Submit YOUR Critique of Punisher: War Zone

The action, the violence and the gore were spot on, if groan-inducing once or twice.

In most other regards, it was lacking. Stevenson looks great as The Punisher, but I don't think the sript really captured The Punisher. Admitedly, I have only read Garth Ennis' MAX series, but I don't see The Punisher ever contemplating quitting, even if he did kill one of the good guys. And Frank breaking down at the sight of his families grave? Please.

It also had too much comic relief, and not much dark humor.

Dominic West was.... not bad, but Hutchison was great.

Some of the other characters I found to be unnecesarry and/or poorly done. Paul Budiansky shares no charectristics with the comic character rather than being black, I don't know why they didn't just make up a new character with a different name. But that's not really a matter, just a minor peeve.

And I could barely notice the Skull, were they trying to homage Lundgren's Punisher or something?

Overall an enjoyable movie, if not The Punisher movie I hoped for.

Oooooouch

Oh yea, as far as breaking down at the grave site, being a husband and a father, I can understand the emotion. The Punisher is still human, after all, and it's that exact emotion that drives him to do what he does. I thought it was appropriate. I know if that were to happen to me, I would break down, hard and often. I would also give my life to send the bastards to hell that did that to my family, but I'd still lose it when I thought about the lose of my daughter, God forbid that ever happens to me.

I just saw it
wow is all i want to say
i don't wanna spoil anything but i think it was one of the best movies i have seen this year
the action was great and the villain was done great
i do hope there is another and i felt real emotions watching this one that i didn't feel during the first or the "other first"
i was not looking forward to seeing Ray Stevens take the hole and have said that on here a lot of times but damn he did good and i want him to stay and never leave the role

That's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Myself, I don't view The Punisher as "still human" rather as an absolute that has lingering human qualities. That's what makes him such a fascinating character to me.

The picnic scene is appropriate, I'm not arguing that. But I will not buy Frank Castle falling to pieces FIVE YEARS LATER. Just wont do it. Sorry.

First off The punisher was dead on as far as appearances go.
This punisher had a sick twisted humor to
it. I found my self either saying what the F***,
Damb, oh shiv, or laughing. There where bits of dialogue
that where emotionaly stale. The grave yard scene is one of the good ones but it really didn't have dialogue.
but besides that the movie really didn't have much to complain about it delivered a entertaining time and threw in some sock value that worked well with the film.
Best of all it does have room to grow and to evolve. Hopefully there will be a sequel. This movie will sure be up in my collection when it comes out on DVD.

For those that have seen the movie all i have to say best kill from the punisher was dude on rooftop mid air...lol

7 out of 10. This is certainly the best Punisher thus far. I read the reviews and they were unfair. If Based on the reviews one would go in expecting it to be terrible...when this was a pretty good film. It definetly lacks in some areas, but definetly the best effort thus far. And over all a good flick.

Whats good:
They fixed the errors from the 2004 Punisher (no action, corny romantic stuff, and utterly failing to capture the essence of Frank Castle, etc.), and managed to fix the errors from the 89 one (no budged, HORRIBLE actors, lame story, and unloyalty to the source material).
The movie definetly captures the spirit of Ennis' Punisher take--its very loyal to the source material. The ultra-violence of Punisher is there, and the action is there, yet there is a story. They do a good job of showing who Frank is.
It takes place in New York and the exterior shots of New York skyline help (even if some of the interior shots feel a bit ...psudo--neon--but its forgiveable).
Its action packed yet the story (although it borders it at times) doesn't go into mindless/meathead crap. The story/plot is there, even if it lacks at times.
Ray Stevenson NAILED Frank Castle. He's a man of few words and thats as it should be. He's Frank freakin Castle, not Patton or JFK!!
Dominic West was entertaining as Jigsaw. He's more than a bit over the top sometimes, but thats Ennis for you. He's certainly creepy and a good villain. Totally nutts.
Speaking of which. LBJ is a great secondary villian!!

some have complained that Ray's english/irish dialect comes through...Its nothing overt..I noticed no problem. No more than Hugh Jackman's Australian coming through in his Wolverine or Cillian Murphy's Irish coming through in his Scarecrow.

some complained that Dominics english dialect came through. It doesnt come through at all...he has a New York sound all the way through, even if its over the top at times.


