The Punisher Import Blu-Ray
Okay, so this isn't exactly horror, but it certainly has an old exploitation cinema appeal to it, which I love. I am talking about the 1989 film adaptation of the Marvel Comics character, The Punisher, featuring Dolph Lundgren in the title role. This movie was made by New World Pictures in Australia, although it still takes place in the U.S. Due to the financial situation with the studio at the time, it was not released theatrically in the U.S. (although it was in much of the rest of the world), but instead was released straight-to-video in 1991 or so.
I remember reading some pretty negative reactions to this movie in the letters section of some Punisher comics back in those days, which I never really understood. Sure, it isn't exactly super faithful to the source material, but I think the basic idea is still intact and let's be honest, having Castle running around in the same outfit he wears in the comics would have looked really kooky, although the fact that he does not wear that costume seems to be a big complaint about this movie. I think the more recent movies have done well with the costume and incorporating the classic skull design into his costume, but by then, the comics had already changed the Punisher's costume to something less superhero-ish and more realistic, so the transition to screen with the newer look was pretty simple.
However, I have always liked the look the character has in this particular movie. I think they made a good choice in simplifying the look and finding a look that is less flashy and comic bookish. I suppose that sounds a little weird, since it is a movie based on a comic book, but the fact is that what works on the pages of a comic book does not necessarily work on the screen in a live action movie.
All that aside, if nothing else, I think The Punisher was just a really enjoyable, and pretty damned violent, revenge/action movie.
I was very happy to see that there is a Blu-Ray release of the movie out now, which is actually an import from Australia, but it is, thankfully, region-free. I was especially glad to see that there are different versions of the movie included in the release. One is a workprint version from the director, which features a good bit of stuff left out of the final movie, mainly what amounts to an entire reel focusing on Frank's final couple of days before he becomes the Punisher. You get to see him as a cop, working with his partner, Jake (played by the always-great Louis Gossett Jr.) and even see the heroin bust that is mentioned later on in the movie. This extra footage establishes more of the characters and their histories with each other. While I think the film still works without it, I think the loss of this material from the finished movie does impact the way it plays significantly. In the final version, when you first see Frank, he is the Punisher, but originally, you saw him as Frank Castle, saw him being a father and husband, as well as a cop and a good friend, which also impacts the later scenes between the Punisher and his former partner, Jake.
Also included is a fairly recent interview with Dolph Lundgren, in which he seems to be pretty fond of the movie, although he does state that he feels the removal of the first section of the movie takes away from the character and the movie overall. I find it difficult to disagree with him there.
Certainly, this is a release worth picking up if you are also a fan of this underappreciated film.
I remember reading some pretty negative reactions to this movie in the letters section of some Punisher comics back in those days, which I never really understood. Sure, it isn't exactly super faithful to the source material, but I think the basic idea is still intact and let's be honest, having Castle running around in the same outfit he wears in the comics would have looked really kooky, although the fact that he does not wear that costume seems to be a big complaint about this movie. I think the more recent movies have done well with the costume and incorporating the classic skull design into his costume, but by then, the comics had already changed the Punisher's costume to something less superhero-ish and more realistic, so the transition to screen with the newer look was pretty simple.
However, I have always liked the look the character has in this particular movie. I think they made a good choice in simplifying the look and finding a look that is less flashy and comic bookish. I suppose that sounds a little weird, since it is a movie based on a comic book, but the fact is that what works on the pages of a comic book does not necessarily work on the screen in a live action movie.
All that aside, if nothing else, I think The Punisher was just a really enjoyable, and pretty damned violent, revenge/action movie.
I was very happy to see that there is a Blu-Ray release of the movie out now, which is actually an import from Australia, but it is, thankfully, region-free. I was especially glad to see that there are different versions of the movie included in the release. One is a workprint version from the director, which features a good bit of stuff left out of the final movie, mainly what amounts to an entire reel focusing on Frank's final couple of days before he becomes the Punisher. You get to see him as a cop, working with his partner, Jake (played by the always-great Louis Gossett Jr.) and even see the heroin bust that is mentioned later on in the movie. This extra footage establishes more of the characters and their histories with each other. While I think the film still works without it, I think the loss of this material from the finished movie does impact the way it plays significantly. In the final version, when you first see Frank, he is the Punisher, but originally, you saw him as Frank Castle, saw him being a father and husband, as well as a cop and a good friend, which also impacts the later scenes between the Punisher and his former partner, Jake.
Also included is a fairly recent interview with Dolph Lundgren, in which he seems to be pretty fond of the movie, although he does state that he feels the removal of the first section of the movie takes away from the character and the movie overall. I find it difficult to disagree with him there.
Certainly, this is a release worth picking up if you are also a fan of this underappreciated film.
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