Others say...

"NOT the EXTENDED CUT"
This is not a review of the Movie itself so may others have already done so.

Rather It is to make others aware that this is NOT the EXTENDED CUT previously released on DVD. This is the basic version shown in theaters. The EXTENDED CUT has a running time of 140 mins, where this version is only 123 mins. Every other Marvel Blu I have purchases has been the EXTENDED, or DIRECTOR, or UNRATED CUTS. I was Disappointed that I did not check this info out before placing my order. It was my assumption this Blu would be on par with the rest of them.


I hope this help others who might also prefer the EXTENDED CUTS of the films. Learn from my mistake =)


"Punish The Guilty!"
The second Marvel Comics movie about their anti-heroic creation "The Punisher" harkens back to those popular Charles Bronson vigilante thrillers from the 1970s. This straightforward, old-fashioned, formulaic, but utterly suspenseful revenge epic looks pretty realistic compared to the usual action-oriented Hollywood pulp blown far out of proportion by special effects ad nauseam. You know the kind of movie I am referring to with blood squibs exploding like tomatoes, bullets flying in lead swarms like locust, and profanity galore. "GoldenEye" scribe Michael France and writer-turned-helmer Jonathan Hensleigh have loaded a lot of wit into this otherwise nondescript, down-to-earth, kill or be killed payback parable. Delete the white skull T-shirt scene and the parking lot shot, and you'd never guess that this shoot'em up was based on the thirty year Marvel Comic protagonist who appeared initially in 1974 as a "Spider-man" nemesis. Hensleigh states on "The Punisher" DVD commentary track that Sam Peckinpah, Don Siegel, and Sergio Leone inspired him. He points out also that France and he derived their material primarily from the Garth Ennis "Punisher" from 2001 "Welcome Back, Frank." Like the Dolph Lundgren "Punisher," this one ignores the protagonist's "Spider-man" origins.

Indeed, "The Punisher" so singles out its objectives that anything beyond the hero's grim retribution appears disposable. The supporting cast in the apartment section of the film gives the story most of its humor than its haunted, hard-drinking, stoic hero. Nevertheless, "The Punisher" ripples with considerable imagination for a hardcore, balls-to-the-wall actioneer. Our obsessive champion lives only to savor the moments when he can settle a score in blood and he can see no farther than the next target on his hit-list. After he wipes out the opposition, Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) thrusts a gun down his gullet. Without his wife and young son, Frank finds no meaning in life.

Conversely, "The Punisher" doesn't drum up those anti-social sentiments. Hensleigh portrays a lot of shooting, stabbing, and killing, but he doesn't celebrate the hero's violence behavior. "The Punisher" shows the consequences of violence. Death and killing alter both people and events. Second string tough guy Thomas Jane, so wonderful in "Stander," makes his bid for the big-screen as the eponymous character and succeeds for my money. Jane spends the bulk of "The Punisher" baring his Bo-Flex physique when he isn't braving a gauntlet of obstacles that would stagger ordinary mortals.

Hardcore "Punisher" fans may quibble about some of the alterations in the comic book's transition from page to screen. Our redoubtable hero Frank Castle is working undercover for the FBI where we first meet him in Tampa, Florida. An FBI agent rather than a U.S. Marine (watch the extended version), Castle poses as a "Stander" type Euro arms dealer selling contraband weapons to a small fry Mafia solder, Mickey Duka (Eddie Jemison), an errand boy for notorious Saint crime family.

The major complication is that one of Saint's sons; Bobby (newcomer James Carpinello in a dual role) decides to cut himself in on one of his soldier's deals and accompanies Mickey to the buy. Unfortunately, poor Bobby Saint takes one for the team during a shoot-out after the authorities stage the bogus death of one of their undercover operatives. Predictably, Howard Saint is not amused. Saint's trophy wife Livia (Hispanic actress Laura Harring of "John Q") demands reprisal. Eventually, Saint's resourceful, right-hand henchman, Quentin Glass (the vastly underrated Will Patton of "The Rapture") learns that Saint's son died in an FBI sting.

In no time, Saint sends Glass and an army of gunsels to wipe out the Castle clan, including Frank's father, Frank the Elder, (Roy Schneider of "The French Connection" and "Jaws."), during a family reunion. Ironically, Frank had no idea who died on the docks the night of his sting or that his old FBI buddy with a gambling debt sold him out. Glass' thugs run down Frank's wife (Samantha Mathis of "Broken Arrow") and his young son Will (first-time actor Marcus Johnson) as they flee in futility from the family reunion. Bobby's vengeful brother administers the last rites to Frank on the dock, but you cannot kill an action hero. Frank survives this carnage under mysterious circumstances that defy logic. Nevertheless, the hero is so miserable that his only consolation flows from a bottle of Wild Turkey.

Along the way, Frank establishes his headquarters in a remote apartment complex where three other tenants abide; Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos of "X-Men"), Dave (Ben Foster), and Mr.Bumpo (John Pinette). When Saint's killers visit Frank, anybody else would have called the landlord and demanded his eviction. Instead, this trio tries to help him, and they pay for their interference. You'll spot the "Othello" homage when Frank Castle turns Saint against Livia and his second-in-command. A bone-jarring, close-quarters combat scene that erupts between Frank and another assassin is fun to watch, too. Frank's assailant is a Russian about three times bigger who nearly destroys not only him but also the apartment complex.

As the chief villain, "Pulp Fiction" star John Travolta is incredibly creepy in a restrained performance as Rome emperor-like crime lord Howard Saint, and Travolta's death scene alone justifies watching this gritty movie. As the hero's sworn enemy, Travolta isn't afraid of getting faux blood on himself. He establishes his villainous credentials from the start when he personally executes a wayward mobster minion responsible for the demise of his arrogant son. Incidentally, Travolta's death scene provides the movie with its signature money shot. Not only is it by far the most over-the-top scene, but it also is truly unforgettable. (Mind you, there are other great scenes, for instance, the Popsicle and steak interrogation scene is probably the most memorable.

Altogether, "The Punisher" doesn't look like a comic book movie with its R-rating, but Thomas Jane cuts quite a figure as its merciless but anti-heroic protagonist.



"Formula"
Lots of special effects don't save this movie that follows a predictable story line that ends up being another edition of an old formula movie. It was exciting at times, but overall dull and boring. :-)

"Max Payne For Marvel Comics!!!"
I like this movie because it reminds me a lot of one of my favorite games; Max Payne. Frank Castle is on his last mission, and kills the son of Howard Saint. Howard's wife tells him to kill Frank's family. I love the plot about Frank Castle punishing those who killed his family. It sucked that everyone in Frank's family died. EVERYONE! I love that skull shirt! Frank eventually becomes friends with Dave, Bumpo and Joan and moves in with them. While he's there, he plans his punishment against Howard Saint. There are a lot of awesome action sequences! If you love action, Max Payne, and Marvel comic movies, you'll love THE PUNISHER!!!

"Punisher Blu-Ray Review"
Okay this was a good movie, not mind blowing, but definitely gritty. In my book, this deserved a sequel and not the train wreck that is "War Zone".

* * * * * Blu-Ray Review * * * * *

This release falls short.
LionsGate should have polished the film for the HD release. I imagine they ported the exact DVD release. There are no trailers or extras, just a "Blu-Ray Experice" trailer... probably the best looking part of this release.
Throughout the film I see grain, it seems grains are absent in the scenes with ample lighting, which is bad because it's a dark film.

I recommend holding out for an ultimate edition (please LionsGate!). But for $12 bucks it's good if you haven't seen it.
This is NOT for collector's!!