BEN AFFLECK squeezes into a fetching red leather bodysuit and cowl to play the eponymous superhero created by Stan Lee and published by Marvel Comics.
Young Matt Murdock (Scott Terra) adores his father Jack (David Keith), a famous boxer who has knocked out all challengers to his crown. By chance, Matt visits Jack at work and witnesses his father beating up a helpless man on the instructions of New York's formidable underworld boss, Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan).
It is the last thing Matt ever sees. Soon after, he is accidentally sprayed with a strange radioactive isotope which renders him blind. Trapped in a world of darkness, the lad discovers his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness.
Matt also learns to translate noises around him into radar-like images - a special ability he keeps secret from the rest of the world. After Jack refuses to take a dive in the ring, Kingpin orders his immediate execution. Young Matt finds his father's lifeless body and vows revenge.
Years later, the now grown-up Matt (Affleck) has become a fearsome attorney, protecting the innocent and consigning the dregs of the world to jail. When justice fails, he puts his special abilities to good use to become the masked Daredevil.
Writer-director Mark Steven Johnson models his big budget romp closely on Spider-Man and The Matrix.
Heavy rock pounds on the soundtrack to herald each fight sequence, which employs wire work to allow the characters to perform all sorts of gravity-defying acrobatics. The cinematography and kinetic camera work are impressive, but some extremely ropy special effects often wreck the illusion.
Affleck is athletic and suitably tortured but doesn't really allow us into the mind of his character. Sexual chemistry with Garner, who plays Daredevil's lover turned nemesis Electra, barely smoulders.
The stunt sequences are breathlessly edited but the final showdowns, first with assassin Bullseye (Colin Farrell, chewing scenery) then Kingpin seem tame and unimaginative.
The film ends on an upbeat note, clearly opening the way for sequels aplenty.
Peter Parker's webslinging alter-ego has nothing to worry about. He's still the best crime-fighting superhero in the Big Apple.
Rating: 6/10
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