Salvation Is a Bloody Mess in 'Punisher: Warzone'

Written by Abominable Snowcone

Friday, 28 August 2009 11:41

Punisher: Warzone

2008

Directed by Lexi Alexander

Starring Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz, Wayne Knight

(3 fists)

A dozen or so pictures based on Marvel Comics characters have been released in the last decade. Some were stellar (Iron Man, Spider-Man 2), some abysmal (Fantastic Four), and some remain open to debate (Daredevil, Hulk).

But not until The Punisher did any comic book publisher market a movie specifically geared toward an adult audience. Packed with violence, profanity and brief nudity, Punisher earned its R rating from the MPAA.

Directed by German kickboxer Lexi Alexander, the sequel / reboot (to the 2004 film starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta), Punisher: Warzone goes even further into R territory. So far, in fact, that the studio created a new division—Marvel Knights—to handle future titles for big kids with bloodlust.

Frank Castle (Irishman Ray Stevenson assuming the Jane role) has waged a one-man war on crime in New York ever since his family was gunned down after witnessing a mob hit six years ago (shown in flashback). Frank’s still heartbroken, and while his unresolved anger motivates him, he appears to be tiring of vigilante life.

Frank breaks into the mansion of a Mafioso godfather named Cesare one night. There, he mows down a dozen gangsters with an assortment of automatic weapons—all while dangling from a chandelier with his legs. He decapitates another goon and flings knives into a couple others, but Cesare’s second-in-command, Billy “The Beaut” Russoti, escapes.

NYPD Detectives Soap and Saffiotti have been staking Cesare’s property and are supposed to apprehend The Punisher if he shoes up. But both cops sympathize with the renegade crime-fighter, and instead of arresting Frank they tell him Russoti’s retreated to a glass recycling factory.

Frank shoots a few more thugs at the recycling plant and knocks Russoti himself into a glass grinder. His raid appears successful—until Frank realizes he’s unwittingly killed FBI agent Nicky Donatelli, who was working for Cesare undercover. The Punisher returns to his subterranean lair, sick with guilt.

Donatelli’s partner, Agent Budiansky, is assigned to the NYPD’s Punisher Task Force, where Detective Soap schools him on the life and times of Frank Castle. Budiansky’s seething over his friend’s death and determines to bring The Punisher to justice with or without Soap’s help.

Sequestered in his sewer / hideout, Frank considers retiring. Distraught over his lethal error, he visits Donatelli’s widow, Angela (Julie Benz), and apologetically submits himself to her. He even raises the grieving woman’s pistol to his chest and encourages her to squeeze the trigger. But her daughter’s sudden appearance at the door keeps Mrs. Donatelli from shooting Frank. The Punisher sulks off into the night after offering a satchel of money taken from the mobsters. He tells Angela it’s for her little girl, but the bitter mother won’t accept it.

"Who punishes the Punisher?" she asks.

Elsewhere, Billy Russoti—who survived his ordeal—undergoes back-alley cosmetic surgery on his shredded face. He rechristens himself Jigsaw because of the hideous new profile and, set on revenge, is remarkably upbeat despite his medical misfortune. He busts his brother, Loony Bin Jim, out of the local nuthouse and strikes a $12 million deal for toxic weapons with representatives from a Russian mob.

Frank’s confidante and tech man, Microchip (hopelessly typecast Wayne Knight, who played computer whiz Nedry in Jurassic Park), convinces his friend not to hang his guns just yet because Russoti’s bloodthirsty clan—who now know Donatelli was a Fed—will likely target the agent’s widow and child. The Punisher agrees, knowing it’s the least he can do to repent.

Budiansky intercepts Frank after the Punisher shakes down a trio of gymnastic, drug-fueled gangsters. Frank bests Budiansky in hand-to-hand combat and warns the agent to leave stay out of his way. The Punisher doesn’t struggle when Budiansky sneakily handcuffs him, but requests his captor check in on the Donatellis.

Sure enough, Jigsaw and his thugs have already broken into the Donatelli home and taken Angela and her daughter hostage. Two cops are killed and Budiansky is captured. But Soap releases Frank, who crashes the party, dispatches two gunmen, and rescues the Donatellis. Budiansky detains Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim.

Unfortunately, the maniacal Jigsaw negotiates his liberty by providing the authorities with information about the young Russian mobster, who plans on selling the biological weapons to terrorists for use against Americans. Jigsaw and Loony Bin walk out with immunity—and a detailed file on The Punisher and Microchip.

The villains build an anti-Punisher army by recruiting dozens of local gang members—Blacks, Irish, and Asian. Jigsaw assures them they’ll own the streets and become rich if they can uphold a truce long enough to take out Castle. Collecting an impressive cache of weapons, the thugs convene in the abandoned Bradstreet Hotel, which they turn into a virtually impenetrable fortress. Jigsaw kidnaps Micro and the Donatellis to bait the Punisher out of hiding.

