There have only been three live-action films and one television series based on Frank Castle aka The Punisher, proving that a dark superhero character like him is hard to adapt onto the big screen.Punisher: War Zone, like its predecessors, is a very violent, over-the-top film filled with profanity and gruesome scenes, and a hard-edged hero taking on some very bad guys. Despite its negative critical reception (just like the previous two films) and some bloody hardcore action that audiences will either love or hate, this is a decently well-made comic book film with some likable qualities.
The best part of the film is the lead actor who plays The Punisher: Ray Stevenson. He may not be a major household name in terms of action stars like Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren (who portrayed The Punisher first in the 80s), Stallone, or Schwarzenegger, but Ray is very well-suited for the role of Frank Castle. He looks a lot like The Punisher from theMarvelcomic books with the dark hair combed back and the Punisher outfit, along with the weapons and tactical gear around him. Ray brings a patient, calm intensity to the role, even though he is primarily a man of action for the majority of the film.
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While this Punisher film is a reboot, it compliments the previous 2004 film effectively by recalling Frank’s family, who were brutally murdered due to a mob hit. Ray’s Castle is always mourning the death of his family, and constantly feels guilty for not saving them. There is also guilt surrounding Castle in this film when he kills a presumed criminal working for mobster Billy Russoti, but that thug actually turns out to be an FBI agent working undercover.
The murder of the FBI agent proves why Castle’s role as a vigilante is divisive. He tries so hard to bring justice and punishment to all criminals, but there are casualties, good and bad, and families left mourning for their loved ones.Just like Batman, cops are willing to help Castle until he becomes a prime suspect entangled in a crime.
The villains in this film are very cartoonish and over-the-top, including Russoti, who later becomesJigsaw (not the one from theSawfranchise)after Castle throws him into a glass-crushing machine that leaves him disfigured early on in the film. Dominic West portrays Russoti like a hypertensive Italian gangster who never settles down, and is always angry at everybody. Absolutely nothing pleases this guy except for his business, and he constantly demands respect from everyone who works for him.
One person Russoti does count on the most is his equally insane brother, Loony Bin Jim, who enjoys talking about human anatomy and eating people’s flesh. As deranged as Russoti and Jim are, they’re also very protective of each other, especially when their mob rivals (or any enemy for that matter) speak critically of them. Whenever they break and shatter mirrors, this symbolizes that they don’t care how others view their physical appearances, and embrace how they look and their identity as feared villains of New York.
While the roles in the supporting cast are minor, a few stand out. Angela Donatelli, the wife of deceased undercover FBI agent Nicky Donatelli, is both a mourning wife and a fearful mother who intends to protect her young daughter from harm. While Castle tries to apologize and make amends for accidentally killing her husband, Angela unleashes her anger towards him, but slowly realizes thatthe Punisher is actually a good guy trying to defeat evil criminals. Angela also understands that Castle is also in pain because he lost his wife and children.
Nicky’s old partner, Agent Paul Budiansky, is a tough cop who wants retribution for Nicky’s death, and initially goes after Castle to arrest him, but then works with the vigilante to protect Angela and her daughter, and to take down Russoti and his crew. Detective Martin Soap has followed Castle and his stance on criminals for years, and while he says he wants to bring him in, he’s really a fan of the vigilante because he can accomplish more than the police in terms of taking down dangerous thugs. Microchip is the guy who supplies Castle with all the weapons he needs, and has a sense of humor amidst all the violent mayhem.
Of course there’s plenty of cool, fast-paced action sequences that are bloody, gruesome, and hard-hitting. There are shootouts in which Castle uses automatic pistols and weapons, a sharp blade, grenades, and explosives, taking down many enemies at once. There are also moments in which Castle is somehow able to shoot and smash people’s faces,signifying the Punisher’s superhuman strength.
While the 2004 version ofThe Punisherwas grittier and more about personal vendetta, with Thomas Jane as a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails Frank Castle, and John Travolta and Will Patton as ruthless gangsters,Punisher: War Zoneis more of a crime drama mixed with an 80s high-octane action thriller. Ray Stevenson’s Punisher character is both tough and methodical, assertive of his mission to take down evil without the need for law and order. However, aside from the brutal action and the cartoonishly vulgar villains, Castle is also reflective of whether or not he is capable of fighting crime, and doing it the right way. The Punisher is another dark and hard-boiled character,like Blade, who needs to be brought back to the big screenin order to be fully appreciated and embraced among the greatest of heroes, particularly the MCU.
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