ActionCrime

Punisher: War Zone

- Vengeance has a name.

Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias: Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.

Release Date : 2008-12-05

Language :RussianEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : LionsgateMHF Zweite Academy FilmMarvel KnightsValhalla Motion PicturesSGF EntertainmentMuse EntertainmentMarvel Studios

Production Country : CanadaGermanyUnited States of America

Alternative Titles : Punisher 2Punisher 2 - War ZoneThe Punisher: War ZonePunisher - War ZoneThe Punisher 2: War Zone

Cast

Character Name : Frank Castle / The Punisher

Original Name : Ray Stevenson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Billy Russoti / Jigsaw

Original Name : Dominic West

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grace Donatelli

Original Name : Stephanie Janusauskas

Gender : Female

Character Name : Angela Donatelli

Original Name : Julie Benz

Gender : Female

Character Name : Paul Budiansky

Original Name : Colin Salmon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Loony Bin Jim

Original Name : Doug Hutchison

Gender : Male

Character Name : Martin Soap

Original Name : Dash Mihok

Gender : Male

Character Name : Micro

Original Name : Wayne Knight

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pittsy

Original Name : Mark Camacho

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nicky

Original Name : Romano Orzari

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ink

Original Name : Keram Malicki-Sánchez

Gender : Male

Character Name : Agent Miller

Original Name : Larry Day

Gender : Male

Character Name : Captain Ross

Original Name : Ron Lea

Gender : Male

Character Name : Saffiotti

Original Name : Tony Calabretta

Gender : Male

Character Name : Maginty

Original Name : T.J. Storm

Gender : Male

Character Name : Carlos

Original Name : Carlos Gonzalez-Vio

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cristu Bulat

Original Name : David Vadim

Gender : Male

Character Name : NYPD Officer

Original Name : Gerardo Lo Dico

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cesare

Original Name : John Dunn-Hill

Gender : Male

Character Name : Pompiliu

Original Name : Niko Nikolov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tiberiu

Original Name : Aubert Pallascio

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Gordlock

Original Name : Francis B. Goldberg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Asylum Orderly

Original Name : Pat Fry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Priest

Original Name : Robert Godley-Harrod

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Cesare

Original Name : Linda E. Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Micro's Mother

Original Name : Lynne De Bel

Gender : Male

Character Name : TV News Reporter

Original Name : Bill Hall

Gender : Male

Character Name : EMT

Original Name : Matt Holland

Gender : Male

Character Name : Arm Candy

Original Name : Bjanka Murgel

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waiter

Original Name : Brent Skagford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bodyguard

Original Name : James Murray

Gender : Male

Character Name : Plastic Surgeon

Original Name : Cas Anvar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Schoolboy

Original Name : Ethan Gold

Gender : Male

Character Name : Motel Manager

Original Name : Mike Paterson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Harlem Gangleader

Original Name : Tracy Jerome Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wiseguy

Original Name : Giovanni Cipolla

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guard

Original Name : Andrew Farmer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mugger

Original Name : Jean-Loup Yale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank's Son

Original Name : Miro Bedard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Thug

Original Name : Eduardo Keller

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alpha Dog

Original Name : Marco Desjean

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nicki's Mom

Original Name : Lise Sita

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nicki's Dad

Original Name : Nick Sita

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cesare Wiseguy

Original Name : Eric Delphin Kouégoué

Gender : Male

Character Name : FBI Van Agent

Original Name : Stéphane Byl

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ice Team Leader

Original Name : Jan Bartoš

Gender : Male

Character Name : Old Man

Original Name : Oleg Popkov

Gender : Male

Character Name : Father Mike

Original Name : Edward Yankie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Banger #1

Original Name : Kane Chan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Banger #2

Original Name : Steven P. Park

Gender : Male

Character Name : Banger #3

Original Name : Matthew Chan

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

***The best of the Punisher movies with a weak last act*** The Punisher first appeared in the Spider-Man comic in February, 1974, and became a semi-regular foe/ally in that mag, but was more apt to appear in Daredevil in the 80s until the character got his own mini-series in 1986 and then his ongoing titles: The Punisher (1987), The Punisher War Journal (1988) and The Punisher War Zone (1992). The character was so popular at the time that he inspired a black & white magazine as well (1989). The reason The Punisher was and continues to be so popular is because he's essentially an over-the-top version of "Dirty Harry" and "Deathwish": Frank Castle's family is killed by the mob while on a picnic in Central Park and so he declares war on all criminals wherein he becomes their judge, jury and executioner. Unlike Daredevil, a lawyer who utilizes the justice system, The Punisher just kills 'em all. The first movie version was 1989's "The Punisher" with Dolph Lundgren, which was a disappointment. Lundgren was good, but the movie was too Grade B cartoony and it took too many liberties. Still, some consider it a cult flick. The 2004 movie with Thomas Jane curiously transferred the character from New York City to sunny Florida, specifically the Tampa area. There were other oddities that didn’t sit well, but Jane was good as the protagonist and there was enough good in the flick to marginally enjoy it. This 2008 rendition, “Punisher: War Zone,” was originally intended to be a sequel to the 2004 movie with Thomas Jane, but delays in the production caused him to pull out. Lexi Alexander ultimately got the gig as director and she pitched the idea of doing the film “as a throwback to '80s era action films” with 6’4” Ray Stevenson taking over as The Punisher. Jigsaw (Dominic West) makes for a memorable villain with Loony Bin Jim an entertaining wacko sidekick (Doug Hutchison). Wayne Knight plays Microchip and Julie Benz the wife of an undercover agent that Castle mistakenly kills on one of his missions. The towering Colin Salmon stands out as a police agent intent on tracking down The Punisher. It was a good call to bring the story back to New York City and, honestly, this has to be one of the best-looking big city movies I’ve ever seen, no kidding. The cinematography/locations/lighting are exceptional. While the movie has the urban grittiness of Nolan’s Batman trilogy, it balances it out with amusing cartoonish-ness. There is some quality drama, like Castle’s anguish over killing a “good guy” and his dealings with the dead agent’s widow & daughter, but it’s not overlong and dull like in “Batman Begins” (2005) and “The Dark Knight” (2008). Unfortunately, the last act, while serviceable, could’ve been better. At the end of the day, “Punisher: War Zone” edges out the 2004 movie as the best film version of the character. It’s more faithful to the comics and overall more entertaining even though it totally bombed at the box office. The film runs 1 hour, 43 minutes and was shot in Montreal, Quebec. GRADE: B/B-

tmdb44006625

@tmdb44006625

2021-06-23

To be fair, Punisher: War Zone is the most accurate representation of the comic we've had to date. The gore, extreme violence, and borderline sadism is very much a part of the comic. Ray Stevenson is spot on as Frank Castle. Dominic West is not so good as Jigsaw but at least his gang is more competent than Travolta's. Given that this came out in the same year as two other big comic book movies, there is one big thing that Punisher: War Zone contributes: proof that a female director can make an unforgivingly cruel but kick ass action flick, so I don't understand how more of them aren't being given the opportunity to do so.