History Film / ThePunisher

To date, three films have carried the name of Comicbook/ThePunisher:

* ''Film/ThePunisher1989''
* ''Film/ThePunisher2004''
* ''Film/PunisherWarZone''

!History

The ''[[Comicbook/ThePunisher Punisher]]'' film series is a series of three stand-alone films based on the MarvelComics character of the same name.

[[Film/ThePunisher1989 The first film was released in 1989]] and was released straight to video and starred Creator/DolphLundgren. The second film was released in theaters in 2004 and starred Thomas Jane. After an unsuccessful attempt to script a sequel to that film, the franchise was rebooted in 2008 with the film ''Punisher: War Zone'', which starred RayStevenson. Because ''War Zone'' underperformed at the box office, no further plans were made for the franchise.

The film rights are now back in the hands of Marvel, and Marvel Studios allegedly plans to give the franchise yet another reboot.

In 2012, Thomas Jane, who starred as the title character in the 2004 film, financed and starred in the short film ''Film/DirtyLaundry''. The character is clearly the Punisher, and even owns the signature skull shirt, [[WritingAroundTrademarks but is never named or identified in the film]].

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''The Punisher (1989)''

The Punisher (Lundgren) is a one-man weapon against crime; in the past five years, he's killed over 125 people. In reality, The Punisher was once Frank Castle, an ex-cop whose family was murdered by mobsters. Legally declared dead, Castle strikes back from beyond the grave by killing mobsters wherever he can find them. As a result of Frank's one-man war, Gianni Franco takes control of the various mob families and moves to tie them together as one unit; this attracts the attention of the Yakuza, which decides to take over the families and all their interests -- and kidnaps the mobsters' children to force loyalty to their cause. With no other choice, Franco teams up with The Punisher to fight for the lives of the children of the people Frank has fought against for five years (while, at the same time, fighting alongside the man who killed his family).

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''The Punisher (2004)''

The second of the films, which is completely unrelated to the previous film. FBI agent Frank Castle (Jane) retires just after an undercover assignment that lead into the death of Bobby Saint, the son of famous Tampa crime boss Howard Saint. Holding Castle responsible for the death of his son, Saint orders Frank's entire family to be butchered during a family reunion; the kill squad leaves Frank for dead after slaughtering his family and killing his wife and son right before his eyes. Burnt out and taunted by memories of his murdered family, Frank returns to Florida and sets out to avenge his family. Becoming a one-man judge, jury and executioner, Frank decides to punish Howard Saint and his associates for their crimes -- and he isn't willing to give up until they're all dead.

An extended cut of the film was released on DVD in 2006; it featured seventeen minutes of additional footage that fills in some of the plot holes (such as one that revolves around Jimmy Weeks, Frank's best friend, [[spoiler:and Frank realizing that it was Weeks that sold him out to Howard Saint]]), features an animated introduction that follows Frank's time in Kuwait (based on the work of artist Tim Bradstreet), and generally improves on the film as compared to its theatrical cut. (This version of the film often airs on the FX network as well.)

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''Punisher: War Zone (2008)''