Frank is willing to take on the army but realizes the numbers are against him. With help from Budiansky and Soap, he talks the father of the apprehended Russian into waging war against Jigsaw—who ratted out his son. The Punisher somersaults into the hotel unmolested while the Russians create an explosive diversion in the lobby, killing a handful of bad guys.

Jigsaw and Jim threaten to kill their hostages after Castle corners the psychopathic brothers. But Frank is forced to choose between the lives of either Micro or Angela and her child—he can’t save them all. His decision won’t be spoiled here, but Mrs. Donatelli—who has experienced a change of heart—forgives Frank and assures him her husband would want the Punisher to keep up the good fight.

We’re not sure Frank will resume his private war until Detective Soap becomes the victim of a mugging at the end of the film. But then the telltale silhouette of the Punisher appears (in the glow of a “Jesus Saves” church sign) and a shot rings out, confirming Frank’s dedication to the cause.

That’s professional.

Punisher: Warzone succeeds as a cut-rate crime thriller but doesn’t ask to be taken too seriously. The villains are too campy—and the violence too gruesome—for that. Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim bounce through the picture like coke-ravaged teenagers with ADHD, stabbing enemies with the stems of broken wine glasses and disemboweling hospital aides.

It’s a remarkably gory affair, with flesh squishing and blood spraying whenever a bullet or blade finds its mark. An elderly woman is half-beheaded with a shotgun. A Latino thug helping Frank is axed to death. Children witness the violence and are themselves placed in harm’s way. Lion’s Gate (responsible for Rambo and the Saw franchise) continues to avail itself as the distributor of choice when it comes to cinematic slaughter (Perhaps not coincidentally, Julie Benz appears not only here, but also in Rambo and Saw V--call her the Lion's Gate blood queen).

Still, the picture has its moments. Stevenson, 45, is effective as an older, grizzled Castle. This reviewer liked the scene early on where Punisher nonchalantly resets his broken nose with a pencil. The chandelier sequence—however improbable—was fun. The Brooklyn accents are heavy here, particularly that of Jigsaw, whose transformation perhaps too easily recalls that of Jack Nicholson’s Joker in Batman (1989). Credit goes to Dominic West for his over-the-top performance, because the script really doesn’t allow for the puzzle-faced villain to be played any other way.

The music is also predictable—the filmmakers try too hard to beef up the proceedings with nu-metal tracks from Slipknot, Hatebreed and Static-X. It’s unnecessary and dilutes the character; the soundtrack betrays the writers’ lack of confidence in the Punisher’s inherent darkness (and in Stevenson’s ability to tap it).

Last Updated on Friday, 28 August 2009 12:37

25 Comments

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5 fists for me.
Stuntcock Mike says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 13:05:44 CDT

I have a healthy man love for this movie.
As well as an unhealthy obsession with Julie Benz.
Stuntcock Mike says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 13:09:03 CDT

http://tinyurl.com/lw5b5y
I didn't like this movie all that much
Xiphos says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 13:13:26 CDT

The action scenes were mostly well done but anytime somebody opened thier mouth I wanted to stick a screw driver in my ear.
Sadly I prefered Thomas Jane over Titus Pullo in the Punisher role which makes me sad because my man crush on Titus Pullo knows no bounds. That's not a dig against TJ I like him he's always soild I just wanted to love Pullo more.
Julie Benz is a fine piece of ass
Xiphos says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 13:17:14 CDT

I concur, with both hands.
Abominable Snowcone says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 17:05:31 CDT

Benz's character Sara the Missionary was so self-righteous in Rambo, but it attracted me to her that much more. I could completely understand why Rambo changed his mind and took the missionaries upriver ("We're goin' upriver for YOU. Anytime you wanna turn back, it's done.")
She looked great wet in Rambo.
Is Benz naturally blonde or brunette?
Stunt, I can't disagree with your five stars--at least not in terms of violence. There were a few kills here that made me go, "Holy shit!" and smile despite myself.
Oh yeah Abom. The violence is what did it for me.
Stuntcock Mike says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 18:36:15 CDT

This is exactly what I wanted out of a Punisher film. They did a fine job.
Ray Stevenson for Splinter Cell
S-Mart Shopper says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 21:43:27 CDT

as the aging Third Echelon operative Sam Fisher!
The punch through the face
Koutchboom says:

Fri 28 Aug 2009 23:51:04 CDT

Made this movie and instant classic.
Got Delgo
Koutchboom says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 00:09:12 CDT

Who's down for a live chat?
Ray and Julie Benz
ScottinDC says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 08:40:01 CDT

I was a huge fuckin' Rome fan so I love seeing Ray get a lead role. And Julie Benz...this is the chick who plays the girlfriend in 'Dexter'. And she's pretty damn tasty (the season 1 moment where she dresses up like Lara Croft and blows Dexter was just great). By Season 3, she's naked and fucking in half the episodes. Hot.
Grammaton Cleric Binks says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 10:35:41 CDT

