Punisher: War Zone (2008)

[Way of the Dragon]

I really liked the first film, i love the comic and the characters, but im not too sure about this new guy playing him. I really want to see this though.

[Alex]

i'm optimistic for ray stevenson, he was fantastic in Rome. He looks right, has tons of charisma and can turn mean and violent at a drop of a hat.

[daTOAD]

Huge Punisher fan, since the 80s. Saw the film first day , first showing. I dont know why hollywood cant get this right. Of course I liked it because i like everything Punisher, but this is a bad movie. It is , however the best of the bunch[ Dolphs version is second and i used to hate that version]. Hopefully Marvel can get the rights back after this. Ray Stevenson was good, but not as good as i thought he should ve been. He does have the Bradstreet look, but only when shadowed, so why in the hell do they light every scene with clashing colored lights? Why were there so many colors any way. Maybe if it would have been a Christnmas time setting it wouldve worked-but it wasnt. Also Franks Italian. born and raised in Queens. Ray looks pale Irish. Just get the Bradstreet model and use a voice over the entire movie -problems solved. Really the acting was bad all around and i have to blame Lexi a little for this. She handled the action well, but her guidance towards the actors was shamefully handled. She tried to oversell NYC. the actors overcomponsate with the fake NY accents-which they cant hold through the performance. The ext. shots and NYC cop cars were enough for the illusion, we didnt need the ham and cheese. Ultimately this will be good[not great] when it hits dvd and fans are treated to a FAN EDIT. Nice try Lexi.....NEXT

[daTOAD]

Oh, and the subplot about the the Undercover Agents family.....WOW[in a bad way]. WTF. Waste of money[on actors] and time.

[Mark Pollard]

This movie bombed big time over its opening weekend. Not only was it skewered by critics (17% on the Tomatometer (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/punisher_war_zone/)) but it only earned $4 million. For a movie that cost $35 million to make and opened on 2,700 screens, that's embarrassingly bad.

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2520&p=.htm

[SamuraiDana]

I'm contemplating seeing this, but I want to know from anyone who's seen it whether it delivers the goods or not. I keep hearing that it's a great "bad movie," so I'm intrigued. I'm not expecting a big-budget Hollywood franchise production, just a mid-range B-action film that keeps us entertained the way the best Steven Seagal/Jean Claude Van Damme movies did. And, say, TRANSPORTER 1 and DISTRICT B13. (But not TRANSPORTER 2 or HITMAN, neither of which delivered the goods for me.). I don't mind the hardcore violence, but I don't want something so stupid that it makes me angry. I want to be able to suspend my disbelief, but only if I'm given a good reason to.

So, does it compare?

Thanks.

[daTOAD]

Doesnt stand up against any of the above mentioned movies except Hitman which IMO sucked. Wait for a FAN EDIT.

[Atherton]

looks bloody violent. nothing else is playing so I'll give it a shot.

[teako170]

I vaguely recall The Punisher (1989) w/ Dolph Lundgren.

However, The Punisher (2004) w/ Thomas Jane was surprisingly good.
Had some nice comic (no pun) touches to it plus a fun supporting cast.

Won't go to the theaters for PWZ. I'll wait for the disc.

I remember when a mint copy of ASM 129 cost the same as ASM 128 or 130 (next to nothing).
Should've hoarded up copies when I had the chance - along with Hulk 181. Oh well, life in hindsight....

[HAZ]

I watched them film parts of it in Mtl's Chinatown. I want to see it just for that. They shot some stuff in front of a shop that I used to buy Celestials from. They changed the store sign just for that scene.

[SamuraiDana]

So I went to see PUNISHER WAR ZONE and enjoyed it very much. Filled with action. Imaginatively designed. Lots of dramatic imagery. This is what a comic book film should look like. Some great acting, especially by the guys who play the psychotic villains. Amazing faces on all the lunatic characters. No faces out of Central Casting here. Lots of very dark humor. I laughed a lot. Reminds me of the kinds of films that became 42nd Street favorites back in the day, the films that onetime great pulp artists like John Carpenter and Walter Hill used to make.

This was everything THE DARK KNIGHT should have been, but wasn’t. Unlike the Joker, Jigsaw doesn’t waste a lot of time rationalizing what he does, intellectualizing about his crimes, or playing idiotic mind games that no self-respecting madman villain would bother with. He’s not the Unabomber, for Pete’s sake. He’s a flat-out homicidal maniac out to get his share of the dough and kill the Punisher in the bargain. And he’s helped by his even crazier brother, Looney Bin Jim. XD What more do you need than that to create a solid, suspenseful, violent, brutal, gory, funny comic book thriller?

