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Features: DVD, Widescreen, English, Subtitled, Spanish
Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is a man who has seen too much death in his life, first as a Delta Force Op and later as an FBI special agent. He has managed to beat considerable odds, and is finally moving out of the field and into a normal life with his wife and son. On his final assignment, Castle plays his undercover role perfectly, but the operation spins out of control. This places the FBI on the wrong side of Tampa businessman Howard Saint (John Travolta) and his glamorous wife Livia (Laura Harring). Notwithstanding their glossy social profile, the Saints are no genteel Florida couple; behind their copious wealth are violent beginnings, underworld ties and a chilling capacity for brutality. Castle s worst nightmare is about to come true, as Howard Saint and his lieutenants unleash hell at the Castle family reunion. But Castle, to his everlasting torment, survives. Drawing upon all he has learned in 20 years, Castle sets in motion a brilliant plan to punish the murderers. He takes up residence among in a dilapidated tenement building on Tampa s industrial waterfront, where his fellow tenants include Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), a waitress at a nearby diner who is trying to put her life back on track. Castle s neighbors become his last link to the idea of human community and warmth. It is this makeshift family forgotten men and women with no one to protect them - who enable Castle to find the one thing he least expects: redemption. Format: DVD MOVIE
Editor's Note
Marvel Comics presents a second big-screen version of THE PUNISHER, with this action-packed adaptation from screenwriter-turned-director Jonathan Hensleigh. Frank Castle (Tom Jane) is a retired F.B.I. agent spurred into action after the merciless slaying of his wife, father, and son. Adopting the superhero guise of The Punisher, Castle aims to wreak vengeance for his dead family by tracking down the culprits responsible for their demise. All clues point to Howard Saint (John Travolta), a ruthless businessman and nightclub owner whose son was mistakenly killed by Castle in a botched undercover operation back in his F.B.I. days. Unique amongst Marvel superheroes, The Punisher possesses no special powers, just remarkable strength parried with a blind determination to avenge his family. As he hunts down Saint, Castle surrounds himself with three fellow societal outcasts to get the job done, namely Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), Bumpo (John Pinette), and Dave (Ben Foster). Director Hensleigh eschews flashy CGI effects for the bulk of the movie, and instead reverts to old action-movie staples such as thrilling stunt work, gunfights, and huge explosions. The old-fashioned feel suits The Punisher well, providing an apt mirror of the hero's own lack of super powers. Hensleigh winds the film through a thrilling white-knuckle ride to its spectacular conclusion, ultimately providing a highly appropriate movie for one of Marvel's lesser-known comic book heroes.
| Features | Region 1 | | Keep Case | | Anamorphic Widescreen - 16:9 | | Audio:
| DTS-EX 6.1 - English | | Dolby Digital 5.1 - English | | Closed Captioned - English | | Subtitles - English, Spanish - optional |
| | Additional Release Material:
| Making of | | Deleted Scene - Animated Opening | | Trailers |
| | Interactive Features:
| Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection |
| | Text/Photo Galleries:
| Comic Cover Gallery |
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| Technical Info
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Release Information
|  | Studio: Lions Gate |
| Release Date: 5/6/2008 |
| Running Time: 140 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2004 | | Catalog ID: 18052 | | UPC: 00012236180524 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English | | Video: Color |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"Jonathan Hensleigh's movie version of the Punisher's origins stays true to its hero by being similarly stripped-down, efficient and mean." 04/16/2004 p.E20Los Angeles Times
"THE PUNISHER is that rare comic book movie that actually feels like a comic book....These battles are a cost-effective throwback. They depend on the physical side of moviemaking...and top of the line stunt work..." 04/16/2004 p.C1 USA Today
"[Z]ippy and amusingly cast....A film whose primary plus is a sense of humor." 04/16/2004 p.5E Entertainment Weekly
"[K]ick back, and wistfully remember a time when someone named Dolph could be a movie star." 05/01/2004 p.147 Chicago Sun-Times
"[T]he film, directed by Jonathan Hensleigh, is consistently well-acted, and has some scenes of real power." 04/16/2004 p.33 Uncut
"[The] gloriously violent action sequences have a refreshingly downbeat '70s exploitation edge. Nasty, brain-dead fun." 10/01/2004 p.148 Sight and Sound
"[The director] takes a retro-action route with tributes to pre-CGI stuntwork. Most impressive is a frantic car-chase..." 11/01/2004 p.63-4 |
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