Jigsaw in the comics evolved from a wimp with a pot belly, and a some big, but not grotesque scars, to a total freak with a buggy eye, bigger, nastier scars, and some sort of neck brace. In The Punsiher comic his face is healed, but Castle re-creates a masterpiece. I think that's where the transformation to complete freak began.
ehh- i agree 3 fists outta five
LordBronco says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 11:09:37 CDT

but i honestly thought this was a cartoony pastiche where it made violence look like a comedy.
the cast was there-the concept tight-but the execution was dare i say...meh.
honestly watching this movie made me yearn to watch "The Mask" where the cartoony violence was actually pretty good-and seeimingly more real than what i witnessed in this picture.""
Fucking Pullo-dude they are are talking about A Rome movie-which would be the tits-goddamn that was a good HBO series. in large part to your contribution, sir.
What this really makes me hanker for is an Abom review of "300".
And there is no discussion-Daredevil was the low point in many people's careers-and a complete fucking travesty of a shithole motion picture.
At least the Daredevil Director's Cut....
caruso_stalker217 says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 11:20:04 CDT

...had that scene where Bullseye goes to the airport and poses on the escalator.
Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus
Koutchboom says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 12:12:22 CDT

Is on Syfy tonight at 9 central time (8 Eastern). Other times for west coast. Hopefully we get a good turn out. I hope to see a bunch of drunks have a laugh.
Daredevil
Koutchboom says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 12:15:02 CDT

The directors cut worth watching?....and I like the original cut.
This Movie Was As Gay As The Day Is Long
Orion says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 14:57:29 CDT

And so are you for giving it 3 fists. It deserves negative 9 fists. The punisher had absolutely no likabillity. I couldn't give a shit about him. He looked like a bad Steven Segal impersonator. The action wasn't that clever, and the opening scene, him with arms extended, spinning and firing, ugh. Fuck this movie and fuck you you cunt.
Orion....
ScottinDC says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 15:09:38 CDT

Mom not give you a blow job today? You seem tense...anyways, save that bashing for the faggy AICN boards...here, we're all professionals and respect each other. Make sense you cunt? :P j/k man (kinda).
Koutchboom
caruso_stalker217 says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 15:36:06 CDT

I liked the DAREDEVIL director's cut. All the shit I hated was still in there like that dipshit fucking Elektra fight in the park. Bitch gets schooled by a fucking blind man in broad daylight and nobody knows who the mysterious pleather couch-wearing motherfucker is.
Uh, anyway, for some reason I liked the director's cut.
Just seen it
laguna_loire says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 16:59:48 CDT

Enjoyed it lots!! Fist-in-the-face dude deserved it, for the fact alone that he resembled an impossibly whiny Zack Braff, the gynmastic dude blown-up mid-somersault was hilairious, and Colin Salmon was wierd with a different accent!! Much better than the last Punisher flick (altho' Thomas Jane was good in the role).
caruso_stalker217 RE: DC cut of DareDevil
Xiphos says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 20:26:55 CDT

I'm in the same boat as you. I don't like the orginal cut but some how the directors cut works, even with all the problems still present.
Maybe it's a pacing thing
caruso_stalker217 says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 23:48:35 CDT

It felt more like a complete film or some bullshit.
I hated one thing about WAR ZONE
caruso_stalker217 says:

Sat 29 Aug 2009 23:54:20 CDT

And that was Dash Mihok. I've liked the guy in other movies like THE THIN RED LINE, KISS KISS BANG BANG and I AM LEGEND, but he was fucking terrible in this. He was the biggest goddamn pussy. Between him and Martin Lawrence in the BAD BOYS pictures we've got probably the biggest pussy cop duo ever. That fucking scene at the end where he's getting mugged and he's about pissing his pants and whining and he says "Fraaaank?" I wanted to punch his fucking teeth in. You're a fucking cop, for Christ's sake.
So, yeah, he should've fucking died.
I kind of wished teh used Gladiator as the villian
Xiphos says:

Sun 30 Aug 2009 02:45:36 CDT

He had some cool weapons to use against DD. Visualy he would have worked better then the movie version of Bullseye, who should've been Affleck. He was so wrong for DD but so right for Bullseye.
I'm really fucking drunk atm
VegasRon says:

Sun 30 Aug 2009 08:19:34 CDT

i have nothing else to add. other than I'm pretty sure I have to puke in about 3 minutes.
I love you basterds.
a movie comic book ?
Faust_8 says:

Mon 31 Aug 2009 08:06:29 CDT

Why make a comic book movie r rate but still make it the villians campy. I loved some of the scenes and kills in this movie and the violence is all abotu what the punisher really is, but why the camp. Ray brought grit to the Punisher, unlike Jane. That's my two cents.

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