Just watched the workprint of the 1989 Punisher

[Kevin Roegele]

Have to say, it would be better regarded had this version been released. Basically, the movie starts with Castle as a cop and his relationship with the other cops, his family, etc. It's very Lethal Weapon. There is a big action scene at the start involving a bust, and then as revenge Castle's family is killed. There are little bits added here and there, and the ending is slightly different.

Castle's friendship with Lou Gosset Jr's cop becomes far more involving and effective in this version. There is a real sadness to it, and their confrontation scene has some genuine emotion.

As it's a workprint, much of the music isn't completed, and so music from other action movies is used. The climactic music from Aliens is used as the Punisher lays waste to a casino!

What I like is that the Punisher is shown as an urban legend. When he appears onscreen he is a mysterious, ghostly figure, almost a zombie. He can appear out of nowhere.

Also interesting is that the Punisher is completely honorable and heroic around those he considers innocent, such as the children he rescues, but ruthless against those he doesn't.

The standard version I found a decent 80's action movie, the workprint fleshed that out and is a well-constructed, interesting take on the 80's Punisher comics.

 

[incurock31]

That sounds great.
The movie that was released gets bashed far too often. I quite enjoyed it.
Any idea why they didn't go with the workprint?

 

[Kable24]

I've always wanted to see this version. Where did you find it?


I had a bootleg version a couple years before it was officially released on DVD and it had some pretty good scenes. The music wasn't finished either because it had the Aliens muysic and music from Full Metal Jacket. It also had a timer constantly running at the bottom of the screen.

 

[Dr. Fate]

Have to say, it would be better regarded had this version been released. Basically, the movie starts with Castle as a cop and his relationship with the other cops, his family, etc. It's very Lethal Weapon. There is a big action scene at the start involving a bust, and then as revenge Castle's family is killed. There are little bits added here and there, and the ending is slightly different.

Castle's friendship with Lou Gosset Jr's cop becomes far more involving and effective in this version. There is a real sadness to it, and their confrontation scene has some genuine emotion.

As it's a workprint, much of the music isn't completed, and so music from other action movies is used. The climactic music from Aliens is used as the Punisher lays waste to a casino!

What I like is that the Punisher is shown as an urban legend. When he appears onscreen he is a mysterious, ghostly figure, almost a zombie. He can appear out of nowhere.

Also interesting is that the Punisher is completely honorable and heroic around those he considers innocent, such as the children he rescues, but ruthless against those he doesn't.

The standard version I found a decent 80's action movie, the workprint fleshed that out and is a well-constructed, interesting take on the 80's Punisher comics.

Sounds cool. Y'know, I've looked at the back of the video and VD covers of the 80s Punisher, and I've seen a pic of Castle in regular blue jeans and a blue shirt opposite Louis Gosset Jr. in a shot that never appears in the film. It would have been cool to see this workprint you speak of.

 

[Rac]

Did you buy this or did you download it somewhere? I'd really like to see it. They're showing the theatrical release on Night Visions Maximum Halloween 3006 -film festival here and I think I'm going to check it out.

 

[Sebastos]

To be honest, i've never seen the 89 version. Just the one with Thomas Jane.

 

[cky]

I'm also curious where you got the workprint version? I would love to see it.

 

[cryptic name]

Have to say, it would be better regarded had this version been released. Basically, the movie starts with Castle as a cop and his relationship with the other cops, his family, etc. It's very Lethal Weapon. There is a big action scene at the start involving a bust, and then as revenge Castle's family is killed. There are little bits added here and there, and the ending is slightly different.

Castle's friendship with Lou Gosset Jr's cop becomes far more involving and effective in this version. There is a real sadness to it, and their confrontation scene has some genuine emotion.

As it's a workprint, much of the music isn't completed, and so music from other action movies is used. The climactic music from Aliens is used as the Punisher lays waste to a casino!

What I like is that the Punisher is shown as an urban legend. When he appears onscreen he is a mysterious, ghostly figure, almost a zombie. He can appear out of nowhere.

Also interesting is that the Punisher is completely honorable and heroic around those he considers innocent, such as the children he rescues, but ruthless against those he doesn't.

The standard version I found a decent 80's action movie, the workprint fleshed that out and is a well-constructed, interesting take on the 80's Punisher comics.

i always wondered about this. on the back of the dvd i own there's a picture of a clean cut castle in street clothes working with gosset jr. and the female cop who works to help him find castle later on. i wish they released a new dvd with this material on it

 

[incurock31]

To be honest, i've never seen the 89 version. Just the one with Thomas Jane.

I think the '89 version beats it. Yeah, Jane was a better Punisher, but the action in the original puts the new one to shame.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

I've always wanted to see this version. Where did you find it?


I had a bootleg version a couple years before it was officially released on DVD and it had some pretty good scenes. The music wasn't finished either because it had the Aliens muysic and music from Full Metal Jacket. It also had a timer constantly running at the bottom of the screen.

This version had the music but not the timer. Got it from eBay.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Sounds cool. Y'know, I've looked at the back of the video and VD covers of the 80s Punisher, and I've seen a pic of Castle in regular blue jeans and a blue shirt opposite Louis Gosset Jr. in a shot that never appears in the film. It would have been cool to see this workprint you speak of.

Yeah, that's at the start just after they fight some bad guys in a boxing gym.

 

[Kevin Roegele]

Did you buy this or did you download it somewhere? I'd really like to see it. They're showing the theatrical release on Night Visions Maximum Halloween 3006 -film festival here and I think I'm going to check it out.

Neither, I found it on eBay. It's rather grainy and hasn't been fully edited together. It's also missing a lot of sound effects.