Johnny Saturn

When I recently watched “The Punisher,” I have to admit that I didn’t have high expectations for it.  I burned out on Gonzo-, over-the-top action flicks with terrible plots and unbelievable action years ago, so I just didn’t think the Punisher would be all that interesting.

One should never just assume anything, though.  As it turned out, the Punisher wasn’t a bad action movie in the Arnold Schwarzenegger/Steven Seagal vein.  Indeed, Punisher had a solid plot, some able actors, and it was set in a somewhat believable world.

Thomas Jane played the Punisher, and he was eye-opening.  This guy is handsome, and his internalized emotions fairly writhe on screen behind his stony exterior.  Sound corny?  Watch the move.  This guy should be a big star.  Travolta was really good, but why expect anything else out this guy—he’s got off-the-scale screen charisma.  May I also add that Will Patton was fantastic, and his every appearance was electric.  I had seen him in the Mothman Prophecies and Armageddon, but it was his role in Punisher that really made me notice him.

The plot was fairly straightforward and effective, and the action was more on the believable side than the goofy, blockbuster-action-movie side.  I don’t enjoy violence, but the fight between Frank Castle and the Russian was downright funny.  There is humor to be found in this movie, but it is mostly a grim, mirthless kind of humor.  I will also say that there is a sadistic undercurrent to the movie, but, considering the subject matter, that shouldn’t be a surprise.  It is a revenge movie, pure and simple.

I give Punisher a B+, but don’t watch it if you don’t like dark revenge flicks.