Today’s quick review: Elektra. Elektra (Jennifer Garner), a skilled assassin, is hired to kill Abby (Kirsten Prout), a troubled teenage girl, and her father Mark (Goran Visnjic). Wrestling between her job and her conscience, Elektra decides to help the two of them escape their pursuers, an ancient order of ninjas known as the Hand. As the trio flee the Hand’s dangerous magic, Elektra uncovers the story of why the Hand has taken such an interest in Abby.
Elektra is a fantasy action movie based on the Marvel superhero. Elektra continues the story of Elektra Natchios after the events of Daredevil, introducing a world of ninjas, ancient conflicts, and supernatural powers that intersects only tangentially with the crime-focused world of the first film. Elektra aims to be a midrate action movie with a fantasy twist, but flawed execution keeps it from living up to that promise.
Elektra has a decent setup but struggles as the movie goes on. The first half hews to a common storyline: an assassin grows too close to her target and begins to doubt her mission. The action here is fine but not particularly impressive, a passable collection of ninja performed using the usual Hollywood shortcuts. The characters are shallow but not unlikable, suitable participants in a simple, action-oriented story.
But as the fights get more involved and the supernatural elements come to the fore, Elektra loses its grounding. The rules of magic become arbitrary and unsatisfying. Mediocre fight choreography and dated CGI hamstring the action. The villains who emerge from the shadows have thin characterization and powers that work better on paper. To top it all off, the last stage of the plot just goes through the motions without offering any surprises.
Watch Elektra only if you are an action fan who doesn’t mind botched execution. Those who go in with low expectations will find the film fairly watchable, with a few glimmers of potential. Those who go in expecting a superhero movie or even a solid action movie will be disappointed. For a better adaptation of the character, check out the Daredevil TV series. For a better supernatural-tinged action movie, check out Underworld.
4.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for the makings of a decent action movie hampered by a disappointing second half.