Punisher: War Zone

Name: Punisher: War Zone
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: December 5, 2008
Duration: 103 min
Rating: 30
Cast: Dominic West, Julie Benz, Ray Stevenson

2008

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 24 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 201 Ratings

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6.0

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6.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 201 Ratings

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Punisher: War Zone

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Movie Details & Credits

Lionsgate | Release Date: December 5, 2008 | R

Starring: Dominic West, Julie Benz, Ray Stevenson

Summary: Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias: Jigsaw. With the "Punisher Task Force" hot on his trail and the FBI unable to take Jigsaw in,Waging his one-man war on the world of organized crime, ruthless vigilante-hero Frank Castle sets his sights on overeager mob boss Billy Russoti. After Russoti is left horribly disfigured by Castle, he sets out for vengeance under his new alias: 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 his evil deeds go unpunished. (Lionsgate)… Expand

Director: Lexi Alexander

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 103 min

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Critic Reviews

TV Guide Magazine Jeremy Wheeler

Rarely have moviegoers seen such a two-fisted wrecking ball of vengeance such as the one realized here by Ray Stevenson. Read full review

Michael Phillips

The film works a bit better than the 2004 "Punisher" installment, the one starring surly, dislikable Thomas Jane as Frank Castle. Read full review

Luke Y. Thompson

The script isn't what matters here: This is a slasher movie with guns, and, uh, huh-huh, that's pretty cool. Read full review

Premiere Staff (Not credited)

A disappointingly schlocky effort that gives up on trying to make a realistic Punisher movie, settling instead on a hokey, multi-colored-neon gun rave best enjoyed in Rob Zombie's family room. Read full review

Claudia Puig

The dialogue is beyond clichéd, and performances feel cobbled together from other movies. Read full review

Keith Phipps

This is junk, a bunch of hard-R action scenes kept together by the thinnest of plots. Read full review

Michael Sragow

All Alexander proves in Punisher: War Movie is that a martial-arts-trained woman can make a film just as stupid, coarse and numbing as any muscle man. Read full review

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User Reviews

SimonM.

Dec 7, 2008

Great movie. For what it is. While Dominic West's portrayal of Jigsaw seemed a bit old school (this movie was filmed pre-the Dark Knight) , Ray Stevenson's Punisher was straight out of the comics.Also, where blood and gore doesn't "behoove" certain films it is an essential Great movie. For what it is. While Dominic West's portrayal of Jigsaw seemed a bit old school (this movie was filmed pre-the Dark Knight) , Ray Stevenson's Punisher was straight out of the comics.Also, where blood and gore doesn't "behoove" certain films it is an essential for a Punisher movie (ask any true believer!), and this film delivers by the bucket load!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

ChrisD

Mar 19, 2009

Hey look, a movie that actually stays true to the comic books, and everyone hates it. Big surprise. This is how the punisher is supposed to be.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Darcy4

Jul 4, 2015

Hats off to Lexi A! SPOILERS; A blend of Garth Ennis' MAX and the classic punisher to boot. hilariously bad gangster accents with tons of blood and Micro; who doesn't get a proper send off but does manage to be less annoying than you'd expect. Ray Stevenson makes a good Castigleone but seemsHats off to Lexi A! SPOILERS; A blend of Garth Ennis' MAX and the classic punisher to boot. hilariously bad gangster accents with tons of blood and Micro; who doesn't get a proper send off but does manage to be less annoying than you'd expect. Ray Stevenson makes a good Castigleone but seems to be cracking up too much, a decent film really.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

CoyC.

Dec 7, 2008

First off, the critics have been a bit harsh when reviewing this film. I respect Roger Ebert and I generally sift through the reviews here to see what he has to say about most movies that I watch. His is a fair review. As far as film quality, this is no Godfather. Then again it's not First off, the critics have been a bit harsh when reviewing this film. I respect Roger Ebert and I generally sift through the reviews here to see what he has to say about most movies that I watch. His is a fair review. As far as film quality, this is no Godfather. Then again it's not supposed to be. War Zone is the Punisher pulled from the adult targeted comics and projected on screen. The gore and violence is over the top, but then again Frank Castle is an over the top vigilante. I loathed the Dolph Lundgren Punisher. There was very little about that film that resembled the Punisher that fans know and love. The Thomas Jane Punisher wasn't as bad as many will argue, but I am sympathetic to the fact that his Punisher was poorly scripted and spent way too much time on a muddled and wrong backstory. As much as Thomas Jane loved the character, he couldn't save that movie from the rightful criticism that they took the worst corny elements from the Max line and used them for the story. However, this time the Punisher has been done right. They took some of the best elements of the comics and brought them to life on screen and it's going to be a pleasing spectacle for all fans of the Punisher comic line. Also of note, they ignored the fact that the last two films existed and thereby relaunched with the proper origin story unlike the Jane film. As a huge Punisher fan, I am glad they finally cast someone who looks the part, plays the part well, and more importantly filmed a script that does justice to the character. I can only hope the film is successful enough to warrant a sequel.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

R.Lopez

Mar 18, 2009

The Punisher: War Zone was a very good comic book adaption, actually it was much better than I expected, this 2008 reboot of the 2004 The Punisher with Thomas Jane and John Travolta(Which was just as good as this one.) is actually a straight out comic book adaption of a mini series which is The Punisher: War Zone was a very good comic book adaption, actually it was much better than I expected, this 2008 reboot of the 2004 The Punisher with Thomas Jane and John Travolta(Which was just as good as this one.) is actually a straight out comic book adaption of a mini series which is the title of this film. Ray Stevenson( who I thought was a better Punisher than Thomas Jane.) stars as the titled character who continues his four year fight against organized crime. And has to confront his greatest foe. Jigsaw, Jigsaw was a underboss named Bill Ruso( they slightly changed it for the movie Rousoti.) who was nearly killed by the Punisher, and now wants his revenge for horribly disfiguring him and will stop at nothing to kill him. The Punisher: War Zone is nothing like the first, the first was much tamer and less violent than this, and that's what separates these tow form one another. The Tones are different and the stories are different, giving you a whole new feel when your watching this film. You don't see the first one , your not thinking of the first one, your watching a whole new movie that is just as good( and maybe even better.) than the first.… Expand

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SuperheroMovies

Aug 8, 2013

War Zone is shorter and leaner than the previous reboot was, but still contains the same storytelling flaws that haunted the first reboot. However, its devastatingly brutal nature may compensate for the miscues in the script for some.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Dec 9, 2008

Thanks hollywood for ruining what should have been a great movie... again. Will the punisher ever get a good film?

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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65	#65 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
97	#97 Most Shared Movie of 2008