There's a tired, by-the-numbers feel to Elektra.
Elektra (2005)
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Reviews Counted:145
Fresh:14
Rotten:131
Average Rating:3.7/10
Consensus: This comic book movie is an inert muddle that takes itself much too seriously.
Runtime: 1 hr 44 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Synopsis: From the pages of Marvel Comics, creator of "X-Men" and "Spider-Man," comes ELEKTRA, the first action event movie of the year. In the ultimate battle between good and evil stands a warrior who... From the pages of Marvel Comics, creator of "X-Men" and "Spider-Man," comes ELEKTRA, the first action event movie of the year. In the ultimate battle between good and evil stands a warrior who makes the choice that tips the balance. Jennifer Garner stars in the title role as a strong, mysterious and sexy action heroine – a lethal synthesis of grace and power. Not long after recovering from seemingly mortal wounds, Elektra has severed all ties with the world, living only for her next assignment. But in an unexpected turn of events, she is forced to make a decision that can take her life in a new direction – or destroy her. Key players in Elektra's journey are Stick, a blind martial arts master responsible for Elektra's "resurrection," and Mark Miller and Abby Miller, a father and daughter on the run from The Hand, a powerful syndicate whose members practice the dark martial art of ninjitsu. After Jennifer Garner made a brief, tantalizing appearance as Elektra in the 2003 Fox / Regency picture "Daredevil," executives at both companies were eager to have Garner reprise the role, but this time in her own motion picture. Garner trained long and hard to do justice to the character portrayed in the famed Marvel comics: a warrior without limits. Already physically fit and skilled in various fighting techniques from her work on the television series "Alias," Garner took her martial arts training to a new level under the guidance of ELEKTRA's Stunt Coordinators and Fighting Choreographers. A bonus for Garner – and the comic's multitude of fans – was that this time Elektra would don a red costume that stays true to the colors worn by the character in the Marvel stories. -- © 20th Century Fox [More]
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Kirsten Prout, Will Yun Lee
Starring: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Kirsten Prout, Will Yun Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Terence Stamp, Natassia Malthe, Bob Sapp, Hiro Kanagawa
Director: Rob Bowman
Director: Rob Bowman
Screenwriter: Zak Penn, Stuart Zicherman, Raven Metzner
Producer: Arnon Milchan, Gary Foster, Avi Arad
Composer: Christophe Beck
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Elektra
It's really hard to believe that any of this is meant to be taken seriously, not for a split second, yet there is Garner, stalking morosely about as if she's doing Eugene O'Neill instead of a dopey fantasy actioner.
The film's multi-writer screenplay struggles vainly to hide its plagiarized themes and action beats.
Half of it feels like pure, Saturday-morning cartoon show. Half feels like an attempt at an actual relationship drama. They should have listened to the first half.
Resembles nothing so much as a dumbed-down, PG-13 version of Kill Bill, put together by a team tone-deaf to bad dialogue, atrocious acting, cheesy special effects and clumsily staged action sequences.
Elektra is stripped of the unrepentant ferocity that made her a crossover hit in the first place. Here, she quickly succumbs to her gooey, maternal side -- which means if ever there's a sequel, she'll have no edge.
Garner has no trouble looking sexy, and teen boys should enjoy Elektra's many gratuitous costume changes, but she's hopelessly unconvincing in this icy role.
Gaps don't ruin the film, thanks to Garner's performance and Bowman's apparent enjoyment of his job.
Better than you might expect. But given the ultimate source material (Frank Miller's moody and moving Daredevil comics from the mid-'80s), it's a squandering of character and story that would make Comic Book Guy weep.
Hmmm, where have I seen this before? Oh, yes, I saw it Wednesday night on television. Except her hair was pink. And I had eight more bucks in my wallet.
Elektra the movie is a lot like Elektra the assassin. It executes its mission with considerable precision but never feels truly alive.
Plays like a collision between leftover bits and pieces of Marvel superhero stories.
[Garner] does all the stuff you can see her do on Wednesday nights -- namely, some of her own stunt work in outrageous costumes -- but without an ounce of zeal, charisma, or purpose.
a silly spinoff that is far less concerned with telling a worthwhile story than it is with telling the world that Garner has a magnificent bod.
Elektra is a mediocre action drama about a reluctant assassin who discovers her nurturing side.
No one will confuse Jennifer Garner for Meryl Streep, but she has a solid turn here as a woman who makes a big show of having withdrawn from the world but really hasn’t.
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