Post by Minimejer05 on Dec 15, 2008 21:33:16 GMT -5
Title: Punisher: War Zone
Rating: R
Release Date: December 5th, 2008
Genre: Action
Punisher: War Zone is probably the most fun I have had at the cinema this whole year. First off the movie is not to be confused with the last Punisher film which starred Thomas Jane. This is a re-image by the director Lexi Alexander. She has pretty much taken the Punisher character and used the MAX series to create a movie. So it is NOT a sequel it is more on the lines of a reboot. Not a remake either has none of the characters from the last film(besides The Punisher) are even used.
Punisher: War Zone is a fun film. The acting is pretty decent(some guys put a lot of work in there roles and others take a more fun approach) If you walk into this movie expecting an Oscar winner you will be very displeased. The movie is NOT meant to be taken fully serious. Some people didn't like it due to its over the top action and violence but those are the WRONG people to be seeing this. You don't have to have read the comics to understand the character. His family is murdered and he is out to punish the corrupt in some of the nastiest ways possible. SIMPLE AS THAT.
This movie plays MUCH closer to the comics then the last. They use characters like Jigsaw(main villain, has NOTHING to do with Saw) and his brother Loony Bin Jim(One twisted guy). Along with them we have Detective Soap who is always fun and of course one of the key players Punisher's pal Micro(aka Microchip). I believe these characters made this movie feel just that much better. I mean haven't you wondered how Punisher got all of these freaking weapons? Micro helps him out and I'm glad he made it into this movie. Also we finally see some villains that are dedicated to the Punisher. Not just some random mob bosses and such that would make the movie generic but you see his OWN unique set of villains.
Punisher starts off with a bang... the new actor Ray Stevenson steps in to take Thomas Jane's role and I believe his bigger build and more of a monotone voice works much better. It shows that the Punisher is truly a killing machine. He does show emotion through out the movie but they don't make him look TOO weak like the last film(he was crying SOOO much and drinking soo much and almost committed suicide) I thought that was BS. Yes you can be extremely depressed that your family has been killed but come on its the Punisher.. he takes out the anger on the bad guys not himself.
Anyways the story is simple.. its about 5 or 6 years AFTER he has became the Punisher. Hes taking down crime families one after another. Sometime during this Billy the Buet becomes the bad guy(Jigsaw) and Punisher accidentally takes down an undercover agent. While struggling with forgiving himself for killing the agent he has to battle Jigsaw and his messed up cannibal brother Loony Bin Jim. During all of this you are SPLATTERED with TONS AND TONS of dead bodies. I counted the opening scene and he kills about 31 people in that 2 min period!
This is probably one of the bloodiest and most violent films this year right on par with Rambo. Its a kick ass B action movie mixed with a little story.
To me this movie works on all of the right levels... I knew it wasn't an Oscar winner so I knew what to expect... 2 hours of Punisher kicking the crap out of bad guys. So if thats what your expecting that is what you will get. I give the Punisher: War Zone an 8.5/10 simply because its the most fun I have had at the theaters this whole year and I think its really worth taking the trip to see it. Ive seen it 4 times and I plan on a 5th very soon. I hope you can help contribute to its failing box office records by seeing this as it will probably be the last time we see Frank Castle on the big screen.
