MovieChat Forums > The Punisher (2004) Discussion > Most underrated comic movie EVER.

Most underrated comic movie EVER.

posted 9 years ago by shelliiaae
24 replies | jump to latest

Without a doubt this is the most underrated comic book movie EVER.

So why did it not do so well? Simple, it was before its time. This movie came out in an era when comic book movies weren't doing much. Keep in mind, Iron Man Came out FOUR long years after this, which was the first giant Comic book hit... and Superman Returns (which at the time was seen as a mild success, especially among critics) in 2007. This movie was released in 2003-2004, and no one wanted to see comic book heroes, let alone ones cracking skulls! With the recent success of DEADPOOL, I believe this movie would be huge now.

The premise was very realistic and gritty, something that many of the modern comic fans crave. Why do we love Batman? He is a normal (except rich lol) guy who has a tragic past, and doesn't use any powers...the Punisher is even more relatable as his not even rich, just a guy...just a former law enforcement officer!

It's got the "Everyman" quality going for it, it's got the gritty realistic element going for it, and it's based in our own world, with a man fighting to "Punish" those who killed his family...how could this not be a monster hit now days!?

Then take Thomas Jane, who I believe was born to play this role, as much as Reynolds was born to play DEADPOOL! If you need anymore proof of that, watch "Punisher - Dirty Laundry" on YouTube and then come back...ill wait...*does a little dance*.... Do dee do doo bop boop be doo....oh hi, welcome back!! Did I tell you or what!? He was born for the role.

Then my last point is kind of just a mix of all my previous points. The movie is so gritty, I can't push this point enough! The fact that you have a broken man, the only thing he lived for was his family, and now his family is gone. And he's ANGRY, Frank Castle is gone along with his family, he's now. I love that, I love that he isn't on a mission of redemption, or of just "getting the bad guys" he's on a ruthless mission to PUNISH everyone just as they've done to him, he will take from them what they've taken from him, and he's not going to show mercy.

He isn't looking to just help out innocent people, intact he only really goes out of his way to help one woman, and it's only because the guy is in his way. Nothing comes of him helping her, not any romance...nothing! Nothing except one cheesy dinner that's meaningless. I
Love when a movie doesn't need a male lead (I'm a female so I'm not being sexist here lol) doesn't need a love interest! He's not interested in love.

It just gives the film such gritty situations! It's so dark, it's so real, it doesn't apologize for the intense violence, and it doesn't try to send any kind of message about "doing what's right".

Superhero movies didn't even come into their own long after Iron Man. Keep in mind even the first Captain America was only a moderate success, not anymore so than The Punisher, or Superman Returns.

This movie failed for one reason only...wrong place, wrong time. Which is so sad...Travolta was such a great bad guy, as he always is...Jane was such an amazing Punisher! (War zone SUCKED!)

Why did I love The Dark Knight movies? The same reason I loved Man of Steel, and the same reason I loved this...because it's not about "saving the world" or the flashy colors. It's about humanity, the very best and the very worst of humanity. Comic book movies are best when they don't try to be comics.

Anyways, sorry if I've repeated myself a couple of times, I probably have lol. I just love this movie so much, (and it hurts me to say that as I am a 100% DC fan-girl till I die!)

I can't understand why so many people don't like this film!? What is it? Is it TOO serious? The Punisher IS a serious character, he's not a goofy, silly character...he originally wasn't even a "good guy" ...he was created to kill Spider-Man for God sake!

If anyone disagrees with me, I will respect your opinions but I am very curious as to why you may not have liked this movie? To me this character is a lot what an "adult version" of Batman could/should be! Maybe not as vicious, as Batman isn't a total lost soul his entire life, but as far as the gritty nature.

