I have never understood the appeal of Jennifer Garner as an action/adventure star. Based on my limited exposure to her work, she's better in comedic or lightly dramatic roles (such as her turn in 13 Going on 30). Nothing that happens in Elektra has changed my mind. Although Garner was arguably the best thing about the lukewarm comic book adaptation of Daredevil, her character had limited screen-time, playing fourth fiddle to Ben Affleck, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Colin Farrell. The translation from supporting character to lead doesn't go smoothly. Garner has difficulty carrying this movie, although the weakness of the script could be part of the reason.
Instead of following the usual superhero path of the protagonist trying to stop a diabolical villain from taking over the world (or some similarly grandiose goal), Elektra goes all metaphysical on us. It seems that we have reached a key point in the endless battle between good and evil. A Chosen One has been born and both sides want her. Evil is represented by "The Hand" - a bunch of Japanese bad guys who have cool powers and disappear in a puff of green smoke when they are killed. Good is represented by the film's resident Yoda/Mr. Miyazaki, Stick (Terence Stamp, who played the super-villain Zod in Superman II) and his reluctant pupil, Elektra (Garner). She isn't done with her training yet, so she's not a real Jedi, and the dark side of the Force beckons? Oops, sorry, wrong movie.
"But, wait," you say, "Elektra died in Daredevil." That is a correct observation, but in films like this, death is only a temporary inconvenience. Characters return from beyond the grave as often in comic books as they do in soap operas. It turns out that Stick can manipulate time and revive the dead. Elektra starts out her second life as his apprentice, but is eventually kicked out of paradise. Instead of seeking out Ben Affleck (at least on screen), she becomes a paid assassin (imitating what he did in Gigli). It's after she turns down a job to kill Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) and his teenage daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout), that she runs afoul of The Hand. They have decided that if Chosen One Abby won't join them, they'll eliminate her from the equation. When Elektra becomes Mark and Abby's accidental protector, she ends up headed for a confrontation with the evil sorcerer/swordsman Kirigi (Will Yun Lee) and his henchmen, Tatoo (Chris Ackerman replacing the late Herve Villechaize), Stone (Bob Sapp), and Typhoid (Natissia Malthe).
There's really only one good action sequence in all of Elektra, and that's the climactic battle between the title character and her nemesis. Director Rob Bowman borrows techniques from Hong Kong martial arts duels for this fight, but their integration is sloppy. Zhang Yimou (Hero, The House of Flying Daggers) might have been able to do something with all of the dancing sheets, but Bowman's use of them is merely confusing. This one-on-one struggle has plenty of high-energy moments, but the resolution is unsatisfying. When it was over, my underwhelmed reaction was, "Is that it?"
Elektra contains plenty of intriguing elements that are left unexplored. Except for an occasional quip, we never learn much about her death experience. The character is afflicted with an obsessive/compulsive disorder, but this turns out to be a personality quirk that is discarded when it doesn't play a role in the storyline's resolution. All of the human relationships (Elektra/Stick, Elektra/Abby, Elektra/Mark) are underdeveloped. I think there's supposed to be some sort of romantic attraction between Elektra and Mark (after all, they kiss twice), but actors Garner and Goran Visnjic (on a break from "E.R.") never connect.
Elektra is one of the least effective comic book-to-movie stories to have come along in the past few years. Without a viable screenplay, there's nowhere for the character to go, and no way to avoid making her look silly. Garner looks elektra-cute in red, but I should not have been thinking about the impracticality of that outfit as assassin's garb. Involving movies banish such thoughts; Elektra encourages them. When a comic book movie fails to grab its audience, it is apt to come across as excruciatingly dumb. That description applies to offerings like Catwoman, The Punisher, and Elektra. This movie is better than the other two, but that's not company in which any self-respecting superhero would want to be included.
This movie was good. The special effects and action sequences were well done and didn't look over-the-top. The cinematography was beautiful and the colors almost seemed alive, they were so vibrant. Jennifer Garner and Goran Visnjic have a natural rapport and Kirsten Prout was very impressive. The villains were, for the most part, subtle and not in your face, as with many movies of this genre.
I don't understand why this movie didn't get better ratings and reception! IT was AWESOME! Jennifer Garner kicks ass, but she does in every role I've seen her in, it has a good story, lots and lots of action, I've seen it several times and still can't get enough!
"Elektra" (Jennifer Garner) is asked by her martial arts trainer, the blind "Stick" (Terence Stamp), to leave his training facility and becomes lost in the world she inhabits.
"Electra" becomes a contract killer working for "McCabe" (Colin Cunningham). When she begins to wear out and requests time off, "McCabe" informs her that she has been hired by somebody who wants to pay double the normal rate, and she reluctantly agrees to taking the job.
