Review of The Punisher (2004) by Aubrey T — 02 May 2011

I'm learning that it's hard to watch a movie when I've read the book, and be a good judge. I can only judge it against the book.

Here is what I'd say if I judge it against the book:1) The Punisher is ruthless. Thomas Jane did play a good angry character, but not The Punisher (though that has much to do with the screenplay writer of the movie). The Punisher would just knock them down, just like at the end of the movie. That was the most Punisher-esk it got. 2) they completely changed the way his family died and even neglected that he had a daughter. I do understand this, since they had to tie it into their new bad guy and explain The Punisher's beginning. 3) They did keep some of the main characters (like the three characters in the apartment complex) and The Russian (though they didn't explain that he was The Russian or who sent him.

If I were to judge it without thinking about the book, which is hard: I'd say it was okay. Travolta didn't play the best bad guy in the world. That last end scene really showed. I did like Thomas Jane but I would have liked to see him give a real script of what The Punisher is.

Recommendation- If you liked this movie and thought that he was ruthless then I recommend the comics. You won't have met a more ruthless person than The Punisher that appears in the novels.