The third of the films; it, too, is not a direct sequel to the previous film. Ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle (Stevenson), waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti ([[TheWire Dominic West]]. 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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!!Tropes featured include:
* ActorAllusion: Thomas Jane, the 2004 Punisher, says in response to someone acknowledging he's upset over his family's death: "I get '''upset''' when the Yankees win." This is both a MythologyGag, as Frank had always been depicted as a New Yorker, as well as an allusion to Jane's most famous prior role as Mickey Mantle in ''61*''
* AdaptationDistillation: The 2004 film is largely composed of many characters or scenes from Garth Ennis' ''Welcome Back Frank'' arc. Frank's next-door neighbors in particular, The Russian, and Harry Heck (who even gets an upgrade over his original appearance where he was merely one of many hitmen that was hired to kill Frank that Frank assassinates in a single panel).
* AddedAlliterativeAppeal: From the first film, "Fucking faggot Frenchmen".
* AltumVidetur: From the 2004 film: ''Si vis pacem, para bellum'' [[note]] If you want peace, prepare for war.[[/note]]
* AncestralWeapon: Frank's pistols in the 2004 film.
* ArmoredClosetGay: TheDragon in the 2004 film, a secret that Frank used for his advantage.
* BigApplesauce: Frank is nearly always depicted as a New Yorker, but [[TheMovie the 2004 flick]] moves his story to Tampa. [[WordOfGod The DVD commentary]] reveals that the main reason to move to Tampa was Florida's tax incentives for film productions. The budget was too tight to film anywhere else.
** ''Punisher: 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''.
* ChekhovsArmoury: With the exception of the ballistic knife, nearly every weapon Castle uses is shown beforehand either in a montage or as part of a scene.
* DarkerAndEdgier:
** The 2004 film was basically the entire comic-book movie slate up to that point save for ''Blade'' and its sequels.
** The 2008 movie compared to the 2004 one, adding BloodierAndGorier to boot.
* DiagnosisFromDrBadass:
** In the 2004 film, Frank takes a blowtorch to Mickey Duka's back and describes what he's doing in great detail, including telling him that it's not painful yet because the nerve endings are seared and when the flame's that hot, it actually feels cold. [[spoiler: This turns out to be a subversion, as the Punisher is really just swiping a popsicle across the man's back to create the described symptoms, while simultaneously using the blowtorch on a steak to create the smell of charred flesh.]]
---> '''Castle''': Isn't science fun, Mickey?
** In ''War Zone'', Loony Bin Jim, during his fight with Frank Castle in the toilet, began to say what was wrong with Punisher during each blow:
---> '''Loony Bin Jim''': Blood in the urine, an early indicator of kidney failure.
---> '''Loony Bin Jim''': You should be seeing double right about now.
---> '''Loony Bin Jim''': That would be a torn meniscus.
* FauxAffablyEvil: Billy "Jigsaw" Russoti in ''War Zone'', though he does really seem to care for his brother.
* FlamingEmblem: At the end of the Thomas Jane film, he sets off a series of car bombs that form his iconic skull symbol.
* GuileHero: The 2004 version of Frank Castle. How so? As part of his BatmanGambit, Frank's plan for revenge was that after returning to the States, [[spoiler:make it appear to Howard Saint that his wife and his right-hand man are having an affair. After Saint kills both of them for the perceived betrayal, Frank makes his final assault on Saint's posh nightclub; Castle kills Saint's other son, tells Howard he killed his wife and best friend for nothing (he framed Saint's wife as cheating with his best friend, not knowing his friend was gay), then sends him to a fiery death.]]
* GunsAkimbo: Frank in the 2004 and 2008 films always carries two pistols on him. In the former case, its subverted. He only uses the pair of pistols once to dispatch two Saint goons but the rest of the time, he's using one pistol. In the latter case, he uses both pistols all the time when he is out of ammo.
* ImAHumanitarian: The first thing Loony Bin Jim does when he's busted out of the mental hospital is eat an orderly's kidneys.
* ImplacableMan: The Russian.
* KarmaHoudini:
** Jimmy Weeks, in the 2004 film. [[spoiler:That's if you watching the theatrical cut]].
*** The theatrical cut leaves out the scene of Howard Saint blackmailing Weeks, making it seem like Weeks was innocent and his goons just figured out how to find Castle on their own.
** Tiberiu Bulat, in ''War Zone''.
* LargeHam: Dominic West was surely having a ball as Billy Russoti/Jigsaw.
* {{Leitmotif}}: Saint's wife has one in the 2004 film.
* MagicalNegro: In the 2004 version, there is [[ChekhovsGunman a brief reference to a 'Witch Doctor']] living off on an island near the Puerto Rico resort. [[spoiler: He later saves Castle after he gotten a round straight to the chest, near the heart, and left to die after a massive explosion on the pier he was on. After Frank's recovery,]] he then proceeds to never show up again.
* NeverBringAKnifeToAGunFight: Quoth Harry Heck in the 2004 film, "You are one dumb son of a bitch. Bringing a knife to a gunfight."
** Little did Harry know, it was a spring-loaded ballistic knife.
* RevengeByProxy: Howard Saint in the 2004 film was content to simply have Frank killed in return for the death of his son, but it was his wife who insisted that Frank's entire family had to die, too.
* 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.
* SeeYouInHell: The final exchange between a mortally wounded [[spoiler:Carlos]], and Frank in Warzone.
-->'''[[spoiler:Carlos:]]''' "I'll see you in hell, Frank."
-->'''Punisher''': "If I see you anywhere near hell, I'll kick your ass out."
* ShoutOut:
** Although the comic book Jigsaw has appeared long before the {{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]].]]
** The 2004 movie features a hitman that's a tribute to Johnny Cash's character in '5 Minutes to Live'.
** Billy's post transformation is possibly a shout-out to The Joker's transformation scene in ''Film/{{Batman}}''.
* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: Harry Heck sits down in a diner, whips out a guitar, and proceeds to sing a song to Frank that basically sums up Frank's character in a nutshell, then leaves. [[BigLippedAlligatorMoment This serves no purpose except maybe to try and throw Frank off his game.]]
* TenMinuteRetirement: ''War Zone'', after Frank killed the CIA mole.
* ThatManIsDead
** In the 2004 film:
--> '''The Punisher''': Those who do evil to others-the killers, the rapists, psychos, sadists-you will come to know me well. Frank Castle is dead. Call me...the ''Punisher''.
** In the 2008 film:
--> '''Jigsaw''': Billy is dead. From now on, you call me... ''Jigsaw''.
* ThinkHappyThoughts: At the end of the 2004 film, Castle has killed all the criminals responsible for his family's deaths, and thinks he has nothing further to live for. He puts a gun to his own head, but a memory of his wife prevents him from pulling the trigger.
* [[TitleDrop/{{Film}} Title Drop]]: At the end of the 2004 film, Frank Castle [[ThatManIsDead accepted his fate as a wanted vigilante]] by forsaking his name and calling himself ''The Punisher''.
* TranquilFury: While his entire revenge in the 2004 movie is one big example. Special mention goes to the scene where Quentin Glass and his gang torture Frank's neighbor David for info. David says nothing to rat out Frank and has all his piercings removed. In return the Henchman left guarding the complex gets brutally stabbed in the head with a paper cutter by Frank who moments before was forced to watch the poor guy through the entire torture, even blaming himself for the whole ordeal.
* TrueCompanions: In the 2004 film, Frank doesn't believe he's friends with his neighbors. That changes when he gets to know them after he helped with Joan's boyfriend problem and [[spoiler:left them some of the stolen mob money he took early in the film]].
** This is cemented for him after the bad guys round up his neighbors and apply some ColdBloodedTorture to one of them to find out where Castle is. The guy doesn't talk. Later, Castle demands to know why. The reply? ''Because he's their friend.''
* VillainSong: Herry Heck's "In Time".
* WouldHitAGirl: You expect this from Looney Bin Jim right off the bat... but the TokenGoodTeammate?
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The ''[[ThePunisher Punisher]]'' film series is a series of three stand-alone films based on the MarvelComics character of the same name.

