Maxim Online NEW Ray Stevenson Interview

[Wolverine11222]

http://www.maxim.com/RayStevensonBringsthePain/articles/21031.aspx?src=news:feature2


Rome's Titus Pullo, and all-around tough guy, talks about holding off zombies in The Outpost and stepping into Frank Castle's boots in Punisher: War Zone.


You seem pretty comfortable playing tough guys.
I think what I do with the tough-guy role is not play them as tough guys. You know what I mean? Hopefully you bring more than just a door bouncer to the plate. One thing I hated in the early stages of Rome was the misconception that Pullo was this big bouncer type. I said no, he's not a dick swinger. In my experience, the real hard men I've come across—if you aren't perceived as a threat—are the gentlest, nicest people you will ever hope to meet.

HBO gave you a lot of freedom to indulge in Pullo's occasional violence. Would it be tough to do regular TV after that?

I tried a show called Babylon Fields, before [the writers' strike], and I was very pleased to do it. I like to work with like-minded spirits. Like Outpost. It had next to no money to shoot this zombie film, yet infinite enthusiasm and knowledge in what they were doing and wanted to capture.

You're about to step into another classic tough-guy role in the third attempt at a Punisher movie. How did that happen?

In a roundabout way. I was actually seen by Marvel for the nemesis [in the upcoming The Incredible Hulk]. Tim Roth got the role, but when Marvel got together a landscape for The Punisher, [director] Lexi Alexander's name came up. Kevin Feige from Marvel said that she needed to see me. She wasn't a TV watcher, so Kevin told her to watch Rome. She said, "I watched one episode. That's it. From then on you were my Punisher." But the first drafts weren't up to scratch and my agent said, "We may pass on it." Lexi is going, "No, no, no, he is not going to pass on this. This isn't going to be the script." So the journey was almost predestined.


So this Punisher movie takes place in New York?

Yeah. We were shooting in Montreal for New York, which worked exceptionally well. I think 90 percent of the movie was night shots with the weather getting down to minus 18. We had a couple of snowstorms, and were in derelict buildings, which you could imagine were just like working inside a fridge. The length of the night determined the schedule; basically two months of night shoots. We lit entire city blocks in neon color; I mean it just looks amazing.

What was the vibe like on set?

It's just different disciplines you learn to work with. Sometimes it's the heat, sometimes it's the cold, sometimes it's the people, and sometimes it's the nighttime. But by God, I don't think I can do any more night shoots. It started to have an effect. It wasn't just being sun-deprived or jet-lagged, it does something to your psyche.

So this movie doesn't pick up where the last one left off?

No, not at all. That one suffered for the fact that the mise-en-scène was wrong and what have you; so I think they decided to give it another shot. We've gone straight for the Garth Ennis–Tim Bradstreet look from the Max series [Marvel Comics' mature-content imprint], and basically rolled the dice again. It's like doing Batman Begins, not Batman 5. So what we have done is Punisher: War Zone, not Punisher Two or Three. It's Punisher: War Zone.

So this one's more for the comic book fans?

Absolutely. It's such a complex character. I love the fact that he's not a superhero—bullets don't bounce off. He's just a dark soul on a mission. One of my main concerns was that it was an incredibly violent piece of work. In meeting with [the producers] I said, "I do not want people walking out of the theater wanting to be the Punisher." I saw this quizzical look across their faces. I explained, "We don't want some sort of Columbine [incident]. What we want to do is create a character who operates on such a dark level that you don't want to be him. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for him." You're glad he's there and you can't wait to see what he does next, but it comes at a price. If we get it right, there won't be people wanting to be the Punisher, or to be a vigilante in any way.


We're still getting some big action scenes in this, though, right?

Oh God, yes. It's called Punisher: War Zone. A lot of effort was put into that. The "war zone" is both external and internal.

One last thing: Are we going to see the Punisher's war wagon in the movie?
[Laughs] The Punisher's war wagon?

It was his van.
You know what? This Punisher moves by foot.

 

[SWAT]

You know what? This Punisher moves by foot.

Good.

 

[Kable24]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I want my Battle Van dammit!!!!

 

[Wolverine11222]

I would have liked a battle van, but not having it is a good thing too. This makes Frank a direct killing machine, a bad-ass battle van might just steal the lethal/danger factor from Frank in his costume.

 

[S. Grundy]

No, not at all. That one suffered for the fact that the mise-en-scène was wrong and what have you; so I think they decided to give it another shot.

