DAREDEVIL (2003)

A lackadaisical potboiler that makes you rue the day comic-book franchises took over Hollywood. As the title character, who's a blind attorney by day and an avenging superhero by night, Ben Affleck leaps, wriggles, and--mostly--strikes poses, wearing what's meant to be a very cool red leather jumpsuit; he looks like Catwoman made over by Revlon. The film keeps insisting that Daredevil's soul is in torment, but it would be hard to think of a star who seethes with darkness less than Affleck. When this hollow clone of Batman and Spider-Man leaps around like a ninja, dodging razory pinwheels, we're left with the dispiriting sensation that F/X are accomplishing what the hero--and, indeed, any live actor--could not. (#696/697, Feb. 21)