Fans of Marvel’s new series,Daredevil: Born Again, should check out this other action-filled adaptation of a comic book legend.The Punisher, released in 1989, starredDolph Lundgrenas the police officer turned vigilante in a troubled film that has been hailed as one of the most honest adaptions of the character. Scorned by critics and early audiences,The Punisherhas managed to gain quite an impressive following in the years after its release. And now, thanks to Tubi, the film is getting ready to meet a whole new audience… for free.
The Punisherstars Lundgren (Rocky IV,The Expendables) as Frank Castle, aka The Punisher. After an attack leaves his family dead and the wounded cop presumed the same, Castle turns vigilante as he ignites a mafia war and tracks down the people who killed his family. What starts as a revenge story turns into a battle crisis as a new enemy arises to take over the fractured city. As The Punisher stands against this daunting new challenge, he must work alongside his greatest enemy in order to save his city. But, unlike the man who was Frank Castle, The Punisher finds that some grudges never die.
The Punisher
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The Punisheris a fun and slightly cheesy film that action fans should enjoy. With a simple plot, low budget, and over-the-top action scenes,The Punisher is an easy and entertaining watch.Dolph Lundgren was praisedas the perfect choice for the tortured protagonist.As the unrepentant anti-hero, he is both enigmatic and deadly as he accumulates an impressive body count. The film is unashamedly violent, dark, and gritty, though some fans have complained that the movie has made varied changes from the original comics. And while this is true, the spirit of the story remains the same even as he lacks his character’s iconic skull shirt.
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The film is technically one of the firstMarvel superhero films, but, unfortunately, it does not have any of the classic Punisher villains that fans have come to know. While some fans may see this as a drawback,it allows the focus to remain on Castle’s personal trauma and quest for vengeance, which is the heart of the film. Garth Ennis, writer of the 2004The Punishercomic book series,called the 1989 version of the film the most honest, no-compromise portrayal of the character.
The Punisherhad a hard time with critics and audiences upon its release. The first sign of trouble, perhaps, came when the film failed to receive a US release. This was not due to the quality of the film but rather because of the financial difficulties of the studio behind it. The film was released internationally and, despite its theatrical limitations, earned $30 million against its budget of $9 million.
In the US market, fans had to settle for a direct-to-VHS premiere.The Punisherhas a disappointing 25% critical score and a less dismal 33% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics foundthe film too cheesyand stated that the low budget made the effects quite distracting.The positive critical reviews highlighted Lundgren’s performance. Luke Y. Thompson of LYTRules calls out Lundgren’s “superhero presence,” while TV Guide praised the actor with “Lundgren is truly impressive as a character defined by emotional emptiness.”
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AlthoughThe Punisherhas harsh ratings, the movie has what seems to be a cult following. Like many Lundgren releases, the film was very popular with its video release as dedicated fans snapped it up. On Amazon, the film has an outstanding 4.6-star rating from over 1,500 reviews. Recent reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes have been far kinder to the comic book adaptation. The movie has received several 4 and 5-star reviews from audiences who have only recently discovered the film in the past few years.
Now, thanks to Tubi, the film is readying to close the divide.The Punisheris just one of a number of films that are coming to the streamer in April. Other films that are due to startstreaming on Tubiin April areG.I. Joe: Retaliation,Kill Bill(Volume 1 and 2),Rush Hour(1 and 2 as well), andWrath of Man.
Along with theRockystar,The Punisherstars Louis Gossett Jr. (Roots), Jeroen Krabbe (The Fourth Man), Nancy Everhard (Everwood), Todd Boyce (Coronation Street), Larry McCormick (Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines), and Kim Miyori (St. Elsewhere). Fans ofDaredevil: Born Again, Dolph Lundgren, gritty Marvel superheroes, and vigilante action films should check this film out.The Punisherwill be available to stream for free on Tubi beginning April 1.
