Absolutely,Jon nailed it. I wish they gave him more Punishery things to do though😜 you know where he’s like a shark that never stops hunting violent criminals. In every season(including DD) he had a finite mission. Season one ended with him in therapy for Pete’s sake🤣
The one role I truly loved (and still love) from Ray Stevenson.. No disrespect to Jon Bernthal,Thomas Jane and Dolf Lungren, they were all great..But Ray Stevenson really looks like the comic book Punisher...and really acted the part...I dont care if critics gave bad reviews...I think Warzone nailed it ..One of my favorite movies all time... Love you Ray Stevenson..R.I.P. Til Valhalla...
Gotta say, dat Netflix' punisher is and will always be what the punisher should be. Out of all the Netflix marvel shows, this is the one I watch twice a year. But this movie in itself is true cinematic show stopper!!!!
Ray is my favorite Punisher and I loved Jon as the Punisher in the Daredevil show. Once he got his own show it was horrible in no fault of Jon's, the writing just went to crap. I think we can all agree that we want to see the Punisher just destroy his enemies. Yes you can put the back story of what made him become the Punisher but he was way to soft when he got his own show
Ray Stevenson was an underrated actor. From Rome, Black Sails, Cold Skin, The Other Guys, Ahsoka, Kill The Irishman, and other roles, Ray showed his immense talent. RIP Ray. You'll be missed.
This is far and away my favorite Punisher live-action adaptation. Lexi Alexander lifted so many scenes directly from the comics. She really understood the character, and more importantly, the audience. And the parkour scene was so far beyond brilliant! "Welcome Back, Frank" was an adequate comic book title when it was the one that brought Frank Castle back down to Earth, literally. But it would have been a terrible movie title.
Have to agree with you, Minty. Loved this movie, the previous Thomas Jane movie was fine, but it lacked the blood that some punisher fans were expecting. Enter War Zone, I thought the tone and violence was spot on for the character. I was confused by the reaction to it. Ray Stevenson was a great Punisher.
Ray stevinson R.I.P is the best thing about this movie, he is awesome the best punisher imo, the action and violonce is great but besides those i think this movie is not good, but still a guilty pleasure movie for me that i can enjoy.
Ray Stevenson was my favorite Punisher and War Zone was my favorite Punisher movie. Thank you, Ray, for doing my favorite comic character justice. RIP. Thanks for covering this, Minty!
I will never understand why this movie was hated so much????? His rendition of the Punisher was awesome. Bloody and gritty, just like the comics. Love this movie. Rest In Peace Ray
"PUNISHER: WAR ZONE 💀" is a ridiculously UNDERRATED comic book superhero movie ! Ray Stevenson IS... "THE PUNISHER 💀" ! It's as if he stepped right out of the pages of a MARVEL comic book ! This film deserves significantly more praise than it actually received since it premiered in theaters back in 2008 ! So disappointing that we will NEVER get a sequel since Ray Stevenson passed away and all ! RIP Ray Stevenson 🙏🙏🙏
Ray Stevenson nailed the character. Too bad most viewers didn't see it that way back then. Rest in Peace. Thanks for excellent video. I always liked this adaptation. Keep up the great work!
I too love this film. Its just so unapologetically brutal and violent and that just makes sense to me for the character. Ray did such a great job playing him.
Agreed 118%... Best Punisher movie bar none. This is reflective of the comic book near perfectly. Ray Stevenson looks the most like Frank Castle than any other actor. Never thought of it as an 80s throwback, but you are dead on with that point.
I have to agree with minty . This was probably one of the best adaptations for the punisher . This comes from a long time fan I literally have a complete set of the punisher punisher war journal punisher war zone and any and all the max and the crossovers so yeah I definitely like The punisher. It seems to be the problem with people trying to bring the punisher to the screen is how to showcase it and bring it to the screen in a tasteful manner . It's kind of tough to do when someone's main angle is killing criminals and killing them in a brutal way
This one to me is a fun popcorn action Punisher, while Tom Jane was a more intelligent, planned-out Punisher- capable of intense violence, but planned out to perfection- more like an actual Special Operator would do. Bernthal was an outstanding choice between the two, and to me the best Punisher actors are Tom Jane and Jon Bernthal.
I'm a first generation Punisher fan. I liked him precisely because he wasn't every other character. He wasn't a superhero. He didn't have some silly sophomoric behaivioral code. He was a counter-culture character within the counter-culture of comics long before Deadpool was dreamed up. He was always over the top, without becoming a parody, and that's how we wanted him. As far as I'm concerned, the only person who should have played him in the 80s or 90s was Tom Berenger. WarZone is, by far, my favorite and Ray Stevenson, by far, the best.
