Saturday night, the TV is awful so i popped this on expecting a movie as bad as it sounded. Never read the Marvel comic which inspired it but revenge thrillers can be a hit and miss affair at the best of times, especially when you can see the plot trajectory a mile off. However,one of the main things going for it was Jonathan Hensleigh. The talented scriptwriter had delivered some inspired work on Die Hard With A Vengeance and Armageddon and with Gale Anne Hurd producing, you know you're in for something a little more polished than your average no brainer flick. As a director and screenwriter, Hensleigh is a formidable force who did wonders with the $33million budget. Tom Jane is excellent as the eponymous hero, Frank Castle, seeking revenge after his family are wiped out by a ganglord (John Travolta). Laura Harring, the sexy protagonist from Mulholland Dr. is sadly wasted as his sultry wife, while an almost unrecognisable Samantha Mathis plays Castle's ill-fated spouse and then Rebecca Romijn Stamos pops up as the down on her luck tenant who falls for her hunky neighbour. While the first chunk feels like Mad Max revisited - wholesome law enforcer turned into a shell of a man after the death of his wife and son - the middle features a pointless comedy fight scene between Castle and a pumped up Russian villain. The third act is rather good, despite some sadistic scenes - if i never see a weedy supporting character having his piercings ripped out with pliers i'll be a happy bloke. A good looking nod to Sergio Leone and Don Siegel with an above average score. Not the greatest movie ever made and despite the obligatory Marvel shot of the hero explaining his future in a voice over at the end, i for one wouldn't mind seeing more adventures with Castle.
Review of The Punisher
