Punisher: War Zone (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Phil H

  
  This starts out with a brilliant gun battle...really cool stuff, reminisant of a sequence in 'The Crow', it really got me geared up for a good film but alas after this great shoot out the film really slows down and even gets abit boring through the middle. Nothing that much… More
  This starts out with a brilliant gun battle...really cool stuff, reminisant of a sequence in 'The Crow', it really got me geared up for a good film but alas after this great shoot out the film really slows down and even gets abit boring through the middle. Nothing that much happens for the whole film accept at the beginning and the end, the two said sequences are really great and kick ass but the middle is just so so. Stevenson as the Punisher is perfect, he really looks the part in both outfit and face, he also acts the part well too, calm silent and no cheese. The problem is 'Jigsaw' for me, he's almost a total rip on Jack Nicholson's Joker, more violent but not as good. The film also plays out like a Schumacher Batman flick to be honest, apart from the violence its very basic, straight foward with a very formulaic approach. Bad guy is normal, gets turned into freak by dark anti hero via some horrible near death, comes back, gets loads of henchmen, all get killed in final big climactic battle. Its practically 'Batman and Robin' or 'Batman Forever' haha The ending where Jigsaw just walks into certain bars and areas and recruits lots of gun totting sterotypes is pretty stupid really. Still it does what it says on the tin, at the beginning and end anyway, and its the best Punisher film so far, just not that great.

• Ken S

  
  Very silly, and fairly entertaining. The church scene makes my camera bits all tingly.

• Jens S

  
  Marvel's most violent vigilante, The Punisher, gets another reboot with this film, even though the version with Thomas Jane was far from bad. Neither is this, it just feels all around unnecessary. The good news is: Ray Stevenson is a convincing, tight-lipped Frank Castle, who… More
  Marvel's most violent vigilante, The Punisher, gets another reboot with this film, even though the version with Thomas Jane was far from bad. Neither is this, it just feels all around unnecessary. The good news is: Ray Stevenson is a convincing, tight-lipped Frank Castle, who doesn't say a word for the first 20 minutes and just shoots people. The film is far from being a war zone until the showdown, but even then it's more of the regular shootouts with very little innovation or even variation. The bay guys are clearly comic book villains, so you can't hold the over-the-top sadistic joy they portray about killing people against them really, it's still rather silly. The level of violence and gore is exceptionally high, which certainly isn't to everyone's taste either. All that makes for a film that isn't boring but neither very interesting and with way too many genre stereotypes. As I said: unnecessary.

• Emily A

  
  Ugh, who the hell recommended this movie to me? Come on, fess up! I hated it so much, which is odd, since I really like Dominic West and Ray Stevenson. By all accounts, he should have been a perfect Punisher; he even LOOKS like one of Tim Bradstreet's cover drawings of Frank… More
  Ugh, who the hell recommended this movie to me? Come on, fess up! I hated it so much, which is odd, since I really like Dominic West and Ray Stevenson. By all accounts, he should have been a perfect Punisher; he even LOOKS like one of Tim Bradstreet's cover drawings of Frank Castle, but I think the biggest problem of this movie was its tone. They tried to make this both gritty and day-glo cartoonish, without reaizing that the two are mutually exclusive. The colour scheme of this movie was the worst and most inappropriate thing since Batman Forever, and really clashed with the bitter cynicism of the character. The movie as a whole came off as mean-spirited overall. Case in point: Detective Soap. The fact that he gets completely and totally shit on in the comics works because he's a cartoon character. Put that same character in live-action and he just comes off as pathetic. Even pairing him with Detective Richtoffen would have helped a bit, but instead we get as female lead Angela, an utterly extraneous victim that serves only as emotional antagonist for Castle, and damsel in distress. How is it that this comic book movie looks so cartoonish while simultaneously being devoid of fun?

• Jeff "

  
  If you're looking for a Punisher film that delivers intense action then this is the film for you. Punisher: Warzone is a pure pop corn action film. Lacking an inventive story, but delivering on awesome action, this is an improvement over The Punisher film with Thomas Jane. At… More
  If you're looking for a Punisher film that delivers intense action then this is the film for you. Punisher: Warzone is a pure pop corn action film. Lacking an inventive story, but delivering on awesome action, this is an improvement over The Punisher film with Thomas Jane. At times I enjoy a film thast a no brainer, a fun film that delivers thrills, and loads of action. Punisher: Warzone certainly delivers all that. I understand why the film has gotten a lot of flack, but it's not all that bad. Sure the acting will never be as solid as Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, but who cares? if you love mindless films, then view this one. Ray Stevenson is the perfect Punisher and he delivers in the role. He is far better than Thomas Jane. The thing to take in while watching this film is not to take it too seriously. If you do that than maybe you can enjoy it. Punisher: Warzone is in the same category as The Expendables in my book. Both are designed to deliver action and thrills, but both lack an effective story. Despite the none existent story, this is a good action film thats a lot of fun. Despite me giving it a good review, I cannot say I would recommend it. Unless you're looking for a mindless action romp that very exaggerated then look no further. A flawed but very entertaining film. If you're bored then give this one delivers mindless and fun action, just keep yourself reminded that it lacks a good story. Ray Stevenson is the perfect actor to play the role and if they make another Punisher film, they definitely need to cast him in the part again. He brought a colder, meaner intensity to the role and it's what separates this film with previous Punisher films.

