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Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz, Doug Hutchison, Colin Salmon ... see more see more... , Wayne Knight , Dash Mihok , T.J. Storm

Marvel Comics' vigilante character The Punisher gets another big-screen outing in this third film incarnation of the character, this time from Green Street Hooligans director Lexi Alexander. Fueled by... read more read more... revenge and aided by his trusted weapons expert, Microchip (Wayne Knight), vigilante Frank Castle (Rome's Ray Stevenson) turns the New York City streets red with blood as he takes down each and every member of the crime syndicate responsible for the death of his wife and two kids. As the law-appointed "Punisher Task Force" closes in on him, the antihero does battle with Billy Russoti (Dominic West), aka Jigsaw, a nickname given by him to reflect the disfigurement handed to him by Castle. With the help of his psychotic brother, Loony Bin Jim (Doug Hutchison), Jigsaw recruits the criminals of the city to band together to bring down The Punisher, using the wife (played by Dexter's Julie Benz) and daughter of a slayed FBI agent as bait. Art Marcum, Matt Holloway, and Nick Santora provide the screenplay for the Lionsgate release. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Flixster Users

45% liked it

128,483 ratings

Critics

26% liked it

100 critics

R, 1 hr. 47 min.

Directed by: Lexi Alexander

Release Date: December 5, 2008

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DVD Release Date: March 17, 2009

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Stats: 7,107 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (7,107)

  • phubbs1
    February 9, 2012
    phubbs1
    This starts out with a brilliant gun battle...really cool stuff, reminisant of a sequence in 'The Crow', it really got me geared up for a good film but alas after this great shoot out the film really slows down and even gets abit boring through the middle. Nothing that much happe... read morens for the whole film accept at the beginning and the end, the two said sequences are really great and kick ass but the middle is just so so.

    Stevenson as the Punisher is perfect, he really looks the part in both outfit and face, he also acts the part well too, calm silent and no cheese. The problem is 'Jigsaw' for me, he's almost a total rip on Jack Nicholson's Joker, more violent but not as good. The film also plays out like a Schumacher Batman flick to be honest, apart from the violence its very basic, straight foward with a very formulaic approach.

    Bad guy is normal, gets turned into freak by dark anti hero via some horrible near death, comes back, gets loads of henchmen, all get killed in final big climactic battle. Its practically 'Batman and Robin' or 'Batman Forever' haha
    The ending where Jigsaw just walks into certain bars and areas and recruits lots of gun totting sterotypes is pretty stupid really.

