The
Film: Punisher War Zone (2008) BUY IT
The Principals: Ray Stevenson. Dominic West. Julie Benz. Wayne Knight. Doug Hutchison. Lexi Alexander (who
directed).
The Premise: Frank Castle lost his family and as a result kills crooks all the time, even on Christmas.
The license of a Punisher movie is that you can spend almost the entire running time of the film showing a grumpy and very proficient killer enjoying the savage murder of literally dozens of crime-seeking men and women. His origin is that he’s pissed. The character arc is that he changes his shirt. It’s a beautiful thing and the other great thing about the license of a Punisher movie is that it is often given a little budget to play with. Typically for a plot and setup this threadbare you have to accept the grade D filmmakers and talent it warrants. Not here. Though they aren’t expensive films, Punisher flicks get at least a handful of respectable people involved.
Punisher War Zone is the best Punisher movie. By far. While that’s not some big statement, as far as gory and batshit revenge flicks go, this one’s up there.
Why is this film great? May I present Exhibit A in the defense:
Is It Good: Yes! Did you just fucking see the gentleman take out a Parkour asshole with a rocket launcher?
Is It Worth A Look: Unless you don’t like intentionally brain dead and totally loose and fun violent flicks you MUST see it. Lexi Alexander has delivered a lustily bloody tone poem of mayhem. It’s a slaughterhouse flattened and projected at 35mm. What isn’t to love?
Ray Stevenson is a quiet mass of a man who delivers his lines just fine and he actually feels like a man capable of chunking and smiting the ungood. Dominic West chews scenery like Bobby Flay was the production designer and Doug Hutchison does exactly the same thing Doug Hutchison ever does.
It is madness! It is glory!
Why is this film great? May I present Exhibit B in the defense:
People die painfully all over the place.
Random Anecdotes: Wayne Knight’s elderly mom is infirm and catatonic. For all intents and purposes, she is a piece of pungent lady-shaped furniture. Dominic West’s compassion involves a shotgun to her face. Art.
24 comments
All hail Punisher War Zone.
"Sometimes I'd like to get my hands on God"
I'm Doug and I approve of this column. This movie is C-grade cheese. It's so bad for you, but it tastes sooooooo gooooooooood…
'Momma is over' and 'Something smells like hands' Ahhh Nunziata, when you're on, you're truly on. Brilliance.
Nick back to basics and back to his best. This is why I come to Chud. Awesome.
To hell with the haters, War Zone eats Dark Knights for breakfast and Nolan fears Lexi Alexander!
This and Speed Racer (yes, Speed Racer) were the first blu-rays I bought. I haven't regretted my decisions. These are go to discs. For reference quality eye and ear candy, you can't go wrong with either one.
so many awesome moments in this awesome movie, awesome.
Glorious. Filmic. Perfection. As much as I loved seeing The Dark Knight, this Punisher sequel is the one I reach for when I want a kickass comic book movie. Plus, Julie Benz is a new goddess to me after her roles in this, Rambo, Boondock 2, and even her Saw sequel. When I think of this film, I think of Jerry Goldsmith's Basic Instinct music, cuz that shit's perfection too. Solid choice on the article. I'd go watch this movie right now if I didn't have to go to work.
This movie is great.
While I'll admit that there is some cool violence on display, the film has the same quality as films like Daredevil, Ghost Rider, and Elektra, meaning they're basically shit. The acting is atrocious, the story is retarded, and the villains are stupid. Maybe it's because I truly feel like the Punisher could be an amazing film if given the chance. I think it's crazy that people think this is the Punisher we deserve. I love Ray Stevenson but everything else about this film stinks. I also hate how almost every scene has the persons face on the very edge of the shot trying to feel like a comic. Instead it came off as annoying and distracting. There's also a surprisingly little amount of action for an action movie.
I saw this movie in theaters by myself cause none of my friends thought it was worth spending money on it. I have yet to have one of them have anything else than a blast watching it at home with me.
Absolutely the best Punisher ever…
Thank you for making a gif of the parkour scene (without a doubt, the best parkour scene ever).
Good stuff, deadbeat. I mean, it ain't photos of license plates, but what is?
My friends and I saw this on opening night, after getting seriously buzzed at dinner, and ended up being the only people in the theater.
It was without a doubt the most entertaining theatergoing experience I've ever had. Some films are "so bad they're good?" This film is "so bad it's TOTALLY AWESOME!"
Awesome movie. Sadly overlooked by the masses. One of my fav. comic-2-movie adaptations EVER.
I agree with #10. It bothers me people think this is better than the first one. They're two films that try to do two completely different things. The first one tried to be a real movie, and though I loved Thomas Jane in it, it was only okay. The second one doesn't give a shit. It has the cheese and style of Batman Forever with the violence and gore of…I can't think of an equivalent. But yeah. It's not a good movie. It just has the Punisher kicking loads of ass, but that's really all we ever wanted.
"a pungent piece of lady-shaped furniture." NICE.
Punisher deserves a much better movie. For some reason, they always try to humanize him. This is a huge mistake. He's a force of vengeance. Leave it at that. This film is truly awful. Julie Benz should never be cast in anything. Between this and Rambo, she's just awful. This felt more like the Marvel Knights version of the character. I'd much prefer the MAX version which should translate perfectly into films. Someday, we'll get a Puniser film/series that is actually hardcore without trying to be funny.
This is a joke, right? I mean seriously, Brad Street Hotel? If this isn't a joke… Wow. War Zone is a horrible, HORRIBLE film by any standards. This has got to be some kind of meta humor thing, it has to be. I'm struggling to get it, but I'm far too afraid that you are actually serious with this. The Punisher has always been and remains an awful character, and this garbage movie proves it. I have so much more respect for CHUD than this… Repeating to myself: This is only a joke, this is only a joke, this is only a joke…
Indeed, THIS is a comic book movie. Pure fun, fun, fun. Complete opposite of pathetic, dour shit like "The Daaaaark (and Grriiiim, and Griiiiittyyyy, and Realiiiiistiiiic) Knight", for sad jackoffs who think that humorless idiocy will make its subject "serious". (And who actually believe that goofball of a film would have made any significant money if Ledger hadn't overdosed.)
My friends hate this movie and think less of me for liking it so much. Ray Stevenson IS the Punisher. Rumor that I heard is Marvel wants to make a Punisher tv series with HBO, that would be great.
This was definitely better than the Thomas Jane atrocity and a fun hour and a half of hammy acting and over the top violence but the best Punisher movie is still the Dolph Lundgren vehicle. Even though it had little to do with the comic besides the basic premise it really played up what a stoic yet insane nutbag Frank Castle could be. Plus it had had 80's style yakuza ninjas and the final showdown in the skyscraper penthouse with rice paper walls between Dolph, yakuza bitches, and Don Krabbe is gonzo action filmmaking.
Dominique West is the worst actor ever
Comments are shown as archived from the original site; new comments are closed.