• Michael G

  
  Shockingly, Punisher War Zone wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The plot was somewhat weak (it went to shit in the last act), the violence was ridiculously over-the-top (entertaining, too) and overall, there were just some aspects of this movie that were downright… More
  Shockingly, Punisher War Zone wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The plot was somewhat weak (it went to shit in the last act), the violence was ridiculously over-the-top (entertaining, too) and overall, there were just some aspects of this movie that were downright laughable and embarrassing. Especially the soundtrack. For all of Punisher War Zone's imperfections, I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel. Ray Stevenson was surprisingly good in the main role, the direction was pretty good and the overall mood from what I remember of the comic books seemed to make it to the screen. Or maybe it's just that the 2004 version of The Punisher was just so awful that this one just doesn't seem that bad.

• James A

  
  Better than the other two tries at the Punisher character but that isnt saying much. It did lack a naked Dolph Lungren.

• xGary X

  
  Frank Castle accidentally kills an undercover FBI agent when he storms a mob stronghold, leaving him torn between protecting the man's family and hanging up his guns for good. Warzone is less a sequel than a reinvention of the previous film, and as a whole it is a big… More
  Frank Castle accidentally kills an undercover FBI agent when he storms a mob stronghold, leaving him torn between protecting the man's family and hanging up his guns for good. Warzone is less a sequel than a reinvention of the previous film, and as a whole it is a big improvement. Ray Stevenson is a much more intense Punisher, and his guilt over the agent's death combined with his moral dilemma makes him a much more interesting character. The double act of Dominic West (dodgy accent notwithstanding) and Doug Hutchinson also make for much more interesting, larger than life villains and the action is far slicker and more exciting; in fact the whole film looks the part of a moody comic strip far more than the wishy washy original. The tone although still consciously aping the Batman films is much closer to the mark but it is still a bit too gleeful in its representation of some pretty nasty violence and some of the humour feels a little inappropriate because of it (the last line alone was enough to knock a half star off the score). Not in the same league as The Dark Knight, but a hell of a lot better than Ghost Rider.

• Film C

  
  I really dont know which of the punishers i liked, this one isnt really a sequel as such but it is, hes no longer after the man who killed his family but it doesnt realy follow on from the first! Its good, exciting, amusing and action packed its literally explosive! A good movie… More
  I really dont know which of the punishers i liked, this one isnt really a sequel as such but it is, hes no longer after the man who killed his family but it doesnt realy follow on from the first! Its good, exciting, amusing and action packed its literally explosive! A good movie worth the watch!!

• Tsubaki S

  
  Review? Ok, here's a review: <a href="http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/Solid_Eagle/?action=view&current=punisherq.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/Solid_Eagle/punisherq.gif"… More
  Review? Ok, here's a review: <a href="http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/Solid_Eagle/?action=view&current=punisherq.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a127/Solid_Eagle/punisherq.gif" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• KJ P

  
  A poor execution to a great predecessor!

• Conner R

  
  Just Frank Castle doing what he does best, mowing down punks with a shitload of guns. Ray Stevenson is so perfect for Punisher. The story was so outlandish and over-the-top, but that's exactly what i'd want. They really kept the style of the source material and delivered an… More
  Just Frank Castle doing what he does best, mowing down punks with a shitload of guns. Ray Stevenson is so perfect for Punisher. The story was so outlandish and over-the-top, but that's exactly what i'd want. They really kept the style of the source material and delivered an urban epic. Probably on of the most well made B-movies of recent.

• Chris W

  
  This film, simply put, looks great. The production values are outstanding. Too bad the same can't be said for the script. The acting is actually fairly decent, or at least passable for the material. The highlight is probably the high level of violence/gore, the tight pacing of… More
  This film, simply put, looks great. The production values are outstanding. Too bad the same can't be said for the script. The acting is actually fairly decent, or at least passable for the material. The highlight is probably the high level of violence/gore, the tight pacing of thing, and the overall high level of energy present. I could have done without the presence of so much neon, but hey, it did give the film a distinct style. My only hope is that if another of these films is made, they make it a direct sequel, keep Stevenson, keep the level of violence/gore from this movie, add in the drama and intensity from the 2004 film, either keep Alexander as director, or get someone like John McTiernan to helm it, and get someone like Garth McInnes or anyone else who wrote the comics to pen the script. If all of that is done, then there might finally be a Punisher film that is 100% in every way like the comics.

