THE PUNISHER: WAR ZONE

ENGLISH - (18SG) - 19 February 2009 - Action/Thriller
Distributor: LionsGate
Running time: about 107 mins.
Director: Lexi Alexander
Producers: Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd
Writers: Nick Santora, Matt Holloway, Arthur Marcum
Casts: Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz, Wayne Knight, Dash Mihok, Doug Hutchison, Colin Salmon
Plot: Waging his one-man war on the world of organised crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias - Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of his evil deeds go unpunished.

THE VERDICT:

Green Tea says:

WARNING SPOILER! There is a good thing that I didn't watched it during Nuffnang screening because the movie is not as good as I hope so. Watched it well before the screening actually, so those who claimed had watched it 10 days before the others, not really. First time watching it I kind of out of word on what to write because I didn't remember. This explain why I didn't post it up last month and I joined my friend to watch it today (19/02) to gain back the memory. This tells you one thing - this movie is forgettable.

This is not a sequel from the last The Punisher when John Travolta in another bad guy suit. Its a reboot in a form of The Incredible Hulk. The Punisher: War Zone continues his styles of massacaring all the mobster in town. This time he is on a mission to fight Billy Russoti, a mob that owns a dock shipyard. In his one man fight against the ugly faced Billy, which later called himself Jigsaw and his psychopath killing brother, Loony Bin Jim, Frank Castle must stay in focus to stay ahead of them while they are trying to get their money stolen and gone missing by a deceased federal agent undercover.

The plot display a very familiar theme of revenge and gunfight. This time it is gorier than the first one. Heads been chopped and burst under machine gun fires, people been dumped and broke their neck, a jumping monkey destroyed by some mini missles. Was that a joke or what? The plot story was thin and centred too much about kidnapping and revenge. The dialogue was fine as it was just another old-fashioned and typical stylish actioner that used revenge as the main theme. However, I was rather impressed by its use of action way killing people ala Counter Strikes. At least it looks more realistic and very high intense in action. There is a little emotion flow in the movie but still its brutally violent.

Ray Stevenson as The Punisher has its good and bad. The good thing - I think he is a perfect candidate for the role. He possessed those charismas that resembled Steven Seagal which was macho. Let's called him another Macho Man on the killing spree. However, I think that he was too woody, stocky and stiff. Been too stiff doesn't gave him the impression as in the comic book although his character was rather stayed loyal to the comic. The rest of the casts were nominal and minimal in contributing to the movie. I personally thought Jigsaw was not really amazed me while his weird brother was just another distraction.

I bet watching in DVD or in other format and watching it in cinema gave a similar experience. Only it would be gory and more violent in the DVD. All thanks to the good job (pfftt) done by the editing at the Lembaga Penapisan Filem. All the mood and gore gone!! If you really want to watch it, I won't stop you. Go ahead and tell me if you think this is better or just the same like the first Punisher. Seriously, the punishing is hard to do.

THE RATINGS.....
CAST - 3.0 stars
STORY - 2.0 stars
CINEMATOGRAPHY - 3.0 stars
EFFECTS - 3.5 stars
an overall >> 2.5 stars
GreenTea-O-Meter: 10.7