Thoughts!? (I know this was long AF, sorry lol I am kind of a rambler)

[–] The_Mob_Has_Spoken 9 years ago

It's got the "Everyman" quality going for it, it's got the gritty realistic element going for it

LOL, another delusional fanboy (fangirl in this case) who just doesn't get it. This movie is inexcusably bad and all the real Punisher fans like me said so back in 2004. The writing for this movie is crap. The acting in this movie is crap (even from good actors and this movie had quite a few of them in it). The fakeass Johnny Cash hitman in this movie is crap (but kinda funny). The stealing of bits and pieces of great Punisher stories was crap. The entirely unrealistic and cheesy tone was crap. The PG-13 antics were crap. The changing of the origin story was crap. But the movie's worst sin? It was boring. This stinker rightly belongs among the ranks of "Catwoman" and "Spawn."

"I like simple pleasures like butter in my ass and lollipops in my mouth." - Floyd Gondolli

[–] Jack-o-lantern_2623 9 years ago

I'm a "real fan", I have been since the 80s and I like this film. As for the fanboy crap, nope I'm not. Over the years there has been plenty of things in the Punisher franchise I have not cared for, such as the War zone film, Franken-Castle, the 1990s story arc where Frank joined a mob family and sported a ponytail, the Punisher joining a thunderbolts team and plenty of other things.

You may not like this movie and that's fine, that's your prerogative, but coming on here trying to slap that stupid "delusional fanboy" label on people because they like a film you don't just makes you seem arrogant, pretentious and childish.

[–] DracTarashV 9 years ago

Granted this is grittier and more serious than most comic movies, but still... it's not nearly as dark and hard-hitting as it could have been. The much more violent 2008 War Zone movie, for example, was panned but many did consider it "truer" to the character than the 2004 version. And that's the problem many have with this movie -- it strays a bit too far from the source material. Plus, the tone in it is pretty uneven.

Ultimately, I do like this movie and in my mind it works on its own merits. Thomas Jane's memorable performance? One of the best in a comic movie.

You want something corny? You got it!

[–] !!!deleted!!! (14789810) 9 years ago

This film will find its fanbase in the future.

It's still the definitive frank castle with Tom Jane's dispondant portrayal of the character.

Jon bernthals punisher can keep crying.

[–] Cheetah_Candy 9 years ago

agreed 

i love this movie 

🐆🍬

[–] Mahnke2 9 years ago

So after watching DD and reading how the Punisher movies all failed I re-watched them.

Agree, this movie was good as was Jane.

Known to get a military tactician, Castle was surgical in his dismantling of the Saint operation.

the stuff at his house, I think hurt the movie. Kevin Nash....ouch

1911s pre Hitman....nail drivers-Love'm

[–] Traianus 8 years ago

This movie came out in an era when comic book movies weren't doing much.

Um, wrong.

The Spider-Man movies of 2002 and 2004 broke all kinds of records and made a combined $1.6 billion.

Hulk in 2003 made nearly $250 million. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was terrible and still made $180 million.

X-Men and X2 combined to make $300 million. X-Men (2000) was really the movie that, imo, arguably kicked off the new era of comic book movies (after the failure of the mid-to-late '90s Batman movies, which were still box office hits).

It's been going on for some time now. It didn't start with Iron Man or Dark Knight in 2008.

Heck, out of the major budget comic movies made between 2000 and 2005, The Punisher did the worst at the Box Office $54 million).

So even if you try to make the incorrect argument that comic book movies at the time weren't doing much, it still doesn't explain why The Punisher did the worst of the major studio comic book films of the early-mid 2000s.

[–] John-Wick 8 years ago

I agree. This is one of my favorite comic book films. I think the reason most people don't like it is because it's not fast paced and there's barely any action. The film does have it's problems, like not having enough action, but I can't help but like it more each time I watch it.

I still wish they would make a sequel, but I don't see that ever happening especially since a tv series is being made with someone else playing the Punisher.

[–] prestonm1993 8 years ago

Amen to that.

[–] Dan_Garten 8 years ago

Good review.