# The new Punisher movie. Expectations? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098 "2004-03-08T06:37:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/1 "2004-03-08T06:37:05Z")
I had high hopes for this movie when I first heard about it. Then I heard John Travolta was in it and my hopes slowly started fading. Now after seeing the commercials for it I think it is gonna be a stinker. It looks like a remake of the Dolph Lundgren version. The only thing I like about the commercial is the song in the background. Who is that anyway? Anyway, what is the expectation for this movie? Anyone heard anything about it? ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/2 "2004-03-08T07:09:21Z")
The guy playing the Punisher is an actor that I like (Thomas Jane), but he doesn’t fit my idea of Frank Castle from the comic books. He just doesn’t look rugged enough. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/3 "2004-03-08T07:14:53Z")
His name is **Thomas Jane**. He’s not too big of an actor; just small roles here and there. His most “prominent” role was probably Cameron Diaz’s love interest in **The Sweetest Thing**. Anyway, I was really looking forward to this movie, but like you, when I found out Travolta was in it, all that hope faded. And, after seeing the full trailer, I really have no interest anymore. Hell, I’ll even take Lundgren’s version over this one. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/4 "2004-03-08T08:46:36Z")
> [@vandal](#): > > And, after seeing the full trailer, I really have no interest anymore. Hell, I’ll even take Lundgren’s version over this one. Now, let’s not talk _crazy_ here… ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/5 "2004-03-08T10:40:53Z")
I’m looking forward to it. Travolta can be decent enough, as long as he doesn’t think he’s in a comedy, like in Broken Arrow. I guess we’ll see when it comes out, but it _can’t_ be worse than the shitheap that was the Lundgren version. And I would of thought Deep Blue Sea was Thomas Jane’s most prominent role. He’s been good in everything i’ve seen him in, especially a little known film called Tuesday.(or it might be Thursday) He was hardcore rugged in that, so I have faith. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/6 "2004-03-08T10:45:04Z")
But who’s playing Archie? ---
**Author:** ![Vezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b38774/32.png) [@Vezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vezer)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/7 "2004-03-08T14:52:49Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > But who’s playing Archie? Lets just hope they save the major crossovers for the sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/8 "2004-03-08T17:44:07Z")
I expect much better things out of this version than the previous. Mainly because they loosely based this one off of one of the best Punisher story arcs in recent years “Welcome Back, Frank”. We’ll have actual comic characters (The Russian, Spacker Dave, Mr. Bumpo, Joan the Mouse) and over the top action sequences. Plus they’ve left in some of the humor from Ellis’ run. I especially loved seeing Jane/Castle work the butterfly knife and then smack the baddie in the head with it. What I don’t care for is the movie being set in sunny Florida, as opposed to dark New York City where he can blend into the shadows and alleys. ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/9 "2004-03-08T18:13:54Z")
I admit I’ve never been a big fan of The Punisher (though I enjoyed the limited series Mike Zeck drew back in the 80s), yet even so, I don’t see this being a big winner for Marvel. The movies are choked with stories of tough, tight-lipped men packing heat and wreaking vengeance on those who killed their wives/lovers/children/partners/et al. How is this movie going to distinguish itself? This movie feels like it’s coming out fifteen years past its sell-by date. (The fact that Travolta’s reputation has pretty much returned to its pre-_Pulp Fiction_ level of cheesiness doesn’t help.) They will, however, sell lots of t-shirts. That skull logo remains pretty cool. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/10 "2004-03-08T18:21:46Z")
The first thing I think of when I think of Thomas Jane is theHBO movie 61\* where he did a great job as Mickey Mantle. He also did a good job in the stinker Dreamcatcher. He usually comes across as very likeable which I think will act againsthim in this role. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/11 "2004-03-08T19:59:43Z")
> [@paulberserker](#): > > And I would of thought Deep Blue Sea was Thomas Jane’s most prominent role. He’s been good in everything i’ve seen him in, especially a little known film called Tuesday.(or it might be Thursday) He was hardcore rugged in that, so I have faith. **Thursday**. Good movie. GREAT scene with him and Paulina Porizkova. You know the one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/12 "2004-03-08T20:15:26Z")
i was disappointed when i saw Travolta in it, but now from the trailer and advance buzz i’m thinking they may have pulled it off. It will be hard to make it worse than the old one. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/13 "2004-03-09T00:37:14Z")
The trailer certainly looks like shit, but [this reasonably trustworthy web reviewer](http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=17056) says it’s actually pretty cool. Even if he turns out to be wrong, it’s still a pretty savvy review. ---
**Author:** ![FabioClone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@FabioClone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FabioClone)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/14 "2004-03-09T05:31:03Z")
The Punisher is the mustached druggie from Boogie Nights? Awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/15 "2004-03-09T06:43:31Z")
Although movie ratings (i.e. PG, PG-13, R) can be just as unreliable as movie trailers these days, the fact that _The Punisher_ has gotten an R-rating leaves me somewhat less worried. I also heard that John Travolta is actually alright in this one. However I do agree with Nonsuch about too many unoriginal “tough guy” films being released, and for quite some time now. And the trailers I’ve seen of _The Punisher_ make it seem like just another one. But, like I already said, trailers tell you nothing. ---
**Author:** ![paulberserker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@paulberserker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulberserker)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/16 "2004-03-09T13:35:36Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > **Thursday**. Good movie. GREAT scene with him and Paulina Porizkova. You know the one. 😉 Aha! thanks for clearing that up. Oh, and I know what your talking about. I didn’t even recognize it was Porizkova til the credits rolled. That, and people getting theirs with Power tools. I may search that one out again, I saw it on Sky a few years back. “My names Bill Hill. People call me Hill Billy. But you can call me Mr Hill.” ---
**Author:** ![Kiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiger)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2004, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/17 "2004-03-15T13:08:29Z")
> [@Stinkpalm](#): > > The only thing I like about the commercial is the song in the background. Who is that anyway? It’s **Seether’s** “Broken”. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Escorpio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@El\_Escorpio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Escorpio)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2004, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-punisher-movie-expectations/233098/18 "2004-03-16T02:48:45Z")
> [@Tars Tarkas](#): > > i was disappointed when i saw Travolta in it, but now from the trailer and advance buzz i’m thinking they may have pulled it off. It will be hard to make it worse than the old one. That Dolph Lundgren one was a bit rough to sit through, though he was a reasonably good Punisher, if memory serves (I haven’t seen it since the release). I agree that my enthusiasm waned when I heard Travolta was in it, not that he’s a bad actor, but he does tend to be a bit smug and irritating. But I actually thought after seeing this preview that it looked kind of awesome. I’m really looking forward to it. And **FabioClone** , I’m with you; that was the first thing I thought of when I saw his name.