Review of The Punisher (2004) by Michael C — 07 Apr 2012

I have no idea why this movie has been so poorly received. We can argue comic accuracy, but at its heart the comic is tale of revenge--the title tells you as much. This is a damn solid revenge flick with a really damn good lead actor in Thomas Jane.

Jon Travolta is a little hammy, and some of the supporting characters are a bit too treacly, but the core of the story--a man beaten and battered to his absolute lowest point, left with nothing but the drive to punish those responsible--is fully intact and appeals at a visceral level as most good revenge flicks do.

It is at least as good as any of the Deathwish movies, or most Mel Gibson revenge flicks, and Thomas Jane really does make it.