Line #19 Film/PunisherWarZone


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/punisher_war_zone_4573.jpg]]
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3	The third film adaptation of ''ComicBook/ThePunisher'', directed by Lexi Alexander and released in 2008.
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5	Ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle (Creator/RayStevenson), waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti (Creator/DominicWest). After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle (who accidentally kills an undercover FBI agent during his attempted hit), he sets out to get revenge on Castle under the alias of Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in, Frank must stand up to the formidable army that Jigsaw has recruited before more of the mobster's evil deeds go unpunished.
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7	A critical and [[BoxOfficeBomb financial failure]] upon initial release, the film nonetheless has a small cult following, chief among them Creator/PattonOswalt who gave it a ColbertBump in [[https://web.archive.org/web/20200112003055/http://www.pattonoswalt.com/index.cfm?page=spew&id=90 this]] blog post. Having more in common with Creator/GarthEnnis's run on ''[[ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX Punisher MAX]]'' than the [[Film/ThePunisher2004 last movie]], the film could be described as a giant monument to [[{{Gorn}} violence]], stupid fun, [[RatedMForManly masculinity]] and [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer balls-out insanity]].
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9	This is only one of two films (the other being ''Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance'') produced under the [[DarkerAndEdgier Marvel Knights]] banner, which was intended to be a cinematic equivalent of the Creator/MarvelComics imprint of the same name. Though not an entry in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse, this film is also a co-production between Marvel Studios and Creator/{{Lionsgate}}.
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11	----
12	!!This film has the examples of:
13	* TenMinuteRetirement: Frank goes through one after learning that he killed a FBI mole. He actually tries to quit his job as a VigilanteMan, but he's persuaded to continue in order to protect the Donatelli family from Jigsaw's wrath.
14	* AdaptationAmalgamation: The film uses characters from both the mainline ''Punisher'' comics (Jigsaw [[spoiler:as his presence in the MAX series only came about a few months before the release of the movie]], Detective Soap, Carlos Cruz, and Microchip) and ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX'' (The Bulats, Pittsy and Ink, Maginty, Paul Budiansky, and Don Cesare).
15	* AbledInTheAdaptation: Downplayed. Don Cesare is still wheelchair-bound, but cognizant enough to still run his family.
16	* AdaptationNameChange:
17	** Jigsaw's last name is changed from "Russo" to "Russoti".
18	** Massimo Cesare's first name is changed to "Gaitano".
19	* AdaptationalHeroism: In the comics Microchip eventually became an enemy of Frank [[spoiler:before his death,]] while here he remains an ally to him throughout [[spoiler:all the way to his murder]].
20	* AdaptationalJobChange:
21	** In the comics, Paul Budiansky was a member of the NYPD like Martin Soap. This version is an FBI agent.
22	** In the comics, Carlos Cruz was an ex-gang member and ex-Navy SEAL who temporarily took the Punisher mantle when Microchip and Frank had a falling out. In this movie, Carlos is a former gang member who helps Microchip procure guns for Frank.
23	* AdaptationalNationality: The Bulats are Russian here, not Romanian.
24	* AdaptationalNiceGuy: To some degree. A couple of characters (Cristu Bulat, Tiberiu Bulat, Pittsy, Ink, Carlos Cruz, and Maginty) are InNameOnly and not as nearly as horrible as their comic book counterparts.
25	** The Bulats serve as normal Russian criminals types, and Cristu is also a smuggler in New York City though Tiberiu is referred as being a RetiredMonster. In the comics they were former war criminals who became human traffickers. [[spoiler:Additionally, unlike the comics, this version of Tiberiu loved Cristu enough to seek revenge on Jigsaw for having him arrested, whereas both father and son in the comics pissed each other off enough that they've tried to kill each other.]]
26	** Pittsy and Ink are now father and son rather being [[ThoseTwoGuys those two henchmen]] and serve as Jigsaw's more sane underlings. In the comics they were equally as unhinged as their boss in the comics, Nicolas Cavella.
27	** Frank and Carlos Cruz had a blatant animosity in the comics up to the point they were constantly fighting each other during the latter's appearances in the mainline comics. In this movie, the animosity was toned down since Microchip and Frank remained permanent allies, and Carlos was never hired to replace Frank as the Punisher.
