War Zone Box Office Thread

[S. Grundy]

No, I like a nice bit of schlock as much as the next person, but when it's for a character that I enjoy like the Punisher, I don't want that.

 

[Rukus]

I know what you mean S. Grundy when it comes to the Punisher I like the character treated more serious also. But Ray Stevenson protrayed the character very dead on and took it serious because of that I think PWZ is not a bad movie overall. It's too bad Jigsaw and some of the villians in the movie were too over the top with there dialogue and what have you, if it wasn't for that I think the movie could of been even better. But I still enjoyed the movie regardless and I take the good being Ray Stevenson with some of the bad.

 

[Spade]

This film had many things going against it. The 2004 release was a double-edged sword. For those who liked it, it convinced them that Jane was the face of the Punisher and no one else would do. For those who disliked it, it put them off of seeing another film based on this character. All the hype I saw for this film consisted of fans posting online. No one in real life besides two of my friends- one of which is a hardcore Punisher fan- talked about the film, let alone saw it. When I asked people whether they would see it, not only did they say they wouldn't, but they genuinely sounded disinterested in seeing a Punisher film. Had I not seen some commercials or visted Superhero Hype! less than I do, I wouldn't have known that they made this. Then there's the reviews, which have been systematically negative. Critics have either praised it as B-movie schlock, which is hardly a compliment, or tag it as brainless.

All in all, the box office explains itself. I might rent this, but I know the gist of what happens and the footage hasn't impressed me. So that's hardly a promise. I can't see a sequel happening. It's very unlikely that Marvel will allow a direct-to-DVD film. Bad enough that the Punisher has failed to impress a general audience three times in a row, but making a direct-to-DVD film to top it all off? It'd be an admission of defeat. My suggestion: If there are to be any future Punisher films, they should wait a decade, get people with a passion to make a film everyone wants to see, and make a solid theatrical translation for this character. For now, they need to stop beating the dead horse. They've had more enough missed opportunities to get this right while the going's good. Frank needs a rest. Let's move the attention to other characters until then.

 

[Nivek]

No, I like a nice bit of schlock as much as the next person, but when it's for a character that I enjoy like the Punisher, I don't want that.

Same here, the character is not the joke Lexi took it to be.

 

[Heretic]

I would just like to point out to all of you naysayers that Punisher War Zone beat out supposed "blockbuster" Eagle Eye this week. This proves that the word is spreading and this film will easily turn a profit once the much sought after DVDs are released to the millions of people eager to see it!

 

[Spade]

What are you trying to prove? Eagle Eye made back more than its budget domestically, then made even more internationally. On top of that, Eagle Eye has been in theaters for more than three months. As for the DVD's...sure, you can be optimistic, but wasn't this same thing said about the movie itself?

 

[Kable24]

I believe he is being sarcastic

 

[Heretic]

What are you trying to prove? Eagle Eye made back more than its budget domestically, then made even more internationally. On top of that, Eagle Eye has been in theaters for more than three months. As for the DVD's...sure, you can be optimistic, but wasn't this same thing said about the movie itself?

HA! I suspected you trolls sent out from rival studios would spread such garbage...but lets also not forget that this weekend Punisher War Zone absolutely obliterated the box office take of your beloved Dark Knight (as well as ET, Star Wars, Titanic and many other movies you think it couldnt have beaten).

What is obvious to all sane people is that the public cant wait to see this movie, however, they recognize that it is best viewed at home on the couch, where you control the temperature and popcorn is less than 10 dollars a cup. People are very patiently delaying their own enjoyment so they can OWN the movie, and then all of you will feel pretty stupid when Lexi is signed on for a huge sequel.

 

[I Am The Knight]

I heard they are rushing the Betamax for Christmas day, to cash in on the Holidays, is that true?

 

[Heretic]

The Laserdisc will shatter all known records...remember this post in a month or two when everyone is calling me the Nostradamus of movie trends.

 

[jebhdb]

Nivek,while I agree that most of the villans in the film were a joke, do you really feel the portrayal of the Punisher himself was a joke? I never felt that the Punisher charactor was a joke at all.

 

[citizenpain]

now that i think about it, it's coming to be that just like tom jane was one of the very few good parts of 04's punisher, ray stevenson is one of the few best parts of war zone. the actors seem to be able to get it right, why can't the directors?

 

[redfirebird2008]

88% drop this weekend. Brutal.

 

[S. Grundy]

now that i think about it, it's coming to be that just like tom jane was one of the very few good parts of 04's punisher, ray stevenson is one of the few best parts of war zone. the actors seem to be able to get it right, why can't the directors?

The studio, all three of the directors really no experience, outside of Lexi who did a short film and one movie, so they really didn't have much clout. Hensleigh maybe a little more than the other two, but being his first film he still had to bow to the wishes of the studio, oh and of course the budget issue.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

I heard they are rushing the Betamax for Christmas day, to cash in on the Holidays, is that true?

Seriously, the movie was dropped from nearly all of it's theaters so 88% is the best it could have hoped for. Eh, maybe Marvel should just let it go and put the character on ice as far as films go.

 

[rogue trooper]

Listen to this audio interview, http://www.cinematical.com/2008/12/12/the-rocchi-review-with-devin-faraci-of-chud-com/ , they talk about why PWZ flopped.


....basically, LG doesn't know how to sell B movies.

 

[Nivek]

The reason Punisher: War Zone flopped is BECAUSE it appealed to a comic book-fan hating *****e bag like Devin. That was something that didn't sit right with me before I seen it, why he gave it such a good review. I figured it was because he seen it as more of an action film. But after seeing it, I realized it was because he is someone who thinks all comic book movies need to be funny and not take themselves seriously. He thinks fans that want that are morons who put the genre on a pedistal, when they should be brightly colored joke books. The guy is not a friend to the comic book film genre, his praise for Punisher War Zone is testament to that.

 

[liquidssh]

The reason Punisher: War Zone flopped is BECAUSE it appealed to a comic book-fan hating *****e bag like Devin. That was something that didn't sit right with me before I seen it, why he gave it such a good review. I figured it was because he seen it as more of an action film. But after seeing it, I realized it was because he is someone who thinks all comic book movies need to be funny and not take themselves seriously. He thinks fans that want that are morons who put the genre on a pedistal, when they should be brightly colored joke books. The guy is not a friend to the comic book film genre, his praise for Punisher War Zone is testament to that.

Nivek's batting 1000 with with his comments. No need to follow up. He's saying it all.

 

[rogue trooper]

Well, in this case, Devin's kinda' right. This movie didn't take itself seriously, just as "Welcome Back, Frank" didn't.

 

[Nivek]

It took itself seriously enough. The Punisher is not a "joke" character. You think the book is a laugh a second? C'mon here...

 

[Kable24]

But were LGF, Lexi and the rest of the crew trying to make it a comedy or did they actually think it was all very serious? It's one thing to play it off for tongue in cheek, but if they were playing it like a serious movie, then they failed miserably.

 

[Nivek]

Well, has Lexi or any of the producers said anything since the first week of release about the film? I know I would like to give Gale Ann Hurd, Lexi, and a couple other members of the crew a tip or 2 about Comic Book Films (what the hell we're you thinking here, and don't do anymore comic films).

 

[[A]]

I'd like to give Lexi something else. .

 

[Kable24]

I'd like to give quite a few people on that production a piece of my mind.

 

[rogue trooper]

It took itself seriously enough. The Punisher is not a "joke" character. You think the book is a laugh a second? C'mon here...

The film had serious moments as well.