Monday, November 10, 2008

Stop the Punishment

Marvel Comics must think they can do no wrong. Clearly they must if they're planning yet another Punisher film. From the looks of the poster, they're neither going back to Tom Jane or the venerable Dolf Lundgren (who probably could use the work). I have no idea who this guy is. I'm not sure I care.

Punisher: War Zone

Dare I suggest that this film will be right up there (down there) with Elektra and Ghost Rider? Yes, I dare.

I think part of the problem with bringing the Punisher character to the screen is that he really doesn't translate well off the screen. He's too dark, too unrepentant, too stern and grim. He's a character that's just begging for Hollywood to reimagine, soften, and cuddli-fy. Of course, won't that destroy the character? Yes. Yes, they do.

If they really want to do justice to the Punisher, put him against a hero such as in a Spiderman film. So you have the hero, and the anti-hero, and the film can revolve around the question of justice, justification, etc. It could be powerful. It could be. Really.

Barring that, why can't we skip this one and go directly to a Powerman & Iron Fist movie. That's where it's at. Really.