I gotta disagree with that statement, I thought the visual look of the film was perfect. The more naturally lite "urban western" aesthetic really fit. And "lighting entire city blocks with neon color," again Batman & robin comes to mind for the look.

But at least no Battle Van.

 

[odiin]

I gotta disagree with that statement, I thought the visual look of the film was perfect. The more naturally lite "urban western" aesthetic really fit. And "lighting entire city blocks with neon color," again Batman & robin comes to mind for the look.

But at least no Battle Van.

Naw, the whole deep fried south look of Punisher 2004 pretty much missed the mark, and as for the neon thing. Comparing this Batman and Robin is just stupid. Just because something didn't fit in one movie doesn't mean it would be out of place in every movie. I would liken that to saying "What, The Punisher kills people in this? Tim Burton's batman comes to mind there..."

The neon thing fits the Punisher very well, I mean have you actually stopped to REALLY look at the art in MAX Punisher? Each page is always tinted a specific colour. For instance here:

Everything is tinted purple. It doesn't NEED to be, ther isn't a purple light source shining on them or anything, that's just how they do it. Similarly other pages might be tinted blue, or or yellow or even brown. It's just a certain look they're going for and we've already seen this in some of the screens for the movie:

tinted red/orange here

tinted blue here

So no, it's not Batman and Robin all over again. It works withing the context of the character.

 

[Punisher 04]

Excellent interview, not a recycled one!

 

[antmanx68]

Nice interview.

I wish some people werent so hung up on NEON lights. The Schumaker films used a lot of neon in addition to a ridiculous, campy script and acting (along with bat-nipps, the batman credit card, and gratuitous but/groin closeups). There is nothing inherently Schumaker about Neon lights. Neon lights in the right setting give off a vibe of urban decay. I'm talking about the cheap, neon glow emitted from inner-city porn stores and pawn shops in the middle of the night- very "red light district". If you cant envision that then I think you might not get the character very well. As other posters pointed out their using the lights also to just set a mood, unlike Batman which used them to give off a nightclub, flamboyant, party-feel.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Hopefully the neon lights are used like they are in Blade Runner.


Cool interview, now WHERE'S THE ****IN TRAILER?!?!?!

 

[chamber-music]

I gotta disagree with that statement, I thought the visual look of the film was perfect. The more naturally lite "urban western" aesthetic really fit. And "lighting entire city blocks with neon color," again Batman & robin comes to mind for the look.

But at least no Battle Van.

I personally didn't like the visual look of Punisher 04. It was more Miami Vice than dark gritty tone in alot of the comics which I prefer.

Neon lighting works on some films. I thing tinted light thing works better thought e.g Blade 2, Hellboy, Batman Begins, Matrix.

The problem with Batman and Robin is schumacher took it too far.

 

[S. Grundy]

Having neon lighting is fine in small doses, but like it says "entire city blocks with neon color," but maybe I read into it wrong. It would be nice if turned out to look like Blade Runner, but Lexi Alexander is no Ridley Scott. Again this is just my personal preference, and with the '04 movie, I liked that they went for the 70s spaghetti western look instead of an obvious bland action movie look.

If you cant envision that then I think you might not get the character very well.

Oh, I understand the character, setting has nothing to do with it. You put the Punisher in Alaska or wherever, he's still the same character.

 

[ObakeTora]

You know alot of you guys here are getting a Schumacher vibe, I honestly don't see it. It looks more like we may get another interpretation of Leon the Professional.

Hopefully the neon lights are used like they are in Blade Runner.


Cool interview, now WHERE'S THE ****IN TRAILER?!?!?!

We all should open our windows and scream this outloud!

Nice interview.

I wish some people werent so hung up on NEON lights. The Schumaker films used a lot of neon in addition to a ridiculous, campy script and acting (along with bat-nipps, the batman credit card, and gratuitous but/groin closeups). There is nothing inherently Schumaker about Neon lights. Neon lights in the right setting give off a vibe of urban decay. I'm talking about the cheap, neon glow emitted from inner-city porn stores and pawn shops in the middle of the night- very "red light district". If you cant envision that then I think you might not get the character very well. As other posters pointed out their using the lights also to just set a mood, unlike Batman which used them to give off a nightclub, flamboyant, party-feel.

Now I really hope they use the Central Park massacre an origin crucial to the Punisher's identity. The ones who are comfortable here with Puns being a cop and is partially responsible for his family getting killed; you guys don't have the right to call yourselves Punisher fans. Punisher has stated many times police have to work inside the law.

