Movie Review: The Punisher

The New One (Mostly)


This is a movie based on the classic Punisher comic book.  A respectable piece of fiction in and of itself.  While no movie can really do the comic justice, I think this movie did a fairly good job of depecting ole Frank Castle.  Break out the popcorn kids, this might be a long one.


The Good


Let's start with Frank himself.

Before I go on to this movie I must honor the previous Punisher movie and Dolf Lungren, who was the first Frank Castle. 



 
Look at this crazy mofo. Would you want to run into him in a dark alley? Hell no. We who are about to Dolf salute you!


The new movie's Frank Castle is Thomas Jane. He is the more human of the two Punishers. Dolf has the personality of an alien cyborg compared to Jane.



 
Thomas Jane gives the Punisher a more human face.


Jane kicks ass in this movie.



 Rebecca-Romijn Stamos, what a hottie. I mean, her acting was great in this movie.




 To your left.... The Russian, just look at that monster.



 This car makes me weep with joy.





John Travolta was also good in this movie, but he is always decent. He was almost too good for this film though.



The Bad



The plot. Very basic, very straightforward.  I would say that is unusual, but its not.  The Punisher is a straightforward guy, you are bad, he kills you.  It makes for fun comics and ok flow for movies.


Continuity issues, they had this with the first one too.  It is what happens in Punisher flicks.  Like the part where the Russian fucks Castle up and he drinks half a bottle of Wild Turkey in one gulp.  Then the Jolly Blonde Giant stitches his ass up.  There is no way he would come out of that elevator all sober and mentally aware like he was.  They made an effort to have this movie more grounded in reality and then went and did that scene.  That pisses me off.


It is another origin movie.  The did it in the first movie version, and they did it here too.  They basically did the "why the punisher is the punisher" story. Thats cool and all, but hey I have an idea. That wheel has already been invented, lets not reinvent it over and over.  Why not just have a movie of the punisher whooping some more ass and taking more names next time?



 No Louis Gossett Jr., that's who the Punishers partner should have been.  Of the two movies he was the best partner/supporting actor. 







The Rating


I would give this movie an 7-8/10.  Jane made a great Punisher, and he was human.  Which was Marvel's big thing with the ole vigilante.  The plot was lame, but the actors ruled.  The fights were well done.  It also had Rebecca Romijn in it.  I think it stayed pretty true to Punisher cannon, so yes, it has my highly sought after stamp of approval.