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Daredevil (film)

2003 film directed by Mark Steven Johnson

Daredevil is a 2003 film featuring characters from Marvel Comics. A blind man whose remaining senses are superhumanly acute battles crime as the costumed vigilante Daredevil, the "Man Without Fear".

Directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Screenplay by Mark Steven Johnson.
Tagline: When justice is blind, it knows no fear.

Matt Murdock/Daredevil

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  • [narrating] I had lost my sight, but I got something back in return. My remaining four senses functioned with superhuman sharpness. But most amazing of all, my sense of sound gave off a kind of radar sense.
  • [narrating] High above the city streets, I trained my body and my senses. An acute sense of touch gave me both strength and balance, until the city itself became my playground.
  • [narrating] I waited outside the Olympic for my father. In some ways, I'm still waiting. Nobody cared much about the death of a washed-up prizefighter... nobody but me.
  • [narrating] I would keep my promise. I would help those that others wouldn't. I would seek justice... one way or another.
  • Can one man make a difference? There are days when I believe, and others when I have lost all faith.
  • Mister Quesada, for your sake, I hope justice is found here today... before justice finds you.
  • Hey, that light at the end of the tunnel? Guess what? That's not heaven. That's the C train!
  • When it rains, it's like there's a rooftop on the world. Each raindrop makes a sound the first time it falls on a surface. Just then, it's like I-I... it's like I can see again. And I-I just want to... I just want to see you.
  • I tried, Father. I tried. This is who I am.
  • If there are no eyewitnesses, I mean, you know, Bigfoot has eyewitnesses.
  • [narrating] Hell’s Kitchen is my neighborhood. I prowl the rooftops and alleyways at night. Watching from the darkness. Forever in darkness. A guardian devil.

Elektra Natchios

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  • You should know that the only reason I got dressed up for this thing was that I wanted to look beautiful for you. I wish you could see me tonight.
  • It's just... good things don't happen to me very often. When they do, I get scared.
  • You don't know how I feel. I want revenge.
  • I want to look into the eyes of my father's killer as he dies.

Bullseye

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  • I missed. I NEVER miss!
  • I want a bloody costume!
  • You're good, baby, I'll give you that. But me? I'm magic.
  • 'Man without fear' [chuckles] Looks like I found something you're afraid of. Let's bring on the pain! Let's bring on the noise!

Wilson Fisk/Kingpin

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  • The press want a Kingpin, so I'll give them a Kingpin. Get me Bullseye.
  • Nobody's innocent. Nobody.
  • It's a shame you came here wounded. I would've loved to fight you in your prime. They called you the man without fear. If that's true, why are you afraid to show your face?

Franklin Nelson

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  • There are alligators in the sewers! Don't ride my ass about the alligators. I got a friend in Sanitation, okay? He's seen them!
  • That place is gonna be crawling with people, rich people! People who pay their legal fees with money, not with fish, or with-with-with wheels of cheese, or with sports supplies! I'm gonna fill you in on a little secret, Matt. This doesn't look like a law office, okay? It looks like the set of goddamn "Sanford and Son". Every time I walk in, I'm waiting for Lamont to come down the stairs!

Others

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  • Matt Murdock's answering machine: Matt, it's Heather. Are you there? Of course you're not there. You're never there. At least, not for me. Look, I didn't want to do this over the phone, but it's not like you've given me any choice. I mean, It's been three months, and I've never even seen your apartment. Every time we sleep together, I wake up in the morning alone. I mean, Jesus, where do you go at three o'clock in the morning?
  • Jack Kirby: You said to look out for anything weird, yes? Well, it's some pretty weird shit right here, man, right?

