Customer Reviews
Worthless, literally - By: Ryan Corr, 05 Aug 2008 
The Punisher is one of the worst films I have watched in a while, & not the kind of bad like certain films I just don't like, but rather a certifiably bad example of how to make an awful film. While I would count myself as a bit of a comics buff, I'm not that into Punisher, & I still hated the movie, so I can only imagine how much the fans hated it. From what I knew about Frank Castle, he was a character not unlike Batman but without the moral code, a vigilante in the true, murderous sense of the word. As a Batfan, I thought it would be refreshing to see a character who takes revenge that extra bit further & actuallly kills those responsible for causing his pain. Thus, I gleefully handed over £4 for the film in Asda, looking forward to what I predicted would be a least a Daredevil-grade Marvel offering, if not exactly scaling the dizzying heights of Spider-Man 2 or Blade.
I could tell from before I even started the film that I would have trouble enjoying it, from the score used on the DVD menu. Too old school, alll Hollywood strings & not unlike something you would hear knocked out for some old action flick. Not the gritty, percussive, energetic score I would have picked to accompany how I felt the story should be told (as most probably are, I was already familiar with the very basics of The Punisher mythos, so I decided to go ahead & make a few predictions). After a few minutes had passed I had a feel for the cinematography & camerawork as well, alll three rooting this film firmly in the past. This is no modern action film, & sadly suffers for it. As the film went on I was subjected to awful performances (a simpering John Travolta topping the list, followed up by an infuriating & misguided turn from the usuallly-great Ben Foster), worse dialogue, characters I reallly couldn't care less about, more crap score music, action scenes so devoid of excitement I wondered how the director got the job, a silent Kevin Nash (yes, the wrestler) with the stupidest haircut I've ever seen & so many half-assed "deep" plot threads thrown together I often thought I was watching a clip show comprising several different movies.
Worst of alll, rather than being kick-ass, awesome & everything man with a skull on his shirt SHOULD be, Tom Jane's Punisher was a personalityless drone, outing himself to the public instead of playing it safe or letting everyone think he was dead, & messing about with photography & silly mind games instead of just using his limitless artillery to bust into Travolta's weakly guarded house & mow down every goon in sight. Plus, alll his enemies knew where he lived (which isn't explained & is TOTALLY illogical) but they only sent one or two reallly rubbish assassins after him.
In summary, this is right after Blade Trinity as the worst of the big Marvel movies. While not quite as bad as any of my least favourite films, its not something I would recommend, although some of the hilarious line readings I wouldn't mind watching again for a quick giggle. I'm going now to hopefully clean the taste out of my, er, brain, with something decent. Toodeloo.
DESCENT COMIC-BOOK REVENGE MOVIE... - By: Lou Almighty, 13 Jul 2008 
...that lives from its lead actors Thomas Jane & John Travolta. Otherwise quite descent & violent. Not a "must see", but you probably won't regret it if you do so.
Does exactly what it says on the tin - By: Phil Greenough, 26 Jun 2008 Critics, what planet are some of them on?
So this film was slated because it was too violent & not realistic enough?
It's The Punisher! In the comics he is a one man army on a vigilante mission to avenge the slaughter of his whole family & cleanse the world of evil criminals. How can you possibly make that realistic?!
For those of us that weren't born in a bubble & know what The Punisher is alll about, this film hits the nail right on the head.
Yes there is a stupid amount of action, violence & killing. Yes he does get shot half a million times & still survives. No, he doesn't ever run out of bullets & no, it isn't realistic. But it is exactly like the comic!!!
Who wants realism? was Spiderman realistic? I doubt it, or at least I've never seen him scaling any buildings near me.
This film is a fantastic tale of a man dedicating is life to avenging the slaughter of his family by a big time criminal syndicate.
If you are looking for mindless killing, ridiculous amounts of weapons & cheesy one liners then this is the film for you.
Enough said!
excellent film - By: martin thomas, 07 Jun 2008 great comic book thriller thats a great throw back to the hard edged revenge thrillers of the 70s.this is hard,violent & very nasty recommended
Best Marvel adaptation to date - By: C. Morrison, 19 Apr 2008 
Uh, wow...
I thought there was absolutely no hope for a Punisher film, & was happily proven wrong. It's well written, well acted & adapted properly, this film delivers where so many Marvel films have failed.
In the wake of Spider-Man 2 & 3, Mutant-X, Daredevil, Ghost Rider & Elektra , the Punisher is truely refreshing, & suprisingly enjoyable.