In the previous Punisher had its moments that it lifted straight out of the comics (like the torch on the pan of meat and using a popsicle to torture), but Ray was and always will be the definitive Punisher! You are missed Ray and rest well. Thank you for spreading the word Minty and I pray more people find this movie. Ray was also brilliant in Book of Eli. Stay blessed all.
Every actor to play Punisher was right for that particular film or series. Yet Ray Stevenson didn't just play Frank Castle he was Frank Castle. Warzone was extremely brutal, action packed and over the top. Very underrated. I own a DVD that has all three Punisher films so if I want I could have a Punisher marathon. But Warzone is my favorite version of the three, including Jon Bernthal's version of the Punisher. Don't like what Marvel Comics is doing to the Punisher now but the live action Punisher films will live on forever especially Ray's film. R.I.P. Ray Stevenson.
Thank you Minty, I love this movie. The violence had to be at the level it was, it was matching the material. Those MAX comics were insane and beautiful. Ray was a perfect Punisher.
Punisher : war zone was a brilliant movie that truly captured the punisher comics and was enhanced by ray stevenson performance, it had a great cast and was well written. This is the best version of a live action punisher with the exception of the punisher: dirty laundry short film. What truly sucks is that it wasn't promoted very well. It's interesting that you compared war zone to Dredd, both movies definitely capture the darkest, grimmest dispair of human society. Both movies have the obvious aspects of blood and violence, but also share a moody claustrophobic atmosphere that not only represents the scenes or sets ,but also a feeling of being trapped in a world where evil seems to be everywhere and the bad guys seem to be winning. A world where the good guys are often hunted, by the people they are trying to save. A world where the people who have chosen to stand against the darkness, are constantly forced to question themselves and challenged to remain true to their values and beliefs, lest they fall victim to the darkness. As much as I enjoyed the netflix punisher series, Punisher War Zone truly captured who Frank Castle is and why he does what he does.
This movie doesn't get all the praise it deserves. It is really faithful to the comic books, well directed and really fun. I understand that the sheer violence it shows plays against it but I think it deserves better. Also it is a better depiction of the character than the Netflix series.
There is actually a tactical reason for Punisher's death's head logo and not just aesthetics. It's meant to catch the attention of the enemy and draw fire to his center mass where his armor protects him instead of, say, his head.
They finally realized, he's not an alien from Krypton and bulging pectorals under a tight t-shirt would just get completely ripped to shreds by bullets, knives and shapnel. Ray looks like he has the full intention of getting into a firefight to dominate.
A 2004 Punisher 10 right is still my favorite, but Ray Stevenson made an awesome Frank Castle. Jigsaw was hilariously evil as was the over-the-top action.
If you were a fan of the Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon Punisher run with the Tim Bradstreet covers, you loved this movie, it still holds up for me as the best adaptation of a comic ever.
To me Ray was THE Punisher. He was the Marvel MAX Punisher personified. It's a great pity Ray is no longer with us to reprise the role. As for the film itself, I really liked it and come back to it often.
Rest in peace Ray Stevenson. You are by far the best Punisher! The movie is by far the closest to the comic books as you'll ever get! He should have a trilogy! R.I.P 🙏
It’s a crying shame that people couldn’t recognize this as by far the best punisher that has been produced to date along with dread. What a shame rest in peace Ray Stevenson you are a great actor. I think it’s criminal that people cannot have gotten behind this movie like so many greatmar movies that fell. Pray to the critics who are obviously not true fans. Ray Stevenson you will be greatly missed.
I still maintain that the thing that really killed this movie was that it didn't get advertised very well prior to release. It was fun, brutal, and reminded me perfectly of the Punisher: MAXX series of comics. I loved it!
I had the Punisher skull painted on my vehicle in Iraq in 03 still have a photo of it ,been a fan from the beginning RIP Ray you are and will always be the PUNISHER.
What I love about the movie is the fact, that they pay great homage to comic book Cover-Artist Tim Bradstreet. Re-anacting some of his amazing covers in some scenes and even naming the "Brad Street Hotel" after him.
One aspect of the Punisher that Hollywood can't seem to grasp is that Frank Castle is an antihero. He is not Captain America and does not wish to be. He's a ruthless killer who renders cops ineffective. He is hardly a hero, but he does what is necessary to keep people safe.
I agress with you Minty. This is the beat Punisher move. It reminds me of the Punisher comics that I had been reading back in the 80s and 90s. Rest in peace Ray Stevenson you were the best Frank Castle.
I think the reason alot of people didn't like this flick is because it was a funny book movie, and people thought the character was going to be a standard hero, but Punisher is anything but ordinary, he is a brutal ,vengeful killer, turned that way by a horrifically romantic reason, he literally wants to kill all evil, and through little moments by good writing his humanity and empathy shine through. People were not ready for a complex character like that.
