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There are times when an audience feels like being punished.
For example the whole purpose of a horror movie is kind
of like that. “ Punisher: War Zone” takes it out on everyone—criminals
and viewers alike. This long delayed sequel to “The Punisher”
reboot that featured Thomas Jane (who bowed out for this
sequel)features Ray Stevenson (“Rome”) taking on the role
of Frank Church the former special forces operative. When
Church’s family is massacred after witnessing a mob hit,
he goes on the warpath taking out the criminals that escape
the justice system. In this sequel Church continues to go
after the bad guys in style—he takes out the entire mob
leadership in New York at an elaborate dinner. He helps
vain mobster Billy Rousetti (Dominic West “300”) fall into
a container of broken glass. Rousetti escapes and loses
his chance to become a Chippendale’s dancer when he loses
his looks in the accident. His face stitched together with
horse hide he renames himself Jigsaw and mentally goes to
pieces (as if he was sane in the first place), breaks his
crazy brother Looney Bin Jim (Doug Hutchinson “The Green
Mile”)out of the local asylum to go after the Punisher and
get money that an undercover FBI operative stashed away.
For the Punisher all the pieces fall together regarding
Jigsaw’s scheme and it all comes down to a brutal, bloody,
gory show down. ***
“ Punisher: War Zone” is little more than a B-movie
with a good cast and plenty of violence. The film has no
social redeeming values and couldn’t be remotely called
great. Director Lexi Alexander set out to make the movie
like this and to her credit makes no apologies about making
a flick like this. She doesn’t have to because whatever
its shortcomings “Punisher: War Zone” IS entertaining. The
violence borders on pornography of the worst sort but the
element of camp does provide redemption. I can’t recommend
it unless you like violent exploitation films ( I do) and
if that’s what you’re looking for, you’ll enjoy “Punisher:
War Zone” otherwise I’d suggest renting something more respectable.
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Image & Sound:
“Punisher” looks respectable in its Blu-ray debut. Blacks
are solid throughout, fine detail looks good and images
are sharp throughout. It’s not a perfect Blu-ray transfer
but it does look inviting. Audio sounds extremely good and
all the explosions will give your system a work out. ---
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