 

[S. Grundy]

Now I really hope they use the Central Park massacre an origin crucial to the Punisher's identity. The ones who are comfortable here with Puns being a cop and is partially responsible for his family getting killed; you guys don't have the right to call yourselves Punisher fans. Punisher has stated many times police have to work inside the law.

See, I understand the Central Park massacre and what part it has with him, I would have loved to have seen it in the '04 movie, but it wasn't end of story. But I can also see that the cop angle works on a different level. He's a man who believes in the law, has dedicated his life to it, and then when his family gets killed, and he doesn't get justice, he see the inadequacy of it all.

So don't tell me I don't have a right to call myself a Punisher fan.

 

[ObakeTora]

See, I understand the Central Park massacre and what part it has with him, I would have loved to have seen it in the '04 movie, but it wasn't end of story. But I can also see that the cop angle works on a different level. He's a man who believes in the law, has dedicated his life to it, and then when his family gets killed, and he doesn't get justice, he see the inadequacy of it all.

So don't tell me I don't have a right to call myself a Punisher fan.

I stand by my statement. Punisher is not a cop! He's a soldier, a Marine a killer one who doesn't fill out DAR reports after every kill, one who doesnt have to worry about the scrutiny of civil rights activists. What about his statement regarding the law is filled with inadequacies, that the system doesnt work? Police officers proudly serve their community, however Punisher is serving himself, this is his war, not a police chief who is worried about his retirement pension and living to see his or her kids go through college. I respect the boy scouts but I have never joined them, just like you said Punisher respects cops. But he isnt one of them, he is an entirely different animal. The police officer is the German Shepherd trained to protect his master's property, Punisher is the wolf the master fears.

 

[S. Grundy]

Again, like I said it works on a different level. Once the tragedy happens he sees the inadequacy and how the law failed him, and decides to take justice into his own hands.

And I would say that his motivations in the '04 movie were his own. He wasn't a "police chief who is worried about his retirement pension and living to see his or her kids go through college." So I don't know were you're getting any of your comparisons from.

 

[ObakeTora]

The one thing that appealed to me was that he walked into an execution style murder, yet through no fault of his own his family got killed. That works on so many levels because it allows the reader to feel as angry and hopeless as Frank did when his family got murdered after defending his country in an unpopular war. I mean if your going to use the cop angle don't use Frank...

PUNISHER 2099 Jake Gallows was a cop
Ultimate Punisher: Was a cop


Use these guys instead of Frank.

 

[Balthus Dire]

Well I think they just wanted to make it more personal with the movies. I mean, obviously I love the Central Park origin, because that's the actual origin and it's been handled so well in the comics. However, it really wasn't a personal thing, it's just a random occurance. Which, some could say, actually works more for Frank's character, because he had no control over it at all. But others would argue it has more impact when it's personal.

I would've loved to see the Central Park origin. I personally always thought it'd be amazing to handle it like they did in the original War Journals, where they slip in the image of a kite stuck in a bush every once in a while when Frank is sleeping, and the more you read the more of the origin you get glimpses of. I thought that was bad ass.

I really didn't like the "Hawaii Vacation Massacre" from the 04 film. But I do understand what they were going for.

 

[S. Grundy]

I want to reiterate I like the Central Park origin, I really do. But the cop angle does work, for the reason I stated above, for me at least. It's still the same motivation of taking the law into his own hands because he doesn't get justice for what happened.

But I guess some people are just stubborn and don't like change of any kind.

Oh and Ultimate Punisher is still Frank Castle.

 

[Gotham]

Nice to see Stevenson talking about the character. Trailer should be coming any.. month.. now.

 

[cthulhu]

Too soon!!! Yeah Ray certainly can talk the character up - cant wait to hear his new york accent and see some kickassery! I agree we need the character to be a soldier and not a cop and need the central pack origin...

 

[andurilelessar]

YAY! No battle van... Punisher Warzone is slowly working its way off my fecal roster.t:

 

[S. Grundy]

Too soon!!! Yeah Ray certainly can talk the character up - cant wait to hear his new york accent and see some kickassery! I agree we need the character to be a soldier and not a cop and need the central pack origin...

And he was a soldier in the '04 movie. People seem to forget that.

 

[ObakeTora]

AN Army soldier.

 

[S. Grundy]

So he wasn't a marine, it stinks. He was still a soldier, and being Delta Force is a good enough alternative.

 

[Bubonic]

Sweet interview, definitely sounds like Stevenson is really into this.
And this gives me hope that the script we originally got a whiff of has been greatly improved upon since that time.
There was some cheese and a lot of weakness too it.
If this is going to be nothing more then another Punisher flop, I will be very sad.