28	** Finally, Maginty is now the gang leader in a Urban Freeflow Gang who do their thing with LeParkour. In the comics he was involved in a gang war where he kidnapped an elderly former "cleaner" for the Irish Mob and made him slowly slice up a living rival.
29	* AdaptationOriginConnection: [[InvertedTrope Inverted]] when Jigsaw -- a villain who, in the comics, was part of the mob family involved in the Castles' death -- becomes a straightforward example of CreateYourOwnVillain.
30	* AdaptationPersonalityChange: Martin Soap is [[{{Wangst}} less depressed]] and more chipper despite his ButtMonkey status.
31	* AdaptationalWimp: Carlos Cruz, Pittsy, Ink, and Maginty, are lacking in the badassery their comic book counterparts had.
32	* AxCrazy: Jigsaw and his [[MeaningfulName appropriately named]] brother "Loony Bin Jim".
33	* BigApplesauce: ''War Zone'' moves Frank back to New York, as Marvel probably caught on to the whole every hero in New York thing and decided to start expanding a bit, like they did with ''Film/IronMan''.
34	* BottomlessMagazines:
35	** Averted. Punisher is almost constantly reloading during his firefights -- either conventionally or in [[ThrowAwayGuns the "New York" fashion]].
36	** There's also a very rare example of character changing mags before they went dry just to make sure he won't run out of ammo in the middle of shootout.
37	** Also [[spoiler: Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim]] surrender only because they run out of ammo and they apparently haven't brought spare mags.
38	* BullyingADragon: The orderly ''really'' should have been nicer to Loony Bin Jim...
39	* CanonCharacterAllAlong: Inverted; Nicky, one of Jigsaw's goons (who's actually [[TheMole a mole for the FBI]]) is ''not'' Nicky Cavella, fan-favorite villain from ''ComicBook/ThePunisherMAX''.
40	* CanonForeigner: "Looney Bin Jim", the brother of Jigsaw, and the Donatelli family.
41	* CopsNeedTheVigilante: The NYPD are just making a token effort to catch the Punisher. The Punisher Task Force only consists of Detective Soap [[spoiler:who is later revealed to be feeding Castle information]], and Detective Saffiotti not only lets Castle escape, he gives him his car keys.
42	* DarkerAndEdgier: Compared to [[Film/ThePunisher2004 the 2004 film]], adding BloodierAndGorier to boot. The film is one of the '''darkest''' Franchise/{{Marvel\|Universe}} films ever created, if not the darkest. So much so that Marvel created an entire new film subsidiary, Marvel Knights, to place its future dark films under to establish them as something a little more edgier than the usual Marvel fare (the only other film to date to use this banner is ''Film/GhostRiderSpiritOfVengeance'').
43	** Despite this, the film is also a bit DenserAndWackier compared to the last two Punisher films thanks to elements like the unrealistic, over the top violence and [[EvilIsHammy Jigsaw's antics]].
44	* DiagnosisFromDrBadass: Loony Bin Jim, during his fight with Frank Castle in the bathroom, begins to say what is wrong with the Punisher during each blow:
45	-->'''Loony Bin Jim''': Blood in the urine, an early indicator of kidney failure.\
46	'''Loony Bin Jim''': You should be seeing double right about now.\
47	'''Loony Bin Jim''': That would be a torn meniscus.
48	* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim genuinely care for each other. Also the Bulats, unlike their comic counterparts.
49	* EvenEvilHasStandards: While he is a crime boss and as mentioned below under "Politically Incorrect Villain", a bigot towards anyone of Middle-Eastern descent (and his stance against helping importing biological agents is probably PragmaticVillainy as someone who's constantly dealing with the FBI and NYPD probably doesn't want Homeland Security on top of those agencies), Gaitano Cesare doesn't approve of Jim being an AxCrazy, cannibalistic sadist, as he mentions having Jim locked up.
50	* ExtremeMeleeRevenge: Frank delivers a brutal beatdown to [[spoiler:Jigsaw]] in revenge for him killing [[spoiler:Microchip.]]
51	* FacialHorror: Jigsaw's face, as always; after being mangled in a glass-crushing machine, he endured such serious damage that even extensive plastic surgery was unable to do much for the mess that his appearance had become.
52	* FakeInTheHole: Inverted. The Punisher puts a grenade inside a paint tin and kicks it inside a room. A mook is relieved to see it's only a tin, so he doesn't kick it back out again. Then it explodes.
