In the realm of recent comic book adaptation films, Elektra is one of the more lackluster to find it's way to the screen. Technically a competent film, Elektra is, however, without much excitement and energy; it's just sort of there.
Elektra is, essentially, a spin-off from the film Daredevil. Elektra (Jennifer Garner) was introduced there as the love interest of Ben Affleck's Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, who was killed by the assassin Bullseye (Colin Farrel). Here, she has been resurrected by a martial arts master named Stick (Terrence Stamp) and, after being trained by him for a time, is pushed into the outside world because she is unable to manage her aggressive nature. She takes up the only career she seems to be good at, assassination, and builds a strong reputation and even an agent (Colin Cunningham). She is offered a job at a small island, where she befriends a father, Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) and his daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout). It is shortly after getting to know them that she discovers that they are her targets, but she is unable to follow the job and instead decides to protect them from the forces pursuing them: an ancient organization of evil known as the Hand. Elektra quickly realizes that Abby is the "Treasure," a martial arts prodigy and the Hand, led by Kirigi (Will Yun Lee), want her for themselves.
Elektra has a number of problems, but it starts with a rather blank and emotionless lead. Jennifer Garner is certainly a capable actress, but she isn't given much of an opportunity to shine here. Her Elektra is supposed to be going through an awakening to her emotions again, but the film doesn't really give us much of an opportunity to care about her. It also tries to create a relationship between Elektra and Mark, but this is just thrown in for good measure, and there is the slightest spark between them. Visnjic is here for the ride, and that is it.
Elektra also has an enormously weak slate of villains. Kirigi is nothing special, and his henchmen, each with a different power, are okay, but most of them don't last long enough to make an impression. They aren't terribly menacing and therefore we can't be too worried about what they are going to do. Action wise, Elektra is also nothing to write home about. There are a few fights, and the visual effects utilized are well integrated into the film, but there is nothing much impressive on display here. The script is also rather undefined as to what the "treasure" exactly means. Why is everyone so interested in her? What will she provide to them? Lacking a strong hero, a strong villain or a coherent plot, there isn't much to recommend Elektra. My advice: rent Spider-Man 2 instead if you are looking for a good comic book adaptation.
Elektra is, essentially, a spin-off from the film Daredevil. Elektra (Jennifer Garner) was introduced there as the love interest of Ben Affleck's Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil, who was killed by the assassin Bullseye (Colin Farrel). Here, she has been resurrected by a martial arts master named Stick (Terrence Stamp) and, after being trained by him for a time, is pushed into the outside world because she is unable to manage her aggressive nature. She takes up the only career she seems to be good at, assassination, and builds a strong reputation and even an agent (Colin Cunningham). She is offered a job at a small island, where she befriends a father, Mark Miller (Goran Visnjic) and his daughter, Abby (Kirsten Prout). It is shortly after getting to know them that she discovers that they are her targets, but she is unable to follow the job and instead decides to protect them from the forces pursuing them: an ancient organization of evil known as the Hand. Elektra quickly realizes that Abby is the "Treasure," a martial arts prodigy and the Hand, led by Kirigi (Will Yun Lee), want her for themselves.
Elektra has a number of problems, but it starts with a rather blank and emotionless lead. Jennifer Garner is certainly a capable actress, but she isn't given much of an opportunity to shine here. Her Elektra is supposed to be going through an awakening to her emotions again, but the film doesn't really give us much of an opportunity to care about her. It also tries to create a relationship between Elektra and Mark, but this is just thrown in for good measure, and there is the slightest spark between them. Visnjic is here for the ride, and that is it.
Elektra also has an enormously weak slate of villains. Kirigi is nothing special, and his henchmen, each with a different power, are okay, but most of them don't last long enough to make an impression. They aren't terribly menacing and therefore we can't be too worried about what they are going to do. Action wise, Elektra is also nothing to write home about. There are a few fights, and the visual effects utilized are well integrated into the film, but there is nothing much impressive on display here. The script is also rather undefined as to what the "treasure" exactly means. Why is everyone so interested in her? What will she provide to them? Lacking a strong hero, a strong villain or a coherent plot, there isn't much to recommend Elektra. My advice: rent Spider-Man 2 instead if you are looking for a good comic book adaptation.