    Still it does what it says on the tin, at the beginning and end anyway, and its the best Punisher film so far, just not that great.
  • kenstachnik
    January 13, 2012
    kenstachnik
    Very silly, and fairly entertaining. The church scene makes my camera bits all tingly.
  • ironclad1609
    December 23, 2011
    ironclad1609
    Marvel's most violent vigilante, The Punisher, gets another reboot with this film, even though the version with Thomas Jane was far from bad. Neither is this, it just feels all around unnecessary. The good news is: Ray Stevenson is a convincing, tight-lipped Frank Castle, who doe... read moresn't say a word for the first 20 minutes and just shoots people. The film is far from being a war zone until the showdown, but even then it's more of the regular shootouts with very little innovation or even variation. The bay guys are clearly comic book villains, so you can't hold the over-the-top sadistic joy they portray about killing people against them really, it's still rather silly. The level of violence and gore is exceptionally high, which certainly isn't to everyone's taste either. All that makes for a film that isn't boring but neither very interesting and with way too many genre stereotypes. As I said: unnecessary.
  • MidnightMadwoman
    August 18, 2011
    MidnightMadwoman
    Ugh, who the hell recommended this movie to me? Come on, fess up! I hated it so much, which is odd, since I really like Dominic West and Ray Stevenson. By all accounts, he should have been a perfect Punisher; he even LOOKS like one of Tim Bradstreet's cover drawings of Frank Cast... read morele, but I think the biggest problem of this movie was its tone. They tried to make this both gritty and day-glo cartoonish, without reaizing that the two are mutually exclusive. The colour scheme of this movie was the worst and most inappropriate thing since Batman Forever, and really clashed with the bitter cynicism of the character. The movie as a whole came off as mean-spirited overall. Case in point: Detective Soap. The fact that he gets completely and totally shit on in the comics works because he's a cartoon character. Put that same character in live-action and he just comes off as pathetic. Even pairing him with Detective Richtoffen would have helped a bit, but instead we get as female lead Angela, an utterly extraneous victim that serves only as emotional antagonist for Castle, and damsel in distress. How is it that this comic book movie looks so cartoonish while simultaneously being devoid of fun?
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    April 7, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    If you're looking for a Punisher film that delivers intense action then this is the film for you. Punisher: Warzone is a pure pop corn action film. Lacking an inventive story, but delivering on awesome action, this is an improvement over The Punisher film with Thomas Jane. At ti... read moremes I enjoy a film thast a no brainer, a fun film that delivers thrills, and loads of action. Punisher: Warzone certainly delivers all that. I understand why the film has gotten a lot of flack, but it's not all that bad. Sure the acting will never be as solid as Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight, but who cares? if you love mindless films, then view this one. Ray Stevenson is the perfect Punisher and he delivers in the role. He is far better than Thomas Jane. The thing to take in while watching this film is not to take it too seriously. If you do that than maybe you can enjoy it. Punisher: Warzone is in the same category as The Expendables in my book. Both are designed to deliver action and thrills, but both lack an effective story. Despite the none existent story, this is a good action film thats a lot of fun. Despite me giving it a good review, I cannot say I would recommend it. Unless you're looking for a mindless action romp that very exaggerated then look no further. A flawed but very entertaining film. If you're bored then give this one delivers mindless and fun action, just keep yourself reminded that it lacks a good story. Ray Stevenson is the perfect actor to play the role and if they make another Punisher film, they definitely need to cast him in the part again. He brought a colder, meaner intensity to the role and it's what separates this film with previous Punisher films.
  • mjgildea
    July 4, 2010
    mjgildea
    Shockingly, Punisher War Zone wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. The plot was somewhat weak (it went to shit in the last act), the violence was ridiculously over-the-top (entertaining, too) and overall, there were just some aspects of this movie that were downright la... read moreughable and embarrassing. Especially the soundtrack. For all of Punisher War Zone's imperfections, I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel. Ray Stevenson was surprisingly good in the main role, the direction was pretty good and the overall mood from what I remember of the comic books seemed to make it to the screen. Or maybe it's just that the 2004 version of The Punisher was just so awful that this one just doesn't seem that bad.
  • Godless
    June 30, 2010
    Godless
    Better than the other two tries at the Punisher character but that isnt saying much. It did lack a naked Dolph Lungren.
  • garyX
    April 20, 2010
    garyX
    Frank Castle accidentally kills an undercover FBI agent when he storms a mob stronghold, leaving him torn between protecting the man's family and hanging up his guns for good. Warzone is less a sequel than a reinvention of the previous film, and as a whole it is a big improvement... read more. Ray Stevenson is a much more intense Punisher, and his guilt over the agent's death combined with his moral dilemma makes him a much more interesting character. The double act of Dominic West (dodgy accent notwithstanding) and Doug Hutchinson also make for much more interesting, larger than life villains and the action is far slicker and more exciting; in fact the whole film looks the part of a moody comic strip far more than the wishy washy original. The tone although still consciously aping the Batman films is much closer to the mark but it is still a bit too gleeful in its representation of some pretty nasty violence and some of the humour feels a little inappropriate because of it (the last line alone was enough to knock a half star off the score). Not in the same league as The Dark Knight, but a hell of a lot better than Ghost Rider.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    April 12, 2010
    FiLmCrAzY
    I really dont know which of the punishers i liked, this one isnt really a sequel as such but it is, hes no longer after the man who killed his family but it doesnt realy follow on from the first!
    Its good, exciting, amusing and action packed its literally explosive!
    A good movi... read moree worth the watch!!
  • DragonEyeMorrison
    March 28, 2010
    DragonEyeMorrison
    Review? Ok, here's a review:

    Photobucket

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Critic Reviews

Ben Mankiewicz
December 8, 2008
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

This was a terrible movie. Full Review

Ben Lyons
December 8, 2008
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

Hopefully it's three strikes and you're out for The Punisher, as this latest attempt at creating another comic book franchise will prove once and for all that maybe this character just doesn't deserve... Full Review

Claudia Puig
December 5, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

At one point, the Punisher is asked who punishes him. The better question for those who made this inane bloodfest is: Why punish us? Full Review

Peter Hartlaub
December 5, 2008
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle

Assuming you can appreciate the high level of gore and assorted sadistic weirdness, the action is satisfying and the dark story is close to the tone of its Marvel Comics source material. Full Review

James Berardinelli
December 5, 2008
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Punisher: War Zone is bad enough that it may remind viewers how lucky we have been this year to get two superior superhero movies in Iron Man and The Dark Knight. Full Review

David Hiltbrand
December 5, 2008
David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer

The acting is better than the script deserves and Lexi Alexander's cut-to-the-hearse direction lends the film considerable kick. But there is a steel spike at the end of Punisher's boot that will goug... Full Review

Kyle Smith
December 5, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

With its dopey fight scenes, grimy look and goopy gore, this movie is so far from ept that inept is the wrong word. It's anti-ept. Full Review

Adam Graham
December 5, 2008
Adam Graham, Detroit News

This is purely gutter, fanboy, Cheez Whiz cinema, but Alexander delivers the goods. Full Review

A.O. Scott
December 5, 2008
A.O. Scott, New York Times

Does it have to be so witless, so stupid, so openly contemptuous of the very audience itâ(TM)s supposed to be pandering to? Full Review

Tom Maurstad
December 5, 2008
Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News

This is the third crack Hollywood has taken at the comic-book hero the Punisher. They say the third time's the charm. But then, they say a lot of things. Full Review

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    • Frank Castle/The Punisher: I see you anywhere near hell... I'll kick your ass out.
  • Thomas Jane turned down the role of Frank Castle.
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Punisher: War Zone Trivia

  • Ray Stevenson, star of Punisher: War Zone was also the main star of which short-lived HBO series?  Answer »
  • Where is the Punisher War Zone set?  Answer »
  • How long had Frank Castle been The Punisher in Punisher : war Zone ?  Answer »
  • Who was teh mob boss in The Punisher : War Zone ?  Answer »
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