The Punisher 2004

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The Punisher ★★ 2004 (R)

What this brutal revenger lacks in humor and cheeriness, it more than makes up for in gloomy, dour punishment, drunken brooding, and grisly deaths. The Punisher a.k.a. Frank Castle (Jane) is an FBI agent turned vigilante after an FBI sting which kills a wealthy mobster's son triggers the systematic murder of his entire family. Said mobster is the ironically named Mr. Saint (an uninspired Travolta). Despite a severe battering, Castle survives the slaughter. Rest of pic is his revenge plot against Saint, his right hand man (Patton) and assorted evil cohorts. Adding a touch of humanity are Castle's fellow rooming house residents, including RomjinStamos, Pinette and Foster, who futilely attempt to socialize Castle. Based on the Marvel comic books. 124m/C VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD . US Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Edward Jemison, Samantha Mathis, Will Patton, Laura Elena Harring, Roy Scheider, Rebecca Romijn, Geoff Wallace, Mark Collie, John Pinette, Russell Andrews, Marc Macaulay, Ben Foster, Eduardo Yanez, Marcus Johns, Bonnie Johnson, Omar Avila; D: Jonathan Hensleigh; W: Jonathan Hensleigh, Michael France; C: Conrad W. Hall; M: Carlo Siliotto.

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