Best rendition of The Punisher to date! Captured the character and the comics to a tee! Brava Lexi Alexander, I wish she had gone on to make some more great action films. R.I.P. Ray, you were, by a long stretch, the best Punisher.
RIP Ray. He was the best Punisher and this is the best Punisher in movie/tv. And the white skull is supposed to be bright and bold, the first thing criminals see and shoot at, as that is where Frank's body armor is at. Awesome job Minty
I agree wholeheartedly. I saw this movie out of town in one of the best theaters and I absolutely loved it. Ray Stephenson is my favorite Punisher, as well. R.I.P. and thanks for a great performance of one of my favorite characters ever. Thank you Minty for challenging me yet again on facts of my favorite movies. This was a great video and I always look forward to your next one. Keep up the great work.
I LOVE this movie! ☆☆☆☆☆ I first heard about this flick when I saw it listed on the budget cinema's marquee. The budget movie house in my town showed movies for a buck fifty -- after films left the big theatres but a few months before they came out on DVD. So with a couple I knew, we all smoked some grass and went and saw it in the early afternoon. We all liked it so much, after the movie we went out to the parking lot, smoked some more grass and went in to spend another buck fifty to see it again. The only movie I have seen twice in the theatre since STAR WARS. "I want my applesauce!" Love it! Great movie! WAY underrated! I would have HATED a PG-13 version. Great video, Minty! ❤
Thank you always for sharing this experience Minty.. For me this is def as I remember the Punisher EXACTLY like the comics.. Ray even looked the part and more so played Frank Castle really well.. R.I.P You'll be greatly missed
I never even knew about this movie the year it came out. I NEVER saw a trailer a commercial NOTHING. Then one day I "found" it on the internet and gave it a watch. I FELL IN LOVE with the movie. I was blown away with the balls to the wall violence. My 20-year-old self was pleasantly surprised. It helped the 2004 version was one of my favorite movies and the Punisher is one of my all time favorite superheroes
I also thoroughly enjoyed this movie. While not exactly thrilled with Dominic West's performance as jigsaw, all other casting was great. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this movie was the use of lighting in the scenes. That all being said, when I saw the Karl Urban Dredd movie I couldn't help but compare it to Warzone. Both are about violent pursuers of criminals who enter a building and have to find the big baddie - like an 80s video game. I may have to give both Punishers a rewatch. While the Thomas Jane movie was a little less violent than we all wanted to see the Punisher be, it has its merits. Particularly, Thomas Jane. Ray Stevenson is great, don't get me wrong, but Jane played a better brooding psychologically troubled character.
I'm with you 100%. Warzone is possibly the closest to a comic accurate Punisher that we'll ever get. Sometimes I appreciate when characters are toned down to feel more realistic and grounded, but it's also fun to see a character completely let loose.
Personally, I was such a fan of the Tom Jane Punisher that I didn't care for this one when it came out originally. I just felt like a low budget movie in a year of big budget superhero movies. But you've convinced me, I'll give it a second viewing.
My favorite Punisher too! Once some page asked the question who is the best punisher and I tagged Ray and he actually liked my comment, it was cool! R.I.P.
Thanks for pointing out he was in HBO's Rome, I had no idea that the guy from Ashoka everyone was raving about, and had recently died was one of my characters in Rome. Now I too feel their sorrow.
The late, great Ray Stevenson looked like he literally stepped out of the comic book panel to dole out vigilante justice. Compared to the other guys who played the character, Ray is the perfect Punisher image. R.I.P.
I agree with you, I really liked this version and think Ray Stevenson was perfect for the role and did an excellent job. Also I really liked the Dred version with Carl Urban quite a lot. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your channel and I look forward to watching as long as you’re willing to keep entertaining everyone here.
Along with the Lundgren flick and the Netflix series, War Zone is the other part of my top three visual representations of the Punisher. RIP Ray Stevenson! Because of his rendition of Frank Castle, I was enjoying the movie from beginning to end.
Minty your channel is great You get over 10% engagement That’s pretty good There are some guys getting a lot more, but there are a lot of guys getting a lot less I always find your stuff entertaining
I agree, this is the best Punisher. I also agree on its similarity with Dredd. I own both movies on Blu-Ray, and with all the content that's being released nowadays, these two are some of the very few movies that I revisit every now and then.
I truly believe that Ray Stevenson was the best Frank Castle. The flash back to when he was a dad & he looked so much different then what he changed into! I was a big fan of the comic book WAR ZONE in the 90s, so I was stoked & couldn't wait for this movie to come out! Did not even know about the Punisher MAX Comic Series, so I will have to read those! Thanks Minty for that is truly something I did not know!
The Jigsaw performance brought the whole thing down in my eyes as the villain was doing a late 70's early 80's camp villian while the Punisher was doing a serious take.
