REVIEW: Daredevil

A Superior, Superhero Incarnation.

To say I was sceptical about Marvel’s new incarnation of ‘Daredevil’ goes without saying. The last time this character saw the silver screen was, well…err, (huge sigh), less we say about that the better I guess. The character isn’t hitting the silver screen now, but the small screen in an all new TV series, here starting with a 13 episode run from Netflix.

Comparisons to other superhero TV shows such as ‘Arrow’ & ‘Gotham’ were undoubtedly to follow, understandably. ‘Arrow’ is fun entertainment. It’s complete nonsense, but enjoyable nonsense. It’s basically a surrogate Batman with most of its storylines ripping off The Dark Knight trilogy and fight scenes copied from movies such as The Raid, but it’s done in a fun-filled, soap-opera way you can’t help but enjoy it. ‘Gotham’ on the other hand is completely pointless and I did try to stick with it out of loyalty, but gave up because like I say, it’s pointless and dilutes the characters.

When Marvel decided the small screen was the way forward for Daredevil I honestly thought It would have it moments, but be a toned down version of the comic and swaying more to the shows I’ve mentioned,…well how wrong I was. Marvel have gone and taken another giant step ahead in their battle for supremacy over DC. I’m not gona get into all of that rubbish again, but they are continuingly surprising me all the time.

You see growing up a comic fan, but not really a fan of the superhero genre apart from Batman and Daredevil, I haven’t really got a foot in either camp. I did read Spider-man comics as I really love his costume, but I can’t say I’m an expert in this whole Marvel VS DC thing. Regarding movie adaptions I’ve been as wowed by some as I’ve been let down. For every ‘The Dark Knight’ there is ‘The Dark Knight Rises’. For every ‘Spider-man 2’ there is ‘Spider-man 3’ (Sam Raimi’s of course). Two thirds of ‘The Incredible Hulk’ was fantastic, but then it goes and sucks mega-balls by flooding it with unnecessary CGI. I’m under no illusion you have to have lots of CGI in comic book movies, but comics are about the fantastic characters and some directors just seem to forget all about that and look for the spectacle and not about the story. Matthew Vaughan achieved wonders with ‘X-Men: First Class’ blending stunning set pieces, but keeping the root and concentrating on the characters to masterful effect.

Last summer Marvel went and smashed it with ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. They did their homework, took risks and ended up with the best sci-fi, family movie since the Indiana Jones days. ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ was a huge step in a more mature filmmaking direction also, ‘Daredevil’ has now convinced me that Marvel are leading the way big time because it’s not just a decent interpretation of the character, it’s an outstanding study of ‘The Man Without Fear’.

The show kicks off with Daredevil aka Matt Murdock already running around Hell’s Kitchen beating local muggers and other bad guys and slowly making a name for himself. He’s just about to open shop ‘Nelson & Murdock’ with his attorney best friend Foggy and jumping straight into their first murder case. We quickly get accustomed with the world that Matt resides and it’s a stark difference to anything else you’ve seen so far in the Marvel Universe. We’re talking a grimy, organic, very realistic city that seems like it isn’t at all associated with the rest of Marvel world. It’s very intimate which I adore. Daredevil’s main objective isn’t saving the planet, its saving his neighbourhood and his friends. His origins aren’t displayed in the normal conventional way of most superhero adaptions, here we see snippets of his life when he experiences feelings or comes into contact with certain characters, and nothing is done chronologically.

Charlie Cox is superbly cast as Matt/Daredevil and perfectly fits the black bandana costume. He subtly plays Matt as a strong, assertive lawyer by day, and then totally smashes it as the masked vigilante by night. When I say smashes it, you have to see it to believe it. You’ve never seen fight scenes like this in a superhero small screen show. They are brutal, so well-choreographed and relentless, oh and did I mention violent? Hell yes! Daredevil cracks heads and breaks bones and on more than one occasion really goes near to the knuckle when taking names. This is superhero TV for adults for sure.

We are then introduced to Wilson Fisk aka Kingpin. He slowly appears a few episodes into the series as the rest of the bad-guys and city dare speak his name. (He’s literally like Voldemort) He’s as much as a myth as Daredevil, if not more. Everything surrounding his upbringing and origins could have easily made the character unwatchable or too sympathetic, but the writing and performances are so good at times I’m ashamed to say I was kind of rooting for the villain. Vincent D’onofrio may well have delivered the best performance of his career. He plays Fisk as slightly child-like, low voiced and nervous at times, but deranged when cornered, he’s amazing. I couldn’t believe I was watching a Marvel series as in one scene we see a full on Wilson Fisk repeatedly crushing a Russian thug’s head with his car door until he’s decapitated. This isn’t violence for the sake of it, we needed to see Fisk in these moments to see how dangerous he really is and I’m so glad Marvel is willing to take risks.

Supporting cast and performances are on the money especially from Vondie Curtis-Hall, Scott Glenn & Toby Leonard-Moore and the atmosphere is so stylized with a superhero undertone. Everything is grounded and nothing is silly and one of the great things is we all know Daredevil has superhero abilities to compensate his sight, but it is delivered in a very realistic fashion, like he often takes a beating, to show he isn’t perfect or invincible which is refreshing.

It was extremely shrewd of Netflix to launch the entire season in one shot and gave sad cases such as me with no life to take the entire weekend off and watch it all at once. It was a great way to fully realise the character and give him the platform and introduction he deserves other than just another 2 hour movie.

Marvel have surprised me yet again and totally set down a marker for superheroes on the small screen. Everybody else better get their act together because they have a lot to live up to from now on.

Review by- FOLKLORE
Twitter @folkloreart
@SlaughteredBird