Punisher: War Zone (2009)

Special Edition Includes Digital Copy DVD

War Zone comes on as an unexpected treat for fans of 80s action flicks, and it is destined to be a cult classic far removed from the annals of Marvel Cinema as we know it. Coming in under the Marvel Knights banner, it is the first of their graphic novel adaptations to earn an R rating, and it certainly deserves it. The film goes toe-to-toe with Sylvester Stallone's recent bloodbath Rambo (especially in the violence department). But that's not what makes it so special. The film kicks off with a bang, fully establishing Ray Stevenson as the new, and only worthy, successor to the Frank Castle name. After the obligatory re-introduction of our hero, the film does something weird. It starts to exhibit one amazingly shocking and off center scene after the next. The strangeness aggressively dog piles on top of itself, and you are breathlessly left wondering what the Hell this mean mother fucker will pull out of its hat next. It is truly something you have to see to believe. And if you are like me, you are going to love it. I haven't seen a film really go for it with this much audacity since Wayne Kramer broke our noses with his Running Scared. Punisher: War Zone is the first comic book movie in a long time that doesn't take itself seriously. It harbors the absurdities associated with your average superhero and gleefully exploits the goofy nature of those pulp origins. If you are not a fan of camp in its purest essence, this film is not for you. It owes just as much of its soul to films like Phantom of the Paradise and The Warriors as it does to films like The Dark Knight. Some of the kills are so gloriously over the top, you can't help but laugh. And when the villian suits up in one of Eddie Murphy's old Raw outfits and struts down the street with his kidney chewing sidekick brother, you know you've flown out of the real world and into the land of "batshit crazy". Its something you'll definitely want to watch again and again.

This two-disc special addition is loaded to the gills with good stuff. For starters, we get a digital copy of the film for downloading into our portable players. We also get a very lively commentary discussion from director Lexi Alexander and director of photography Steve Gainer that goes in-depth into the making of this cinematic gem. There are a series of Mission Prep featurettes that include "Training to become the Punisher", "The Making of Punisher: War Zone", and "Creating the Look of Punisher: War Zone". Villian Jigsaw gets a pretty neat video introduction. And there is an expose on the Punisher's weapons.

Punisher: War Zone is one of the most unique and surprising films of last year. I had no expectations upon watching it, but left the experience exasperated. So much so that I can't wait to see what Lexi Alexander does next, that crazy German. Buy this thing!