“Let me put you out of my misery.” —Frank Castle
Today’s quick review: Punisher: War Zone. Ever since the death of his family, Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) has waged a bloody, one-man war on crime. Haunted by his accidental murder of an undercover cop, Frank is on the verge of giving up his war for good when a new threat emerges: the disfigured mob boss Jigsaw (Dominic West). Meanwhile, FBI agent Paul Budiansky (Colin Salmon) launches an investigation to finally bring Castle to justice.
Punisher: War Zone is a violent action movie based on the Marvel Comics character. Punisher: War Zone follows Frank Castle through one of his many hostile encounters with the criminal underworld. Bloody kills, a straightforward plot, and a touch of comic book flair make the movie a decent entry into the action genre. However, an awkward cast and a lack of distinguishing features keep it from being anything more than a popcorn watch.
Punisher: War Zone gets most of the basics right. The premise fits right in with the action genre: Frank Castle mows his way through dozens of criminals using an excess of firepower. The film throws a wrinkle in his usual plan of shooting first and asking questions later by having him gun down an undercover cop by mistake. This event doesn’t motivate any deep drama, but it does kick off a series of events that make Frank’s life difficult.
Beyond this, Punisher: War Zone is a mixed bag. The cast never quite clicks. Ray Stevenson has a hard time filling Frank Castle’s shoes. While Dominic West fares a little better, he’s not the memorable villain the film needs. The tone gets caught somewhere between gritty and cheesy, making it unclear how seriously the audience is supposed to take the movie. The action offers plenty of gunplay and a few explosions but no truly memorable stunts.
Watch Punisher: War Zone when you’re in the mood for some mindless action with decent overall quality. Issues with its characters and tone keep it from living up to its full potential, but what’s there is enough to entertain. Fans of the Punisher should give it a shot as long as they aren’t expecting too much. There’s some charm to be found in its honest storyline and offbeat villains, but most viewers will find that it misses as often as it hits.
For a Punisher adaptation that invests more in its characters and story, check out The Punisher, starring Thomas Jane. For justice dispensed in even more violent fashion, check out Dredd. For a stylish action film that makes better use of a similar budget, try John Wick. For a gory, tongue-in-cheek satire of the action genre, try Shoot ‘Em Up.
6.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for decent action and a couple of nice touches hurt by mediocre performances and a lack of memorability.