Who's the better Punisher?

[wnicholas76]

I just saw Punisher: War Zone in theaters today, and the movie was awesome! Although I still prefer Thomas Jane's dramatic take in the role of Frank Castle/The Punisher, Ray Stevenson did a great job with his bad-ass performance! Stevenson easily blew Dolph Lundgren's performance in the 1989 version of The Punisher out of the water and then some! But that's just me.

Who do you think is the better Punisher and why?

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I still haven't seen the new Punisher movie but I'm dying to see it. IMO, this is how the punisher is supposed to be made. I hope this is the last Punisher movie they're going to make. Three is enough.

[GreenScar]

Haven't seen War Zone yet. I have seen the other two and I am a fan of Thomas Jane. I'll hold off voting until I see Stevenson's movie

[Twankies08]

Thomas Jane was just amazing as The Punisher. It sucks
that he wasn't in the new one!

[Minimejer05]

Ray stevenson hands down is the best punisher yet

[BStecke]

Stevenson, hands down. War Zone is a far better Punisher film in any way than the previous versions.

[lobo81865]

I haven't seen War Zone, but I was not impressed with the way the character was portrayed in the first 2 films.

[Kaiju]

You have to be kidding. People are voting Thomas Jane over Stevenson? Dude you don't even have to see the new Punisher movie to know Stevenson IS the better Punisher. Just look at a picture or watch a trailer...Thomas Jane was a wimpy little Punisher who cried and drank away his feelings. Frank Castle does NOT cry! Jeez... Frank Castle isn't a midget either.

It's obvious my vote goes to Ray Stevenson.

[Agent Bond]

Punisher 2004 is a joyless, witless, sluggish, poorly casted, moronically written misfire which fails on almost every level. It changes way too much about the Punisher, keeping little from the original comics and just basically making it up as it goes. This is one of those movies where you check your watch every ten minutes. And why does every comic book movie these days have to be an origin story? What superhero on earth has a simpler backstory than the Punisher? Criminals killed his family; he kills criminals. That's it! We don't need hours of setup to explain how he got that way.

Biggest problem: Thomas Jane sucks. According to IMDB, he's been in half a dozen other movies I've seen, and I don't remember him even existing in any of them. In this movie, he's completely inadequate as Frank Castle in just about every way. He's too young, too short, and I never once bought him as anything resembling a Punisher. Jane tries to play him way too much like a normal guy, instead of the remorseless killing machine which Castle is supposed to be. He's a raging alcoholic, he constantly doubts himself, Hell he even seems about to commit suicide at one point. In most of the fight scenes, he spends the majority of the time getting his ass kicked and then limps away half-dead afterwards. What?!! The Punisher should be casually snapping guys' necks and mowing down entire crowds with an M-60, not almost getting killed by just one or two enemies at a time. He's just not mean enough, and it kills the whole movie!

Dolph Lundgren was good, but Stevenson is the BEST Punisher!

[Drewza89]

Originally Posted by Agent Bond

Punisher 2004 is a joyless, witless, sluggish, poorly casted, moronically written misfire which fails on almost every level. It changes way too much about the Punisher, keeping little from the original comics and just basically making it up as it goes. This is one of those movies where you check your watch every ten minutes. And why does every comic book movie these days have to be an origin story? What superhero on earth has a simpler backstory than the Punisher? Criminals killed his family; he kills criminals. That's it! We don't need hours of setup to explain how he got that way.

You just summed up that movie perfectly. I'll never understand why people like Thomas Jane so much as the Punisher.

I wouldn't say that Jane completely sucks as an actor, though. He was pretty darn good in The Mist.

[MAPdead]

Thomas Jane

[dvd_mazter]

Thomas Jane. Steveson looked the part but considering Warzone's script was awful; it was hard to see him in a good light. Jane was great as Castle and easily the best thing about the movie itself.

[blu-mike]

Thomas Jane all the way!!

[Red Hood]

Originally Posted by blu-mike

Thomas Jane all the way!!

+1

[apollo92178]

Ray Stevenson by far is the best Punisher and Warzone is the best punisher movie to date. I believe anybody who voted for TJ, must off been expose to the punisher only by his movie. Anybody who grew up with or just read the comic book would go with Steveson.

[indiephantom]

Dolph Lundgren is just badass.

[(Fe)Man]

Thomas Jane for me.

Never saw the one with Dolph Lundgen, but I heard that was bad.

Ray Stevenson was crap. He gave me no reason to like his character. He tried to show some character, but it was terribly lame. It came off forced, like they knew they had to throw in some scenes that show his more human side or where his pain comes from, but kept it short and said "Keep it short we have more heads left to mangle".

[Ator the Invincible]

I'm a fan of Thomas Jane, but I did have issues with his Punisher. I do think that if Jane had stuck around for the sequels, he could have grown into a great Punisher. With all the backstory out of the way, all they needed to do was move him to New York and let him cut loose. Now, I haven't seen War Zone yet, but everything I've read and seen about it so far makes me believe Stevenson nailed the part. I guess I'll know for sure soon enough.

For the record, I thought Lundgren's was a fun little generic B-action flick.

[Augustine864]

I think Tobey Maguire became the ultimate punisher when he caused me to view Spiderman 3. Such undeserved punishment as that I don't think I'll ever again experience.

Sorry, just had the sudden urge to spread some of my Spiderman 3 hate.


Anyway, I thought the Punisher with Tom Jane was cheesy as hell and I didn't see the new one, although I really liked Ray Stevenson a lot in Rome.

[WongWei]

Ray Stevens pulls off the Punisher well . Thomas Jane was smart to say no to War Zone.
The bad Guys in War Zone reminded me of special needs people ,complete waste of Ray Stevens .