I love revenge movies. As a man, you naturally want to be the provider and protector of your family, as it feels hardwired into your DNA. But as a man, you also know that even if you’re the best guy in the world, you can’t be there for them 24/7/365. If a bad guy did something to your family, your entire life’s purpose would immediately become revenge.
Marvel isn't always my go-to, but the 2004 version of The Punisher was amazing. No hate on any of the other adaptations out there, but I love the 2004 version so much that it annoys me when I have to explicitly search "2004" just to find it. It was perfectly executed, no pun intended. Director Jonathan Hensleigh opted for low-slung, gritty 35mm film stock instead of glossy digital, giving the whole film an authentic, sun-bleached 1970s noir feel that fits the raw tone perfectly.
John Pinette was an absolute pleasure to see on screen, and he played his role flawlessly. In fact, the entire trio of neighbors shined. Having the pretty girl next door not tempt him to lose track of his mission was the absolute cherry on top. The set design of that claustrophobic apartment building contrasts brilliantly with the massive action pieces. The shootouts, the fights, the car chases, all top-tier practical stunt work - almost no CGI gimmicks, just real steel, explosive squibs, and heavy physical hits. I don't want to give away spoilers because I genuinely hope you go watch it, but I easily put this in the top 5 movies Marvel has ever made. Even knowing what's going to happen after seeing it a dozen times, Carlo Siliotto’s haunting, orchestral score builds so much tension that it still leaves you on the edge of your seat nervously wolfing down popcorn. Just talking about it gets me hyped enough to put it on right now.
The costume department did a fantastic job, too. They set the stage for the best Punisher of all time. It’s just like The Joker: many people have played him and will play him, but no one has ever done it quite like Heath Ledger. I predict no one will ever outplay Thomas Jane as Frank Castle. He threw himself into the physical conditioning and tactical weapon handling so seamlessly that you almost forget John Travolta is even in the movie because you're just completely consumed by Frank's mission.
Now, I'll admit I’m breaking my own rule on something I usually complain about in movies: serious Plot Armor. Getting shot, surviving a full-blown pier explosion, and then getting nursed back to health on a beach by a local hermit is completely impractical in real life. But here, the story was told so beautifully (or so bloodily) that you simply don't care because the ride is that good.
I obviously rank this movie a 5 out of 5 stars. It’s worth buying on Blu-ray or DVD just so you never have to guess which streaming platform holds the rights to it this month. One day we won't be able to own physical media anymore, but that's another rant for another day.