Elektra has about as many holes in its plot as the title character can put in her victims' bodies using both of her 3-pronged sai.  And for every plot hole, there are at least two clichés adding predictability to the story.

The basic story is about a woman who in her youth died and was brought back to life by a supernatural and blind kung-fu-type sensei, known as Stick, who taught her his art.  Before she had completed her training, she got kicked out of his class, and became a bounty hunter.  All of this past is showed to us through vague and inconsistent flashbacks.

Onto the story at hand:  Elektra is hired to kill a man and his daughter, but when she gets to know them before she is asked to do the job, she finds she can't do it, and instead goes back and forth about deciding whether or not to protect them from a group of evil Asians known as the Hand that are also masters of the same art as Stick.

Since she obviously makes up her mind to help them (it would be even less of a movie if she didn't), the rest of the film has her trying to figure out what the Hand wants with a 13-year-old girl and her father, while trying to save their lives. 

This film is totally without redemption.  I do after all think it's worth at least four out of ten.  The special effects are really good.  The deaths of the evil supernatural ninja-types are done a-la-Buffy, The Vampire Slayer series, only instead of just turning to dust, they turn to colored dust and smoke when they are killed.   Another cool effect is with a character named Tattoo, whose many animal tattoos come to life right before your eyes; perfect example of morphing to the max.  Other effects involve general quick movements and ghostly appearances.

Throughout all this, there are many questions you find yourself asking that would help you to understand the motivation of various characters, such as why did the Hand kill Elektra's mother?  And what happened to her father?  And just how was it that she died; not to mention why?  I could go on, but I think the point's been made.

Famed television director Rob Bowman (many X-Files and Star Trek: TNG episodes) has probably done a fair job with a less than fair script.  Despite the plethora of plot holes and clichés, he does actually manage to draw his audience into the film in several places.  However, he can't seem to quite get away from his television roots, as this film at times seems as though it's part of some new TV series.

Alias's Jennifer Garner (Daredevil) carries the title role, her second Marvel feature in which she plays a character named "Elektra."  As I said about the director, given the script, she did a pretty fair job.  It seemed at times as though she might not have been in character; however, this was more likely to do with the apparent duality written into the character; a duality they don't back up with enough motivation.  What was interesting was the fact that although her main fighting character outfit was designed to show off her supermodel body, they only had her wear it twice in the entire film; once at the beginning and again at the end.

Yugoslavian actor Goran Visnjic (ER, Ice Age, Spartacus {2004 remake}), was acceptable as he could be, again, given the poor script.  He played the role of the father, who didn't want to divulge their family secret to his and his daughter's savior, even though she was going to find out eventually.

Newcomer Kirsten Prout probably had the most realistic-acting character, that of the teenage daughter who was actually some sort of treasure and destined to master this supernatural martial art.  Prout also seemed to have the best idea about how to actually approach her character, as she came off the strongest.  I think it's safe to say we can expect more great works from her in the future.

Which brings us to veteran actor Terrance Stamp (Red Planet) who plays the blind supernatural Sensei Stick, and who when he's not teaching his craft, hustles people playing pool.  Again we have a first-rate actor doing what he can with a second-rate script.

Overall with a beginning that's lacking in its attempt at mysteriousness, a middle that's as back and forth as the title character in its quality, to an acceptable ending, this film probably isn't worth your money at the box office, but you might want to check it out from the video store with some friends one night.