58 of 69 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If this is too gory, then you simply shouldn't watch it, February 2, 2009
For anyone who ever read any Punisher comics growing up, or still are as adults, then they can attest that they are constantly full of violence, blood, guts and gore, and very light on comedy. Fantastic Four, The X-Men, and The Hulk CANNOT be compared to The Punisher in anyway, so if someone watches these other Marvel movies and likes them, then attempts to watch this newest Punisher movie expecting the same lighthearted cartoon violence and humor, then it would have been like going to the polls and actually thinking a vote for McCain would've meant something (oops, too soon?). Getting back on topic, out of the 3 actors who've starred as the title character, Ray Stevenson has looked the MOST like the Punisher during the War Zone story arc. He was big, gritty, gruff, and not clean shaven. He wasn't a pretty boy like Thomas Jane, and he wasn't some eastern bloc pinko like Dolph Lundgren (seriously, who the hell casted him?! Jesse Ventura would've even been a better choice!)
So in short, I'm giving this movie 5 stars, because as a true Punisher fan, this movie is the closest to the comics as any of the movies. The first movie was beyond pathetic. The second was good, in fact much of the plot taken directly out of Punisher comics, but way too much humor injected into it and not enough action. This movie has all the action, blood, and death, plus Jigsaw, The Punisher's arch-nemesis. OH, and by the way, Jigsaw has been around since the 1980s...he wasn't invented after the filming of the Saw movies, so if you think his name was ripped from other movies, well, you're an idiot.
So for those of you who also truly loved the Punisher back in the old days, watch this movie! And you'll know exactly what I mean when I say...until The Punisher throws away his guns and takes on an appeasement approach...MAKE MINE MARVEL!!!
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34 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
OWN IT, YOU WON'T REGRET IT! (SPOILER FREE REVIEW), February 28, 2009
DON'T LISTEN to the negative reviews. SEE THIS MOVIE, although not with kids around that's for sure (Hard R for violence and cursing but no nudity).
If you're an action fan who has been craving for a non stop and over the top intense action movie, say no more and watch this movie!
If copious amounts of gun action blood, guts and gore is what you've been dying to see infused into an action movie, this is your train, GET ONBOARD and don't look back!
This movie kicks other action movies butts and asks questions later! It even has MORE (and well done) GORE than most HORROR movies!
Don't get me wrong, the new Friday the 13th Remake was fun but it can't hold a candle to the carnage that takes place in Punisher: War Zone!
Now, enough talk about the carnage that the Punisher dishes out, how about the rest of the movie.
Mostly based on the Punisher MAX ultra violent comic series, this movie holds true to the grittiness of that series therefore it's no great surprise that the movie is over the top, what is a shocker is that the filmakers had the courage to stick with it and deliver in spades what most Punisher fans were clamoring for! Good story, cool good guys, nasty villians, lots of explosive action and no boring parts! The music soundtrack and sound effects were also very enjoyable.
Put it this way, I'm a fan and I ain't complaining that's for sure. If anything, i'm taking the time to write this wacky review...woot!
The 2004 Punisher was a decent enough action movie however this is THE definative Punisher movie and the one I would take onto my desert island.
The Dark Knight was an excellent movie for adults, Iron Man was an excellent movie for adults and kids, Punisher is an AWESOME BAD *** FUN movie for adults and young adults (if that makes any sense).
That's the big difference for me when compared to The Dark Knight, PWZ (as I like to call it) is a very FUN movie to watch. I forgot what a 100% FUN movie was like until this one reminded me!
Iron Man was also fun, more than TDK that's for sure but Punisher definately has it beat in that department for me.
The Joker would fit in nicely in this movie just as well but he wouldn't be the only nut job, he would be one of many awesome bad dudes in this flick!
It's a shame what happened to this movie in the Box Office, it didn't deserve its fate. It's definately worth spending the few bucks it costs to watch it and I hope that the actors, director Lexi Alexander and Marvel, heck even Lionsgate, recoup their financial and career investments.
Let me end by saying this, I'm not going into detail because my desire is not to ruin this movie for anyone but there are scenes in this movie that are groundbreaking and have never been filmed in the manner they were done here.
When I say that Punisher crosses the line and does stuff which will make your jaw drop, i'm not joking. I wish i could let it out but you'll see for yourselves just how crazy this move is!
Remember, no little kiddies though.
Hey, can you tell that I liked it, and my name isn't even Mikey....go figure.
Good Job Lexi, Ray, Dominic, Doug, Julie, Wayne and Marvel plus Lionsgate....Thanks for a FUN movie, box office be damned!
The Punisher finally.....well, you know...PUNISHES!
Hope you enjoyed this review from the heart.
Hey Lex, Ray..you know...Marvel, call me sometime, we'll do lunch.....LOL!
Peace!
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10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"They laugh at the law, but they don't laugh at me.", March 20, 2009
The Punisher... the name itself conjures up a simple image... a muscular man toting what seems like an endless amount of weaponry, killing criminals at every chance in every possible way, while displaying his trademark skull on his chest. What the Punisher is not is a philosophical person. He doesn't contemplate what he's doing, he doesn't question the ethics or morals of each kill. He merely pulls the trigger.
Now this movie has it's ups and downs. I wouldn't be fair without saying that I was a bit biased before I saw this movie in the theater and again on DVD. Having been a follower of the Punisher from the early 90's I've seen it all. I've read the old Spider Man comics with the Punisher... I've watched the old Dolph Lundgren Punisher movie... the Thomas Jane version... and everything in between. I was happy when this movie was brought to life.
You have to know a few things before watching this movie to give it a fair chance. First off, it's not a sequel to anything. It's a completely new Punisher. It doesn't follow any other film previously released. Second, it's based on the War Zone comics in the style of the MAX series of Punisher comics. This means that it's supposed to be violent, gritty, and unrelenting.
What is the Punisher: War Zone (the movie)? It's an unflinching, action-packed, destructive, kill fest. Exactly how the Punisher should be portrayed. He's a vigilante. He may have followed the laws before... but he's so far from reality at this point (having been through Vietnam, lost his family, etc) that his only goal is to kill those that need to be punished. He's lost his faith in the judicial system and goes out to rectify the problem.
This movie does a fantastic job with portraying the Punisher as the fans have always wanted him. You'll get those few that are still butthurt about this and that. You can't please everyone. But this movie is dark, twisted, and exactly as it should be.
Now it's come up many times... so let's touch on it. The Thomas Jane Punisher movie was a 2/5 (star) flick at best. The effects were garbage, the acting HORRIBLE, and the plot was so far outside of the realm of the Punisher that I can't even begin to explain it. I think Thomas Jane was far too much of a pretty boy to do that role while Ray Stevenson hit it perfectly. He has the perfect body size, speech, and facial expressions that I believe he's the Punisher when I see him.
So with all that said... go get this movie. I'm disappointed that this film didn't capture enough of the box office to really put it ahead of some of this other crap being produced. It's a fun movie... it's an action packed adventure... and it's the perfect portrayal of the Punisher. If that's not enough to buy this movie or at least borrow it from a friend... then there's no hope for you.
Oh and just so there's no confusion. I rated this a 4/5 because while it was what I hoped for, it did lack in some areas. I would like to have seen more of the Punisher (the run time was a killer for the amount of content they could have gotten into it).
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