Under the Radar: The Punisher (2004)

Under the Radar is an ongoing series of Action A Go Go that will take a closer look at movies that, for any number of reasons, many may have overlooked.  If you’re having a rough time finding something to throw in the ol’ Bluray player, look no further. May we recommend…

The Punisher

(2004)
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Starring: Thomas Jane (The Mist, Hung), John Travolta (Pulp Fiction), Will Patton (Falling Skies), Rebecca Romijn (X-Men).

If Action A Go Go ever creates a Hall of Fame, my first nominee would be this film. It didn’t fare too well when it first came out for a couple of reasons. First, the film is too violent for the average moviegoer. And second, many fans of the Punisher comic were critical because it may not have lived up to expectations they’d created over the years.  However, if one looks at the film for what it is, you’ll realize that the “it” is 100% pure, industrial strength, Action A Go Go awesomeness.

Over the summer, there was much debate regarding Man of Steel. I was one of the many that had a major problem with it. Simply put, Superman doesn’t kill. I don’t care what supposed logic or grand reasoning one may have. He just doesn’t kill. However, the Punisher?

Yeah. He kills.

In the real world, violence only breeds more violence. Violence is unpredictable and usually creates more problems than it solves.

But the joy of the fantasy world of the Punisher is the simple fact that he kills bad guys. The murderers. The rapists. The corporate and organized crime slime balls that have judges in their pockets.

And since it’s the Punisher, since it’s not real, the kills are clean and guilt free.

If you’re a mob boss that had Frank Castle taken out and you find this on your favorite green at the golf course? Yeah. Time to beef up security.

Story 

Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is a special ops agent who just finished his last assignment. Things went bad during the deal and the son of mob boss Howard Saint (John Travolta) dies. Saint is not pleased with this and his wife is especially upset. Her wishes then lead to a very unhappy ending for a Castle family reunion. Because of the brutal outcome (and I mean brutal) Frank ends up going vigilante.

Note: Usually, at this stage of a review, Alphas (positive things) and Deltas (negative things) about a film would be presented. However, the characteristics that some would think make this a bad film, are also the things that make it awesome. So will simply have one category: Alpha-Delts.

Alpha-Delts

• This is the perfect “Man Cave Movie.”  I once read that when experiencing emotional difficulties, women tend to want to talk things through, whereas men tend to shut down, go into their cave, and process. Thomas Jane is exemplary in his portrayal of a man who’s gone deep into the cave.

• The soundtrack composed by Carlo Siliotto is brilliant. Reminiscent of the spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s. From the trumpet-laden opening theme to the simple, quiet piano trills utilized throughout the film, the music is an integral aspect of the entire experience.

Frank shows that bringing a knife to a gunfight can be a good thing.

• John Travolta’s portrayal of the obsessive-compulsive Howard Saint is paradoxical. My mind consistently maintains that it is both his best and worst performance simultaneously. You’ll have to experience it to understand. 

• The majority of Saint’s henchmen look like they should already have AARP membership. Don’t know why that’s the case. A quirk I always found fascinating.

• Will Patton as Saint’s main man Quentin Glass especially shines in his sociopathic role. He’s described as a “consigliore, CPA, lawyer and sadist.” Although, being synonyms, the terms get a bit redundant. 

• Ample comedic relief is provided by a lackey named Mickey and Castle’s neighbors. 

• The violence is brutal. Weirdly, there's minimal blood. Am thinking if any more of the red stuff had been splashed around, it's rating would've gone from "R" to "NC-17."

After seeing The Punisher, you will never see a paper cutter in the same light again. Ever.

• One of the funniest non-torture torture scenes ever put on camera is within this film.

• On the flip-side one of the most dramatically painful torture scenes you’ll ever experience is within this film. When you hear the sentence “Do you think you know about pain, boy?” uttered by Quentin Glass, even the most violence-hardened filmgoers may end up wincing.

• Castle kicks the ass of an abusive boyfriend. That’s a good thing. Abusive boyfriends deserve to have their asses kicked.

Her: Say you kill them all? Then what? What makes you any different from them?
Him: They have something to lose.

• “Call the Russian!” needs to become a new catch-phrase. Watch the film. Get back to me.

• Any film that ends with cars in a parking lot blowing up in the shape of a flaming skull automatically deserves to be seen.

 

Her: Don’t let your memories kill you.

Him: They won’t kill…me.

• And one of my all time favorite musical numbers? A hit man named Harry Heck serenades Castle right before an assassination attempt. Laugh or feel the tension. Or both. Gotta love the schtick with the cigarette. Check it out:

Action A Go Go or Action A No No?

In the realm of standard film fare, this would be considered a “B” movie. But in the realm of “B” movies, this is an “A+.” Some would call it low-budget. I would call it sleek, simple, violent and justified. Just like the Punisher himself.

This film gets Five out of Five Arnolds!!!

Stephen Sumner is the science fiction columnist for Action A Go Go, but the big boss man gave him permission to occasionally go rogue and write about things that don’t involve warp travel or the pale blue glow of twenty-third century technology. He can be followed on Twitter at https://twitter.com/VierLights or on the Tumblr machine at http://vierlights.tumblr.com/