Should they make another Punisher movie?

[Punisher_MAX]

Michael Mann is my ideal director/writer for The Punisher, i loved Collateral, Heat, Public Enemies and (i'll get **** for this) Miami Vice.

i'd like Jane to be involved somehow since he nailed the character and his place in the universe but i wouldnt him someone else playing him, my pick would be Dominic Purcell.

 

[Ipodman]

Probably should focus on a good plot rather than thinking how to create as much gore as possible

 

[Punisher_MAX]

ideally thats what any fan of any comic would want. but the Punisher has many stories that have amazing plots, The Slavers would be the first to come to mind and that story was pretty bloody in some areas but it fit.

the gore necessary for the Punisher movie would have to serve the movie properly. Gunshot wounds arent as glorious as movies make em out to be and some guns can lop limbs off with ease so it be a great touch to see a movie show the true nature of a gunshot wound.

 

[ClintDracula]

I think the goriest part of any Punisher movie should be his origin. Just his family getting clipped off, but not in a cheesey horror movie fashion. More like the gore that was shown in Saving Private Ryan. That was some of the most realistic **** I've seen in a movie.

 

[sabetoonth]

hmm idk about butler but preferably id like Jane to come back

 

[Superboy-Prime]

Punisher: Warzone was a great movie until Jigsaw hit the screen, it made me re-live horrible repressed memories of Two-Face+Riddler, horrible vomit feeling in my mouth everytime he hit the screen. I hate Dominic West

Tom Jane was an incredible Punisher, that was clearly the best of all 3 Punisher movies

 

[marvelman2006]

I say no, 2 movies and both tanked. there is just not a large enough interest in the character for the main movie going audience. granted I really dug the 2004 version but looking back it was horribly paced and the story wasnt as tight as it should have been. didnt even bother with the sequel.


the punisher 2004 - Production Budget: $33 million.
Domestic: $33,810,189 61.8%+ Foreign: $20,889,916 38.2%= Worldwide: $54,700,105


punisher 2008 - Production Budget: $35 million
Domestic: $8,050,977 79.7%+ Foreign: $2,049,059 20.3%= Worldwide: $10,100,036

 

[Punisher_MAX]

its not that there is no interest, both movies werent promoted well and they had crappy budgets not to mention little to no backing in general. They were rushed and it shows.

people in general love a good action movie, people love a good crime film and it can be done with The Punisher he just hasnt had a fair shot, but i do love the 04 version and the DC is much better.

 

[S. Grundy]

I still wouldn't say '04 tanked, underperformed maybe.

 

[CrimsonMist]

I say no, 2 movies and both tanked. there is just not a large enough interest in the character for the main movie going audience. granted I really dug the 2004 version but looking back it was horribly paced and the story wasnt as tight as it should have been. didnt even bother with the sequel.


the punisher 2004 - Production Budget: $33 million.
Domestic: $33,810,189 61.8%+ Foreign: $20,889,916 38.2%= Worldwide: $54,700,105


punisher 2008 - Production Budget: $35 million
Domestic: $8,050,977 79.7%+ Foreign: $2,049,059 20.3%= Worldwide: $10,100,036

On top of the $54,700,105 The Punisher '04 made, add the roughly $60 million in DVD sales and rentals, and you have a movie that made back it's budget just over 3 times. The DVD sales are what prompted a sequel to even be considered and more than made up for it's under-performance at the box office.

In DVD and Box office sales, War Zone made $20,543,449. It didn't even make it's budget back.

There's an interest in the character. And when handled well, as seen in the 2004 film, people will see it. War Zone was a crap movie all around, poor in just about every aspect except for maybe Stevenson.

 

[marvelman2006]

On top of the $54,700,105 The Punisher '04 made, add the roughly $60 million in DVD sales and rentals, and you have a movie that made back it's budget just over 3 times. The DVD sales are what prompted a sequel to even be considered and more than made up for it's under-performance at the box office.

In DVD and Box office sales, War Zone made $20,543,449. It didn't even make it's budget back.

There's an interest in the character. And when handled well, as seen in the 2004 film, people will see it. War Zone was a crap movie all around, poor in just about every aspect except for maybe Stevenson.

Now I understand what your talking about but I dont count dvd and bluray sales. if we do that then we have to consider all profits outside the movie like dvd, bluray, toys, and promotions. Im strictly talking movie theater performance. these 2 movies were not successful in the cinema's. theater numbers are what people remember, not dvd and rental sales. granted the 04 move may have a shelf life on home viewing but that doesnt reflect theater showings. In the end yes I firmly believe that sometimes certain characters just dont have a large enough interest in the general movie going crowd. you have to understand movie companies cant keep making punisher movies with the mind set of "well this wont do much in its run but when it hits home video it will hit big". I know there is a fanbase for this character but that fanbase doesnt translate to big box office numbers which is what companies like lions gate care about.

still friends?

