Movie: Punisher: War Zone

Who punishes the Punisher?

That's also my question as delivered by Angela Donatelli (Julie Benz) to Frank castle (Ray Stevenson).

Infamous vigilante and anti-hero Frank Castle (Ray Stevenson) is six years into his vengeance-driven zeal as the Punisher. When he brutally assaults a "beat the rap" party for notorious mob boss Gaitano Cesare, he is alerted to the fact that Billy Russoti (Dominic West) has escaped to his recycling plant hideout by Detective Saffiotti (Tony Calabretta) who along with Detective Martin Soap (Dash Mihok) were staking out the party. Castle infiltrates Russoti's hideout and murders Nicky Donatelli (Romano Orzari) as he is exiting the bathroom. The ensuing gunshot alerts Russoti, and a brief fire fight between Castle and he ensues, ending in Russoti being thrown into a glass-crushing machine which ends up leaving the gangster hideously disfigured. Castle, who has taken cover behind the body of Donatelli, realizes that the man he killed was an undercover FBI Agent.

Agent Paul Budiansky (Colin Salmon), the ex-partner of the undercover agent, joins the NYPD's "Punisher Task Force" and partners up with Soap to help bring Castle to justice, once and for all. Meanwhile, a facially mutilated Russoti recovers from his run-in with the Punisher with revenge on his mind and frees his deranged brother, Loony Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison) under his new alias "Jigsaw."

Distraught that he has now become the very evil he swore to battle, Castle attempts to make reparations to Donatelli's wife, Angela (Julie Benz) and daughter, Grace (Stephanie Janusauskas) to no avail. Castle considers retiring from the vigilante business. However, upon hearing information from his partner and armorer, Microchip (Wayne Knight), plans quickly change once he learns that Jigsaw has learned of Donnatelli's family's existence, and will be going after them for revenge.

It ends as Castle confronts Jigsaw and his insane brother, both holding Microchip and the Donatelli family at gunpoint. Jigsaw gives Castle a choice: If Frank shoots one of his friends, Jigsaw will let the others go free. Microchip boldly offers his life to save the Donatellis, but Castle chooses to shoot Loony Bin Jim instead. As a result, Jigsaw kills Microchip. Enraged by the loss of his partner, Castle attacks Jigsaw, ultimately ending with the Punisher impaling Jigsaw with a metal rod and then throwing him onto a fire. As Jigsaw burns to death, Castle calmly tells him that "This is just the beginning."

Outside the building, Castle bids farewell to the Donatelli family. As they are walking down the street, Soap tries to persuade Frank to give up his role as the Punisher. Soap has a change of heart, however, when he is attacked by a mugger, who quickly becomes another victim of the Punisher.

Plot-wise, it is same as other comic-vigilante movies, the usual revenge of the anti-hero and his quest to end the villainy of his nemesis while finding a way to rescue his friends/loved ones.

Visually, I was shocked with the goriness. At first I thought I was watching Saw or Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but no, its Punisher. The executions of the action scenes are bad-ass but not appealing to those who hated gore. Its blood all-over!

On its opening weekend, Punisher: War Zone grossed $4 million in 2,508 theaters in the United States, ranking at #8 at the box office. As of March 10, 2009 the film has grossed $8,050,977 domestically, making Punisher: War Zone the lowest grossing film based on a Marvel Comics property.

Overall, I think its 3/5 because of its lack of character development for the villains, Jigsaw and his brother Loony Bin Jim. But still, i think its one of the best violent and action-packed films to date.