Saturday night was a very special night, and especially interesting. The cousins, me and Suzie went to catch a late night movie at eHub. The movie choices available were... limiting. So we decided to catch Punisher: War Zone since it was probably one of the least sappy and crappy-sounding movies there (Wedding Game, anyone?).
It's pretty much a remake of the previous Punisher movie (the one with Thomas Jane as the eponymous vigilante); this time Ray Stevenson takes up the mantel of Marvel's very own self-appointed judge, jury and executioner - emphasis on executioner. But then again, aren't they all? =P
This time the villian's Jigsaw, a horribly disfigured Billy the Beaut Russoti left for dead after one of the Punisher's many brutal assualts.
Suffice to say, this movie is not one forthe weak of heart - or weak of stomach, for that matter. Just five minutes into the movie, viewers are treated to one of the most gory 30 seconds of video ever to be seen on a silver screen. Quite frankly, I have never seen that many people killed in such innovative, quick, gory, gut-filled ways in such a short span of time - and all done by a singular individual with a thing for bladed objects and shooters.
Story-wise, its pretty basic. Punisher fails to kill Billy during one of his raids; he goes after him; attempts to kill him in a glass-crushing machine; he fails to do so; Billy comes back as Jigsaw; Jigsaw goes after an innocent family; Punisher comes in to save the day. Yep, I think I pretty much covered everything. See what I mean?
I guess the draw here for this movie comes from the action packed killing scenes, brought to you courtesy of the Punisher himself. They're all very original, I must say. Stuff like shooting a rocket at a parkour artist/criminal in the middle of a somersault, stuffing the barrel of a grenade launcher through a door and firing at the group of thugs in the room, curb-stomping the head of a downed thug - the stuff is all gold. But it's sure gonna leave a stain on that ol' noggin. Urgrgh.
Punisher: War Zone certainly lives up to its namesake, delivering death to the Mafia in the typical gory and brutal fashion. It does, however, need to realise that testosterone-filled action scenes do not make a good action movie. And that's the take from the general audience.
