The Punisher (1989): A Retrospect

[Spirit Zero]

I think everybody can agree on one thing here, this is a very loose adaptation of the Marvel comic book character. There is no skull logo to be seen, Castle goes around everywhere on that loud bike, the origins are all wrong and they basically made him into some kind of revenge stricken Hell's Angel looking leather clad biker.

Initial impression is bad as the film kicks off, just look at those opening credits! is this a film from 89 or 79?? The whole sequence looks like some kind of shitty US TV cop serial, half expect Starsky's Gran Torino to roll across the screen sheesh!

The film is a typical violent trashy 80's action flick no doubt. If you take a step back and look at this flick you could easily remove the Punisher character from the plot and nothing would change. You could then stick in any muscle bound character played by any muscle bound star and the film would still work, it would still deliver. Basically its just a run of the mill action vehicle that just happens to have the Punisher as the main character.

Now don't get me wrong this isn't a bad thing, end of the day this film is a solid riot of action that will please any 80's buff. The violence is strong, brutal and not cut much, you see it all really. Sure its totally stupid and highly unrealistic but it still takes it self seriously making it more enjoyable. The film has a really nice balance between realism and heavy realism, its not Nolan realistic, its not an 'Expendables' parody/spoof and its not 'Batman n Robin' camp/silliness. You can have a lot of fun with the film if you don't think too much into it yet its still realistic enough to satisfy...if you don't think too much into it.

Of course there are some things which simply don't make sense, the bike Castle uses is hardly much for stealth is it, plus he rides around all tooled up completely in black, errr....stealth/hidden identity much Mr Castle? It also always amused me how they applied makeup on Dolph, he looks so pale and ill throughout this film. Trying to capture the appearance of a dark haired hairy man didn't really work. His stubble line keeps getting washed off, you can see it on his earlobes at times and when its pasted on in all its glory it looks like a dirty big smudge across his face.

But as far as the character I think Dolph does really well and gives us a nice muted sinister Punisher. A man of little words but big on action, the more I think about it the more I liked his performance (lack of acting skills in one of his first films aside). He does look good, his outfit is bland but effective (the skull logo does give you away somewhat), he looks like he can pull off the heists he sets out to do, he fights well and can handle the weapons. Its Rambo in a black outfit basically.

The bad guys weren't quite as well thought up in my opinion, plenty of suit wearing thugs to gun down sure but no one stood out. I quite liked the Yakuza direction, the female boss and her sexy kick boxing female assistant, kinda corny but fun. The finale set in a traditional washitsu filled with Shoji doors was well done, the lighting getting knocked out gave it the atmosphere.

I think the film overall is actually a perfect comic book adaptation that is pretty gritty, quite dark and highly exciting with real action, no over the top CGI. The obvious lack of budget, good locations and screen busting stunts actually gives the film a much better feel, much more seedy, much more grim, one of those things that just works and can't really be recreated, a happy accident.

If you like masses of henchmen getting killed as an invincible one man army runs around with unlimited ammo 'Commando' style, whilst the bad guys empty clip after clip in his direction hitting everything but their intended target...then this film could well be for you.

7/10

[L.J.]

Remember this film its a good watch. Like you said the title alone is about all that deals with the Punisher but still fun film. Out of the Punisher films I like the one with Thomas Jane the most. Would like a sequel to it.

[WilsonBros]

The only real problems I have with it are:

1) Using Australia for filming gives a synthetic air. Even if you didn't know where it was shot, something scratches away in the back of your mind that this isn't America. OK, one of the cast of Farscape plays a mobster, but you don't automatically flag it as Down Under, just somewhere else. This obviously doesn't include the reshoots done in LA.

2) No damn skull on his chest!

Castle might be a little less than talkative, but they are at the point in the story where he has made over 125 kills, so he's probably too far down the path of self-destruction to worry about social engagement.

[toddly6666]

I watched it for first time and it's actually a pretty good B-movie 80s style action movie with surprisingly beautiful stylish direction - one of Lundgren's best. Way better than the other two. Interesting factoid: It was a straight-to-video release in the usa and it got ripped apart mainly because the director chose not to put the skull on his costume, with the director later claiming that was a huge mistake on his part.

I have been guilty of saying early Marvel films sucked (basically Dolph's Punisher and Howard the Duck) without ever watching them. When I finally watched them both I was quite impressed and feel guilty for ripping them apart. Yes I still prefer Superman 1 & 2 and Burton's Batmans but Marvel's two main early flicks - The Punisher and Howard the Duck are actually way better than the rep they have received.

[natethegreat123]

Marvel allowed them to use the title of the punisher and the name of frank castle but they wouldn't allow the signature skull shirt

[WilsonBros]

Originally Posted by natethegreat123

Marvel allowed them to use the title of the punisher and the name of frank castle but they wouldn't allow the signature skull shirt

That was a bit rich, considering that Marvel were almost bankrupt when they were selling off the movie rights, and Stan was practically offering a free blowjob with every purchase.

[JohnCarpenterLives]

Originally Posted by WilsonBros

That was a bit rich, considering that Marvel were almost bankrupt when they were selling off the movie rights, and Stan was practically offering a free blowjob with every purchase.

I saw this on Saturday nights on channels like TNT, and USA when I was a kid. Early-mid nineties. I really enjoyed it, but the lack of skull really did bother me. Knowing they WOULD have, but weren't allowed to (don't understand why) gives a little bit of closure lol!

The trusy "rusty walrus."

