The Punisher (2004) Film Review: Great Ideas, Poor Execution...

The Punisher character hasn't had the best of luck in film and TV. From three films that never launched a franchise of their own, to a Netflix series that ended before it can properly finish its story, the violent vigilante can't seem to catch a big break. The best film that involves the character is also one that's not exactly good either. Frank Castle is finally retiring his duty as an FBI agent and plans to move to London with his family. On his last undercover mission though, he unintentionally caused the death of Bobby, the son of mafia boss Howard Saint. Howard and his wife, Livia, exact their revenge by killing Castle's entire family during a family reunion in Puerto Rico, including Castle's wife and son. Castle manages to survive the attack and returns months later to avenge his family by slowly making Howard lose everything one by one. Although it isn't the most comic-accurate interpretation despite many scenes brought to life from various issues, there are elements of the story that I do like. I love the change to have Castle lose his extended family, which albeit not necessary, amplifies the complete isolation and broken nature of the character. I also like how Castle tries to manipulate Howard's life and cause him to lose his money, best friend, wife, and eventually his life. However, the one thing I'm not a fan of is the uneven tone. The film is, for the most part, trying to be serious and gritty, but the majority of the characters are really hammy and goofy, almost as if they belong in a different type of film. I understand why the film was made like this, since it was much early on in the comic-book film revival, but it just feels very misguided. Any attempts at humour is trampled upon, due to the uneven tone of the film.

Thomas Jane as Frank Castle is my favourite performance from the character. Not only does Jane look the part, but he's got a charisma to him that is a nice blend of monotone, serious, and cynical. John Travolta as Howard Saint is hammy and slimy, playing an almost Donald Trump-like persona that makes the viewer can't wait for his eventual demise. The same can be said for the rest of his family, who are despicable and also serve as satisfaction once they are killed off. While the leads are handled fine enough, it is the side characters that are a mixed bag. Although majority of them are from the comics, their live-action debut aren't exactly done well. While I like the role of Mickey in the film, he feels a bit underused despite his role as the inside man for Castle. The Russian, while very comic-accurate, is just really goofy in his action sequence, which doesn't match the mostly grounded world that the film takes place in. Joan is a boring and unnecessary love interest for Castle, Bumpo is a goofy fat stereotype, and Dave's arc is rushed by allowing himself to get tortured and calling Castle family, despite the limited time onscreen they had. The acting for all of these roles are fine, they just feel like the majority of the cast feel like they belong in an entirely different film.

Jonathan Hensleigh, a seasoned writer, began his directorial debut with this film, which clearly shows as they are clearly signs of amateur filmmaking, despite his vision being rather clear and thought out. Hensleigh was clearly inspired by grind-house action films of the 70's and 80's, as well as trying to make a thematic film surrounding the character of The Punisher. I like the lighting from the dirty daylight and the gothic nighttime to match the gritty atmosphere. The guy can create a very suspenseful scene such as the massacre in Puerto Rico, Dave getting tortured, and the scenes where Howard kills his best friend and wife. It is how the action sequences are directed that makes Hensliegh look very amateurish. Despite the R-rating, the film is overly edited to avoid a lot of blood and gore. I understand that the studio might have been responsible for the limited use of blood, but the editing could have been much better if that was the case. There are some neat kills and action moments, but the sequences as a whole could have been so much better. Same can be said for the cinematography, which while decent for the most part, can feel flat at times in scenes that aren't trying to look like they came from the comics. The score is also very forgettable, as it comes across as more of a melodrama. Hensleigh clearly tried the best he could, though it's not enough for certain aspects of the film.

"The Punisher" is the best of the Punisher films, but that doesn't mean it's a great film overall. While I enjoy the story that was offered, the acting of the main leads, the mostly dark tone, the lighting, and how Hensleigh directs some really good suspenseful scenes. However, the inconsistent goofiness, side characters, forgettable score, average cinematography, and action sequences that are over-edited to decrease the violence really bog down the film's enjoyment factor. What's a huge shame with this film is that you can tell that there was a lot of potential to make a great film. If Hensleigh made his film more serious and the studio allowed more violence, I believe that this film would have been a perfect Punisher film. As it is though, it's entertaining enough, but there are plenty of issues to find that you can either forgive or can't get behind.

Verdict: 5.5/10. Watch for some well-directed suspense scenes, Jane and Travolta's performances, and a decent Punisher story. Action and those who like a solid tone, perhaps "War Zone" might suit your needs.