The Punisher 'laughably awful'

[barsoomcore]

I find that he typically gushes about films I didn't think too highly of -- it is rare for him to pan something like this, I'll admit. And so far rottentomatoes is showing significantly poor results for The Punisher so maybe Harry's got the right idea this time out. Although the "Cream of the Crop" reviews are universally positive. Still, only 19 reviews all told so it's a little early.

Speaking of 19 reviews and early, Kill Bill Vol 2 is at 100%. Just watched the DVD last night. Yay.

 

[Vigilance]

I don't know, I'd have to see it to know if it's in the comic-movie genre.

Well, they are using the characters and general plotline from Garth Ennis' original Punisher series "Welcome Back Frank" namely Bumpo, Spacker Dave, and Joan the Mouse.

Not to mention the Russian.

That alone is enough to make me consider it "genre" (Garth Ennis is a great comics writer imo) as well as making me want to see it, since they apparently "got" the character enough to use significant elements from (in the opinion of a punisher fan) one of the best storylines in his comics history.

Chuck

PS Selling Black T-shirts with skulls is also a perfectly honorable reason to make the movie.

 

[Trainz]

A Punisher movie should be a horror movie ala Friday the 13th or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But instead of having a bad guy killing teenagers left and right, you'd have the Punisher killing criminals left and right. He'd be a relentless unstoppable force ala Jason or Leatherface, and the typical teen horror movie audience would probably love it.

And keep him as an ex-Marine. And keep him in New York, not Florida.

I absolutely agree with this. I read a good 50 Punisher mags. The guy is a hulking one-man army. It has to be grimmer than Batman (the books, not the flics). If anything, it should be rated 18+.

What happened to his family made something go *pop* in his brain, that was already being stretched thin with his army past. He's not human anymore. His name strikes absolute fear in the hearts of criminals.

I dearly hope that the movie catches that.

/holds breath

 

[John Crichton]

I find that he typically gushes about films I didn't think too highly of -- it is rare for him to pan something like this, I'll admit. And so far rottentomatoes is showing significantly poor results for The Punisher so maybe Harry's got the right idea this time out. Although the "Cream of the Crop" reviews are universally positive. Still, only 19 reviews all told so it's a little early.

It is early, but even the reviews I've read that are good don't make the film sound all that great. But the thing that has turned me off the most is the look of the movie from the trailers. Just looks too sunny. The comics are set in NY and they probably should have kept it there.

All that said, I'll probably still pick it up on DVD eventually (when the price is low) because it is based off a comic book and I will want to see it to judge things for myself. I just don't want to see it in the theater.

Speaking of 19 reviews and early, Kill Bill Vol 2 is at 100%. Just watched the DVD last night. Yay.

KB v.2 is a no-brainer for me. Wouldn't matter if all the reviews were bad, I'll be there.

 

[barsoomcore]

KB v.2 is a no-brainer for me. Wouldn't matter if all the reviews were bad, I'll be there.

I heard that.

 

[takyris]

I read that the reason they moved it to Florida was because dark, urban New York gritty violence had sorta been done to death in the past few years. Now, if it were me, I'd say, "Hey, probably ought to wait on the movie, then," but they decided to move it to Florida. Not brilliant, but not just arbitrary, either.

I consider Harry Knowles as the opposite of Roger Ebert. If Harry hates a movie, it's probably not a great movie. If he likes it, that really tells me nothing. If Ebert gets snotty about a movie, that tells me nothing, but if he likes it, it probably is pretty good (even if it's not my particular KIND of movie).

Strictly my own opinion, of course, with exceptions abounding -- but Harry agreed with me on Mission Impossible 2 when nobody else I knew did... (yech)

 

[ASH]

I have not seen it yet. But I seldom agree with Harry one movies. I am not a fan of critics in general. But I will look ocassionally!
What has some of you who have seen it think?

 

[John Crichton]

I have not seen it yet. But I seldom agree with Harry one movies. I am not a fan of critics in general. But I will look ocassionally!
What has some of you who have seen it think?

Unless some folks around here see advanced screenings we won't know until Friday at the earliest.

 

[Villano]

Yes I remember it, it can't be worse then that version, can it? If it is then its worth seeing just to see how bad it is.

http://www.joblo.com/arrow/punisher-2004.htm

This reviewer gave it a 1.5 (out of 4), and the original a 2.5. So, that would mean, yes, it is worse.

Actually, the first one isn't really so bad. If he was wearing a skull t-shirt, I don't think many people would be complaining.

BTW, does the lead in the new one look kind of like Christopher Lambert? Or is that just me?

I was planning on see this one, but I may pass on it now.

 

[Krieg]

So, a guy with guns who is a vigilante and approaches crime the way a soldier/marine would.

Kind of like the Death Wish movies?

Or the Yeoman (Daniel Brennan) in the Wildcard books.

Or John Kelly (aka Mr. Clark) in Tom Clancy's Without Remorse.

etc etc


...and just for the pedantic record...

soldier = Army
Marine = Marine

It matters. Semper Fi.

(Note: this isn't directed at Apostate's post, but rather the mixed usage by other posters.)