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Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage

PUNISHER: WAR ZONE

Directed: Lexi Alexander
Running time: 107 minutes
Release date: December 5, 2008
Genre: Action and Adventure, Thriller, Comic Adaptation
Distributor: Lionsgate
MPAA Rating: R

This film adaptation of the Punisher is a novelty. The comic book is the first ever prequel comic book to a movie. It is an alternative origin story to the Punisher comic book and ends with the opening scene for the movie. The comic is exclusively written for this marketing purpose to introduce Frank Castle/ The Punisher (Ray Stevenson of HBO's Rome), a ruthless and deadly vigilante who picks up where law and order leaves off. He administers his own brand of justice. He's a decorated war veteran who lost his family when a mob hit went wrong. Since then he's fought to punish anyone who is outside of the law. His purpose is the destruction of all crime sydicates.

In this action packed and often gruesome tale, Frank Castle aka The Punisher, is on a mission to eliminate the wicked and dastardly crime boss Billy Russoti aka Jigsaw (Dominic West of HBO's The Wire). However, Jigsaw wants The Punisher dead. The film exploits the fact that Frank sees the world darkened by war, crime, cruelty, and injustice. He has no superpowers to battle the evil - only his fierce intelligence in making weapons, his years of combat training and his determination to avenge those wronged by society's villains.

I'm not a comic reader or an action hero fan; however, I enjoyed the dynamics of this cinematic thriller. It is reminiscent of Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy with a dash of McGuyver (using any item to make a weapon) thrown in. This movie is for an action hero comic book enthusiast who wants to see the hero the big screen.

In this action/adventure genre, words are not what the film exploits. So the solemn Ray Stevenson carries his role in a manner well suited for character. The villain Jigjaw is nothing like the late Heath Ledger's Joker; however, Dominic West carries the show with a often funny sinister portrayal of a man set on revenge.

This is a good action film and its lead actors Ray Stevenson and Dominic West stay true to the source material of the comic book. The movie captures the violence and dark humor of the Garth Ennis (writer) and Steve Dillon (illustrator) adventure comic series and is perversely fun to watch. The special effects are amazing and ad a special touch to the graphically brutal scenes. This is a predictable B- movie that deserves credit for being fun to watch. Kudos go to the fine directing by Lexi Alexander and solid writing by Art Marcum, and Matt Hollaway in creating a good story.


FILM RATING (C+)