When she goes to the location for the hit, she is forced to wait for her orders. She then meets "Abby Miller" (Kirsten Prout) and her father "Mark" (Goran Visnjic). The next day, she learns that the father and daughter she has been been befriended by are her targets.
As she tries to do her job on the "Millers", she realizes she can't bring herself to do it. When she goes to talk with them, she learns that they are also targets of "The Hand," a shadowy Asian gang of martial artists. "The Hand" is lead by "Kirigi" (Will Yun Lee) and his superpowered henchmen "Typhoid" (Natassia Malthe), "Stone" (Mixed Martial Arts star Bob Sapp), and "Tattoo" (Chris Ackerman).
But they now must deal with "Elektra" to kill their targets, one of which is quite special.
Now, if you have read the comic books of the same name, you are familiar with the story of "Elektra." Those who don't will see a good performance from Garner and fair performance from a supporting cast with poorly developed characters.
There is some unique special effects in this film. Those which are associated with "Tattoo" will stand out more than any other.
The fight scenes also stand out in this film. They are fast-paced and are quite exciting. And none of them are bloody at all.
Editing and sound effects also are done quite nicely in this film. Nothing stands out at this level however.
There are some problems with the script however. One of which is because, like most movies based on comic books or classic television programs, it relies on the fanbase that is already out there.
The most character development is of "Electra," mostly because of flashbacks in the film to her childhood. The rest of the characters have little development, or rely on knowledge of the comic book.
Despite that the movie mainly targets the comic book's fanbase, "Elektra" is a pretty good movie. Just don't expect any references to "Daredevil".
I personally think that this movie had potential to be good, had they stuck closer to her comic book origins. However, instead they decided to make her an outright hero and I feel that the script should have been more powerful if they were to take her character in such a new direction.
Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner) was killed by Bullseye (Colin Farrell) in Daredevil (2003) is back from the dead by the hand where Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) & his 13 year old daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout) is required to stay for some days on their island is followed by Abby & Mark.
The girl who died in the first movie, Daredevil, Jennifer Garner's character, Eketra,is somehow revived to fight again in this action packed spinoff, but action is about all it is good for.
Very very very very boring. It should have definitely been more light-hearted than it was. What's worse, is that Jennifer Garner keeps making herself look bad with garbage like this...to anyone not familiar with her GOOD work (aka ALIAS) she is a GREAT actress I have to apologize for this movie on her behalf.
It' not a bad movie, but it's no good either, pretty average i must say. It has a so-so cast, so-so effects (almost bad in deed), so-so music.... I mean... it's Elektra we're talking about, the movie could have been soooo much better.... Besides, it has a loooot of flashbacks, some of them feel very forced
Anyway, if you haven't seen it, you're not losing much... if you already watched it, it was not a complete loss of time
i find it boring the first half and mildly entertaining the second one! jennifer garner is so so sexy, i cant imagine what elektra will look like if not her face? hehe
Better than expected. Good direction, likewise special effects and interesting and unique superheroes (specially the "tattoo"). I recommend it to all action and superhero fans.It's not good as it gets, but surprisingly still good enough for this genre.
Histoire complètement prévisible après seulement 15 minutes, on aimerait au moins que l'action soit bonne... combats ordinaires et mals tournes/montes qui ne les rendent pas plus extraordinaires. Les ennemis sont vraiment bizarres et mal exploites et meurent tous rapidement (une chance, parce qu'ils sont vraiment louche). Il reste donc la jolie Jennifer Garner aux levres super pulpeuses et au jeu assez juste, pour que le film ne soit pas une totale perte.
I'm a big fan of Jennifer Garner from Alias. But have been much less impressed by her movie career. I didn't like her performance from 13 Going on 30, so I thought returning to the Action genre would work out. It didn't! Something wasn't right in this movie: too many special effects, the characters were flat, and I find these villain characters who turn over a new leaf to not make much sense.
I was a little disappointed with this one. I enjoyed Daredevil and I'm a big fan of both Daredevil and Elektra from the comics. The movie was okay, but was too commercial to really convey the true awesomeness of this character
Out of every movie i've ever seen this one is THE best. I think that it deserves much more credit than it has gotten... Jennifer Garner Blew me away in this movie... I absolutely am in love with it!
Very disappointing. I don't really like Jennifer Garner as Electra, but was hoping for the best. The plot was just all wrong. She's an assassin, not a nurse maid. Why bring in a young girl who has skills also? Is she Elecrta part Deux? It was all wrong from the get go. Co Star, Beautiful Natassia Malte, who played Typhoid Mary would be a better Electra. Check her out in the new LG HDTV Ads.
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