Dialogue

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Fallon: Jack, it's been a while.
Jack Murdock: I don't work for you no more, Fallon.
Fallon: Jack, you never stopped. Did you really think you won all those fights on your own? You're forty-two years old! Miller, Mack, Bendis, they're all my fighters... just like you. And now it's your turn to take a fall. Think about your boy, Jack. I'm sure you'll do the right thing.
(A vigilante superhero in the confessional)
Matt Murdock: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It's been a week since my last...
Father Everett: What the hell are playing at, Matt? You didn't come here for forgiveness. You came for permission, and I can't give you that.
Matt: Justice isn't a sin, Father.
Father Everett: No, but vengeance is. You see it every day on the street: violence begets more violence. Is that how you want to live your life? A lawyer during the day, and then judge and jury at night. Is that what you want?
Matt: Somebody has to do something.
Father Everett: But why you?
Matt: Because I can. Because I'm not afraid.
Father Everett: Well, I'm afraid for you, Matthew. Look, a man without fear is a man without hope. May God have mercy on you for your sins and grant you Everlasting Life, Amen. (sighs) I'm not too crazy about the outfit, either.
Franklin Nelson: Your client, Mister Lee, he made his first payment today.
Matt Murdock: That's great. You should be very happy.
Franklin: Yeah, it's fantastic. He paid in fluke. Fluke is a fish, Matt. Did you know that? Because I sure as hell didn't.
Matt: Mister Lee is a good man, and he... he doesn't have a lot of money, and he goes fishing on the weekends, so I guess that's...
Franklin: Yeah, well, I go salsa dancing on the weekends, but I don't shake my ass to pay my phone bill, you know what I'm sayin'?
Franklin: We need some better clients. I'm tired of these pro bono cases.
Matt: What is your problem with our clients? We have good, honorable clients, decent people. What's your idea of better? Define "better". Huh? What would be a "better" client?
Franklin: "Better" means rich and guilty, okay? Remember how they taught us in law school how to create a moral vacuum, so you can represent people who aren't all necessarily innocent?
Matt: That was your best course, as I recall.
Franklin: Yeah, well, you don't have a moral vacuum, Matt. You're completely vacuumless.
(In the coffee shop, Elektra is reading)
Matt Murdock: Uh, I was just looking for some honey. Could you help me out?
Elektra Natchios (without looking up): Right in front of you.
Matt: (chuckles) Well... could you be a little more specific?
Elektra: (looking up) What, are you...
Matt: Blind? Yeah.
Elektra: (shocked) I am so sorry!
Matt: It's okay.
Elektra: (about Nelson) Friend of yours?
Matt: You know, I've never seen him before. (extends a hand) Matt Murdock.
Elektra: (shakes hands) Nice to meet you, Matt Murdock.
Matt: Nice to meet you, uhh... I didn't get your name.
Elektra: I didn't give it. (she exits the coffee shop)
(Matt follows Elektra, tracking her by scent to a park)
Elektra: What do you want?
Matt: I just wanted to get your name. I didn't want any trouble.
Elektra: Look... I don't like being followed. So don't. (she turns to storm off)
Matt: Uh, wait a minute, wait a minute. Wait a second, take it easy! (he catches Elektra's hand)
Elektra: And I don't like being touched! (she throws a punch; Matt counters and pins her arms)
Matt: What don't you tell me what you do like, and we'll start there. Okay?
(Elektra throws more punches and kicks, which Matt dodges. The two separate, remove their jackets, and strike martial arts poses)
Elektra: You sure you're blind?
Matt: Sure you don't wanna tell me your name?
(Later, during a pause in the fighting)
Matt Murdock: Does every guy have to go through all this just to find out your name?
Elektra: Try asking for my number.
Kingpin: What's wrong, Wesley?
Wesley: Have you seen the papers today? Somebody's been talking.
Kingpin: Somebody always does. Wesley, did you know back in ancient times, they would cut the tongues out of their bodyguards their first day on the job? You think that's horrible, don't you? Because you don't like the physical stuff. I do. (he brutally kills one of his guards) Wesley, handkerchief.
