PUNISHER: WAR ZONE (2008)

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"Bloody Good Time!"

Hot Damn! This movie's freakin' awesome! I usually don't start my review with that statement but o man, I had so much fun watching PUNISHER: WAR ZONE. This will satisfy every action loving freaks out there. A movie for... testosterone. Heads exploding, blood squirting, necks breaking, make way for the new Punisher because he's in town and you're gonna wish you had been nice. PUNISHER: WAR ZONE is a movie that's so graphic, you cheer for the violence no matter how wrong it may seem.

Dolph Lundgren's version in the 80s was a joke, let's pretend it never existed at all, Thomas Jane's version in 2005, in my opinion, was bearable only because John Travolta was always good at playing a villain (Broken Arrow, Face-Off) but it did need a reboot and boy a reboot is what happened. Director Lexi Alexander promised the fans that PUNISHER: WAR ZONE would be totally hardcore and she didn't lie.

Not only does it stay true to the Marvel comic's spirit and its character, it also has the visual that gives you that graphic novel look and feel to it. And I'm glad that Lexi's vision focuses solely on the action and doesn't spend too much time on Frank Castle's origin or his family's death. I like the way she executes every violent killing and fight sequence done in every scene, in a disturbing way I'd say each of them is very creative. Far-fetched maybe, sometimes borderline laughable, but creative nonetheless.

There are scenes that would make you go "O Dude, I can't believe he just did that! O sh*t, that's guy's face just got smashed in! Damn!" It's like watching a spectator's sport or gladiator event.

I'm not gonna try to compare him to Heath Ledger's iconic portrayal of THE JOKER, but I gotta hand it to Dominic West as JIGSAW in this movie, the British dude not only can pull off a decent Italian New Yorker accent, he can also play a mean, insane villain who's not afraid to do whatever to get what he wants, scary as hell...accompanied by his psychotic brother, well-played by Doug Hutchison.

Julie Benz seems to always associate herself with blood (TV's Dexter, Rambo, Saw V), maybe she's a glutton for Punishment, no pun intended.

Last but not least, Ray Stevenson is the perfect PUNISHER. Third time's the charm. We've finally found our Frank Castle. Badass, no mercy, driven by vengeance and his own brand of justice. Stevenson brings that cold-hearted, Charles Broson-like persona who tries to suppress any urge to express emotion but still can be affected by regrets. In a way, Punisher is like Batman who can kill.