Review of Elektra (1994) by Michael M — 08 Nov 2012

This review's "Natchios", but mine! ;o).

"Natchios? She sounds like a Mexican appetizer," said Foggy Nelson upon learning the last name of Matt Murdoch's new girlfriend in 2002's lackluster superhero flick, "Daredevil". Two years from that, the girlfriend is spun-off in her own movie, "Elektra", and--like any other appetizer--leaves you wanting more.

First off, this movie looks beautiful and is very stylish--I particularly fancied the opening sequence (after the main credits) where Elektra (Jennifer Garner) infiltrates a supposedly well guarded building to get to her next target (a cameo by the versatile Jason Isaacs). The way director Rob Bowman accentuates this scene with the title character's signature color amidst the dark background is quite swanky. That scene was beautiful. The cast was beautiful (that Typhoid Mary! reminds me of Poison Ivy). The action sequences were beautiful. Bowman was able to sustain this throughout the film.

Then there's Jen who is just absolutely superb playing the Greek assassin and very believable in all her fight scenes. Can't complain about the way she wears her costumes either. "Victoria's Secret ad," a critic said of the film. Why not? But I say Jen garners a lot of thumbs up not just for perfectly showcasing her physique in those form fitting fight gear, but also for the way she breathes life into the character. She is Elektra!

But while Jen succeeds and takes flight with her role, the movie just seems to taxi around the runway and doesn't quite get airborne. "Why?" you ask. Well, for one you don't get that emotionally involved with the characters. Sure you see Elektra having flashbacks of her murdered mother and struggling with insomnia; the Millers coping with life on the run; and Abby feeling the pressure of being "the Treasure" but it just doesn't make that deep of a sentimental dent. You don't even get to feel anything for the bad guys--the glamorous looking bad guys. The emotional connection between Elektra and her blind mentor, Stick (Terence Stamp), wasn't that established also. By the way, Stick is blind, right?. Daredevil was also blind. Hmmm... Seems like this woman has a thing for blind guys. Just a thought).

All things considered, I think "Elektra" is a pretty decent superhero film. Better than Daredevil; could have gone further; but not really up to Marvel Entertainment standards set by the Spider-Man and X-Men movies. I would, however, like to think of this one as a teaser, an "appetizer" for more of this deadly, lovely lady in red!