Matt Murdock: Where'd you learn how to fight like that?
Elektra Natchios: My father. He had me study with a different sensei every year since I was five years old.
Matt: Sounds like he wanted to turn you into some kind of a warrior.
Elektra: No. Just not a victim.
Matt Murdock: I said I was sorry. What do you want?
Franklin Nelson: Details. You owe me that.
Matt: Her name's Elektra Natchios.
Franklin: She sounds like a Mexican appetizer.
Matt: It's Greek, genius. Her father's Nikolas Natchios.
Franklin: The billionaire?
Matt: Yeah, see? Yes, the billionaire.
Franklin: Well, then, as your attorney in this matter, I advise you to marry the woman immediately.
Matt: I'll take it under consideration. What do we got?
Franklin: Oh, this one's a real winner. Dante Jackson, an ex-con from Queens charged with the August 9th murder of Lisa Tazio, your friendly neighborhood prostitute. Bad news is Jackson was found passed out in an alley holding the murder weapon and enough THC in his lungs to get Staten Island high. Jackson says he can't remember what happened on the night of the murder or for that matter, most of the '90s.
Matt: What's the good news?
Franklin: The good news is the fluke wasn't bad.
(Matt Murdock arrives at his office and is greeted by his secretary)
Karen Page: This just came by messenger. It's your invitation to the Black and White Ball at the Grand, plus one. (she smiles expectantly)
Franklin Nelson: Plus one? All right! Guess I gotta rent a tux.
Franklin: Natchios owns the Grand Hotel. And Elektra's the reason you were invited to the ball.
Matt: She's out of my league. I'd rather just end it before it starts.
Franklin: That's gotta be some kind of record, Matt. You just completely bypassed the whole relationship phase. You went right into the breakup. Trying to save some time, huh?
(Walking on the street at night, Matt Murdock stops and sniffs the air)
Matt: So, does this mean you want a rematch?
Elektra: (smiling) I knew I'd find you. How did you know I wasn't a mugger?
Matt: Muggers don't usually wear rose oil or high heels. At least, this far from Chelsea.
(Matt has taken Elektra onto a rooftop)
Elektra: Wait a second, exactly how many women have you had up here?
Matt: Uh, you're my first.
Elektra: Good answer.
Matt: I thought that was the right answer.
Elektra: Look at this! It's so beautiful!
Matt: I know. This was my favorite view of the city when I was a kid. I really wanted you to see this.
Ben Urich: Cool color. (commenting on Matt's cane)
Matt: I wouldn't know.
Franklin Nelson: Oh-oh-oh! Look at that! Wilson Fisk is in the hizzie! Come on, we might never get a chance like this again. Come on, let's go! (to Fisk) Mister Fisk? Mister Fisk, it's Franklin Nelson from Nelson and Murdock...
Wesley: Excuse me. You want to talk to Mister Fisk, you make an appointment. Okay?
Wilson Fisk: It's all right, Wesley. (to Nelson) I know who you are. You're the blind lawyers from Hell's Kitchen.
Franklin: Actually, actually he's the blind one. I'm deaf.
Fisk: (chuckles) Give them a card, Wesley. I'm always on the lookout for new blood.
Matt Murdock: I'm sorry, Mister Fisk, my partner's a little overzealous. We can't represent you.
Fisk: Why's that?
Franklin: Yes, why is that, Mister Murdock?
Matt: Because we only handle clients who are innocent.
Fisk: (chuckles) "Innocent", he says. That's pretty funny. You know, I've learned one thing in all my years in this business.
Matt: What's that?
Fisk: Nobody's innocent. Nobody. Have a great time at the party. (Fisk and Wesley exit)
Franklin: I just... Matt, for one night I just wish, I just... (he spots Elektra, in an evening gown, on the balcony) Matt, I just wish I could give you my eyes for one night.
(On the dance floor, Elektra reaches up to remove Matt's dark glasses)
Elektra: Do you mind?
Matt: Uh, no, I just... sometimes it makes people uncomfortable, that's all.
Elektra: Not me. But you should know that the only reason I got dressed up for this thing was that I wanted to look beautiful for you. I wish you could see me tonight.
Matt: Me, too.
