Punisher: War Zone - Review

I love the comments like "I knew this was bad when they lost Tom Jane" or " he looks like a Beer-bellied nazi". I've been reading these books since I was a kid. Ray Stevenson IS Frank Castle. As a matter of fact, him and the violence are pretty much the only draw to this movie. I just wanted to see Frank kill someone who deserved it. Not hang him upside down and stick a popsicle in his back. Gimme a break! Marvel gave this film limited money and the wrong director. She stayed true to the style, but there was no substance. The Punisher is based in New York NOT Tampa Bay (the worst storyline change ever!) His family (Wife and 2 kids, not the whole family) was cut down by the mob. Not some bad made up character named Howard Saint. He doesn't have cool super powers like Spidey or Wolvey. He can be shot and he WILL bleed. I'm so flustered by all this nonsense that this probably looks like the ramblings of a high school sophomore, but come on already! Either see the movie or shut up and move on. Marvel will never invest the right amount of money to make this character the right way. Frank Castle kills the guilty with no remorse or without compassion. His Kill-Every-Scumbag mentality goes way beyond being bit by a spider or being irradiated with a massive amount of gamma. When trying to save Doc Oc after all his chaotic destruction, Peter Parker still sees the human side of him. The good, bright-light side of Otto Octavius. Frank would rather put a bullet in his skull and be done with him. Frank Castle sees the dark, burn-in-hell side of Otto Octavius. And unfortunately, you just can't market that to the biggest movie going crowd there is. Teenagers.

In response to Rachel's question do not bring anyone to see this movie that may be in those impressionable years of life. This movie may turn them into a gun crazed homicidal maniac. So you could say I loved this movie. I was extremely dissappointed with the last Punisher movie, but not because of Thomas Jane. I actually liked him even though he was a little short, but the film felt like it was all masturbation. Even at the end when he finally started popping everything that moved I left feeling a little flat.
With the latest movie I was really psyched because I liked Ray Stevenson from his Rome series on HBO and thought his physicality and presence is what the Punisher needed (A big, F-off, shoot you in the face dude). The movie did not dissapoint and I cheered like most of the audience did when Frank Castle plasted some bad guys brains over the wall with the biggest handgun I'd ever seen. It will be a real crime if this movie is not sequelized would that would require Punishment.

I just walked out of this movie...it was the most fun I've had at a movie in a long time. There's something really satisfying about watching Ray Stevenson(plays Punisher perfectly) blow people's heads off. The violence is so over the top it will be a relief to Punisher fans. The movie pulls no punches, none. If the idea of an eighty year old woman's head being blown off doesn't sit well with you, go see a different movie. Trust me Punisher fans will enjoy this.

"You guys keep talking about Hollywood not getting the Punisher right and I do agree that they dropped the ball on the last two movies, but this movie is made by Marvel. Just like Ironman and The Hulk were."

You are mistaken.

Why did they not use Thomas Jane in this movie? Hello! Ok,yes the first movie was something else....but then like the newer Batman movies they were remaking it......and this crap now? Not to take anything away from the new Punisher.....but how many Punishers can you have? The Punisher is not James Bond! Or is he the comic book equivalent?

My husband and I are thinking about taking our nephews to see War Zone this weekend. My oldest is 17 so he will be fine but the youngest is only 9. He saw the first Punisher and he sees more movies than he should because of older brothers but I wanted to know if anyone who saw it thinks it might be too violent and gory for him. I read other reviews and said it was more like a gory horror movie. Thanks for any replies.

Although I really liked Ray Stevenson in the Bunker (Nazi Zombies!), I have two agree with Tom who said that Man on Fire is the closest thing to a GOOD Punisher movie that we're gonna get. Hollywood just can't seem to get this character right. I'll probably wait for it on DVD or watch it for free online, but I'm not getting my hopes up. Sounds like they for the Saw crowd on this one (another franchise that really needs to just stop).

Nice review! Thanks!

You guys keep talking about Hollywood not getting the Punisher right and I do agree that they dropped the ball on the last two movies, but this movie is made by Marvel. Just like Ironman and The Hulk were. The typical Hollywood distortion of story and character wont be a factor in this film. Marvel has control of everything from start to finish. I think this movie will be the best Punisher movie yet.

I agree ccompletely that the Punisher, as a standalone concept, is Hollywood-passe. However...
If they were to take the tack that the other Marvel movies are taking (an integrated universe, like the comics), you'd have a much spicier narrative.
Suddenly, the Punisher isn't just a lone revenge-driven psycho, he's a lone revenge-driven psycho that considers himself on the side of good, but is viewed by the other characters in the universe as being a dangerous enemy. Have cameos from Spiderman, Iron Man, Captain America and the rest. Have him fight mafia crime bosses while also avoiding the superheroes who want his killing to stop and, bang! A Punisher movie.

In my humble bloody opinion...