2004's The Punisher is my favourite movie based off of a comic book (character). Although that claim requires an asterisk as it doesn't beat out The Dark Knight if the category title extends to "watching from start to finish", as I often skip the family massacre scene and the piercing ripping scene. I have the double feature blu-ray that includes War Zone, but haven't had the time nor motivation to watch the non-sequel. I had heard it was more violent than the Thomas Jane one. I certainly won't just dismiss it out of hand, but it really has a long way to go to climb those ranks and topple the Thomas Jane version from its perch.
Saw this in a packed theater with a group of friends, and didn't even know the movie was made, so I had no expectations. In the first 10 minutes the theater patrons tore the roof down for how much we were enjoying it, and it's become one of my favorite comic book movies. It makes a great double bill with Dredd 3D. They're both 80s action movies released 25 years too late lol.
IIRC, Jane tweeted something like "You can only keep working out 6 days a week and eating nothing but plain bland, chicken, tuna and rice for so long before you just can't take it anymore" lol. Basically he was training for like over a year while thinking the movie was gonna get made. Most actors don't train for a physical role for that long.
Punisher Warzone at first wasn't released at all in my country, probably because at the time there still were many less violent movies getting indexed or even banned. Both previous Punisher movies were also still indexed at the time. We didn't get a cinematic release but about one year later it was finally released direct to DVD & Blu Ray. Of course it didn't take long until it was also indexed and therefore banned from public uncut releases. Thankfully a few years later the youth protection law was finally made less strict and in 2019 all Punisher movies were finally released uncut on DVD & Blu Ray, the Lundgren Punisher movie even recieved a 16+ rating while the other two got 18+ ratings.
Thank you Ray Stevenson. You will be remembered as the most bad ass Punisher. Rest in peace.
RIP Ray, But not the most badass. John B is.
Absolutely,Jon nailed it. I wish they gave him more Punishery things to do though😜 you know where he’s like a shark that never stops hunting violent criminals. In every season(including DD) he had a finite mission. Season one ended with him in therapy for Pete’s sake🤣
I prefer Dolph Lundgren he looked disturbed and menacing
Nope Thomas Jane easily. @@wadewilson8011
Being dead doesnt make it the best so no it wont, not even close.
Punisher War Zone and Dredd are criminally underrated, and would make for a bloody great double feature! 🛡 💀
Just watched today....again.
Great take agreed
I agree
I agree. Punisher warzone was like a comic
Exactly. Ray Stevenson was the one and only canon Frank Castle.
R.I.P. Ray Stevenson
Fuck, I had no idea 😢
RIP
he has killed it i ahsoka
Yeah I just heard that. It's sad. This was actually my favorite Punisher too
Titus Pullo… Baylan Skoll… Guy from Dexter… All great roles… R.I.P.
This guy will always be my favorite Punisher. Rest easy 😢 You were AWESOME!!!
I met Ray after the Punisher was released on DVD an even have a signed blu ray copy. He was one the nicest celebrities I've met!!
Que bueno mi rey, que bueno.
Felicidades.
The one role I truly loved (and still love) from Ray Stevenson..
No disrespect to Jon Bernthal,Thomas Jane and Dolf Lungren, they were all great..But Ray Stevenson really looks like the comic book Punisher...and really acted the part...I dont care if critics gave bad reviews...I think Warzone nailed it ..One of my favorite movies all time...
Love you Ray Stevenson..R.I.P.
Til Valhalla...
I thought he was great in Kill The Irishman.
@@joshmaxwell7968 never seen it..Got to look for that...
@@joshmaxwell7968 That's a great movie
Gotta say, dat Netflix' punisher is and will always be what the punisher should be. Out of all the Netflix marvel shows, this is the one I watch twice a year. But this movie in itself is true cinematic show stopper!!!!
Ray is my favorite Punisher and I loved Jon as the Punisher in the Daredevil show. Once he got his own show it was horrible in no fault of Jon's, the writing just went to crap. I think we can all agree that we want to see the Punisher just destroy his enemies. Yes you can put the back story of what made him become the Punisher but he was way to soft when he got his own show
Ray Stevenson was an underrated actor. From Rome, Black Sails, Cold Skin, The Other Guys, Ahsoka, Kill The Irishman, and other roles, Ray showed his immense talent. RIP Ray. You'll be missed.
I liked him in gi Joe ❤
@@darylobey8867 I had actually forgotten about that. Yeah, he was good on that movie, too.
This is far and away my favorite Punisher live-action adaptation. Lexi Alexander lifted so many scenes directly from the comics. She really understood the character, and more importantly, the audience. And the parkour scene was so far beyond brilliant!
"Welcome Back, Frank" was an adequate comic book title when it was the one that brought Frank Castle back down to Earth, literally. But it would have been a terrible movie title.
🙏😔 R.I.P. Ray "The Punisher" Stevenson, you really embodied the look of the punisher.
