The Punisher Movie Review

U.S 2004
Director: Avi Arad
Cast: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Ben Foster
Release Date: April 16th 2004
Distributor: Lions Gate Films

Review of the Movie

In Essence The Punisher is a revenge movie and so are some of other movies based on comic books. I have played The Punisher pc game, and I loved it, the idea of imparting terror to the criminals and alike is very forthright and marvelous. Punisher is very old-school, dated centuries back when the law enforcement agency is not even existed, when you can count only to your family to straighten things up.

The Punisher movie tells of Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) an FBI agent and a Former Delta Force operative who lost his family to a massacre ordered by a mob boss, Howard Saint (John Travolta) that avenge Frank for an incident that kills Howard's son. Not just his father but each and every


THE PUNISHER
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member of his family that gather in Castle's big family reunion is wiped out, and before Frank's eyes, his wife and son are killed. Saving the best for the last, Frank finally is also blown up, fortunately for Frank, he is rescued by a witchdoctor who is also a friend of his. Fully recovered, Frank wears a t-shirt which his late son gave him as a gift, a t-shirt that has the legendary skull on it, then Frank sets out to seek revenge later known as The Punisher.

Punisher doesn't have superpower, or genetically mutated power, or outer space power whatsoever, he is a real man with real human power that counts on his years of army experience, his cunning, and other deathly abilities. A normal human being who has a family and feeling of anger, but to bear in mind that all of his family are slaughtered in his birthday party, I expected him to seek revenge in a very hard way, makes sure that everybody pays, severely. But to my disappointment, he's doing it cowardly, highly creative and smart but cowardly, especially for a man with many skills like Frank who is in a state of utmost anger and guilty feeling. Yes, It would be highly stupid if Frank's just running amok and kills everybody but that creative style is just not suited for Frank.

It is reported that Thomas Jane has trained with navy seals for a few months and gained 18 pounds to role as Frank Castle, it means that he has put a lot of effort to play character, knowing that Punisher comic book fans would almost automatically compare Thomas to the character. Sadly enough one actor that I think deserve critical acclaim is not Thomas, not Travolta but to Ben Foster who plays a small role only as Frank's neighbor Spacker Dave, he brings something different to this generic revenge film. Well, maybe if the filmmakers had had bigger budget, one of my favorite characters would have been totally awesome!

This is absolutely not a bad movie, but this is also not a good movie, I do expect a lot more to the sequel (if there's one), but whatever that will be, I will still watch it cause the bottom line is, Punisher Character is cool!

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com