Highly recommended. See it before it leaves the theaters. It’s a real big-screen movie.

[froffeecoffee]

Saw opening day, can say it was better than the last Punisher movie. I think it would have been better if they had brought Thomas Jane back. Other than that it was o.k.:S Mindless, gory, and well-done, but no depth to characters or story.

For me it's fine to just turn your thinking off and just enjoy mindless action, which War Zone is.

If you decide not to catch it in theatres, you're not missing anything. Waiting till the disc is not bad either.

[SamuraiDana]

I've never seen either of the other Punisher movies, so I have no attachment to any previous performers. I thought Ray Stevenson was just fine. I disagree with the "no depth" remark. There was a tortured quality to his performance, especially when he tries to make amends to the family of the dead undercover agent and, later, when he is conflicted over whether to simply quit the business or not. Granted, this isn't "Hamlet," but for a movie like this, it counts as "depth."

Also, I would point to the relationship between Jigsaw and his brother, Looney Bin Jim. Their devotion to each other is quite touching and makes them more than just cardboard comic book villains. Their reunion scene when Jigsaw breaks Jim out of the asylum has some brilliant touches to it, such as when Jim takes Jigsaw's head in his hands, looks him straight in his disfigured eyes and tells him, with all sincerity, that he looks great. Clearly this is no ordinary brother relationship. Bits like that tend to get me more involved in a movie. And the fact that it was handled like this consistently throughout the movie, often in an understated way, tells me that the director understood the importance of it.

[daTOAD]

Check out Punisher First Round on youtube. Better than i thought it would be.

[daTOAD]

Everyone waiting to catch this flick on DVD may be very dissapointed. Giving that this film has only made back 1/5 of its profit, the theatre may be the only way to see this movie. I joked with people that this would probably hit video stores late january or feb., but looking at the Box Office ,it doesnt make sense to even release it to DVD. So unless one of the actors blow-up, the DVD has a grim future. So dont wait ,go see this movie now.

[Alex]

^^ that doesn't make any sense. The standard technique for a movie that suffers heavy loss in theatres is to dump it to dvd as soon as possible in hope it will catch on there.

[CrazyFrog]

^^yeah, production costs usually take that into account. It will be on DVD by end of January or thereabouts.

I've heard that this film is a pile of cinematic turd from most sources. It seems that only the action-faithful will like it. To be honest, I can't believe that this character has been done 3 times on the screen, with each one being a re-boot. And yet no new ninja movies (well ,that's about to change) ?!?!!?

I want Iron Fist and Power Man already- christ, it could be an awesome double-header of faux-blaxploitation and kung-fu action hoedown and yet they did this movie again.

[daTOAD]

""^^ that doesn't make any sense. The standard technique for a movie that suffers heavy loss in theatres is to dump it to dvd as soon as possible in hope it will catch on there."

I hope your right ,but i dont see the dvd making the millions it needs to[production,advertising, printing the dvds] without losing more money. You can just look at Dragon Dynasty and how theyre handling the Shaw movies. This didnt generate interest in the theatre, so why think itll generate enough interest to make a profit on dvd. Also unless people across the world watched The Wire or Rome, the overseas market wont gobble this up either. Lionsgate shouldve released it closer to TDK to piggy back off its success. They would have to make 40-50 mil to get theyre money back and Ive never heard of a flop going to dvd and making that kind of money. So unless one of the stars have a huge movie or some type of Punisher resurgence I still say the DVD might not happen for a while.

[CrazyFrog]

Things like the first Hellboy made better money on DVD than in theatres. Also, Equilibrium, etc. In fact, I bet they're banking on this to recoup their investment by releasing it on DVD ASAP.

[Alex]

""^^ that doesn't make any sense. The standard technique for a movie that suffers heavy loss in theatres is to dump it to dvd as soon as possible in hope it will catch on there."

I hope your right ,but i dont see the dvd making the millions it needs to[production,advertising, printing the dvds] without losing more money. You can just look at Dragon Dynasty and how theyre handling the Shaw movies. This didnt generate interest in the theatre, so why think itll generate enough interest to make a profit on dvd. Also unless people across the world watched The Wire or Rome, the overseas market wont gobble this up either. Lionsgate shouldve released it closer to TDK to piggy back off its success. They would have to make 40-50 mil to get theyre money back and Ive never heard of a flop going to dvd and making that kind of money. So unless one of the stars have a huge movie or some type of Punisher resurgence I still say the DVD might not happen for a while.

what shaw movies were released in the theater? how is dragon dynasty a good example of a business model of releasing current american movies?