(Nikolas Natchios is watching Elektra on the dance floor; Wilson Fisk approaches him from behind)
Fisk: I think she's happy. I haven't seen her smile like that since her mother was killed. Poor girl, right in front of her eyes.
Natchios: Why do you have to bring that up now?
Fisk: History has a way of repeating itself.
Natchios: What are you saying?
Fisk: Just saying goodbye, old friend. Just saying goodbye.
(At Nikolas Natchios' funeral)
Matt: I know how you feel.
Elektra: You don't know how I feel. I want revenge.
Matt: Revenge won't make the pain go away. Trust me. I know.
Elektra: There's no place for me now.
Matt: Yes, there is. Stay. Stay with me. Please.
(Elektra starts to leave)
Matt: Elektra. Elektra, wait! Please.
(Wilson Fisk enters his office to find Bullseye sitting at his desk)
Fisk: Now how did you get past my security?
Bullseye: Oh, you mean that guy? (chuckling, he points to corpse on the floor)
Fisk: Was that really necessary?
Bullseye: Necessary? No. It was fun.
Bullseye: The Devil is mine.
Fisk: Really? I've heard that before, all too many times. But answer me this. How do you kill a man without fear?
Bullseye: By puttin' the fear in him.
Fisk: Ah... I like that. But first, give Elektra all my best. Is there anything else?
Bullseye: Yeah, I want a fucking costume.
(theatrical cut only)
Ben Urich: Matt, it's Ben Urich.
Matt Murdock: I know who it is. What do you want?
Urich: I got a lead on my story. I think that Natchios was set up by the real Kingpin.
Matt: Why are you telling me this?
Urich: They say the Kingpin doesn't just kill you. He kills your whole family. I think your girl's in trouble. I thought you might know somebody that could protect her.
(Elektra, armed and suited up in leather, attacks Daredevil intent on murder)
Elektra: Remember me?
Daredevil: It wasn't me! Stop! It was a hitman named Bullseye. I didn't kill your father!
Elektra: Liar.
Daredevil: (restraining Elektra) I'm not gonna fight you.
Elektra: Good. Then, this will be quick.
(Elektra breaks free from Daredevil)
Elektra: (after being stabbed) Help me.
Daredevil: Stay, stay with me.
(Elektra dies)
(Father Everett finds Daredevil, badly wounded, in the church; Bullseye enters in pursuit and sends a throwing star into the wall above the Father's head)
Bullseye: The first one's a warning... padre.
Daredevil: Is there a back door out of here?
Father Everett: Yes.
Daredevil: Take it.
Father Everett: What about you?
Daredevil: I'm gonna finish this.
Father Everett: You can't fight like this, son!
Daredevil: Have faith, Father. Isn't that right?
Bullseye: Fisk was right about you. He said you wouldn't go easy.
Daredevil: Fisk? Fisk is the Kingpin?
Bullseye: Yeah. That whole red rose thing? He loves that shite. It's not my style. He hired me to kill Natchios, and to gut your pretty girlfriend too. But me, I'm going for the hat-trick. I told him I'd do you for free.
Wesley: There's been a problem.
Wilson Fisk: Bullseye failed.
Wesley: Correct.
Fisk: Send the guards home.
Wesley: (confused) B-but, sir...
Fisk: I was raised in the Bronx, Wesley. This is something you wouldn't understand.
Wilson Fisk: It's a shame you came here wounded. I would've loved to fight you in your prime. They called you the man without fear. If that's true, why are you afraid to show your face? (pulls off Daredevil's mask and is laughing) No, I don't believe this. No, no. The blind lawyer from Hell's Kitchen?
Matt Murdock: You killed the only two people I ever loved. Why?
Fisk: Business. That's all it ever is, is business. I was working for Fallon at the time. Your father was supposed to throw a fight. And your girl was in the wrong family at the wrong time. It's all business. (long pause) And you've been in my business for too long!
Fisk: You hear that, blind man? Sirens. They're coming for you.
Matt: For me? Didn't you hear? The word's out on the Kingpin. They're coming for you. I can hear the police radios from here.
Fisk: No, no. I swear, I'll tell 'em who you are.
Matt: Yeah? Go ahead. Tell 'em. Tell all the guys at Ryker's all about how you got beat by a blind man. It'll be like blood in the water.
Fisk: Oh, don't worry about that. Cause I'll get out.
Matt: Yeah, I know. And I'll be waiting. Justice is served.

