THE PUNISHER
US, 2004, 124 minutes, (Director’s Cut 141 minutes), Colour.
Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Eddie Jamison, Rebecca Romijn, Ben Foster, John Pinette, Laura Harring, Roy Scheider.
Directed by Jonathan Hensleigh.
The Punisher is one of the Marvel Comics. While they were brought to the screen in early days including Batman and Superman series, the more popular trend began in 1989 with Tim Burton’s Batman. In the same year, there was an Australian-American? co-production of The Punisher with Dolph Lundgren in the central role and Jeroen Krabbe as the villain. There was also a video game in the 1990s. After this version was released to cinemas, Thomas Jane did the voice for a video game based on the film.
Thomas Jane is adequate, serious as the agent who loses his family and, not wanting revenge he says, but wanting justice, goes in pursuit of the gangster who ordered the death of his family in order to deprive him of everything he owns and everybody that he loves.
John Travolta is the arch-gangster. Will Patton is his sinister adviser. There is a sympathetic group who support the Punisher as a neighbour, played by Rebecca Romijn, Ben Foster and John Pinette, bringing some humanity and a touch of humour into the proceedings. Laura Harring is Travolta’s ruthless wife. Roy Scheider is his father.
The film opens with the set piece of a drug bust and the seeming death of Frank Castle. However, it is revealed that he is a top agent. Because he has caused the death of the gangster’s son, the gangster, with inside information from the police, tracks down the family in Puerto Rico and massacres the extended family.
The film is very strong on justice – though, for the emotional reaction of the audience, it seems very much and feels very much like vengeance.
This Marvel hero is one who relies simply on physical energy and mental skill – not some superhuman power or extraordinary resources like either Superman or Batman.
1.The popularity of films based on Marvel Comics? Superheroes? Frank Castle and the Punisher in the Marvel tradition?
2.The locations: New York City, the drug bust, the police officers? Puerto Rico, holiday atmosphere, the massacre? The return to New York, the seedy locations, the contrast with Howard Saint’s building and mansion? The staging of the action? Special effects? Musical score?
3.The initial drug bust, the elaborate presentation, the two men and the dealing with the arms dealers? The FBI arriving, helicopters, the shooting of the Punisher? His associates? The shooting of Saint’s son? The taking of Mickey Duka? The interrogations? The revelation that Frank Castle was alive, was an undercover agent? The congratulations of all concerned? His retirement? Going to his family?
4.The family holiday, Frank and his relationship to Maria, love for Will? At home, planning to settle in London, safety? The assembled family? Frank Castle Sr and his speech? The happiness – relaxed? The coming of the killers, the firing of the guns, the murders? The group fleeing? Frank being helped by his father? His father’s death? Maria and her son escaping in the car, the pursuit? The crash? On the pier, run over? Frank and his exploding the tanks? The motorbike, pursuit, too late to save his family? The confrontation by Saint’s son? The henchmen? The brutality towards Frank, Quentin Glass and his being in charge? Putting Frank into the sea? The irony of his survival? The boating friend and his recovery?
5.Howard Saint, the Mr Big, dealing with drug money, prostitution? Laundering the money in the Caribbean? His devotion to his children, the reaction to his son’s death? His wife and her vindictiveness? His advice from Quentin Glass? Sending the thugs to eliminate everyone?
6.Frank Castle’s return? His weapons? The fixing of his car, his work in the yard? The reaction of his neighbours? Their trying to be hospitable? His being with his grief? Confronting the police chief? People knowing he was alive? His theory about justice rather than vengeance? The confrontations, his aim to destroy everything that Howard Saint valued? The henchmen coming to the apartment, the torturing of Dave? The deaths of the henchmen? The set-up for Quentin Glass, the photos, the rendezvous, the blackmail about the photos? Setting him up for a relationship with Livia? Her going to the cinema? The parking ticket? The earrings? Howard Saint and his reaction, killing them both? The going to the building, infiltration? His destroying of the henchmen with the explosives? The son’s death? Howard Saint, his being dragged by the car, in flames? The Punisher telling him that he had deprived him of all that he loved?
7.The physical resilience of Frank Castle, the punishment he took himself, bashings, torture? His survival? His wanting to be the vigilante punisher?
8.John Travolta as the villain, arrogant, money, devotion to his sons, love for his wife yet spying on her? His reliance on Quentin Glass? His ridiculing of Mickey? Humiliating him with jobs? His sending the thugs to eliminate the family, to eliminate Frank Castle, to destroy him in New York?
9.Joan, her background, kindness, work, her friendship with Dave and Bumbo, Bumbo and his eating, fat? Dave, drugs, his mother, his piercings? The friendship, the eccentricities, invitations to Frank? The meals? The torture and Dave not revealing anything?
10.Quentin Glass, sinister counsellor, ruthless, his relationships, the photos, his being set up? His being killed by Howard Saint?
11.The violence, vindictiveness, vengeance, justice – and the appeal to vindictiveness in the audience?
