The Punisher

Director: Mark Goldblatt Mark Goldblatt

Overview

"Vengeance is a dish best served cold as Dolph Lundgren takes on the role of the legendary crime-fighting comic book antihero in this Live Video release. Presented in 1.85:1 widescreen and featuring a closed-captioned Dolby Digital Surround soundtrack, this release offers no additional audio options or subtitles. Extra features include a theatrical trailer, production notes, and cast and crew information."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/20/1999
UPC:	0012236049005
Original Release:	1989
Rating:	R
Source:	LIONSGATE - 600000-AEC LGE
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital]
Language:	English
Time:	1:32:00
Sales rank:	16,259

Special Features

16:9 widescreen; Dolby Digital Surround; Digitally mastered; Interactive menus; Scene access; Theatrical trailer; Production notes; Cast and crew information

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Dolph Lundgren	Frank Castle
Louis Gossett Jr.	Jake Berkowitz
Kim Miyori	Lady Tanaka
Barry Otto	Shake
Bryan Marshall	Dino Moretti
Nancy Everhard	Sam Leary
Brian Rooney	Tommy Franco
Zoshka Mizak	Tanaka's Daughter
Kenji Yamaki	Sato
Hirofumi Kanayama	Tomio
Todd Boyce	Tarrone
John Negroponte	Musso
Robert W. Fraser	Robert
Jade Gatt	Young Tommy
Noga Bernstein	Ginny
Emma Soloman	Ginny's Girlfriend
Courtney Keiler	Sophie
Emily Nicol	Amelia
Cathy Stirk	Caterina
Faith Martin	Actor
David Morris	Man in Bar,Man in Bar
Dominic Baudish	Dominic
Robert Fraser	Robert
Fotis Pelekis	Mario
Christian Manon	French Leader
Colin Leong	Cutter Captain
Melissa Skoff	Actor
Brian McDermott	O'Banion
Larney Tupu	Laccone
May Lloyd	Julie Castle
Holly Rogers	Felice Castle
Brooke Anderson	Annie Castle
Lois Larimore	Nanny
Harry Weiss	Maitre d'
John Samaha	Elevator Repairman
David Bracks	1st Courier
Carlo Bianchino	2nd Courier
Ira Siedenstein	Chemist
Robert Simper	Donny
John Raaen	Joey,Joey
Lawrence Woodward	Mickey
Tom Coltraine	Peeing Man
Donal Gibson	Bill
David Arnett	Joe
Brett Williams	Tim
Al Gockimen	Hood
Colin Handley	Mafia Man
Isao Hirata	Ito
Ken Wayne	Bartender
Ric Carter	Cop
Char Fontaine	Laurie Silvers
Aku Kadogo	Reporter
Steve Kuhn	Reporter
Roslyn Gentle	Reporter
Maurice Brimo	Reporter
Joanna Lambert	Reporter
Arthur Sherman	Drunk
Chris Hession	Bus Driver
Jeroen Krabbé	Gianni Franco
Stephen Leader	Flasher
Lani John Tupu	Laccone
James Klein	Nicholas
Zoska Aleece	Tanaka's Daughter
Larry McCormick	TV Newsreader
Dennis Dreith	Composer

Technical Credits

Boaz Yakin

Mark Goldblatt	Director
Robert Guralnick	Executive Producer
Simon Heath	Producer
Mace Neufeld	Producer
Boaz Yakin	Screenwriter
Su Armstrong	Producer
Robert Mark Kamen	Producer
Wayne Artman	Sound Effects
Tom Beckert	Sound Effects
Patrick Bietz	Sound Effects
Barry Bernardi	Executive Producer
Chris Anderson	Stunts

Editorial Reviews

This Dolph Lundgren vehicle was the first attempt to translate the Marvel Comics character to the big screen. Unfortunately, it falls short of the cinematic promise of the concept. Lundgren gives a decent, stoic performance in the title role but, despite the black dye job he took for the role, he's miscast as an all-American type. He's not alone in having this problem: Jeroen Krabbe is ridiculously miscast as a mobster as are several other actors who seem to be every nationality besides Italian. Louis Gossett is the only actor who seems to be well cast and he applies a level of intensity to his performance that the film doesn't really deserve. A bigger problem with The Punisher is that it attempts to have it both ways stylistically, trying to ape the grim tone and brutality of the comic while also giving the film a flashy pop-art look and some bizarre campy humor (case in point: a scene where the title character and an ally shoot down a room of attacking swordsmen). The action scenes are solidly crafted but the film surrounding them is a muddle that reduces its potentially thrilling concepts to the level of a bland, mediocre action programmer. In short, The Punisher is best left to genre completists.