April 16, 2004

Taking the punishment

Posted by pete at April 16, 2004 12:43 PM

So you don't have to.

Saw The Punisher at a midnight screening last night. The review, as always, is up on Film Threat (Top billing! Hurry!). Direct link here.

Short review: disappointing. Somewhat less short review: even more disappointing given the highly enjoyable ultra-violence at the end. I might've expected as much from one of the writers of Armageddon.

Thomas Jane is good. John Travolta is not. Rebecca "Don't Call Me Stamos" Romijn is completely unbelievable as a mousy waitress with a penchant for dating abusive assholes. And nobody can seem to decide if this is a serious revenge film or an occasionally smart-ass comic book movie. At the end, I found myself looking forward to a sequel that didn't have to bother with Frank Castle's origins or him getting all friendly with the neighbors. Given the distinct possibility that it's going to get decimated at the box office by Kill Bill Vol. 2 and bad reviews, I'm not holding my breath.

Good review. I'm on my way to see it tonight, even though I'm not expecting much. I'm also seeing Kill Bill 2, though, so it should be an average evening overall...

--Posted by Jeremiah on April 16, 2004 3:09 PM

Rats. I was hoping the Punisher was going to be good. There is a ton of potential there. I guess if vigilante justice is what I'm in the mood for (and it is), maybe Man On Fire will satiate me.

--Posted by denny on April 16, 2004 3:21 PM

Or Scooby Doo 2.

I keed.

--Posted by HWRNMNBSOL on April 16, 2004 4:06 PM

Well, just got back from the double-header. Punisher wasn't bad - it was cheesy in some parts, and contained many holes and inconsistencies, but I enjoyed watching the movie. Thomas Jane is pretty much a badass, and he fits the role well.

Different Punisher from the one I remember from the comics, but I guess he's been sanitized for the masses.

--Posted by Jeremiah on April 17, 2004 1:19 AM



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