Have to agree with you, Minty. Loved this movie, the previous Thomas Jane movie was fine, but it lacked the blood that some punisher fans were expecting. Enter War Zone, I thought the tone and violence was spot on for the character. I was confused by the reaction to it. Ray Stevenson was a great Punisher.
This movie is far better than about 95% of the MCU at this point.
And 💯 % better than dc
Ray stevinson R.I.P is the best thing about this movie, he is awesome the best punisher imo, the action and violonce is great but besides those i think this movie is not good, but still a guilty pleasure movie for me that i can enjoy.
100%
Agreed
make it 100%
"... because without the skull logo, he´s not the punisher, he´s just angry-vengence-man."
You nailed it! 👍👍
Ray Stevenson was my favorite Punisher and War Zone was my favorite Punisher movie.
Thank you, Ray, for doing my favorite comic character justice. RIP.
Thanks for covering this, Minty!
It’s an EXTREMELY underrated movie
Ray Stevenson is my favorite Punisher. This movie is faithful to the comics, and that's probably a big reason why it didn't have a wider audience.
RIP Ray Stevenson. Great actor, gone too soon and had so many great characters to bring to life
Warzone is without a doubt the best cinematic Punisher film! I love it! Ray Stevenson absolutely crushed it as Frank may he Rest in Peace 🖤
He was the greatest Punisher in my opinion.
I will never understand why this movie was hated so much????? His rendition of the Punisher was awesome. Bloody and gritty, just like the comics. Love this movie. Rest In Peace Ray
Not enough love for Lexi Alexander actually adapting the *gasp* source material and giving fans what they want.
Even though she didn’t want the skull lol
"PUNISHER: WAR ZONE 💀" is a ridiculously UNDERRATED comic book superhero movie ! Ray Stevenson IS... "THE PUNISHER 💀" ! It's as if he stepped right out of the pages of a MARVEL comic book ! This film deserves significantly more praise than it actually received since it premiered in theaters back in 2008 ! So disappointing that we will NEVER get a sequel since Ray Stevenson passed away and all !
RIP Ray Stevenson 🙏🙏🙏
Ray Stevenson nailed the character. Too bad most viewers didn't see it that way back then. Rest in Peace. Thanks for excellent video. I always liked this adaptation. Keep up the great work!
I too love this film. Its just so unapologetically brutal and violent and that just makes sense to me for the character. Ray did such a great job playing him.
I love this version of The Punisher. And like Karl Urban's version of Dread, both needed sequels. Rest in peace, Ray Stevenson. You were the best!!
Also: i would love to see a team-up of Punisher, Dread and Robocop vs. a team of A-list Bad Guys.
You both spelled Dredd wrong 😆 It's all good ❤
Agreed 118%... Best Punisher movie bar none. This is reflective of the comic book near perfectly. Ray Stevenson looks the most like Frank Castle than any other actor. Never thought of it as an 80s throwback, but you are dead on with that point.
I have to agree with minty . This was probably one of the best adaptations for the punisher . This comes from a long time fan I literally have a complete set of the punisher punisher war journal punisher war zone and any and all the max and the crossovers so yeah I definitely like The punisher. It seems to be the problem with people trying to bring the punisher to the screen is how to showcase it and bring it to the screen in a tasteful manner . It's kind of tough to do when someone's main angle is killing criminals and killing them in a brutal way
I disagree.
Agree
This one to me is a fun popcorn action Punisher, while Tom Jane was a more intelligent, planned-out Punisher- capable of intense violence, but planned out to perfection- more like an actual Special Operator would do. Bernthal was an outstanding choice between the two, and to me the best Punisher actors are Tom Jane and Jon Bernthal.
I'm a first generation Punisher fan. I liked him precisely because he wasn't every other character. He wasn't a superhero. He didn't have some silly sophomoric behaivioral code. He was a counter-culture character within the counter-culture of comics long before Deadpool was dreamed up. He was always over the top, without becoming a parody, and that's how we wanted him.
As far as I'm concerned, the only person who should have played him in the 80s or 90s was Tom Berenger.
WarZone is, by far, my favorite and Ray Stevenson, by far, the best.
Berenger?
In the previous Punisher had its moments that it lifted straight out of the comics (like the torch on the pan of meat and using a popsicle to torture), but Ray was and always will be the definitive Punisher! You are missed Ray and rest well. Thank you for spreading the word Minty and I pray more people find this movie. Ray was also brilliant in Book of Eli. Stay blessed all.
Every actor to play Punisher was right for that particular film or series. Yet Ray Stevenson didn't just play Frank Castle he was Frank Castle. Warzone was extremely brutal, action packed and over the top. Very underrated. I own a DVD that has all three Punisher films so if I want I could have a Punisher marathon. But Warzone is my favorite version of the three, including Jon Bernthal's version of the Punisher. Don't like what Marvel Comics is doing to the Punisher now but the live action Punisher films will live on forever especially Ray's film. R.I.P. Ray Stevenson.