 

[Bad Superman]

I wouldn't mind seeing a reboot very close to the comics. I doubt it'll happen anytime soon.

 

[SWAT]

Another Punisher movie? Yes. Another Punisher movie with Thomas Jane? HELL YES!

 

[co2]

its not that there is no interest, both movies werent promoted well and they had crappy budgets not to mention little to no backing in general. They were rushed and it shows.

people in general love a good action movie, people love a good crime film and it can be done with The Punisher he just hasnt had a fair shot, but i do love the 04 version and the DC is much better.

Precisely.
And I agree, the '04 DC is better. They can't all be Spider-man 2 or Iron man but I would still rank 04' in my list of "good" Marvel movies. Warzone....not so much.

 

[Thundarr]

I deffinitely think they should make another Punisher. If they can combine eliments of both War Zone and the '04 Thomas Jane movie, they would have the perfect Punisher film.

War Zone is the most faithful to the source material out of all three Punisher films, but didn't take that source material seriously enough (playing Jigsaw and the other villains for comic relief was just wrong). The actor who played The Punisher in War Zone did the best job out of all three IMHO.

The 2004 movie with Tom Jane, while not as faithful to the comics that are its source material, at least had the proper mood for a Punisher movie. Very dark, very gritty, very little if any comic relief. That's what a Punisher movie should be like. Unfortunately, much like the 1989 Dolf Lundgren fiasco, some idiot decided to rewrite Frank Castle's backstory. Add to that casting John Revolta as the villain, and I'm afraid I just can't back that film.

But combine the best elements of both films? THEN you've got yourself a Punisher movie that'll draw at the box office.

 

[S. Grundy]

While the 2004 film has its fair share of issues, I still maintain that its actaully closer to the comic then most people think, outside of the origin and setting (though the Punisher did go to Florida to kill the Costas in a comic).

 

[CrimsonMist]

Now I understand what your talking about but I dont count dvd and bluray sales. if we do that then we have to consider all profits outside the movie like dvd, bluray, toys, and promotions. Im strictly talking movie theater performance. these 2 movies were not successful in the cinema's. theater numbers are what people remember, not dvd and rental sales. granted the 04 move may have a shelf life on home viewing but that doesnt reflect theater showings. In the end yes I firmly believe that sometimes certain characters just dont have a large enough interest in the general movie going crowd. you have to understand movie companies cant keep making punisher movies with the mind set of "well this wont do much in its run but when it hits home video it will hit big". I know there is a fanbase for this character but that fanbase doesnt translate to big box office numbers which is what companies like lions gate care about.

still friends?

I get that, but it's the 2004 film's reception on DVD that convinced Marvel and Lion's Gate to green light the sequel. It's a fair assessment to say that if The Punisher didn't sell on DVD, Punisher: War Zone would never have happened. The fact that The Punisher did so well on DVD only proves that the film was well made, highly entertaining, and overall just a really good movie. The film's box office performance is blamed on opening the film against Kill Bill, Vol. 1, which was a mistake which Avi Arad has admitted to. There was an interest in the character, but it got overshadowed by Kill Bill(I actually saw The Punisher in theaters and caught Kill Bill on TV). The DVD sales showed that maybe there was an interest in the character. However, and unfortunately, whatever interest there was was killed by War Zone's atrocious film-making.

still friends? Maaaaybe.

Anyways, if a Punisher film was made that took the material seriously, and gave it the tone of the 2004 film, there'd be gold. I really hope Marvel re-considers the character and gives him another shot. Get Tom Jane. Get Walter Hill. You will have something great.

Also, anyone else ever wonder why The Toro Brothers never made it into the comics? There's something about them that wreaks of Ennis MK-style Punisher villains.

 

[S. Grundy]

I'd say because they never really had much of presence in the film. The only thing from the '04 movie that's made it into the comics is the skull.

 

[marvelman2006]

I get that, but it's the 2004 film's reception on DVD that convinced Marvel and Lion's Gate to green light the sequel. It's a fair assessment to say that if The Punisher didn't sell on DVD, Punisher: War Zone would never have happened. The fact that The Punisher did so well on DVD only proves that the film was well made, highly entertaining, and overall just a really good movie. The film's box office performance is blamed on opening the film against Kill Bill, Vol. 1, which was a mistake which Avi Arad has admitted to. There was an interest in the character, but it got overshadowed by Kill Bill(I actually saw The Punisher in theaters and caught Kill Bill on TV). The DVD sales showed that maybe there was an interest in the character. However, and unfortunately, whatever interest there was was killed by War Zone's atrocious film-making.

still friends? Maaaaybe.