The first film was in 1989 and was released straight to video and starred DolphLundgren. The second film was released in theaters in 2004 and starred Thomas Jane. After an unsuccessful attempt to script a sequel to that film, the franchise was rebooted in 2008 with the film ''Punisher: War Zone'', which starred RayStevenson. Because ''War Zone'' underperformed at the box office, no further plans were made for the franchise.

* BadassBiker: How Frank is depicted in the 1989 film, even having a CoolBike.

* ClothesMakeTheLegend: Averted in the 1989 film, where Frank never wears the iconic skull on his chest. This wound up being one of the main points of criticism from fans.[[note]]More than fidelity to the comics, the skull shirt worn by the Punisher is a tactical decision as it draws criminals' attention there more than to his unprotected head - the comics' hero suit is often made of kevlar, and when it's a simple shirt, there's often a bulletproof vest underneath. So ditching the skull, in the end, would be even more dangerous to Frank.[[/note]]

* WroteTheBook: In the 1989 film, Jake refers to himself as "the man who wrote the book on busting bad guys".

* AltumVidetur: From the 2004 film: ''Si vis pacem, para bellum'' [[hottip:*: If you want peace, prepare for war.]]

* ClothesMakeTheLegend: Averted in the 1989 film, where Frank never wears the iconic skull on his chest. This wound up being one of the main points of criticism from fans.[[note]]More than fidelity to the comics, the skull shirt worn by the Punisher is a tactical decision as it draws the attention to criminals more than his unprotected head - the comics' hero suit is often made of kevlar, and when it's a simple shirt, there's often a bulletproof vest underneath. So ditching the skull, in the end, would be even more dangerous to Frank.[[/note]]

* FauxAffablyEvil: Billy "Jigsaw" Russoti, though he does really seem to care for his brother.

* MagicalNegro: In the 2004 version, there is [[ChekhovsGunman a brief reference to a 'Witch Doctor']] living off on an island near the Puerto Rico resort. [[spoiler: He later saves Castle after he gotten a role straight to the chest and near the heart.]] He then proceeds to never show up again.

In 2012, Thomas Janes, who starred as the title character in the 2004 film, financed and starred in the short film ''Film/DirtyLaundry''. The character is clearly the Punisher, and even owns the signature skull shirt, [[WritingAroundTrademarks but is never named or identified in the film]].

* BadassBiker: Frank in the 1989 film.

** ''Punisher: 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.

* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's]] MagicalNegro: In the 2004 version, there is a brief reference to a 'Witch Doctor' living off on an island near the Puerto Rico resort. [[spoiler: He later saves Castle after he develops a severe case of deadly gunshot wounds.]] He then proceeds to never show up again.

* ShoutOut: Although the comic book Jigsaw has appeared long before the {{Saw}} franchise, near the end of ''War Zone'', Jigsaw says "Let's play a game" and then [[spoiler: forces Frank to choose between the lives of Micro or the little girl.]]

** Billy's post transformation is possibly a shout-out to The Joker's transformation scene in Film/{{Batman}}.