By Drew Dietsch | Published
Since their association with Disney, Marvel films have invaded pop culture to such an extent that many people seem to forget the time before, a world where letters MCU had no sense, except perhaps “cooperative of municipal credit ”.
While the Disney era of Marvel has adopted and integrated certain past efforts of superheroes, such as the Spider-Man pre-McU or Wolverine films by Hugh Jackman, there are many movies and TV shows older than they seem to leave in the dust.
A popular character from Marvel sees his whole cinematic history disappear for modern generations and I am here to do my best so that it does not happen. This is why we have to save the films The Punisher.
The origins of Punisher start with Spider-Man
The Punisher is a controversial characterAnd that is to say things lightly. Curiously, it was created in The incredible spider-man #129 five months only before the release of the 1974 hit movie Death. The Punisher – its real name Frank Castle – is a murderous vigilante who waged a deadly war against crime in New York.
After having won a surprising popularity with readers and its own comic book title, The Punisher made the jump on the big screen in 1989 with its first feature film. The problems started there.
The first film by The Punisher started in 1989 and featured Dolph Lundgren
1989 The punker The film was produced by New World Pictures, a studio led by Roger Corman, beloved and notoriously concerned about his money. The punker would end up being the penultimate film produced by New World because of their financial problems. It also meant The punker could not ensure a distribution in theaters in the United States, contenting themselves with a direct video release two years after its first in international markets.
Rocky IV Star Dolph Lundgren was chosen to play Frank Castle, and even if I admit a legitimate penchant for the actor game of Lundgren, it is just to say The punker is not his most beautiful moment as an actor.
This does not help that the emblematic logo of The Punisher was removed from its outfit for the benefit of knives to launch on the theme of the skull. Director Mark Goldblatt openly regrets this decision and I am sure that fans agree.
For a police film from the 80s, The punker It’s not a bad time. The film has become cult over the years, proving that the power of The Punisher was always to be won in the world of cinema.
The Punisher returned for another film in 2004
Frank Castle had another chance at the box office in 2004, once again titled The Punisher. Following the big boom of comic book films caused by Blade, X-Men and Spider-Man, The Punisher was created to be another notch in the belt of big budget superproductions of Marvel.
Until the film fails at the box office, opening in second place behind Kill Bill: Volume 2. It’s a shame, because The Punisher (2004) is a major advance compared to the previous film. Thomas Jane is excellent in the role of Frank Castle and really cares about doing justice to the character, so much so that he even returned to the character in a short film Bootleg eight years after the film itself.
The punker (2004) is inspired by Garth Ennis’s comic strip with the character, and the film succeeds in keeping the tone of comics. John Travolta as bad guys is certainly disappointing, but the portrait of Thomas Jane and the solid direction of Jonathan Hensleigh punish (2004) much better than its reputation suggests.
Unfortunately, when your Marvel film releases two months before Spider-Man 2You are more soil.
Punisher: War Zone restarted the character in 2008
The Thomas Jane version not having conquered the box office, we were treated to a reboot four years later with Punisher: War zone. This is where The Punisher has reached its full shape. Because Punisher: War zone It is an explosion.
Inspired more from the extravagant version of the character of Garth Ennis, Punisher: War zone Director Lexi Alexander deliberately wanted to inject more ridicule and black comedy in the project, and the film is much better for that.
Dominic West, in the role of the bad Jigsaw, gives a villain performance as if he were in an episode of the Batman series of the 60s. It’s great. I could look at it with this makeup with this clumsy accent for days.
This does not mean that Ray Stevenson does not do a remarkable job as a very targeted and minimalist version of Frank Castle. It sets the tone just every moment, whether it is a dark comedy or a real emotional rhythm. It’s so sad that Stevenson has never had another chance with Frank Castle because he describes the character and dark side of the character so well.
And any film featuring a parkour gangster exploding by a missile is my idea of the right time.
Unfortunately, Punisher: War zone Once again, it is a fatal blow for the character at the box office, opening in 8th place. Frank Castle just couldn’t take a break.
Some punishment films are erased and can no longer be watched
Here we have three very different versions of The Punisher in the films here, and each has its merits and fans. But it could be more difficult to find and win new fans since the three films are left in digital dust.
From this recording, Punisher: War zone – A film, I would say, is better than any MCU movie, it should make you speak in the comments – is only available in streaming on rather on rather Standard definition. Otherwise, you will have to rent or buy the film to see it.
At the very least, Punisher: War zone is available on the most popular VOD services. The punker (2004) is only available for rental or purchase via the dark Fandango at Home streaming service. No other digital showcase in the United States seems to offer it.
The punker (1989) is not available on any digital window. You will have to either find a physical copy or get a digital version so that Frank Castle considers you a criminal.
Punisher by Jon Bernthal is the only one that Marvel wants you to see
If you want a Punisher to diffuse easily, your only access will be The punker TV series. With Marvel engaged in their MCU versions of their characters, Jon Bernthal has taken up the torch of Punisher and will probably be the only Punisher that many young fans will have ever seen in the cinema.
Frankly, it sucks. Part of what makes the characters of brilliant comics lies in the fact that different writers and artists offer new creative approaches to longtime characters and the way they are represented. I do not want to live in a world where only one version of Batman is recognizable and celebrated. I want as many different and unique stories that possible have a chance to be under the spotlight.
The same goes for The Punisher. The three films deserve their fans, and they could use more.