Anyways, if a Punisher film was made that took the material seriously, and gave it the tone of the 2004 film, there'd be gold. I really hope Marvel re-considers the character and gives him another shot. Get Tom Jane. Get Walter Hill. You will have something great.

Also, anyone else ever wonder why The Toro Brothers never made it into the comics? There's something about them that wreaks of Ennis MK-style Punisher villains.

good stuff, I say at this point let some time pass,maybe 4 years then start from scratch on a tight engaging story with a strong lead and no c and d list actors. also get a director who can do revenge stories and not make them corny and let the dice roll one last time and if it still doesnt have big success then we go from there.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

I'd say because they never really had much of presence in the film. The only thing from the '04 movie that's made it into the comics is the skull.

I'll be honest though the 04 movie skull is probably my favorite Punisher Skull of all time.

as for the 04 movie not being faithful to the comics, after going back and read Year One and some of the MK stuff again, its actually very close to the source material save the whole Desert Storm and Family Massacre in PR which in all honesty i didnt not mind AT ALL

should the Punisher be a Vietnam vet? that be great but he'd be pushing 60 now even though he doesnt look it in the comics(many theories have been made about this though). If Frank fought in Desert Storm or any new conflict and was an ELITE Marine fighter i am happy. i actually loved the way they handled his entire family being killed, it was more impacting imo.

ive grown to love the 04 movie more as time goes by...the only thing that pissed me off was that he was getting shot left in right at the end where as in War Zone he went in, killed everyone fast and methodically and avoided getting shot...but thats a minor gripe.

 

[S. Grundy]

I'll be honest though the 04 movie skull is probably my favorite Punisher Skull of all time.

as for the 04 movie not being faithful to the comics, after going back and read Year One and some of the MK stuff again, its actually very close to the source material save the whole Desert Storm and Family Massacre in PR which in all honesty i didnt not mind AT ALL

should the Punisher be a Vietnam vet? that be great but he'd be pushing 60 now even though he doesnt look it in the comics(many theories have been made about this though). If Frank fought in Desert Storm or any new conflict and was an ELITE Marine fighter i am happy. i actually loved the way they handled his entire family being killed, it was more impacting imo.

ive grown to love the 04 movie more as time goes by...the only thing that pissed me off was that he was getting shot left in right at the end where as in War Zone he went in, killed everyone fast and methodically and avoided getting shot...but thats a minor gripe.

There are a couple of other little things too that most fans didn't/don't pick up on. Like Mickey Duka being based on a character from the comics - Mickey Fondozzi. Also, there is the fact that the Punisher did travel down to Florida to kill the Costas at their compound.

Actually in PWZ, he does get shot like twice (not counting the end with Jigsaw). But, Jane's Castle got put through the ringer in his movie.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

There are a couple of other little things too that most fans didn't/don't pick up on. Like Mickey Duka being based on a character from the comics - Mickey Fondozzi. Also, there is the fact that the Punisher did travel down to Florida to kill the Costas at their compound.

Actually in PWZ, he does get shot like twice (not counting the end with Jigsaw). But, Jane's Castle got put through the ringer in his movie.

yeah the whole Florida thing actually DID happen, its funny how a lot of people complained about it but its all in the comics.

well yeah in PWZ he does get shot but i guess for the 04 one Jane was trying to show that Frank had a death wish so he kinda just went in and didnt do it as strategically as he couldve. either way its just a minor gripe.

 

[S. Grundy]

yeah the whole Florida thing actually DID happen, its funny how a lot of people complained about it but its all in the comics.

well yeah in PWZ he does get shot but i guess for the 04 one Jane was trying to show that Frank had a death wish so he kinda just went in and didnt do it as strategically as he couldve. either way its just a minor gripe.

Well, he was more strategic than PWZ. They actually seemed to have used the idea of the skull being a target in the 2004 film.

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Well, he was more strategic than PWZ. They actually seemed to have used the idea of the skull being a target in the 2004 film.

I'll have to rewatch them both then.

but yeah when the guy loaded the shells into the skull made me happy, it was a nod to the reason he never gets shot.

i hope we get to see him use his M60 in one of the movies, i was hoping for that.

 

[jacobed]

I preferred Ray Stevenson over Thomas Jane but Jane got the better movie. Like some said before me, War Zone was a pretty good movie up until Jigsaw became the comedic villain. Jigsaw should have made the movie a very dark and gritty movie but it was just filled with camp. Way too much camp.