Thank you Minty, I love this movie. The violence had to be at the level it was, it was matching the material. Those MAX comics were insane and beautiful. Ray was a perfect Punisher.
Punisher : war zone was a brilliant movie that truly captured the punisher comics and was enhanced by ray stevenson performance, it had a great cast and was well written. This is the best version of a live action punisher with the exception of the punisher: dirty laundry short film. What truly sucks is that it wasn't promoted very well. It's interesting that you compared war zone to Dredd, both movies definitely capture the darkest, grimmest dispair of human society. Both movies have the obvious aspects of blood and violence, but also share a moody claustrophobic atmosphere that not only represents the scenes or sets ,but also a feeling of being trapped in a world where evil seems to be everywhere and the bad guys seem to be winning. A world where the good guys are often hunted, by the people they are trying to save. A world where the people who have chosen to stand against the darkness, are constantly forced to question themselves and challenged to remain true to their values and beliefs, lest they fall victim to the darkness. As much as I enjoyed the netflix punisher series, Punisher War Zone truly captured who Frank Castle is and why he does what he does.
This movie doesn't get all the praise it deserves. It is really faithful to the comic books, well directed and really fun. I understand that the sheer violence it shows plays against it but I think it deserves better. Also it is a better depiction of the character than the Netflix series.
YES!! I mean, I agree. I have been telling everyone I know that 'This' is the Punisher!
The BEST on screen version of the Punisher!
There is actually a tactical reason for Punisher's death's head logo and not just aesthetics. It's meant to catch the attention of the enemy and draw fire to his center mass where his armor protects him instead of, say, his head.
They finally realized, he's not an alien from Krypton and bulging pectorals under a tight t-shirt would just get completely ripped to shreds by bullets, knives and shapnel. Ray looks like he has the full intention of getting into a firefight to dominate.
The origin of the Skull emblem was explored in two issues of The ‘Nam comic in the 80’s
Ray Stevenson was PERFECT casting for this role! Perfect! I LOVED this film. It gets a LOT of flack that it doesn't deserve. RIP Ray...
RIP, Ray. You are still one of a kind...
A 2004 Punisher 10 right is still my favorite, but Ray Stevenson made an awesome Frank Castle. Jigsaw was hilariously evil as was the over-the-top action.
If you were a fan of the Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon Punisher run with the Tim Bradstreet covers, you loved this movie, it still holds up for me as the best adaptation of a comic ever.
The pencil up the nose scene was a classic!
It's literally a throwback to 1980s action movies?
I'm sold 🤩
You’re not alone. The BEST screen version to date!
To me Ray was THE Punisher. He was the Marvel MAX Punisher personified. It's a great pity Ray is no longer with us to reprise the role. As for the film itself, I really liked it and come back to it often.
Rest in peace Ray Stevenson. You are by far the best Punisher! The movie is by far the closest to the comic books as you'll ever get! He should have a trilogy! R.I.P 🙏
I like the part where he shoots the bad guys.
the best was taking out parkour guy with a grenade launcher lol. It was comically hilarious and awesome at the same time
@@MrRoda8143 yeah that's the scene really combined two of my favorite things; my hatred for parkour scenes in movies and explosions.
It’s a crying shame that people couldn’t recognize this as by far the best punisher that has been produced to date along with dread. What a shame rest in peace Ray Stevenson you are a great actor. I think it’s criminal that people cannot have gotten behind this movie like so many greatmar movies that fell. Pray to the critics who are obviously not true fans. Ray Stevenson you will be greatly missed.
I agree, best Punisher film, Ray Stevenson will always be the Punisher, once again another great job Minty.
Ray was an awesome actor and I loved his Punisher! Rest In Peace sir
Ray Stephenso ...... May the Force with you. Rest easy.
I still maintain that the thing that really killed this movie was that it didn't get advertised very well prior to release. It was fun, brutal, and reminded me perfectly of the Punisher: MAXX series of comics. I loved it!
I had the Punisher skull painted on my vehicle in Iraq in 03 still have a photo of it ,been a fan from the beginning RIP Ray you are and will always be the PUNISHER.
how many men women and kids did u kill in iraq? heard the number wa around 3 milli? which percentage of tht number was you?@@JosephLafrance-n4w
I absolutely loved this version. When I was in Iraq in 07,I read the whole whole Warzone series, and Ray Stevenson IMHO was a great fit!
The most comic book accurate Punisher in cinematic history
What I love about the movie is the fact, that they pay great homage to comic book Cover-Artist Tim Bradstreet. Re-anacting some of his amazing covers in some scenes and even naming the "Brad Street Hotel" after him.
