Elektra (2005)
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An assassin must choose between her violent past and her growing compassion for a family she was hired to kill.
The story
After being revived by a blind martial arts master, Elektra Natchios is expelled from her training for her inability to let go of her rage. She becomes a contract killer until she receives an unusually large offer from an anonymous client. The job requires her to stay in a rented home on an island before the targets are revealed. While waiting, she befriends a young girl named Abby and her father, Mark Miller. However, she soon discovers that they are the very targets she was hired to assassinate, forcing her to decide whether to fulfill her contract or protect them from the ninja mercenaries of the Hand.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After being killed, Elektra Natchios is revived by the blind martial arts master Stick, who teaches her the ancient art of Kimagure, granting her precognition and the ability to resurrect the dead. Expelled for her lingering rage, she becomes a contract killer. Years later, she is hired to kill Mark Miller and his daughter Abby, but after befriending them, she spares their lives. This act draws the attention of The Hand, a ninja syndicate led by Roshi. Roshi sends his son Kirigi to capture Abby, whom he seeks as a martial arts prodigy known as "The Treasure." Stick reveals that Elektra was also once a Treasure, leading to her mother's death. Stick admits he set up the hit to test Elektra's compassion. Elektra eventually faces Kirigi, discovering he was the demon who killed her mother. After a brutal fight, she kills Kirigi but finds Abby has been poisoned. Using Kimagure, Elektra successfully resurrects Abby. She shares a final kiss with Mark and leaves, hoping Abby lives a normal life.
- First release year
- 2005
- Runtime (minutes)
- 97
- Production countries
- Canada; United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Bowman
- Writers
- Zak Penn · written by; Stuart Zicherman · written by; M. Raven Metzner · written by
- Cast and characters
- Jennifer Garner · Elektra Natchios; Goran Višnjić; Will Yun Lee; Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa; Terence Stamp
- Genres
- superhero; action; martial arts; fantasy
- Themes
- Compassion; Resurrection; Rage; Identity
- Tone and mood
- Self-serious; Mystical; Action-oriented
- Premise and plot tags
- Superhero; Assassin; Ninja; Martial Arts; Fantasy
- Source material / true-story basis
- Marvel Comics character Elektra Natchios
- Franchise connections
- Daredevil
- Reception
- The film was a commercial and critical failure, receiving largely negative reviews for its script and storyline, though Jennifer Garner's performance was praised.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 34 · scale: 100 · review count: 35; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A to F
- Awards and nominations
- Best Kiss · MTV Movie Awards · 2005 · Nominated; Choice Movie Actress: Action Adventure/Thriller · Teen Choice Awards · 2005 · Nominated
- Production trivia
- The film was shot primarily in Canada, including near the Cleveland Dam and Vancouver.; Director Rob Bowman stated the film was 'literally 12 frames of film from an R-rating' due to MPAA objections.; The film was made during Jennifer Garner's hiatus from the television show Alias.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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