[daTOAD]

"Things like the first Hellboy made better money on DVD than in theatres. Also, Equilibrium, etc. In fact, I bet they're banking on this to recoup their investment by releasing it on DVD ASAP."

Equilibrium is a perfect example of the point Im trying to make.The budget was an estimated 20 mil. When released in mid December 02, it made less than a million in its first two weeks.It was immediately pulled, not being released to dvd until may 03, around the same time the Matrix sequels were coming out. This is relevant because Equilibrium was market as a Matrix type gun-fu film[watch the trailers]- so IMO the studio wanted this movie to piggyback off the Matrix success which is why it was released when it was. Also going for it was Taye Diggs[who I belive had a number one movie around the time] and Christian Bale who became an underground succes because of American Psycho, also around the time. The PWZ has none of that going for it, and in the end Equilibrium still only made around 10 mil. worldwide.

"what shaw movies were released in the theater? how is dragon dynasty a good example of a business model of releasing current american movies?"

None. Im simply saying its possible to lose money on the dvd, much like Dragon Dynasty which is why you see no new Shaw movies on the shelf. The real punisher fans saw the movie. Its about 8 mil of us , so says the box office. Even if we bought the movie three times, it wouldnt make the money back. If you were Lionsgate would you release it now? I think Lionsgate MAY wait until the stars become famous or a similar toned film does well so the film will generate interest and make some money back.

[daTOAD]

Also Hellboy did alright in theatres pulling in an average of about 10 mil a week and stayed in theatres for a while. That to me shows interest, which pretty much assured the success of the dvd.

[CrazyFrog]

Well then, PWZ must be a crapfest.

[daTOAD]

Although the best of the bunch, it really is. But it is fun.That being said I'll be the first in line to buy it.

[Alex]

If you were Lionsgate would you release it now?

absolutely, to capitalize on every single person that said 'hey this doesn't look like something i'd go out of my way to see in the theater, but i like dumb action movies so i might rent it if i ever see it in blockbuster'. these people have a short attention span and there are plenty of dumb bad movies being made, which is why it's important for a studio to release it asap while it still has even a little bit of hold on the public consciousness. See death race for a practical example

[dionbrother]

Saw it and thought it was the best vigilante movie ever made. And I've seen 'em all. The only reason it bombed is because the Tom Jane Punisher stunk on ice. Stevenson IS Frank Castle, he's not some vapid pussy like Jane, who's Punisher sulks and works on his abs.

A nasty, violent, unrepentant hero who doesn't hesitate to shoot an unarmed mafioso in the face. Kind of a miracle in these Kumbaya, Peace at any price wussfests that pose as action movies these days.

[daTOAD]

First, Happy New Year to everybody.

"absolutely, to capitalize on every single person that said 'hey this doesn't look like something i'd go out of my way to see in the theater, but i like dumb action movies so i might rent it if i ever see it in blockbuster'. "

I may be a little cynical, but I feel most people "waiting " to see it on video are the ones who will download it for free[although if released during a slow month, I think it'd do well on video also]. Its not a good sign that no screeners or foreign dvds have popped up. As much as Id love to see it come out in Feb.[by that time MBV 3-D and F13th will have hit and peoples bloodthirst restarted so maybe they will be feeling the gory PWZ], but realistically I dont see it hitting DVD til April or May -if then.

[daisho2004]

OK I finally got to watch this movie the other night and I was like WOW very dark and extremely violent didn't see that coming compared to the 1st. (2) movies. I like Stevenson I think he was a great Punisher but also I thought Dolph was very good in the 1st. movie also.

[KUNG FU BOB]

The newest film version of THE PUNISHER (WARZONE) was torn apart by everyone, so I went in expecting it to suck. I was an avid reader of the comics, so I assumed I would be disappointed too. Surprise, it was 100% entertaining, and fairly faithful to the source. And they didn't hold back on the carnage either. People were decapited, stabbed through the head with knives, had their legs shot off, were set on fire, run through with a spear, heads were splattered, and dudes were even shot with a grenade launcher!!! Well worth seeing.

The downside is that there was a lot of over-acting, and they should've shown the Punisher using a little more martial arts techniques in his fights (which was the best part of the Dolph Lundgren version), but for a US B-movie, it's leaps and bounds better than TRANSPORTER 3.

[Alex]

i liked it more than Transporter3 as well

like i said before, it was dumb as rocks but in the most entertaining way possible

parkour vs rocket launcher is still one of my fave movie moments of 08

[KUNG FU BOB]

parkour vs rocket launcher is still one of my fave movie moments of 08

:D