"No James, That's no way to punish the Punisher."
One aspect of the Punisher that Hollywood can't seem to grasp is that Frank Castle is an antihero. He is not Captain America and does not wish to be. He's a ruthless killer who renders cops ineffective. He is hardly a hero, but he does what is necessary to keep people safe.
I agress with you Minty. This is the beat Punisher move. It reminds me of the Punisher comics that I had been reading back in the 80s and 90s. Rest in peace Ray Stevenson you were the best Frank Castle.
Loved Ray Stevenson since Rome. Titus Pullo is the one true Punisher. RIP Ray. You are missed.
I think the reason alot of people didn't like this flick is because it was a funny book movie, and people thought the character was going to be a standard hero, but Punisher is anything but ordinary, he is a brutal ,vengeful killer, turned that way by a horrifically romantic reason, he literally wants to kill all evil, and through little moments by good writing his humanity and empathy shine through. People were not ready for a complex character like that.
Best rendition of The Punisher to date! Captured the character and the comics to a tee!
Brava Lexi Alexander, I wish she had gone on to make some more great action films.
R.I.P. Ray, you were, by a long stretch, the best Punisher.
RIP Ray. He was the best Punisher and this is the best Punisher in movie/tv. And the white skull is supposed to be bright and bold, the first thing criminals see and shoot at, as that is where Frank's body armor is at. Awesome job Minty
I agree wholeheartedly. I saw this movie out of town in one of the best theaters and I absolutely loved it. Ray Stephenson is my favorite Punisher, as well. R.I.P. and thanks for a great performance of one of my favorite characters ever. Thank you Minty for challenging me yet again on facts of my favorite movies. This was a great video and I always look forward to your next one. Keep up the great work.
I love Punisher War Zone one of the best adaptations ever made. Nuff Said.
I LOVE this movie! ☆☆☆☆☆
I first heard about this flick when I saw it listed on the budget cinema's marquee.
The budget movie house in my town showed movies for a buck fifty -- after films left the big theatres but a few months before they came out on DVD.
So with a couple I knew, we all smoked some grass and went and saw it in the early afternoon.
We all liked it so much, after the movie we went out to the parking lot, smoked some more grass and went in to spend another buck fifty to see it again.
The only movie I have seen twice in the theatre since STAR WARS.
"I want my applesauce!" Love it!
Great movie! WAY underrated!
I would have HATED a PG-13 version.
Great video, Minty! ❤
My all time fave Punisher. RIP Ray.
Thank you always for sharing this experience Minty.. For me this is def as I remember the Punisher EXACTLY like the comics.. Ray even looked the part and more so played Frank Castle really well.. R.I.P
You'll be greatly missed
I never even knew about this movie the year it came out. I NEVER saw a trailer a commercial NOTHING. Then one day I "found" it on the internet and gave it a watch. I FELL IN LOVE with the movie. I was blown away with the balls to the wall violence. My 20-year-old self was pleasantly surprised. It helped the 2004 version was one of my favorite movies and the Punisher is one of my all time favorite superheroes
I also thoroughly enjoyed this movie. While not exactly thrilled with Dominic West's performance as jigsaw, all other casting was great. One of the things I enjoyed the most about this movie was the use of lighting in the scenes.
That all being said, when I saw the Karl Urban Dredd movie I couldn't help but compare it to Warzone. Both are about violent pursuers of criminals who enter a building and have to find the big baddie - like an 80s video game.
I may have to give both Punishers a rewatch. While the Thomas Jane movie was a little less violent than we all wanted to see the Punisher be, it has its merits. Particularly, Thomas Jane. Ray Stevenson is great, don't get me wrong, but Jane played a better brooding psychologically troubled character.
I know the script wasn’t great but I always loved this movie. Felt like more of a Punisher flick than the one with Thomas Jane
My favourite Punisher, Ray actually embodied the only comic accurate Frank Castle in live action form. R.I.P. Ray.
I'm with you 100%. Warzone is possibly the closest to a comic accurate Punisher that we'll ever get. Sometimes I appreciate when characters are toned down to feel more realistic and grounded, but it's also fun to see a character completely let loose.
Personally, I was such a fan of the Tom Jane Punisher that I didn't care for this one when it came out originally. I just felt like a low budget movie in a year of big budget superhero movies. But you've convinced me, I'll give it a second viewing.
Most underrated Punisher Movie :P
My favorite Punisher too! Once some page asked the question who is the best punisher and I tagged Ray and he actually liked my comment, it was cool! R.I.P.
Thanks for pointing out he was in HBO's Rome, I had no idea that the guy from Ashoka everyone was raving about, and had recently died was one of my characters in Rome. Now I too feel their sorrow.
I have to say punisher war zone is my favorite punisher movie. And I have seen all the punisher movies even the 80s one. Great Job Minty!!!!
