The Punisher
If you have read any of the reviews that I've done, either here or at Beeorn's Place, you know that I keep comic book movies at a higher regard than most other movies. My standards are higher, and I tend to get more excited about them than other movies. The Punisher is no exception to the excitement. I only have a general knowledge of the Punisher comic books, but I know that Frank Castle, the title character, is a ruthless man who is torn by grief. He doles out justice for those who can't. His family was brutally murdered by criminals, which would understandably screw someone up pretty bad.
The movie, which stars Thomas Jane as the Punisher and John Travolta as the main baddie, Howard Saint, had all the promise of a great revenge action tale. I'm a big fan of Jane, and was looking forward to him stepping into the role with the usual relish he has for his craft. And the prospect of seeing Travolta in a bad guy role gave me goosebumps. It moved pretty good at first, but after Castle made his way back to get Saint, things get a little boring. Instead of confronting Saint's operation in what would be classic action hero style, Castle makes Saint think his right-hand man is sleeping with his wife. However, the henchman is gay, which is kind of strange. Not one, but two assassins find Castle, the second in the man's home. If the bad guys know where Castle lives, why wouldn't they go there themselves?
My favorite part was the second assassin, played by wrestler Kevin Nash. He's 7 foot-something, over 300 pounds, and he beats the crap out of Castle. Castle kills him by throwing hot soup in his face and taking him over the banister into the lobby of the apartment building. After that, when Saint's actual goons show up, torture Castle's neighbors, then leave without searching the place. So sloppy.
The neighbors, a motley trio including Rebecca Romijn Stamos, play a strangley large part in the movie, although after hardly talking to Castle, and annoying him a lot, consider him family. The final encounter between Castle and Saint is short, and detailed in its bloodiness. This happens after Saint kills both his right hand man and his wife in a spree of homicidal rage. However, there is very little feeling from Travolta. He didn't seem very absorbed in the role.
Quite frankly, I was dissapointed in the movie. And it wasn't just Travolta that looked bored with what he was doing. Every performance, even Jane's, was stilted and distracted. There was very little feeling or real emotion to the acting, and the whole tone of the movie was indifferent. There were plot holes big enough to drive a truck through, and the action really was sparse. I've never seen the 89 Dolph Lundgren disaster, but I'm thinking I may rent that one. It might be a little more entertaining. So, I'm gonna have to give this one a 4. And the only reason its getting that is Kevin Nash. Here's hoping the rest of the big ticket movies this summer don't bite ass like this one.
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