Hornet Rating:

Don’t get me wrong. “Daredevil” – starring Ben Affleck as a blind superhero who rights wrongs and triumphs over evil — is a good action flick. It has great combat sequences, well-done special effects and a script that doesn’t insult the audience’s intelligence. Yet, there’s really nothing about “Daredevil” that makes it more than adequate viewing.

There’s a nifty theme tucked somewhere in there about how revenge may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but the film fails to make the most of it. Unless you’re a fan of the titular Marvel Comics character “Daredevil” is based upon, you probably won’t remember much about the film except the fighting and the costumes.

The plot goes a little something like this: As a little boy growing up in Hell’s Kitchen, young Matt Murdock (Scott Terra) is injured during a chemical accident on his way home from school. His eyes are doused with a strange liquid that blinds him for life. Fortunately, the mishap enhances his other senses, increases his physical strength, and bestows him with radar sense: the ability to see the world through sound waves.

After his father (David Keith) is murdered, Matt decides to wage a war on crime and dish out street corner justice. Fast forward years later, and young Matt turns into adult Matt (Ben Affleck of “The Sum of All Fears”): straight-laced attorney by day, urban crime fighter by night. Like most superheroes, Daredevil likes to bust open industrial-strength cans of whoop ass in style, so he wears a red leather bodysuit and matching cowl ensemble.

But being a strapping vigilante isn’t all adrenaline and coolness. Poor Daredevil gets smacked up a lot during the course of his career, and it shows. He loses a tooth and has scars on his back from a lifetime of fighting, which adds a nice touch of realism. It’s not often that superheroes are shown suffering the long-lasting consequences that come from years of slugging it out with ruthless killers and villains.

Since the acting required for this kind of picture is unlike what’s needed for something like “The Hours,” not a single performance stands out amongst the cast. Colin Farrell (“Minority Report”) brings a certain intensity to the role of Bullseye, but all that character really does is give dirty looks and kill people. Jennifer Garner (TV’s “Alias” and 2000’s “Dude, Where’s My Car?”) has even less to do as Elektra, a mysterious and lethal debutante. All she does is look pretty, kick high and make goo-goo eyes at the male lead, just like she does on “Alias,” only with less crying.

Rounding out the cast of memorable characters is Michael Clarke Duncan (“The Scorpion King”) as the Kingpin, villainous mastermind behind all of the crime in New York City. Still, anyone watching “Daredevil” to see Duncan pull another “Green Mile” performance should stay away. He only serves as a vastly underutilized villain who’s not nearly as menacing or deadly as he should be.

On the plus side, “Daredevil” stands out from many other superhero movies because of its slightly darker tone. The hero himself is grittier than the traditional bright and shiny crime-fighters who take the moral high ground and avoid killing bad guys, punishing criminals in ways Superman or Spider-Man never would.

Unlike most silver screen comic book do-gooders, this hero is no boy scout. Daredevil’s a hard-core social avenger who upholds order with extreme prejudice, willing to do whatever it takes in the name of justice. This somewhat fanatical attitude causes internal conflict for him as the film progresses.

The fight scenes are also well-done, when you can see them. Whether it’s due to the camera work or the editing, sometimes the camera shots during choreographed fights are so quick and fleeting that you can’t tell who’s doing what to whom, or where.

The key to enjoying a film like “Daredevil” is to expect nothing new, sit back, relax and enjoy some popcorn.