THE PUNISHER much better than I expected

[George Bellefontaine]

Although I didn't know this when I rented my copy, The Punisher is based on a Marvel Comic book hero. Anyway, Tom Jane stars as Frank Castle, an FBI agent who retires after one final job that ends up with the killing of the son of a criminal mastermind ( John Travolta). Without giving anything away, I'll just say that this story deals with how Castle ( Tom Jane) becomes the Punisher.

Not a bad story overall and plenty of action. But keep this away from the kids because it is full of nasty violence, including a very sadistic scene involving the removal of pierced rings.

Travolta is one of those actors who can play bad guys as well as good guys and make you believe. He plays a really nasty baddie here. Tom Janes, on the other hand, makes for a very convincing action hero.

PQ is excellent, but there are many dark scenes so your TV or PJ better be calibrated for black levels. As for the sound, well here is another baby that will give your subwoofer a run for its money. It really made the air move in my HT and had me checking the foundation for cracks later.

I rented but I will probably want to see this again so I plan to buy it. :4:

[will1066]

I saw it during the theatrical release and got a Blockbuster raincheck on it for a free rental. Ever see the Dolph Lundgren version?

[DSGCobra]

I need to watch this one again. I thought it was lacking....

[George Bellefontaine]

No, I didn't see the Lundrigan version, but I understand they are different.

DSGCobra, just because I liked it doesn't mean it is tops. Many will probably not like it. I even read elsewhere that this version does not follow the comic book version of how The Punisher came to be. Because I wasn't aware of the comic book thing, I just sat back and watched it for what it was to me, a fairly decent action flick with a decent story and good acting.

BTW, I neglected to mention that was a 5.1 EX title and you will really appreciate this if you have a 6.1 or 7.1 system. Mine is 7.1 and there was action buzzing all around me.

[Burke Strickland]

I even read elsewhere that this version does not follow the comic book version of how The Punisher came to be. Because I wasn't aware of the comic book thing, I just sat back and watched it for what it was to me,

Sometimes it is easier to enjoy a movie for what it is if we are not familiar with the source. I have a friend who has read "The Count of Monte Cristo" more times than I've read the DVD FBI Warning :>) and he HATES the 2002 movie since it takes so many liberties with the plot and characters. But a lot of people who viewed the movie without ever having read the book found it quite entertaining.

I think I'll check out "The Punisher" without tracking down the source material first. :>) Sounds like it might just be a good one. When Travolta is in form, he's quite effective, as in "Get Shorty", "Primary Colors", "Pulp Fiction". When he's not, he's ghastly, as in "Two of a Kind" or "Battlefield Earth" but your comments seem favorable, so he must not be too bad in this one.

Burke

[George Bellefontaine]

Did you see Swordfish, Burke ? I'd liken Travolta's performance in The Punisher to the meanie he played in Swordfish. Even if you don't end up liking the movie, you will like the SOUND.

[will1066]

Sometimes it is easier to enjoy a movie for what it is if we are not familiar with the source. I have a friend who has read "The Count of Monte Cristo" more times than I've read the DVD FBI Warning :>) and he HATES the 2002 movie since it takes so many liberties with the plot and characters. But a lot of people who viewed the movie without ever having read the book found it quite entertaining.
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Bourne Identity comes to mind again.


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No, I didn't see the Lundrigan version, but I understand they are different.
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They are WAAAY different.

[Danbry39]

That's a good point Will. I know if I've read the book before, the movie usually disappoints. There are exceptions of course, but as a general rule.

To be honest, I can't recall hearing of this film before, but my curiousity is piqued and will definitely look forward to renting it.

[Burke Strickland]

Time out for some discussion about posting technique:

I don't think that any of us intend for others to think that information we quote is our own material whether it is a quotation from another post in the same thread or from another site/source. But, if we don't use the Quote syntax described below, there is a danger that people reading our post will think that the quoted material is our own verbiage and attribute someone else’s comments to us.

If we merely repeat the quoted text in the same typographical style as our response with no clear indication that it is a quote from someone else, (such as quotation marks, attribution of source, different typographical stle and/ or a statement that the quoted materila is in fact a quote), not everyone will make the connection between our quoted comments and the original author. since not everyone will have read all the preceding posts or have access to the other sources.

The Quote function is really easy to use and is very helpful in distinguishing between what within your post is material you are quoting from previous posts and what is your own verbiage in response (or your own verbiage about something else, for that matter).

To quote an entire post, just click on the "Quote" button within the on-screen box containing the post. That will open up a “Reply To Thread” dialog with the desired post to quote copied into it, surrounded by the command syntax needed to highlight it as a quote. It will look something like:

[ quote=name of poster ] text of post [ /quote ]
The spaces within the brackets would not be there, of course.
Here's the same example without the spaces:

text of post

If you wish to quote only a portion of the post, delete what you don't want to be part of the quoted text. You can also "quote" within your post by typing the quoted material inside the "[ quote ]" and "[ /quote ]" syntax (which you would also type in, again without the spaces, or the quotation marks).

Happy posting,

Burke

[Danbry39]

Ah, sorry Burke. I didn't read the whole thread completely and recognize you were the actual author.

[Burke Strickland]

No problem, Keith. Good catch the second time around, though. :>) Actually, for full disclosure, I should point out that of the material repeated in Will1066's post from previous posts, I only wrote the paragraph about source (book) vs movie. George wrote "No, I didn't see the Lundrigan version, but I understand they are different." I didn't see either one. :>)

Burke

[will1066]

Sorry about the mixup, folks.

[David Meek]

Thomas Jane did a very creditable job in this role. He's got the presence to star in a film with a John Travolta and not be overwhelmed, he's got decent-to-good acting ability, plus he's got the physical skills to carry out the action sequences and make it look fairly natural.

One scene I really liked was the singing assassin in the diner. :B

[Nick M]

Rented It.

Having read the comics growing up, I entered with expectations.
I should also note that I have seen the Dolph Lundgren version, and had it on VHS at one point.
There were some good things and bad things about the new version. Tom Jane was excellent as the Lead Role, a great casting job. Travolta didn't do so hot in my opinion. The older Punisher had a darker feel to it, and I liked that versions style much better. The Jane version was more of a Steven Seagal type feel if you know what I mean. Cheap action, flashy moves, poor emotion. Even with this being a "Marvel Film", they still failed to follow the comics. It amazes me how the story writers can do this. It's like making a movie about the last supper, and having the disciples and Jesus breaking cheesy-bread at Dominos. Oh well...

:2: out of :5: for Tom Jane, and an attempt to include the Punishers Apartment.

[Foxman]

I think that as stated if you are familier with the material you might be dissapointed and that seems to be true with a lot of movies. I knew the punisher was a comic book movie, but had never read one so I was able to enjoy the movie. :T

[George Bellefontaine]

I think that as stated if you are familier with the material you might be dissapointed and that seems to be true with a lot of movies. I knew the punisher was a comic book movie, but had never read one so I was able to enjoy the movie. :T

Yeah, that was pretty much the same with me.

[Kemp]

I really liked this one. This was one of the best action movies i've seen lately. I haven't read the comics, maybe that's why I enjoyed it so much.

[mtodde]

I just watched this tonight. I've never read the comic books or seen the previous version.

It was a fun movie to watch. I got my Rotel RSX-1056 yesterday and have been burning it in some. It is really starting to sing, and the sound track was pretty good with the effects.

I'm really into effects so that may be why I liked the movie...although Ms. Stamos is always welcome too, LOL.