Review of The Punisher (2004) by Mike J — 25 Feb 2016

The first true adaptation of the Marvel anti-hero (discounting the Dolph Lundgren version) The Punisher is a surprisingly memorable revenge pic that contains great performances and enough bloodshed to please action fans like myself.

John Travolta is well-cast as the sleazy, mob leader whose biggest enemy is his ego and Thomas Jane commands the screen as the wounded and pissed-off, Frank Castle; who seemed to invent the growly, Dark Knight voice long before, Christian Bale did.

The story is tragic-as-hell and the massacre sequence during Frank's family reunion is still hard-hitting and ruthless to watch, the perfect set-up to our vigilante's payback. Castle's revenge scheme is easily my favourite part of the film and it's truly brilliant how he manages to get the villains to do the dirty work for him.

Many fans and critics disliked the film upon release calling it too violent or too tame and while I find it strikes a nice balance in the middle, the director was unable to make the truly viscious film he wanted to as the studio had no faith in a bankable, R-rated "superhero".

I will say that the climax is a tad underwhelming after the amazing fight sequence between the Punisher and The Russian, but if you put yourself in the character's shoes; he is very efficient in dispatching his foes at the end.

A misjudged film that deserves a solid reboot as Thomas Jane is the best incarnation of the character we've had so far and in my eyes; he IS the Punisher.