using his powers to fight crime. The fearless man battles the Kingpin of Crime (Michael Clarke Dunkan) and the assassin Bullseye (Collin Farrell). He then falls in love with Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner), who later on becomes a skilled assassin herself to avenge her father's death that complicates Daredevil's life even more, thus, making his fight tougher in the process. The core premise of Daredevil's character is as usual as the other Marvel comics' superheroes but the movie's compelling story with a narrative that is deeply moving and resonates with larger truths makes all the difference. Daredevil's complex character makes him very interesting and the central focus of the story on the love between extraordinary people transforms the film from a mere super-hero-action flick to a heartwarming love story. Ben Affleck brings the appropriate build and stature to the role of Matt Murdock/ Daredevil and carries off the acrobatics quite successfully. The actors manage to give life to the comics' characters without overacting. Not oftentimes do we see movies of such genre with much of the tensions taking place between characters, not the props. Although marvel comics geeks may be disappointed in a way that the film is not very faithful to the story that they've been reading in years. Such flaws may be overlooked if they will try to see the Daredevil character turned into flesh, as if meeting their hero for the first time. Although the superhero's name may connote an evil-like character, Daredevil is actually a guardian devil/angel in the dark who believes that good can hold back the tides of darkness, so much so that he positions his own body as a shield. His strong desire to make a difference in a world where justice seems to be elusive makes him a hero everyone is looking for. With his Roman Catholic roots, he confesses his secret life as Daredevil to his priest confessor making him appear to be a man of deep faith. Some of his violent ways of seeking justice and revenge may be disturbing though. These acts may be seen in the context of his realization that seeking revenge leads to more sufferings in the end. In the final analysis, Daredevil remains to be a hero because he has learned compassion in the face of cruel circumstances, and because he channels his anger and uses his power to protect the weak, even though it means taking a secret identity and living a punishing and lonely double life.   (Date reviewed: February 21, 2003)