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I went in to this movie expecting next to nothing. I never thought Ray Stevenson looked the part for Frank Castle. Although this is coming from someone who doesn't read punisher comics, and I did really dig the guy on Rome so I figured I'd give him a shot. I liked the fact the trailer looked more "comic book" than the Thomas Jane version did, but I also know how risky that is. I was expecting this to be a piece of shit, and you know what? I was right. No wait, I was wrong. This movie fucking rocked!!!!
Ray Stevenson IS frank castle. Granted like I said before I don't read punisher, but I've read him a lot as a side character in a lot of other comics. I felt like Ray really pulled him off. He doesn't even speak for awhile in the beginning of the movie. And speaking of the beginning, this flick starts off with a bang. Literally. The Punisher shows up and lays waste to the bad guys around him, and he doesn't even hesitate. He kills them all, and very violently. Big thumps up for the violence in this flick, very very bloody when it needs to be. This movie is very over the top but in all the right ways. I will tell you now this is NOT anything like the Thomas Jane verison. Dare I say......this ones better. I've always felt like Comic books can pull something off a hell of a lot better than most movies can. And thats mix seriousness with cheesiness. Well this movie throws in both, and pulls it off. Stevenson does way better as The Punisher than I ever thought he would. I loved the way the city is portrayed, all the colors of the neons signs and the rest of the city lights are really bright against the extreme darkness of the rest of the city. I dig that look.
DEATH SPOILER AHEAD!! And did I mention the cheesiness? Theres a scene where a guy flips into the air, and Pun shoots him with a rocket launger. Had me laughing my ass off. DEATH SPOILER END.
And Dominic West portrayel of Jigsaw was great. I don't know how he is done in the comics, but I loved him in this movie. He's really funny and very psychotic. And his Brother....loved him. Lonney Bin Jim my friends, Looney Bin Jim. And its funny how much har dye can change a person. Julie Benz who plays Dexter Morgans girlfriend on ( the most awesome show ever) DEXTER is in this movie, and I'm a fan of hers so that I was happy about. But just because she died her hair a dark color it took me forever to figure out who it was. It was eating at me through half the movie. And the ending shot. I LOVE the way it looks. I won't spoil it for you, but the skull in the end shot with whats going on around it. Beautiful shot. Theres a shot towards the beginning of the movie when he is standing in a dark room on a table, he lights a flare and just for a few seconds the brightest thing in the room is the punisher skull on his shirt. It sent chills down my spine, and I'm not even a hardcore punisher fan.
Now I love the Thomas Jane version, I own that movie. But this was what a comic book flick should be in my opinion. I will own this on DVD, and if I get a chance I'll go watch it again in theaters. If you felt like the Thomas Jane flick was lacking in the violence department, or felt it was trying to be to serious of a movie. This punisher is what you've been waiting for. I know your gonna think "damn dude why such a high rating". I guess its just because I was expecting a complete 180 from what I got. I was expecting Montezuma's revenge style diarrhea from this flick, and I was pleasently suprised. I love when that happens, and it doesn't happen often enough. Crippie gives this bitch a 9 out of 10