PUNISHER MOVIE

For a character that started out as a one-shot villain in a Spider-Man comic, The Punisher has acquired quite a following and a never-say-die attitude. Today marks the release of the third attempt to start a Punisher series. The first one in 1989 starred Dolph Lundgren, back in the Roger Corman days of making comic book films (not this one in particular, but 'Cormanesque' is a good barometer of the times). There are a lot of fans who feel that this is the most faithful adaptation to comic version. In 2004, Marvel tried again with Thomas Jane in the Frank Castle role. This one didn't have the whole 'punish the wicked' feel as much as a man who's hurting and taking revenge on the man who killed his family, but then, it is an origin story and you have to star somewhere. Of course, this Castle didn't have much time to get into his own, before the series was rebooted again this year with Punisher: War Zone. No, this is not a sequel to the 2004 film, like most people think. It is another reboot (a la The Incredible Hulk). Hardcore fans felt the 2004 version was too soft and didn't have enough 'punishing', so they upped the violence. WAY up. The new Punisher film is so violent and graphic that it has been categorized by many as a slasher flick. Most fans were hoping for the feel of the first film with the quality of the second, but once again filmmakers missed the mark. Many people have been disappointed by the new film and claim that the only people who will enjoy it are people who just watch films for explosions and gratuitous violence. The acting has no real range and the story is almost non-existent. But people will still have to go and see for themselves, and some will hate it and some will love it. That's just how it goes. The only really positive change is the addition of an actual comic book villain, Jigsaw; although to me, it just looks like SNL's Will Forte in make-up fighting a Jigsaw played by Johnny Knoxville.
[THE PUNISHER (1989)]

[THE PUNISHER (2004)]

[PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (2008)]