Rewatched The Punisher (2004) before the Netflix Series

[Deleted]

So I just rewatched The Punisher (2004) and the movie oddly kind of aged well in a damn this movie really sticks out from the superhero genre kind of way. It's actually kind of amazing how there was once a low budgeted a superhero film and it shows. But the movie is beautifully shot that really utilized it's Industrial Neo Noir Tampa location to the fullest extent and the saturated cloudly filter was a nice touch especially during daylight scenes to give it that extra gritty revenge throwback feeling.

The movie is really a good callback to the revenge flicks of the 70's but the one that is really distracting about the film is the classical 80'ish score. Not the soundtrack but the score. It would of worked better for a higher budgeted more action oriented film like Die Hard or Lethal Weapon 2 but not so much for a Raw Revenge Story. It really took away the impact from some of the scenes. But I loved the how heavy amount of practical effects and car scenes to keep up with that 70's throwback vibe.

Thomas Jane really was a good Punisher and when I watched Daredevil Season 2 I thought Jon Bernthal at times was bit too Raw and Gruffy McGritty McRage but now I wish Thomas Jane carried over a fraction of Bernthal's intensity. But still he did a fine job. For the rest of the cast they all did great and Samantha Mathis as Martha Castle really made a impression on you despite how brief she was in it.

Everyone but John Travolta who just felt like he was there. Felt like he was forced to be attached in the film on the studio's condition they needed one known name to get the project greenlit. Still it's odd despite how out of place he felt for reasons stated above but you are pleasantly surprised on how little scenes he is in or how he is restrained from chewing scenery and how he is unceremoniously killed off. Still wished they played up more to his paranoid that lead him to killing his bestfriend and wife because it just happened pretty quickly and felt pretty hammy with the score and well Travolta's acting.

Still it's a flawed film but very enjoyable and I think it will continue to age well based on how much it aged. Also the soundtrack was practically my Junior High Childhood years and I loved how almost every song from that soundtrack was used as a WWE PPV Theme during 2004.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

I remember enjoying the parts of the script that came from the Garth Ennis/Steve Dillon comic, and being a little disappointed that they didn't use the Mr. Bumpo kill (was that his name?)... though I understand why, Frank hadn't quite hit that level of anger yet.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Really enjoyed it. Jane did a great job carrying the film, I thought. He cared about the character and it shows. I thought it was a faithful, if not restrained, adaptation of The Punisher. It also has that classic guitar scene in the diner.

[Jiren]

I still enjoy this one, I also liked the Lundgren one.

I wasn't too fond of War Zone, I felt that one was a bit OTT (The Jayne one struck a good balance)

[Bub (BLM)]

To me, the only major flaws were the score and the Tampa setting. The music at times actually sounded like Austin Powers, and Punisher anywhere but New York just feels weird.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

I love this movie especially the dinner scene with Harry Heck

[BorneAgain]

With all due respect to Ray Stevenson, the Thomas Jane Punisher in Warzone would have made for a hell of a movie.

[Natural Born Farmer]

It's not so much it was a bad movie as it wasn't a Punisher one. Frank Castle isn't supposed to be some Machiavellian guy plotting to destroy a family, just shoot them already. And the scene with Saint at the end where he explodes the cars into a skull shape for the enjoyment of.... people flying in who would see it and be like "I'm not messing with that guy!"? Beyond ridiculous.

[Goldenbane]

I'm surprised that people on here didn't like the score. The Harry Heck song (In Time) and the opening credits theme are wonderful. That opening credit theme especially to me had a very haunting and sad yet still heroic feel to it which matched Frank Castle's mood and feelings.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, this score specifically:

The movie is actually quotable as hell-

"You killed my son!!"
BOOM
"Both of 'em."

"You like that song? I wrote that for you. I'm going to play it at your funeral." (I find this line hilarious, because on the commentary track of the Director's cut, they said Mark Collie (Harry Heck) actually did come up with this song for the movie, LOL!)

"This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a motive, it's an emotional response. No, not vengeance...punishment."

"Good business? Murder? Does Saint pay you for each one, or does he get a group rate discount?"

"You are one dumb son of a bitch...bring a knife to a gun fight!"

Also, huge props to Kevin Nash for his part in that Russian fight. First, Kev was accidentally stabbed with a real knife and not the trick one. Second, during the scene where he follows the Punisher (after knocking him through a wall) the boards he breaks to fit through were not actually treated to break like that...it was just pure brute strength of Nash's part. Third, he had a hell of a time trying to hit the grenade through the window and had to try time and time again to get it right. (On top of all this, I loved the Russian vs. Punisher fight. I know it was nothing like the comics, but I thought it was still very well done and enjoyable as hell).

Thomas Jane was an excellent Punisher, and I highly recommend the directors cut of this movie to anyone who wants to watch it.

BTW, I know they'd probably never do this, but I'd love a small call back in an X-men movie. If they ever cast Rebecca Romijn as Mystique again, they could do like a "traveling scene" where maybe Juggernaut or Earthquake or somebody starts humming that Harry Heck song, and Mystique freaks out. "DON'T EVER SING THAT!" It'd just be a funny nod.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2017 14:02:50 GMT -5 Goldenbane said:

I'm surprised that people on here didn't like the score. The Harry Heck song (In Time) and the opening credits theme are wonderful. That opening credit theme especially to me had a very haunting and sad yet still heroic feel to it which matched Frank Castle's mood and feelings.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, this score specifically:

The movie is actually quotable as hell-

"You killed my son!!"
BOOM
"Both of 'em."

"You like that song? I wrote that for you. I'm going to play it at your funeral." (I find this line hilarious, because on the commentary track of the Director's cut, they said Mark Collie (Harry Heck) actually did come up with this song for the movie, LOL!)

"This is not vengeance. Revenge is not a motive, it's an emotional response. No, not vengeance...punishment."

"Good business? Murder? Does Saint pay you for each one, or does he get a group rate discount?"

"You are one dumb son of a bitch...bring a knife to a gun fight!"

Also, huge props to Kevin Nash for his part in that Russian fight. First, Kev was accidentally stabbed with a real knife and not the trick one. Second, during the scene where he follows the Punisher (after knocking him through a wall) the boards he breaks to fit through were not actually treated to break like that...it was just pure brute strength of Nash's part. Third, he had a hell of a time trying to hit the grenade through the window and had to try time and time again to get it right. (On top of all this, I loved the Russian vs. Punisher fight. I know it was nothing like the comics, but I thought it was still very well done and enjoyable as hell).

Thomas Jane was an excellent Punisher, and I highly recommend the directors cut of this movie to anyone who wants to watch it.

Oh the opening theme is excellent. I just mean along the lines that style of music as the primary score didn't really fit rest of the film outside of the beginning and end and that deleted scene where he forces the cop that sold him out to commit suicide. For what the movie was going for it shouldn't of went with something more ominous or just silence. Kind of more along the lines of opening score.

[Ultimo Gallos]

Huge Punisher fan,but not a fan of the Jane film. Jane is good as Frank but the rest of the film is not appealing to me.

[Deleted]

Love the Jane film and has a great soundtrack IMO.

But what I loved even more was the dirty laundry short that was a pitch to get a sequel going and saddens me we did not get it because Thomas Jane really does show a love for the character and I wish he got a second chance at it.