Whats bad:
Quite a bit of the dialogue is reduced to one liners (granted...as I said, Frank should be a man of few words, but he's not the only one delivering a bunch of one-liners). Moreover, quite a bit of the dialogue is VERY cliche. They used a great deal of mobster shtick and sterotypical speach.
Theres a couple scenes that are so over the top that youre not sure whether to take them seriously or not, but i took them as 'dark humor relief moments' (which you find in Ennis' stuff), or moments to show just how absurd and insane these guys are.
As stated before, the story lacks in a couple spots, (but its NOT just a complete mindless gorefest).
MY BIGGEST BEEF came at the very end...with the completely insulting, and totally--100% unneeded sacreligious scene. It did nothing but alienate a chunk of the movie-going audience. And as i said, it was 100% unneeded. I totally get the tension there with the whole religious element, but this just went over the top and was tasteless (and yes, i realize that its kind of ironic that i'm saying something is tasteless about a Punisher movie...seeing as to the fact that the over-the-top violence alone is, lets face it, a bit tasteless. lol).

I certainly think that the critics were unfair with this one, but thats to be expected. This is definelty the best Punisher effort yet, and of course one can't go in expecting something on par with TDK or Spider-Man (its unfair to compare them). Its a great movie for a select audience and thats fine. Thats NOT to say 'this is a movie for meatheads'. Like i said, the story is a little more than descent. And they nailed the spirit of the Punisher and the characters. They were very true to Ennis' material.
I hope it gets a sequel with Ray. AND, i hope it gets a better writer (or at least the dialogue improves---lose the cliche lines). Lastly, and most importantly: lose the unneeded sacreligious tones.

overall 7 out of 10. a film deserving of a sequel with further story/character development.

Lexi Alexanders vision of the Punisher is a Marvel comic character come to life on the big screen. Through amazing stunts, excellent acting and incredible visuals, Punish Warzone came out way ahead of its predecesors.
The villians of this movie were excellently written. Portrayed by Dominic West and Doug Hutchison, these two crazed lunatics are a terrifying duo. Jigsaw was a character that was slightly other-worldly (something that sets a super hero apadtaption apart from a regular action film in my opinion) as well as very human. The Punisher is about killing mobsters and criminals, not super villians. The film did an excellent job of making the crime boss into a worthy foe for Frank Castle.
One thing that irked me about the movie was the ease with which information on the Punisher was acheived by people. His secret hideout and gun supplier were compromised fairly easily it seemed.
However, overall I would give this movie an 8 for its action, its ability to make Frank Castle a human being while being a killer (through Julie Benz character and the daughter) and how it stayed true to the source material. Props to Ray Stevenson for his uncanny portrayal and the well rounded supporting cast.
Thumbs up.

whatever happened to Newmann as microchip?

Ion, Thanks for diggin my review pal. and yes, Wayne Knight was very good as Microchip (although i think if i recall he just calls him Micro the whole time). Yeah, my only real beef was the cliched one liners and the blatten sacreligious ending (that had nothing to do with the rest of the movie -IMO). Otherwise, great movie.

garzaaj64,
he just crys because IMO he's pissed that he killed the agent and is sad because he remembers his family and misses them. He feels pissed that he took a father away..essentially putting the family through the pain he went through. He's aloud to cry i'd say. But then he flips the switch back into Punisher mode.

realfirstavenger,
i agree, the humor is to balance the brutality. And even the humor is very dark, very Ennis. Like Jigsaw's recruitment speach!! LOL i was like, 'This dude is NUTS!!'--totally Ennis!!
And i thought Dash Mihok was great as Soap! He portrayed the character well and faithfully.

I thought it was a good movie. I would definately suggest anyone who hasnt seen it to go see it. I would love to see Ray Stevenson back for a sequel.