DAREDEVIL may be another Marvel comic superhero movie rated PG-13, but it is a much darker story than "Spiderman," and parents whose 8 and 9 or even 13-year-olds loved that movie should think carefully before agreeing to let them see this one. The fights are very good, but it is clear that that is where most of the creative energy went in this movie. Affleck does not act very much, and if he did, most of it would be hidden by Murdock's sunglasses and Daredevil's mask.

Garner brings energy and freshness to her role, and Farrell is, as usual, the most watchable part of the movie. There are some fun in-jokes, including appearances from Marvel's Stan Lee and onetime Daredevil writer Kevin (Chasing Amy and Dogma) Smith. But the script is flat, mostly just space between fights. Sometimes loud noises incapacitate Daredevil, sometimes they don't. He is badly injured, and then he isn't. These are continuity errors that are evidence either of laziness or, more likely, some recutting after early screenings.