[dissention]

The fake stubble is one of the most distracting things I've ever seen in a movie.

[AnamorphicWidescreen]

OK - this thread has convinced me to watch the '89 The Punisher film; never seen this in it's entirety before, but it sounds like it's worth sitting down & watching this at least once.

Being a big fan of cheesy '80's action movies, I'm sure I'll enjoy this.

[Jerry_Dam]

Originally Posted by natethegreat123

Marvel allowed them to use the title of the punisher and the name of frank castle but they wouldn't allow the signature skull shirt

That is an untrue urban legend circulating the internet when in fact when they produced the film, Marvel was the property of the movie studio New World since they bought it in '86 (for a mere $30-50 million, whereas Disney bought it $4 billion 25 yers later). They had all the freedom in the world actually.

Marvel were consulted on the film, from Stan Lee to Carl Potts and Tom De Falco. There was even a meeting between everyone about the sole use of the skull where they had found a satisfactory solution to use the skull. From my research it seems the main guy who was really against the skull was the producer and rewriter Robert Kamen. The original script writer Boaz Yakin fought hard to keep the skull but Kamen's ultimate decision was no. People from Marvel were supporting the film all the way until they decided to dismiss it.


PS
To say the movie has nothing to do with the comics is a little unfair I think. It's an "adaptation", not a comic... The character is still THE PUNISHER. They could have take everything literaly and still not make a better movie. At least this one has soul.

[quote=toddly6666;12197043]I have the French bluray with the two cuts. The theatrical one is better but it's still interesting to watch the extended cut. Basically the beginning of the movie shows Frank Castle before he's ruined - happy with his family, more relationship with his partner Gossett Jr. But it's sort of slow and drags during this extended beginning of 15 minutes. The theatrical cut is way better as it starts off as just a montage of things going from good to bad for Frank Castle.

And I was quite impressed they hired Jerome Krabbe to be the villain - I always liked this actor. So I thought it was quite impressive to see him appear in Punisher to give the film an extra boost of elegance.

EDIT:

If you all watch this film again closely, you'll be surprised with all the camera angles - very artistic and beautifully staged. The whole movie actually reminded me a bit of Christopher Gans' Crying Freeman.

I was told Gans didn't like the film when it came out and kind of made fun of it. For some reason someone screwed up the aspect ratio or the projector framing and therefore you could see boom mics coming down in several scenes...

[toddly6666]

I have the French bluray with the two cuts. The theatrical one is better but it's still interesting to watch the extended cut. Basically the beginning of the movie shows Frank Castle before he's ruined - happy with his family, more relationship with his partner Gossett Jr. But it's sort of slow and drags during this extended beginning of 15 minutes. The theatrical cut is way better as it starts off as just a montage of things going from good to bad for Frank Castle.

And I was quite impressed they hired Jerome Krabbe to be the villain - I always liked this actor. So I thought it was quite impressive to see him appear in Punisher to give the film an extra boost of elegance.

If you all watch this film again closely, you'll be surprised with all the camera angles - very artistic and beautifully staged. The whole movie actually reminded me a bit of Christopher Gans' Crying Freeman.

[Agent Bond]

Lundgren is still the best cinematic Punisher, an emotionless killing machine.

Him shooting The Yakuza with a uzi > Thomas Jane & Ray Steveson (a.k.a. Dolph Lundgren Light) taking on hammy John Travolta and Dominic West

Does anyone consider this the third film in the "trilogy" of Punisher films made so far? (Meaning, obviously none of them are in continuity with each other but you'd watch this one last). The '04 Tom Jane one is his origin, War Zone has him at it a few years, and this one takes place near the mid- sort of end of his career. I always saw it as a thematic kind of trilogy that, while completely unintentional, actually kind of gives him a character arc if viewed this way.

No, but that's a fascinating way of looking at it!

The fake stubble is one of the most distracting things I've ever seen in a movie.

It was an intentional creative move by the producer. The skull is on his face.

[X400]

I loved the 80's movie

[Jerry_Dam]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

The skull is on his face.

I could never tell if it's hair or greasy dirt/filth but it works as both, and indeed it alludes to highlighting a subtle skull on his face.

[travisbickle]

Umbrella is putting out a Blu sometime this year. Hopefully it's region free and includes all of the special features that were on the German release.

Still the best Punisher movie!

The Punisher (1989) killcount - YouTube

[Jerry_Dam]

Originally Posted by travisbickle

Umbrella is putting out a Blu sometime this year. Hopefully (...) includes all of the special features that were on the German release.

I hope I'm wrong but I wouldn't bet on that.

[willtopower]

There's something to enjoy in every existing Punisher film imo. This one is no different. In terms of 80's movies that are a blast to watch, this one succeeds.

My favourite scene is when Berkowitz knocks the pizza out of the thug's hands and then reaches down to grab a piece of crust and walk away eating it. Pure gold.

[Mikezilla3k]

Anyone know if Plaion is going to reissue the Koch 2 Disc release of this in Germany soon?

[Jerry_Dam]

Nothing has been announced in that sense as far as I know.

[Darren75]

I was 14 when this came out and as a massive fan of the Punisher comics obviously I was desperate to see this.

On holiday at Blackpool (the UK's Las Vegas) that year I persuaded my dad to try and get us into the cinema to see it and it worked, we got in without me being ID'd. It was one of only three films I ever went to the cinema to see with my dad. The other two were Return Of The Jedi and Last Crusade.

Yeah it's a bit cheesy and Dark Angel is a much better film but, it definitely has a special place in my heart.