THE PUNISHER

2004 **1/2 123 mins.

After so much hype I heard about this film, I wanted to like it. I really did. However, it seems to fail more than it succeeds. The story was intriguing, and the film is very well photographed and edited. However, the acting is completely horrible. It seems as though, for every scene, the first take was used. Not even that. It seems as though the rehearsal was photographed (acting-wise only, though). I don't think any actor had any real grasp on his/her character, except for the main character (played by Tom Jane). I mean, even John Travolta was off. That's pretty bad.

Another flaw with the film is that it tries too hard to have sentiment. Whenever scenes about family and relationships come into the film, they seem so out of place and forced. In fact, it seems like hardly anything flows very natrually in this film. The very last scene was stupid, as well.

As I said, though, the story was intriguing, and I feel that this could have made a great film. That is, if it were done better. The good plot is all that earns this film its two and a half star rating.
Rated R for pervasive brutal violence, language, and brief nudity.