The Punisher
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Movie Reviews of The Punisher
Movie Review: great 80's Punisher movie
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is great for what it is: an 80's Punisher movie. It's also the type of movie that seperates those who enjoy a great action movie from the more dogmatic and less fun. Take a look at the reviews on this site and you'll see what I mean. Action fans, who have read some Punsher comics and think it's a fun character, know an 80's action movie when they see one and can appreciate them for what they are: escapism. They enjoyed this movie.You also have the flip side of the coin. These folks can't get past the Punisher's shirt, his having the wrong number or gender of kids, the wrong mobsters being the baddies, the wrong form of execution of his family (it's a car bomb in the movie), the wrong location of the execution (it's not in Central Park)...etc. and this is not a happy bunch. They aren't happy when Dolph is super-heroic and they aren't happy when he's more human and his shirt really bugs them.
Do any of these changes really get in the way of the movie being a great 80's action film. No. It's still a decent and entertaining movie, but they would disagree. "The Punisher has on the wrong shirt" is a major complaint, and "the new movie will be better" they hoped in vain. "Better" meant more true in every little detail to the book with no changes.
Now the '04 Punisher has arrived. Other than the shirt is the 2004 Punisher free of many of the "problems" that geekdom has with the '89 movie? Not really. Once again it seems the bad guy isn't exactly right in the new one, the Punisher's family isn't exactly right, and they are killed in Puerto Rico and not in Central Park...etc. and once again there will be folks that won't be happy. They are very "by the book" and the word escapism apparently is not in their book.
Is the 2004 Punisher a good movie? I think so. So is the 1989 Punisher. It is what it is: a great 80's action movie. Take it for what it is and have fun. Check out the '04 Punisher for additional fun BUT, if you demand that every single aspect of a movie be like the comic version then don't watch any movie with the title "The Punisher". Ever. The '89 version, as with the '04 version, are strictly for those of us who enjoy a little escapism in the form of a good action/adventure movie. The Punisher '89, like the '04 version, is a good action flick.
Movie Review: Wow, this movie really get a bum wrap!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently came across this movie at a flea market, and said "Wow, I remember this". I had a copy when it 1st came out on VHS, but I wasn't as impressed back then because I was a kid and I was such a Batman fanatic that anything that didn't have a big budget and Michael Keaton and Tim Burton's name attached I didn't want to be bothered with (not to mention I had never read a Punisher comicbook). But having watched the movie again almost 20 years later (and since gathered a nice Punisher graphic novel collection) I can say this movie has gotten maybe the worse bum wrap ever. If your a Punisher fan of the graphic novels, especially Garth Ennis fans, you will fall in love with this version of the Punisher. Everything that was wrong with the 2004 movie was done right in Dolph Lundgren's version, he even plays a much better Punisher than Thomas Jane. And the story is right out of a Garth Ennis story, it even made me think that is where he gets his inspiration for his stories. The movie reminded me of "Up is Down and Black is White" and "In The Beginning" graphic novels. Believe me this story is a true interpretation of The Punisher. And even though he doesn't have the skull T-shirt they made it so you can forgive them for it 20 minutes into the movie. This movie should easily be a cult classic and should be re-released, it really is ashame that it has such an undeserved bad reputation that it does. And until Punisher:War Zone comes out, this movie stands as the definitive Punisher movie.Movie Review: ... last of the '80's ultra violent 'B' action film's, in the tradition of "Stallone's Cobra" & "Schwarzenneger's Commando"
Summary: 5 Stars
A dark, gritty & violently bloody adaptation of the 'Marvil' comic book character, the way The Punisher was meant to be... brooding, cold, unremoresful & brutal!
After viewing the recent film version (though i enjoyed it), an unsure feeling of disappointment stayed with me long after. The Punisher i wanted & foolishly expected (blasting away through another violent outburst of vengeance upon the guilty) was just a nostalgic day dream, wishful thinking... oh well, can't win 'em all!
Anyway, lucky for 'B' lover's this '80's gem is with us, based on a great character & a concept i personally love. Also, for a film of this kind, performances by all are surprisingly well executed & pleasing to watch, the title role is portrayed beautifully by 'Dolph Lundgren' (as if he were born for the part) & 'Louis Gossett.Jr,' brilliantly adds a touch of emotion & drama to the film, while Australian born actor 'Barry Otto' delivers a quirky & amusing supporting role as character "Shake".
A fun action ride & one of the best comic book to film adaptations around!
Movie Review: He is a DEATH MACHINE!, AN EXTERMINATOR!, A PUNISHER!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
MAN! I saw the two new Punisher movies (the 2004 version and War Zone) before this one and they were okay, I mean... both are good movies but they lack action. I think personally that War Zone was more entertaining than the 2004 version.
BUT THIS ONE!... IS HARDCORE ACTION-PACKED!! Dolph Lundgren (The Punisher) is killing every bad buy with stealth knifes, explotions, machine guns, shotguns, grenades, his bus, and his own martial arts skills. The movie is SOOO FILLED with ACTION!, from a COOL EXPLOSIVE stealth kill intro to a VIOLENT japanese KILLING SPREE conclusion! If you like B action-packed movies like Crying Freeman (live-action movie), Death Wish 4 or even The Crow then Im sure you will find this movie VERY ENTERTAINING!!!
Now! The movie is GREAT but the acting and the budget are not the best, the acting is pretty decent and the budget is good but not like in Die Hard. Also, the Punisher doesn't have the skull t-shirt. This movie focused mainly on the action scenes, so don't expect a PERFECT addaptation from the comic book.
Adios.
Movie Review: Who needs a skull shirt when you've got knifes!?
Summary: 5 Stars
Twice have they tried to bring the Punisher back to theaters and twice they have failed. The Stevenson one was dumb and gory to the point that it became cheesy. The Jane one was just dumb. Stick to the original. The story makes more sense and is actually quite interesting. Some things seemed out of place (like funhouse ninjas) but this was made in the 80's so they can get away with stuff like that. Plus the body count is true to the Punisher's style of dealing justice. Although Frank Castle doesn't wear his traditional skull shirt on this one, he does have some nifty knifes with skulls at the tip of the handles. This is a good thing. The skull looks cool on comic books but doesn't translate well into a live-action film.
The one thing missing from this DVD is a little love from whomever distributes it. It has no special features or even subtitles. Still, the movie is highly entertaining and in the end that's all we ask for.