About Daredevil (film)

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  • Q: How did you prepare to play a blind man?
A: I wanted to learn what it was like to live with no sight. I worked with this amazing guy named Tom Sullivan. He's blind and climbs Mount Everest, which really puts your own life in perspective. I also wore these special contact lenses that made my eyes looked scarred and opaque from the radiation accident that had originally blinded Daredevil.
Q: How is Daredevil different from other superheroes?
A: A lot. The vigilante element in his character puts him at the far end of these guys; not to mention his religion and belief in Catholicism. Overall, he's more human and he battles with the same things the rest of us do on an everyday basis. Also, the heart of the movie is a love story with Jennifer Garner [who plays Elektra]. That's also what made the movie different and more interesting than a lot of other comic book movies.
  • I was very familiar with the Kingpin. When I read the comic books, that was the only person I read it for. Growing up like I did, I never thought I'd be able to portray this guy. When they came to me and said I could be the Kingpin and I get to fight Ben, I said, 'Yeah!' It was like a dream come true."
  • There must be a woman, and in "Daredevil" there is one (only one, among all those major make characters, although the fragrant Ellen Pompeo has a slink-on). She is Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner), who, like her classical namesake, wants to avenge the death of her father. By day, she is, well, pretty much as she is by night. She and Daredevil are powerfully attracted to each other, and even share some PG-13 sex, which is a relief because when superheroes have sex at the R level, I am always afraid someone will get hurt. There is a rather beautiful scene where he asks her to stand in the rain because his ears are so sensitive they can create an image of her face from the sound of the raindrops.
  • Daredevil describes himself as a "guardian devil," and that means there are guardian angels, and that means God exists and, by a process of logical deduction, that Matt Murdock is a Catholic. Please address your correspondence to Rome.
    The movie is actually pretty good. Affleck and Garner probe for the believable corners of their characters, do not overact, are given semi-particular dialogue, and are in a very good-looking movie. Most of the tension takes place between the characters, not the props. There is, of course, a fancy formal ball to which everyone is invited (Commissioner Gordon must have been at the rival affair across town).
  • Q: In this movie you’re playing an unrelentingly bad villain. Did you work on finding the human side of the villain?
A: Not this time. I mean I’m a great man for trying to find shades in characters, different layers and all that kind of bullshit that actors talk about, I’m a great man for that, but this time it was a chance for me to just check my sanity in at the door and just have a field day. Not worry about a dead father or a prisoner of war camp or finding out who the killer is. Not worrying about anything past or future. Just worrying about being exactly in the now and just dealing with that.
Bullseye was great. He was so black and white. There were no shades of gray. He was just an insane assassin and derived so much pleasure from his work as a killer.
He’s like a cat with a ball of thread. In the fight with Elektra, that’s what I mean. He’s just on top of the world when he’s into having a fight with Elektra and he’s just toying with her like she’s a piece of thread.
  • Q: How does Daredevil compare to other comic book heroes?
A: Daredevil stands out because he's real. He's superhuman, not a superhero. He is an ordinary guy who happens to have these incredibly acute senses. He is compelled to be out in the world taking care of crimes, one at a time. He's not about saving the whole world. He's about saving his own neighbourhood, a ten-block radius. And it's not the huge crimes he's interested in. It's saving a little boy from being beaten or saving a woman from being raped.
Q: What drives Elektra?
A: She's driven by vengeance. She's a very dark woman. But the great thing about this movie is that it starts with her falling in love. What was fun about playing her was that I got to play both the tenderness and the blissfulness of falling in love, and also her vengeful darker side.
  • ‘Daredevil’ was an R and I had to cut things out to make it a PG-13 and this is just like, there is so much stuff in it that I thought, ‘Oh my God, we’re dead.’ But we made it which is amazing. You know what’s funny is that what made ‘Daredevil’ an R is there was this scene where Bullseye kills Elektra, he gutted her – that was okay. He kissed her afterwards and then he threw her down. The kiss gave us an R. Isn’t that weird? Its okay to kill a girl, but you just can’t kiss her afterwards because somehow that’s repulsive. I don’t know.
  • Last time it was like, ‘We love “Daredevil,” but we don’t want to do horns and a costume. It’s silly.’ It was like, ‘But that’s it. That’s the character.’ That’s the hard part. Fans get angry and are like, ‘He’s in a leather costume. That’s not what the comic is.’ You want to say, ‘Look, I love you guys, but you don’t understand. There was no costume! I fought just to get a costume and just to have the horns and the double d. That was months of fighting.’ Again though, no one is the bad guy here. They gave me a big shot and they were very supportive in the end, but these movies are difficult. They’re very hard.
  • Daredevil…gets his ass kicked a lot in the movie. I think that’s cool! You know what I mean? Because anybody that gets hit fifty times in a Hong Kong movie and they’re fine, there’s always this like BOP-BOP-BOP-BOP-BOP and then there’s that one BOP and a guy goes flying and it’s like, what was so special about that one and why didn’t you do that sooner, dude? What have you been doing this for?
So in ‘Daredevil’ I really wanted to show repercussions to the violence. When Daredevil gets beaten up you see what it’s doing to his body. He’s pulling a tooth out of his mouth, like in ‘Ninja Scroll,’ which kind of inspired that scene, or the pain pills and the knee surgery and the back scars. It’s like, wow, this guy’s only thirty years old and literally his body’s falling apart!
I think that’s really interesting. So I really wanted to show that he’s not impervious to pain. That when there’s a fight, he also gets hurt.
  • I wanted to show like, instead of ‘golly gee, how great to be a superhero,’ I wanted to show the dark side of being a superhero. That was really appealing to me to show something different.

Cast

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