The Punisher

Lions Gate Films | Release Date: April 16, 2004

8.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 734 Ratings

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Ascended333Oct 25, 2021

The Punisher is such a bad film that it becomes inadvertently entertaining; it’s

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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actiniumNov 26, 2020

/ /

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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CRoger013Jan 1, 2021

Man! This movie sucks! It’s so bloody and horrible! This movie is so horrible because it’s very bloody!

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

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Cinemassacre94Mar 20, 2016

The last real icon created by Marvel Comics, The Punisher began life as a bad-guy variation on Charles Bronson's Death Wish vigilante in the '70s, turned into a grotesque version of a law-and-order hero in the Reagan '80s (even spawning aThe last real icon created by Marvel Comics, The Punisher began life as a bad-guy variation on Charles Bronson's Death Wish vigilante in the '70s, turned into a grotesque version of a law-and-order hero in the Reagan '80s (even spawning a direct-to-video Dolph Lundgren vehicle), and withered away in the Clinton years. More recently, he experienced a black-comedy revival in the hands of writer Garth Ennis, but the latest film version doesn't have much to do with that. A return to the character's righteous, murdering '80s ways, 2004's The Punisher seems all too of-the-moment now that "an eye for an eye" has become national policy.

Shortly after The Punisher opens, thugs hired by overacting Tampa gang lord John Travolta turn a family reunion into the bloodiest social gathering since Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" video. Robbing recently retired undercover FBI officer Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) of his wife, child, father (an apparently eager-to-work Roy Scheider), and a handful of aunts, uncles, and cousins, Travolta's otherwise-thorough henchmen only stop short of making sure that the man himself has died. When he resurfaces, Jane returns to Tampa to exact revenge.

And that's the movie, a revenge scenario so simple it could have been created on a playground. In the right hands, it might have worked: John Woo could have turned it into a bullet-drenched melodrama, some kind of crazy variation on In The Bedroom. With Kill Bill, Quentin Tarantino turns a similar scenario into a meditation on honor, justice, and a century of different styles of cinematic violence. Sadly, The Punisher is about little more than bullets hitting bone, and how good it might feel to be on the right end of a gun.

Armageddon screenwriter turned first-time director Jonathan Hensleigh displays a lot of enthusiasm for stormy lighting, as well as a fashion photographer's skill at putting his actors in memorable poses, but the whole show is watching Jane mow down the bad guys, taking the occasional breather to hang out with new friends Rebecca Romijn-Stamos and her misfit hangers-on, and to drown his sorrows in a bottle of Wild Turkey. (The brand is featured so prominently that it must be product placement, but is "the drink of choice for bloodthirsty gunmen" a desirable tagline?) There's not even a hint of suspense over the outcome; Jane is portrayed as such an unstoppable machine that only professional wrestler Kevin Nash is made to look like a formidable adversary.

The Punisher has one inspired sequence. Wearing a teardrop tattoo, a Memphis hit man serenades Jane before attempting to kill him. The scene lasts about a minute. The movie goes on much longer.… Expand

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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mailpollFeb 17, 2022

If you didn't see every single mind-numbing piece of "action" coming from a mile away, then you are some kind of retarded half-man, half-monkey hybrid

1 of 7 users found this helpful16

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MortimerJan 30, 2014

Frank Castle / The Punisher ( Thomas Jane ), a respected FBI agent . He caught the son of Howard Saint ( John Travolta ) on the sale of illegal weapons. Bobby Saint ( James Karpinello ) dies and his father orders his best thugs to kill theFrank Castle / The Punisher ( Thomas Jane ), a respected FBI agent . He caught the son of Howard Saint ( John Travolta ) on the sale of illegal weapons. Bobby Saint ( James Karpinello ) dies and his father orders his best thugs to kill the entire family Punisher . They find his family on a holiday family reunion in Puerto Rico . Killed his family , his wife and son are killed too . Avenging allegedly killed himself .

Punisher somehow survives and swears revenge on Howard Saint killing his entire family and all his friends . Thereafter, the film starts slowly and boring to talk about becoming a hero avenger. Screenwriter Jonathan Hensleigh sometimes presents jokes , but they are all associated with the bloody felting.

The movie features a lot of scenes that startled wore . Graphically and visually the film can not find fault . But in the film as there is little action scenes for the film about the Punisher . He lives with Dave ( Ben Foster ) , Joan ( Rebecca Romijn ) and Bampo ( John Pinette )

Thomas Jane perfectly fit into the role of the vengeful punisher . But his character I do not empathize because he gets revenge as Howard Saint . Saint From Howard turned out not very charismatic villain . His villain absorbed all cliche villains. Joan could not be a love interest Punisher because he has a wife . In the film, there is nothing unusual . This is a standard and nothing remarkable film.

Howard and punisher fighting as a result of Howard Saint dies and revenge made. Frank Castle goes and calls himself the avenger of crime and hunter Punisher .

Bottom line: The Punisher is a boring film adaptation of becoming a superhero .
Rating : C +… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

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JonnieZJul 16, 2012

A boring movie with no positives. I remember seeing this in the cinema and hating it. Years later after reading the Garth Ennis comics I tried watching it again, on the advice of the friend that leant me the comics. Less then half way throughA boring movie with no positives. I remember seeing this in the cinema and hating it. Years later after reading the Garth Ennis comics I tried watching it again, on the advice of the friend that leant me the comics. Less then half way through I had to turn it off. If anything it's worse after reading the books. Hammy dialogue, a pointless sequence wherein an armoured car is built then destroyed, and an overly elaborate plan that gets thrown away in favour of just shooting everyone. Awful not worth watching at all.… Expand

1 of 38 users found this helpful137

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DanSep 7, 2006

If you didn't see every single mind-numbing piece of "action" coming from a mile away, then you are some kind of retarded half-man, half-monkey hybrid. There is not one second of this movie that is not a cliche, there is not one line If you didn't see every single mind-numbing piece of "action" coming from a mile away, then you are some kind of retarded half-man, half-monkey hybrid. There is not one second of this movie that is not a cliche, there is not one line that hasn't been done a thousand times before - and better. The hero's final plan is to just walk into the gunfire and hope the script doesn't care if he gets shot. Naturally, it works. Insultingly stupid. Everyone who gave this more than 6 is a waste of skin who should be harvested for their transplant organ value.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful

noob328Oct 25, 2021

If you can get past the goofy writing, there's lots of noisy action in The Punisher, but little of it is particularly exhilarating. In fact, it's more of an endurance test. If you can sit through it, you should consider yourself duly punished

0 of 5 users found this helpful05

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