Nice. Some love for this kick ass movie.
I had such hopes for the character with Ray in the role.
Perfect timing as I just re-watched it a week ago! RIP Ray Stevenson....
The late, great Ray Stevenson looked like he literally stepped out of the comic book panel to dole out vigilante justice. Compared to the other guys who played the character, Ray is the perfect Punisher image. R.I.P.
Saw it in the theater. Absolutely loved it. Total badassery. So violent it was almost more like a slasher flick. Fine with me.
I agree with you, I really liked this version and think Ray Stevenson was perfect for the role and did an excellent job. Also I really liked the Dred version with Carl Urban quite a lot. Thank you for the time and effort you put into your channel and I look forward to watching as long as you’re willing to keep entertaining everyone here.
The skull is used as a target for criminals to aim at since Frank wears body armor he can take a bullet there
Along with the Lundgren flick and the Netflix series, War Zone is the other part of my top three visual representations of the Punisher. RIP Ray Stevenson! Because of his rendition of Frank Castle, I was enjoying the movie from beginning to end.
Good timing. I saw this film for the first time last week. I really liked it, mainly because Ray is ideal casting.
Minty your channel is great
You get over 10% engagement
That’s pretty good
There are some guys getting a lot more, but there are a lot of guys getting a lot less
I always find your stuff entertaining
Just watched the video a few days ago. Watching Warzone because of you. Damn it's a fun movie. RIP Ray.
Thank you for all your videos!😎
Punisher war zone is freaking AWESOME!! A guilty pleasure indeed and thank goodness they kept the skull logo! RIP Ray Stevenson aka the punisher!
Great movie! Definitely the greatest Punisher depiction on film to date
I agree, this is the best Punisher. I also agree on its similarity with Dredd. I own both movies on Blu-Ray, and with all the content that's being released nowadays, these two are some of the very few movies that I revisit every now and then.
I truly believe that Ray Stevenson was the best Frank Castle. The flash back to when he was a dad & he looked so much different then what he changed into!
I was a big fan of the comic book WAR ZONE in the 90s, so I was stoked & couldn't wait for this movie to come out!
Did not even know about the Punisher MAX Comic Series, so I will have to read those! Thanks Minty for that is truly something I did not know!
"Welcome back Frank" was the title of Garth Ennis first Punisher Max Arc.
Pretty sure that's marvel knights
@iswitchedsidesforthiscat Yes, you're right. That was Marvel Knight.
The Jigsaw performance brought the whole thing down in my eyes as the villain was doing a late 70's early 80's camp villian while the Punisher was doing a serious take.
Nice to see so many folks who like War Zone as much as I do and who share my view that Ray Stevenson did an amazing job!
I didn’t know this movie existed. If I had I would have definitely watched it. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I’m watching it tonight.
Another fact, Ray Stevenson wanted a sequel to punisher war zone with Michael Clarke Duncan to play one of the villains barracuda
2004's The Punisher is my favourite movie based off of a comic book (character). Although that claim requires an asterisk as it doesn't beat out The Dark Knight if the category title extends to "watching from start to finish", as I often skip the family massacre scene and the piercing ripping scene.
I have the double feature blu-ray that includes War Zone, but haven't had the time nor motivation to watch the non-sequel. I had heard it was more violent than the Thomas Jane one. I certainly won't just dismiss it out of hand, but it really has a long way to go to climb those ranks and topple the Thomas Jane version from its perch.
Saw this in a packed theater with a group of friends, and didn't even know the movie was made, so I had no expectations. In the first 10 minutes the theater patrons tore the roof down for how much we were enjoying it, and it's become one of my favorite comic book movies. It makes a great double bill with Dredd 3D. They're both 80s action movies released 25 years too late lol.
IIRC, Jane tweeted something like "You can only keep working out 6 days a week and eating nothing but plain bland, chicken, tuna and rice for so long before you just can't take it anymore" lol. Basically he was training for like over a year while thinking the movie was gonna get made. Most actors don't train for a physical role for that long.
I agree: both reboots are the best. Punisher films seem to get better each time. The next one would probably have been awesome. RIP, Ray
Punisher Warzone at first wasn't released at all in my country, probably because at the time there still were many less violent movies getting indexed or even banned. Both previous Punisher movies were also still indexed at the time. We didn't get a cinematic release but about one year later it was finally released direct to DVD & Blu Ray. Of course it didn't take long until it was also indexed and therefore banned from public uncut releases. Thankfully a few years later the youth protection law was finally made less strict and in 2019 all Punisher movies were finally released uncut on DVD & Blu Ray, the Lundgren Punisher movie even recieved a 16+ rating while the other two got 18+ ratings.
I agree Minty, he is the REAL Punisher, Best Frank Castle of them all and I really did like Thomas Jane