You know, I didn't know Dominic West by name, but as soon as I did a google image search I was disappointed to see Jimmy McNulty's face pop up. That guy did so much goddamn good on The Wire that I have to cringe a bit every time I see him in something like this or 300. Like when Andre Royo did that silly cameo on Heroes.

So the reviewer seems to admit in the final paragraph that he hasn't even read any Punisher comics? What a failed review then, why would you review a movie in which you can't even reference its source material. On top of that he brings up other better revenge movies like Kill Bill. That was an homage to Hong Kong karate films in the 70's not the "Revenge Genre". Seriously, do a little research. As a fan of The Punisher and having read almost all of the comics available I would say for the next screenplay they need to infuse some of the modern crime stories they've been doing in Volume 5. Child pornography, sex slave rings, human trafficking, organ trafficking, and more is the kind of stuff that makes his punishing seem well deserved. Jigsaw is sooo 1980's. It's time for them to step up the controversy a bit, not just the violence. The Punisher's world is as dark as the crimes and in today's society the crimes are intolerable. I'll watch it but I don't have much hope because I've seen the other 2 films. I am one of the rare ones that actually thinks the Dolph Lundgren film was better than Thomas Jane's. Jane had the voice but definitely not the body type! Do some research next time loser!

Nice review! I snorted loudly at work to this line: " It’s a small, small story. This seems like it might be a Tuesday in the life of The Punisher, not some special event worthy of telling in a movie.", brilliant!

Anyway I will watch it as I am interested to see what Ray brings to the screen. I really liked him in Rome. I also like comic books. Anyway the last Punisher wasn't anything to write home about, but it was entertaining in its own way. If this is a bit better, well I will probably enjoy it as well.

I'm gonna say that Man on Fire is as close to a good Punisher movie as we'll ever get.

This Punisher ultra-violent character sounds like
a money maker. Let them have some time to work
on it.

thanks from tony

Disagree. Dolph's Punisher was MUCH better than Jane's. He was bigger and meaner-lookin' than Jane, for starters. Better bad guys in the movie. Great opening mafia house killings. Great shotgunning at the docks. Excellent fight choreography in the dojo. No mercy for any baddies, even the young lady baddie (broken neck=Great!). Followed through on his torturing (the rack) as opposed to lollypopping a guy to death. (yes, I know it was in Dixon's arc, but still) And finally. Gorgeously. Beautifully; who could forget the M-60 scene?
"Every day the children are gone is going to cost you money."
FUMPA-PUMPA-PUMPA-PUMPA-PUMPA!
That being said, I haven't actually seen War Zone yet but I can tell right away that it DEFINITELY BLOWS the first two films outta the water.
Quote I got from a Canadian review:
Pique Magazine
"This Punisher has more pain than ever before. Frank Castle's family was mowed down by the mob and the torment drives him to commit balls-out, neck snapping, eyeball puncturing, shotgun-blast-to-the-face acts of total awesomeness. This is Punishment doled out in neon-glowing, four-colour, comic book glory. I wish I could take this movie back in time and give it to a 15-year old version of myself for Christmas. Then me and all my friends could make popcorn and geek out rewinding the part where the old lady's head gets turned into a pulpy crater."
Peace

What upsets me are directors that try to reinvent the wheel. The entire Marvel Universe provides provides an endless amount of material to draw from and the Punisher is no exception. Now I know that some things don't translate well onto the big screen but at the end of the day you still have the comic books as your foundation for material. Maybe if the studios actullay read the comics as instead of just thinking this is Marvel charater, the name will sell. You need a good story and you have the comics books to draw from. I'm a huge Marvel fan and it upsets me when Hollywood gets it wrong because there is such a huge library of stories to draw from in order to make a great movie. Especially for a character like the Punisher.

Frank Castle is a simple type of character to put on film, he suffers from survival guilt, is totally nuts, talks to god and wants everyone dead.

I think the movie will do well and in the next movie we can get into his brain a bit more, but after the last movie, I just want to see blood and brains, looks like I got what I want :-)

Viva Castle!!!

@Kris and @Joe

Thanks for the corrections guys. Obviously, my brain was out to lunch when I wrote that.

SIMON West? TWO-FACE in Batman & Robin? C'mon, man, get it together!

Not much is needed to make a great Punisher movie. In fact, I think I got it in the music video trailer. So the movie has definitely got to be kick ass for the fans.

Hey, guys, lay off a bit, will ya? Punisher is actually my FAVORITE Marvel character of them all, and if Hollywood can't get it right by the THIRD time (Third time's a charm, right?) , then I, too, doubt they'll ever get it right. Stupid Hollywood...

I have to disagree with your closing statements about Punisher not being fit for Hollywood. I think that there is certainly room for him, revenge driven vigilantes HAVE been done to death, but I see no reason that the Punisher can't provide something new. Kill Bill was an excellent revenge film, but it was by no means perfect or the be all end all of revenge flicks (Oldboy was far better IMHO), and I'm sure theres still plenty of room for more, whethere they be Punisher or otherwise.

FYI Jigsaw was played by Dominic West, not Simon West.