Based on the popular Marvel Comics character, The Punisher is Frank Castle (Thomas Jane), a former military man working as an undercover agent for the FBI. When his family is killed by the mob as payback for his last job for the government, he goes on a vengeful rampage against them.
Generic story aside, The Punisher is still a very enjoyable revenge film. It is a little over the top on the violence but it never becomes too ridiculous or disgusting. I have never read any of the comics so I can't say if this is a faithful adulteration. I can say that the film is likable even if you have never read the comic books. About the actual film, the main character is very strong and he has a nice image. The whole film is very stylish and it just looks and feels creepy. It has a nice atmosphere that fits the story so well. Director Jonathan Hensleigh did a good job at that but the story isn't as good as the style. It's weak, generic and by the numbers so this keeps the movie from really breaking out.
The acting is pretty average, nothing really notable or interesting. Thomas Jane looks intimidating as The Punisher but his performance is pretty dull. It is kind of the point but it just doesn't make for an interesting hero. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos was okay again nothing special. John Travolta was a complete joke as Howard. I used to respect him as an actor and he has made some pretty good movies. However, his performance here is very weak and it's hard to take him seriously as an actor.
The action scenes are violent yet still watch able. They don't break any new ground but they should keep the audience entertained. The film's running time is a long 124 minutes. To say the least, this film could have been edited. There were too many slow spots and pointless scenes. There were some pointless subplots that went nowhere as well as some pointless characters. Some people may also not like the film because the main character isn't really a hero. It may be difficult to root for someone like The Punisher since he isn't very likable. Ultimately, The Punisher is still a better film than Man on Fire and it does make a decent revenge film. In the end, the film is pretty generic but it's still a slick action film that's worth checking out. Rating 7/10
Generic story aside, The Punisher is still a very enjoyable revenge film. It is a little over the top on the violence but it never becomes too ridiculous or disgusting. I have never read any of the comics so I can't say if this is a faithful adulteration. I can say that the film is likable even if you have never read the comic books. About the actual film, the main character is very strong and he has a nice image. The whole film is very stylish and it just looks and feels creepy. It has a nice atmosphere that fits the story so well. Director Jonathan Hensleigh did a good job at that but the story isn't as good as the style. It's weak, generic and by the numbers so this keeps the movie from really breaking out.
The acting is pretty average, nothing really notable or interesting. Thomas Jane looks intimidating as The Punisher but his performance is pretty dull. It is kind of the point but it just doesn't make for an interesting hero. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos was okay again nothing special. John Travolta was a complete joke as Howard. I used to respect him as an actor and he has made some pretty good movies. However, his performance here is very weak and it's hard to take him seriously as an actor.
The action scenes are violent yet still watch able. They don't break any new ground but they should keep the audience entertained. The film's running time is a long 124 minutes. To say the least, this film could have been edited. There were too many slow spots and pointless scenes. There were some pointless subplots that went nowhere as well as some pointless characters. Some people may also not like the film because the main character isn't really a hero. It may be difficult to root for someone like The Punisher since he isn't very likable. Ultimately, The Punisher is still a better film than Man on Fire and it does make a decent revenge film. In the end, the film is pretty generic but it's still a slick action film that's worth checking out. Rating 7/10