• Dean M

  
  What I think of Ray Stevenson as the new title role from Thomas Jane (who played in the 2004 flick) is perfect and he's built like a machine in several action scenes. This tale based on the Marvel comic book is essentially just death and destruction from the opening frame - and… More
  What I think of Ray Stevenson as the new title role from Thomas Jane (who played in the 2004 flick) is perfect and he's built like a machine in several action scenes. This tale based on the Marvel comic book is essentially just death and destruction from the opening frame - and it's awesome! Dominic West is good as Jigsaw, but I felt he might have hammed it up a bit in a few scenes. His "Jigsaw" make-up looks great as creepy like the following <i>The Punisher</i> comic book as the anti-hero's arch-enemy.

• Ginny  

  
  <font face="arial" size=1>Late Post:<br><br><font face="arial" size=2>Now thats what Im talkin about! Punisher Warzone is by far the BEST Punisher movie ever made!<br><br>Gun totting, adrenaline pumped, extremely grotesque kill… More
  <font face="arial" size=1>Late Post:<br><br><font face="arial" size=2>Now thats what Im talkin about! Punisher Warzone is by far the BEST Punisher movie ever made!<br><br>Gun totting, adrenaline pumped, extremely grotesque kill shots, Oh yeah! That was bloody awesome! <br><br>So it has a few cheezy lines, but I found them quite bareable. A bit over dramatic at some point, and it still had a few holes in it most especially on the villains part of the story. If youre able to get past those then you'll be able to enjoy this.<br><br>Im not a comic geek so I cant really say if this was spot on or what, but I was able to watch the other Punisher movies before and I didnt like the one with Thomas Jane and can barely remember the one with Dolph Lundgren in it, but I can actually watch this one over and over again. Bring on the bullets! Yeehaw!!<br><br>Keywords: Vengeance, Vigilante Justice<br><br><b>Director: Lexi Alexander<br>Rated R for Heavy Violence and Gore</b>

• Al S

  
  An explosive, stylish and incrediably exhilerating action-packed thriller. Ray Stevenson is outstanding, he gives off a type of grittines and moving approach to the character that will not disapoint one bit, he shows it perfectly the harsh violent side and the emotionally broken side… More
  An explosive, stylish and incrediably exhilerating action-packed thriller. Ray Stevenson is outstanding, he gives off a type of grittines and moving approach to the character that will not disapoint one bit, he shows it perfectly the harsh violent side and the emotionally broken side of the character of Frank Castle. A hard-hitting and exhilerating thrill-ride thats loaded with jack-hammer action. An exhilerating adreniline-rush. A slick and very well-crafted film. Director, Lexi Alexander has crafted a very cool, faithful and very fine comic book adaptation worth seeing. An intensely brutal, very vicious and stone-cold action flick. The violence is as gritty and as brutal as what is potrayed in the comics.

• Derek A

  
  Wow! This was intense! I imagine the writers and directors were really drunk and high off illegal substances when they made this film. What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in gore and unreal violence. Seriously, <i>Punisher War Zone</i> has some of the most… More
  Wow! This was intense! I imagine the writers and directors were really drunk and high off illegal substances when they made this film. What it lacks in substance, it makes up for in gore and unreal violence. Seriously, <i>Punisher War Zone</i> has some of the most graphic and intense death scenes I've ever seen in an action movie. Unfortunately, it's hard to take seriously because it's highly unrealistic and waaaaaaay over-the-top. This 2nd edition to the franchise is vastly different than the 2004 Thomas Jane, John Travolta version. Both considered "flops" but I still consider the 2004 version to be a much better movie. <i>War Zone</i> lacks a logical plot, boasts cheesy acting, and has no heart. Although the new Punisher, Ray Stevenson, looks the part, his delivery is painfully stiff. And the bad guys were laughable... Jigsaw? Seriously? Hahaha... I can't recommend this movie unless you have a thirst for watching some extremely gory and creative deaths.

• A.D. V

  
  Finally The Punisher done right with Stevenson playing Castle to the brutal hilt. Ultra-violent and over the top gory guilty pleasure fun.

• Michael S

  
  Excessively brutal; unnecessarily gory; dumb; grotesque; WARZONE is exactly what a punisher film should be, and may be the closest a film ever gets to the spirit and essense of the (later) Punisher comics. Ray Stevenson is the perfect Punisher, and his film is a lot of sadistic fun.

• Josh L

  
  Assuming you like over the top action and gore, it's an improvement on the 2004 version. Ray Stevenson fits the role better than Tom Jane did (who I think was miscast). It's not a very good comic book movie (we had at least four I can think of in just 2008 that were better),… More
  Assuming you like over the top action and gore, it's an improvement on the 2004 version. Ray Stevenson fits the role better than Tom Jane did (who I think was miscast). It's not a very good comic book movie (we had at least four I can think of in just 2008 that were better), but it's still enjoyable if you have the prerequisites I mentioned. This is probably the last Punisher movie we are going to get since they are such commercial failures.

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