53	* FauxAffablyEvil: Billy "Jigsaw" Russoti, though he does really seem to care for his brother.
54	* FlagDrop: Jigsaw wants an army to take on the Punisher, so says he'll do what Uncle Sam does and recruit from deprived neighbourhoods. Cue Jigsaw standing in front of a projection of the US flag while giving a RousingSpeech to various street gangs, with stirring music and culminating an OH-RAH!
55	* GoryDiscretionShot: When Loony Bin Jim kills the orderly, only his screams and the sound of his guts being ripped out are heard, but at one point Jim can be seen pulling out his kidneys.
56	* GroinAttack: A rare example where it's the ''hero'' who's on the receiving end; where the fight between Frank Castle and Looney Bin Jim has the latter dishing out nutshots ''twice'' on the former.
57	--> '''Looney''': [after striking Frank in the nuts] "Won't be replacing that son of yours anytime soon."
58	* GunsAkimbo:
59	** Punisher uses both pistols all the time until he is out of ammo.
60	** Given how inept Soap is with a gun, Budiansky just takes the pistol off him and covers Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim with a gun in either hand.
61	* HalfwayPlotSwitch: It initially seems that the movie will be about saving the city from a biological weapon that Jigsaw is smuggling on behalf of the Russian mob. [[spoiler:But then, Jigsaw betrays the Russians to the authorities in return for an immunity deal and information on Frank for his personal vendetta]].
62	* HeroicSacrifice: When Jigsaw and Loony Bin Jim [[spoiler:threaten Castle to kill either the Donatellis or Microchip, Micro immediately tells Castle to shoot him even though he only knows the Donatellis indirectly, explicitly saying "She's just a kid, Castle". Castle shoots Loony Bin Jim instead as he was threatening the Donatellis, but this leaves Micro to be shot by the rest of Jigsaw's goons before Punisher can take them out]].
63	* HollywoodAtheist: Implied with Jigsaw when he mockingly tells Grace Donatelli that her mother is swearing to an "imaginary friend" when she swears to God that she doesn't know where his money is.
64	* HollywoodSilencer: Averted; During Castle's attack on Jigsaw's hideout, Castle uses an M4 variant with a suppressor. The gunshots sound more like muffled cracks than a "fwip". Also, the Smith and Wesson model 500 he uses is fitted with a suppressor which makes the shots sound like loud thuds.
65	* ImAHumanitarian: The first thing Loony Bin Jim does when he's busted out of the mental hospital is eat an orderly's kidneys.
66	* KarmaHoudini: Tiberiu Bulat, one of the comic's notable monsterous characters, was last seen overseeing a BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork to pave way for the Punisher. On the other hand, considering the big shoot out that ensued, it's very likely that he was killed by one of Jigsaw's men.
67	* LargeHam: Dominic West was surely having a ball as Billy Russoti/Jigsaw.
68	* LineOfSightName: After getting a look at his mutilated face and seeing a jigsaw puzzle, Billy decides to adopt this as a new moniker.
69	* MadeOfIron: Frank Castle.
70	* MadeOfPlasticine: Anyone who is not Frank Castle. Some bad guys are gibbed in ways that should not be possible; early on, Frank headbutts a {{Mook}} so hard it ''pulls skin off of his face,'' and a mob boss is beheaded with a tactical knife.
71	* MercyKill: Frank inflicts one on a mortally wounded [[spoiler:Carlos, after the latter begs him not to let him bleed to death]].
72	* MistakenlyAttackedMole: [[spoiler:Good chunk of Frank's actions are motivated by his horrified reaction to killing a mole for the FBI and not realizing it until it was too late.]]
73	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: The plot of the movie is kicked off by Frank killing one of Russoti's men, Nicky Donatelli, only to find a wire on him and realize that Donatelli was really TheMole for the FBI and thus [[MistakenlyAttackedMole Frank shot an undercover agent]].
74	* {{Narcissist}}: "Billy the Beaut" Russoti is introduced checking out his reflection in a car rear view mirror. He doesn't take his disfigurement well, at one stage breaking down in tears on seeing his reflection. His Loony Bin Jim shows his brotherly affection by [[RageAgainstTheReflection smashing every mirror in the room]], and every other mirror he comes across so his brother won't be bothered by his looks again.
