Daredevil (2003)Movies

The 2003 pre-MCU “Daredevil” avoided the inglorious fate endured by “Catwoman,” “Green Lantern” and “Supergirl.”

Just barely, though.

Ben Affleck’s Marvel’s Man Without Fear gets little appreciation in modern geek circles. That’s a shame given how much it got right without the bells, whistles and cash of the modern MCU.

A pre-Batfleck Ben plays Matt Murdoch, the blind superhero who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “quit.” His super-senses guide the way, shown via an ingenious blast of FX.

Only we need to learn “how” he earned those superpowers, which means a primer on past-his-prime fighter Jack Murdock (David Keith). It’s a perfunctory, but solid flashback told as briskly...