The Punisher
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Eddie Jemison, John Travolta, Rebecca Romijn, Thomas Jane, Will PattonBrand: JANE,TOM
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1 EX
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 124 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-09-07
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Lions Gate
Movie Reviews of The Punisher
Movie Review: A VERY well-executed movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Fantastically brilliant. I must say, before this movie got released, heck, before the weekend this movie opened, I had no interest whatsoever in The Punisher. I put it aside like I did Ghost Rider, Green Lantern, and the Fantastic Four.
That changed.
This movie is not for everyone. It's a dour, sadistic tale of vengeance or, as Frank Castle would put it, "Punishment". Come to think of it, it's not even really for all fans of the Punisher comic book fans (yes, I have read up on the Punisher comic series after the movie release). The villains never existed in the comics, the circumstances of his family's death was different in just about every way, and Castle was never an FBI agent either. It's nothing like the comic books. In some ways, it's better. Yeah, I said it, Punisher comic fans. For example, the way his family got killed in the comics were boooooring. Big deal, two people close to him get killed because of an accident: that's a reason for him to hate criminals but not to hunt down every single one in the world. In the movie, it does give you a reason for him to hate them and rampage their balls out. He was a completely innocent man before that incident, a man who took compassion on scum and didn't like to kill. The typical honorable, happy American citizen. That was until a band of scum wiped out his entire family, the day after he retired, the day of a family reunion. All because of a person he never even murdered in the first place. Now THAT'S a reason to become The Punisher. Also take the comic book adaptation of the movie into consideration. That was complete crap. No emotional impact, characters looked nothing like they should have looked to fill their roles, scenes are omitted, and the Punisher was a complete jerk in comparison (he even tries to kill his former partner...that is horrible and stupid). Don't get me wrong, I love the comics too, I just think that people should be appreciating the refinements the movie made to Castle's character instead of evaluating how much it follows the comic books.
Actors were well cast for their roles in this movie - screw what others think. Of course, I can't say with certainty that they were well cast for their roles in the movie, so let me restate what I was meaning to say: they were well cast, period. (For example, Howard Saint may have supposed to be more sinister, but I liked him more as a character who was just a little bit more evil than the Punisher). Thomas Jane was wonderful. Unlike Lundgren, Jane was focused, dour, (insanely) cool, and actually looked like a firm cop, instead of a drunk beggar with a Harley. Lots have said that John Travolta plays a deathly dull villain. I disagree. You could almost feel compassion for the guy: he wasn't a rapist, a person who wanted mass genocide, or a mafia boss; he was just a ruthless, intolerant businessman. If it wasn't for Castle, he would have probably remained on good terms with both his wife and Quentin for the rest of his life. This is a good thing because it kind of makes you wonder: who is the good guy and bad guy in this movie? Howard Saint wanted to avenge his son's murder. For a villain, that's a justified and honorable move. That showed his love for him, even if how he showed it was wrong. Frank Castle became an avenger but at the same time he also became that which he hated the most at the time: a mirror reflection of Saint. If Saint was portrayed as a pure devil instead of just an unfortunate, corrupt businessman, the story would have turned into (more of a) traditional tale of good vs. evil. Which would have been boring as a first film. The neighbors were VERY necessary for the movie. Those who think otherwise are absolute morons. Not only did their roles show how Frank Castle would act in normal situations, but they also allowed for a grim story to have some degree of comedy, so that it could actually appeal to a worldwide audience more. The women in this movie couldn't have been better picked either. They were drop-dead gorgeous in just about every way possible.
