Daredevil - The Director's Cut [Blu-ray]

There are rumors circulating that the director's cut of Daredevil is much better than the theatrical version. Further, they say this fixes many problems in the movie. The theatrical version was poor because the bad studio execs made bad decisions about the final cut.

On the strength of these rumors, I bought a copy of this Blu-ray. I wish I hadn't. I am hear to tell you that all these reports are nothing in the world but a bunch of codswallop, poppycock, blarney and balderdash. In every respect, the director's cut is worse than the theatrical version of the movie, not better.

The movie does not benefit at all from the extra thread including the trial of Coolio. The studio was correct in discarding all those scenes. It was a totally unnecessary plot thread, containing a lot of bad scenes full of bad dialog, badly delivered. Including these bad scenes of bad dialog does not help resolve anything. Rather, it creates a cheap, "made for TV" feel that was common with CBS movies in the 1970s-1980s. It is paced like a snail, and feels way too long with this extra 34 minutes of footage.

The movie failed because Colin Farrel sunk the picture. The quivering and shivering idiot he played was not Bullseye. Also Michael Clark Duncan was a poor choice for the Kingpin.

After viewing the director's cut, I can say I categorically agree the studio's decision to cut all those scenes. It was better before.

I subscribed to the early comic book. I liked Daredevil because he was different with his disabilities (blind and mortal) and strengths ('radar-sense' and martial arts style of moving and fighting). I thought the film was a great version of my favorite underdog hero. There's a dark feeling in the look and story of this 'early wire-swinging' hero. A earthy cross between Batman and Spiderman with a realistic approach that is almost noirish. The picture and sound are BluRay bests! Basically, Daredevil is a blind stick fighter, who is so hyper-sensitive, that he has to medicate himself and get into a isolation tank, to get any sleep. And he's got a girl. Give DAREDEVIL a chance.

That title is not a question; it's a statement, because I'm going to tell you what I think ruined this movie. It wasn't Ben Affleck. As far as well-known actors go, he performed quite well in a niche role. It wasn't Michael Clarke Duncan. Even thought the Kingpin is white in every other version, what big white guy are you going to get to play the role as well as Duncan did? Turning a white character black is not a concern for me; they're doing it with Nick Fury for the Ultimate Avengers, and it works.

No, the problem with this film is two-fold: Jennifer Garner and Colin Farrell. Or maybe it should be Jennifer Garner and Mark Stephen Johnson. Well, whoever's responsible for the crap-tastic versions of Elektra and Bullseye, they're responsible for the lameness of "Daredevil."

Jennifer Garner is just not a good actress. She looks nice, but that's it. Her portrayal of Elektra was such a deviation from the original character; she's too outgoing, too nice, too kind-hearted. She's Greek, but she can't even speak to her father in their native language, even when he speaks it to her? She also talks too much. And couldn't they have at least dyed her hair black? This is like making Jean Grey a blonde; you don't do it.

Maybe Colin Farrell isn't to blame for Bullseye's failure; maybe he was just doing as directed. Either way, he took an already cinematic character from the comics and made him so incredibly generic. Bullseye's cocky and talkative; Farrell was soft-spoken and had an accent (Don't try to tell me he can't fake an American accent. "Phone Booth"). I understand that the comic book version of Bullseye wore a silly spandex outfit that wouldn't look good on film, but couldn't they have done better than a trench coat? Go play "The Punisher" video game that came out in 2005 to see a perfect representation of Bullseye that would have worked for the film. To bad Garth Ennis didn't work on this film.

I'm interested in seeing Director's Cut, but I see no way it will change my opinion on the failings of these two characters. Maybe I'll just skip around their scenes.

Version: U.S.A / Region-A
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / High Profile 4.1
Running time: 2:13:08
Movie size: 27,17 GB
Disc size: 47,57 GB
Average video bit rate: 19.95 Mbps

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3977 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 3977kbps (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48kHz / 24-bit / 1536kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio French 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48kHz / 448kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48kHz / 224kbps

Subtitles: English / English SDH / Chinese (Traditional & Simplified) / French / Spanish

Number of chapters: 45

# Enhanced video mode - BonusView
# Audio commentary with Writer/Director and Producer
# Fact and fiction feature - Pop-up trivia on the story, characters, and Marvel Universe
# Beyond Hell's Kitchen - The making of Daredevil
# Jennifer Garner screen test
# Featured villain - The Kingpin
# Daredevil: HBO First Look - Hosted by Jennifer Garner
# Moving through space - A day with Tom Sullivan
# Giving the Devil his due - Editing process for Daredevil
# Multi-angle dailies for Daredevil
# The Comic Book
# Music videos
# Still galleries
# Trailers

It certainly is this time around.

Daredevil - the Director's Cut, is what the theatrical release was intended to be, when the film was being made. Contractual obligations kept the film from being released in theaters as R-rated, opting instead to cut out many key sequences to achieve a PG-13 rating. This version carries a good deal more weight behind it, with a greatly expanded-upon story and adding back in character development scenes. The movie still struggles through the awkward and out-of-place playground fight scene which is so very out-of-character for Matt Murdock, but the rest of the film hits much closer to home for the horned protaganist.

Ben Affleck makes a surprisingly good attempt at portraying Murdock/Daredevil, in this action-adventure film. His scenes as Murdock w/the affable "Foggy" Nelson are a pleasure to watch, but he's able to make the transition to the grim and all-too-breakable vigilante, as well. Michael Clarke Duncan's turn as a street-grown version of the Kingpin is interesting and works well enough within the framework of the story, that the departure from the character's origins is negligible for all but the truly hardcore. More-involved fight sequences and fewer romance scenes give this version of the film better pacing and help to center the viewer on the character of Murdock/Daredevil, rather than his relationship w/ hum-drum Jennifer Garner and her less-than-stellar tv actor-quality performances and fight scenes.

Overall, this film is still flawed and an uninspired take on the character of Daredevil and the stories of Hell's Kitchen, but it is a far cry better than the theatrical release. In comparison to it's theatrical release, this film is on a whole new level. Fans of Daredevil and comics in general will be able to enjoy this film, despite it's numerous flaws.