75	* OneLastJob: The Punisher intends to retire out of guilt after killing the undercover FBI agent Nicky Donatelli, however he's persuaded to continue "punishing" after Donatelli's family is endangered by Jigsaw. By the end, [[spoiler:it's clear that despite killing a majority of the criminal element in Jigsaw's ill-fated "Punisher party", there are still criminals that need to punished and Frank's not stopping any time soon...]]
76	* PleaseKillMeIfItSatisfiesYou: When Frank shoots a Mafiosi who turns out to be an undercover federal agent, he brings the widow a duffel bag of money in compensation, but reacts calmly when she draws a gun on him instead, even advising her to aim at his heart and [[InstantMarksmanJustSqueezeTrigger squeeze the trigger]]. She only stops because [[NotInFrontOfTheKid her child walks in on them]], though she doesn't make another attempt to kill Castle, only refusing to accept his money.
77	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: Both Gaitano Cesare and Jigsaw himself refer to the people they suspect are getting the package the latter's shipping in for the Bulats as "the ragheads in Queens".
78	* RelatedInTheAdaptation:
79	** Jigsaw is presented as the nephew of Don Cesare, as Jigsaw calls him "Uncle" and Pittsy says "I'm sorry about your family" after the Punisher kills Cesare.
80	** ThoseTwoGuys Pittsy and Ink are depicted as father and son.
81	* SadisticChoice: Jigsaw and his AxCrazy brother Loony Bin Jim give Frank a literal one in the form of a ShootTheDog scenario: [[spoiler:if Frank chooses between killing either the Donatellis or Micro, the brothers release the ones who were spared, otherwise they just kill all three hostages. Although [[HeroicSacrifice Micro offers himself to Frank to spare the Donatellis]], the latter instead elects to TakeAThirdOption. He kills Loony Bin Jim instead, and Jigsaw retaliates by killing Micro. Although given Frank's last words to Micro ("You won't feel a thing, Micro") coupled with Micro's nod to Frank, it seems as if they both understood that no matter who Frank choose, all of the hostages would have been killed anyway; by eliminating Jim, it gave Frank a brief window of time to save the Donatellis. Once they are out of harm's way, he then [[NoHoldsBarredBeatdown brutally]] makes sure that Jigsaw pays for Micro's death]].
82	* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: In [[http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/Punisherwarzoneteaser.jpg this poster]], Frank Castle is in a [[TitleDrop war zone]] and about to shoot you.
83	* SeeYouInHell: Used in the final exchange between a mortally wounded [[spoiler:Carlos]], and Frank.
84	-->'''[[spoiler:Carlos:]]''' I'll see you in hell, Frank.\
85	'''Punisher''': If I see you anywhere near hell, I'll kick your ass out.
86	* ShoutOut:
87	** Although the comic book Jigsaw has appeared long before the ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' franchise, near the end of ''War Zone'', Jigsaw says "Let's play a game" and then [[spoiler: [[SadisticChoice forces Frank to choose between the lives of Micro or the little girl]].]]
88	** Billy's post transformation is a shout-out to The Joker's transformation scene in ''Film/Batman1989''.
89	* TakeThat: According to the director, the scene of the parkour practitioners being brutally killed was a dig at the overabundance of parkour scenes in action films at the time, such as in ''Film/{{The Incredible Hulk\|2008}}'' and ''Film/LiveFreeOrDieHard''.
90	* ThatManIsDead:
91	--> '''Jigsaw''': Billy is dead. From now on, you call me... ''Jigsaw''.
92	* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill:
93	** Frank kills a guy using a ''rocket launcher''.
94	** Frank kills [[spoiler:Jigsaw]] via both impalement and immolation at the same time. Justified, as Frank is absolutely furious over [[spoiler:Jigsaw killing Micro.]]
95	* WouldHitAGirl:
96	** You expect this from Loony Bin Jim right off the bat... but Ink takes one of the Donatelli wall mounted swords, stabbing a female officer before going back to snort coke.
97	** In the opening fight sequence, Frank kills a mob boss' wife by snapping her neck when she tries to shoot him.
98	* YouHaveFailedMe: After the plastic surgeon informs him that the damage to his face was too severe for any serious repair work to be performed, Jigsaw stabs the doctor in the head with a pair of scissors.

Context Film / PunisherWarZone