Declared by critics as the best comic book adaptation ever made, Marvel's "Daredevil" was released on Netflix in the spring of 2015. The show was directed by Steven Deknight, best know as the show runner for "Spartacus." The show is critically acclaimed by comic book nerds and film critics alike. It was even nominated for an Emmy. Not since "The Dark Knight" has a comic book adaptation been given such recognition.
The show opens with a group of human traffickers forcing young women into a cargo container. As one of the men is about to shut them in, Daredevil (Matt Murdock, played by Charlie Cox), masked and covered in all black, appears. He jumps down and engages the men in a fist fight. This fight is choreographed very differently from most Hollywood fights. The attackers don't go down with one hit and actually attack the hero all at once; it is very realistic. The choreography also shows that Daredevil is human and is capable of getting tagged and hurt. Daredevil beats the men and lets the women go. As they flee, one of the beaten men attempts to shoot them, but is stopped by Daredevil, who savagely beats him.
Marvel's "Daredevil" takes place in Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Hell's Kitchen is portrayed as a crime-ridden neighborhood. There is garbage on the street, graffiti on the walls, and depravity at every turn. The police are, more or less, common thugs with badges. Although there seems it seems to be a hopeless place, Hell's Kitchen also shows that it is home to good people. The dialogue feels very natural, though there are one or two cheesy lines per episode; even the cheesy lines aren't really cringe-worthy.
The hero of the story is Matt Murdock, lawyer by day, Daredevil by night. The villain of the story is Wilson Fisk, known by marvel fans as the Kingpin. Matt Murdock is a very complicated man. He does not know exactly what why he is Daredevil. He tells himself that he is doing it to protect the city, but he also seems to enjoy hurting people. He is basically a non-lethal Dexter, given that he doesn't kill.
Wilson Fisk is even more complicated than Matt. He has a very Machiavellian view of the world. He believes that what he is doing is for the good of Hell's Kitchen. He is not a bad man, just a man with a warped shape of justice.
Marvel's "Daredevil" is one of the best shows of 2015, and if you have not seen it, I suggest you do.