Also, I'd like to address some of the ignorant whining I've heard about The Punisher. Every scene did have a purpose. The massacre being that brutal, depressing, and extended was absolutely necessary for creating the emotional and philosophical foundation that the movie was meant to stand on. I'm no medical doctor, but Frank Castle getting shot, even in the chest, and surviving does seem realistic. For those critics who have never done anything in life other than review movies - people in the real world get shot in the upper body and still manage to survive. In an explosion too you might ask? Well Castle was basically on the outskirts of the blast and he was blasted into water, not off a cliff or into another explosion. As for when Castle got shot later on in the movie...he was wearing a bulletproof vest. The movie wasn't that predictable either. Maybe people think it was because the trailer gave away a lot, but you should really have no clue how any of the bad guys die, especially Mrs. Saint, how evil the bad guys are, if Mickey will betray Castle, etc.. It was NOT like the stereotypical revenge movie. It's just, not, and there are too many ways I could say that. Those who complain about things like these are either a.) morons who can't decipher the meaning of a masterpiece or b.) people who are not into this subgenre (most people are not).
The Punisher score was awesome as well. I'm not much for movie albums (I don't see their point...), but the creepiness, tenderness, and/or grim resolution of the songs (depending on the song) perfectly illustrates the moods portrayed in the movie. I could almost re-imagine a scene when the songs played. Too bad Carlo Siliotto's only big movie score has been this one. No dorky Drowning Pool music can ever be serious enough to properly convey the atmosphere of the Punisher; still, the "Step up" song did work for a trailer. Sort of. But the Seether song in the Punisher TV spot...what the hell? The TV spot would have been great otherwise...but that song does not fit the Punisher at all. What I'm trying to say is: get the Movie score now.
I can't wait until the DVD comes out. Granted the cover art could be a little bit more appealing, but the bleak, simple look kind of hints at the contents of the DVD anyways. A simple cover also leaves room for a special edition Punisher DVD (with a better cover). I think it's cool how they are going to give the Punisher (movie) fans a 28 page comic. It's the movie, after all, that got me into the comics, not the other way around. Maybe I'll post an additional review if the DVD has any notable flaws. But since I doubt that, considering the genius of Jonathan Hansleigh and Garth Ennis, just assume I'll give it five stars. Which I'm sure I will.
The Punisher movie (2004) was awesome. I like it because, even though it is based on a comic series, it shows a more realistic side of life than those movies that are based on true stories, because those stories are not "true stories" in my eyes. Not everyone achieves touching, inspirational victories despite their previously low status in life. Not everyone fights in a war. Not everyone teenage loser fights a hot girl in a nightclub and gets laid. But everyone, whether it is an innocent FBI agent/Delta Ops agent/who wanted to be a priest before, a wealthy Florida businessman, or a lawyer/loyal best friend holds the capacity for pure, unrestrained evil.
Summary of The Punisher
Each DVD at launch will include a 28 page mini-comic inside the amray case.The comic is the first ever prequel comic to a movie. It is an alternate origin story to the Punisher and ends with the opening dock scene of the movie. It is written by Garth Ennis, premiere writer of Punisher comics, and the cover is illustrated by Tim Bradstreet. The comic is being written exclusively for this promotion, and will not be anywhere else in the marketplace for 6 months. The comic is full color and has a retail value of $2.25.
10,000 comics out of the total run will have a unique cover and be positioned as a limited edition. They will be randomly inserted into the DVDs and randomly distributed to retail.
The impressively muscular chest of Tom Jane is the focal point of The Punisher, a movie based on a Marvel Comics superhero. Frank Castle (Jane, Deep Blue Sea) retires from the FBI, which means--as any moviegoer expects--that his family is toast. Howard Saint (John Travolta, Face/Off), a shady Florida businessman whose son was killed in Castle's last mission, orders a hit not only on Castle's wife and child, but also on his parents and a whole bunch of aunts, uncles, cousins, and so forth. The killers shoot Castle himself in the chest, but he inexplicably survives and--as any moviegoer expects--sets out to even the score. Implausibly, given his sometimes curious and roundabout methods, he succeeds. Also featuring Will Patton (Armageddon) as an oily thug, Laura Harring (Mulholland Drive) as Saint's fleshpot wife, and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos (X-Men) as a waitress with bad taste in men. --Bret Fetzer
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