Elektra (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
A hired assassin chooses not to kill her targets, but rather save them from supernatural ninjas in Ron Bowman's 'Elektra', a 2005 spin-off from 2003's Daredevil. Having been resurrected from death {or near death} by her blind sensei, Stick (Yoda-like Terence Stamp), but then kicked-out by him due to her ineptitude in controlling her rage, Elektra (Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck's sidekick in Daredevil, and star from TV's Alias) has now become a contract killer who takes hit jobs arranged by Agent McCabe (Colin Cunningham). Her new assignment is to kill Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) & his 13 yr. old daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout), who are on the run from a corrupt Japanese syndicate known as 'The Hand' & led by Roshi (Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa).
That group is after treasure that is related to those targets, but just as Elektra is about to vanquish them, she has 2nd thoughts, somewhat due to troublesome memories of her own mother's death. Consequently, she kills some supernatural ninjas {yes, you read that correctly} dispatched by Roshi & then goes on the run with Mark & Abby; asking for assistance from both McCabe & Stick. Roshi then sends his sorcerer/ninja son, Kirigi (Will Yun Lee), who - with his henchmen, Typhoid (Natassia Malthe), Stone (Bob Sapp), Kinkou (Edson T. Robiero), & Tattoo (Chris Ackerman, replacing the late Herve Villechaize) - venture to find the Millers & nab the treasure. Hereafter, Elektra uses her resources to battle the supernatural ninjas & protect the teenage girl & her father. Boring nuttiness ensues.
Although Jennifer Garner is a good actress, a charming personality, stellar in TV's Alias, and arguably the best thing about the decidedly mehhh comic book adaptation of Daredevil ... her translation from supporting character to lead here isn't as successful, for me. Maybe it is the direction; maybe it is the script; but Garner cannot really carry this movie. Sure, she looks amazing wielding a blade & wearing that iconic red outfit. But Garner's super-heroine fails to make a great impression. The 1sy half hour unfolds quite slowly {you NEVER want that with a comic book movie}, the midsection is okay, but then the 3rd act finale is a big letdown. And throughout it all, the dialogue that these characters have to say is pretty putrid.
There's really only one good action segment here -- the climactic battle btwn. Elektra & her main foe. But for all the supernatural martial arts stuff going on, none of it holds a candle to the type of cinematic wizardry that, say, Zhang Yimou brought to the table with his scintillating Hero & The House of Flying Daggers. There were high energy, highlight moments, but the resolution simply wasn't satisfying. It's one of those endings where you turn to your left or right & murmur: "that was it?" As for characterizations in the film: underdeveloped. I didn't even buy the romantic attraction btwn. Elektra & Mark. 'Elektra' was too dull & narratively deficient, for me. When a comic book film fails to grab you, you know you're in for an inept, soulless affair.
That group is after treasure that is related to those targets, but just as Elektra is about to vanquish them, she has 2nd thoughts, somewhat due to troublesome memories of her own mother's death. Consequently, she kills some supernatural ninjas {yes, you read that correctly} dispatched by Roshi & then goes on the run with Mark & Abby; asking for assistance from both McCabe & Stick. Roshi then sends his sorcerer/ninja son, Kirigi (Will Yun Lee), who - with his henchmen, Typhoid (Natassia Malthe), Stone (Bob Sapp), Kinkou (Edson T. Robiero), & Tattoo (Chris Ackerman, replacing the late Herve Villechaize) - venture to find the Millers & nab the treasure. Hereafter, Elektra uses her resources to battle the supernatural ninjas & protect the teenage girl & her father. Boring nuttiness ensues.
Although Jennifer Garner is a good actress, a charming personality, stellar in TV's Alias, and arguably the best thing about the decidedly mehhh comic book adaptation of Daredevil ... her translation from supporting character to lead here isn't as successful, for me. Maybe it is the direction; maybe it is the script; but Garner cannot really carry this movie. Sure, she looks amazing wielding a blade & wearing that iconic red outfit. But Garner's super-heroine fails to make a great impression. The 1sy half hour unfolds quite slowly {you NEVER want that with a comic book movie}, the midsection is okay, but then the 3rd act finale is a big letdown. And throughout it all, the dialogue that these characters have to say is pretty putrid.
There's really only one good action segment here -- the climactic battle btwn. Elektra & her main foe. But for all the supernatural martial arts stuff going on, none of it holds a candle to the type of cinematic wizardry that, say, Zhang Yimou brought to the table with his scintillating Hero & The House of Flying Daggers. There were high energy, highlight moments, but the resolution simply wasn't satisfying. It's one of those endings where you turn to your left or right & murmur: "that was it?" As for characterizations in the film: underdeveloped. I didn't even buy the romantic attraction btwn. Elektra & Mark. 'Elektra' was too dull & narratively deficient, for me. When a comic book film fails to grab you, you know you're in for an inept, soulless affair.