View Full Version : Special Edition Podcast: 'Punisher: War Zone'
conorkilpatrick
12-05-2008, 05:15 PM
Total Running Time: 00:23:32
12.07.2008 - The third Frank Castle movie in twenty years has hit the screen and iFanboy is all over this one. It's The Punisher vs. the mob and the filmmakers vs. the audience!
Click here (http://www.ifanboy.com/content/audio/12_07_2008_-__Punisher__War_Zone_) to download the show. Or look for it on your feed under this week's Pick of the Week Podcast.
http://www.ifanboy.com/images/ifanboy/Punisher%20War%20Zone%20Poster.jpg
This is your place to discuss Punisher: War Zone!
From here on out, if you haven't seen the movie and don't want to be spoiled, do not read any further!
From the initial reviews I peeked of this movie, I'm thinking the special podcast is going to be...interesting.
six-gun
12-06-2008, 05:30 AM
So, I'm going on a first date with this girl right? And I said, hey, what movie do you want to see? And she says "Punisher War Journal" I think, man, this girl kicks ass, then I remember how much it's supposed to suck.
We laughed at it for about 30 minutes, then walked out.
It still turned out to be an awesome date, no thanks to this damn movie
cammyknoxville
12-06-2008, 07:00 AM
Good God, this movie was beyond horrible. It was beyond atrocious!
Here I was thinking this was going to be a kick-ass Punisher film, something taking it up a notch from the Thomas Jane one. What I get instead is a belly full of laughs, and a massive headache from how ridiculous it is, and I can't believe I paid money for it. I'm certainly glad I saw it before doing my Punisher Podcast on Sunday.
I prefer the Thomas Jane one much better.
People literally blow-up when doing flips in the air.
Can't wait to hear what the guys say.
cammyknoxville
12-06-2008, 07:02 AM
Also,
Good stuff: They got the comic-book origin down, lots of killing Punisher-style, it takes place in New York, Soap is in it.
Bad stuff: Everything else.
esophagus
12-06-2008, 07:09 AM
Well, on the plus side, I don't have to attempt to see this before the podcast.
conorkilpatrick
12-06-2008, 07:09 AM
... it takes place in New York...
Well sure, all the helicopter shots were New York, but anything with actors in it...
Not so much.
esophagus
12-06-2008, 07:11 AM
Well sure, all the helicopter shots were New York, but anything with actors in it...
Not so much.Faux New York > Tampa Bay
cammyknoxville
12-06-2008, 07:11 AM
Faux New York > Tampa Bay
This.
At least it felt like it was in a metropolis of some sort.
thenextchampion
12-06-2008, 07:28 AM
Wow....So is this worse then Wanted? Cause I thought that film with the Loom of Fate would make it the worst of the year.
Geez, I'm starting to really worry about watching this...
chappers
12-06-2008, 07:31 AM
I've never been a huge fan of the Punisher books. I really know him mostly from the movies and cartoon appearances. and of course my rabid War Journal friends back in the day (everyone knew some of them).
BUT I did meet Ray Stevenson about a week and a half ago and I'll say he was totally down to earth and seemed super stoked about the film. I don't want to misquote him or anything but I told him I was excited that the film looked so ultra-violent, and he said that that darkness drew him to the part that how specifically working with the Ennis material was great, and that he was glad all the BS surrounding the disputes with the director and the studio had died down.
Seemed like a very nice guy all around. So I wished him luck on the film, and went on my way :) Hopefully the movie is good.
Latino review is reporting rumor that director Lexi Alexander is looking at Jonah Hex next...
http://latinoreview.com/news/latinoreview-scoop-lexi-alexander-looking-at-jonah-hex-josh-brolin-still-attached-5786
cammyknoxville
12-06-2008, 01:07 PM
Wow....So is this worse then Wanted? Cause I thought that film with the Loom of Fate would make it the worst of the year.
Geez, I'm starting to really worry about watching this...
Well, I didn't really categorize Wanted as a comic book movie.
six-gun
12-06-2008, 03:09 PM
Wow....So is this worse then Wanted? Cause I thought that film with the Loom of Fate would make it the worst of the year.
Geez, I'm starting to really worry about watching this...
This movie makes Wanted look like Citizen Kane
People literally blow-up when doing flips in the air.
This sounds totally awesome.
I mean everything else sounds ridiculous, but come on! That's rad
six-gun
12-06-2008, 03:46 PM
This sounds totally awesome.
I mean everything else sounds ridiculous, but come on! That's rad
no, no it's not
conorkilpatrick
12-06-2008, 06:06 PM
Well, I didn't really categorize Wanted as a comic book movie.
..........?
six-gun
12-06-2008, 06:11 PM
..........?
Maybe he means that it deviated too much from the source for his tastes
conorkilpatrick
12-06-2008, 06:14 PM
Maybe he means that it deviated too much from the source for his tastes
That's par for the course for most comic book movies.
six-gun
12-06-2008, 09:39 PM
That's par for the course for most comic book movies.
Indeed
cammyknoxville
12-06-2008, 10:40 PM
Like LXG, Wanted only took the names of the characters and pretty much made their own movie.
So yes, technically you can call LXG and Wanted comic book movies, but deep down you know they're just another Hollywood abomination.
Keep in mind that's how lil ol me sees it.
conorkilpatrick
12-06-2008, 11:18 PM
Like LXG, Wanted only took the names of the characters and pretty much made their own movie.
So did The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Superman: The Movie, Spider-Man...
Basically every comic book movie except 300 and Sin City.
cammyknoxville
12-07-2008, 12:59 AM
So did The Dark Knight, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, Superman: The Movie, Spider-Man...
Basically every comic book movie except 300 and Sin City.
Last retort from me, because I don't want to derail this thread too much;
All those listed above have open-ended universes, consisting of thousands of different stories and characters to use.
Movies like Wanted & LXG were originally limited series, consisting of only a few issues each (well in LXG's case, three limited issue volumes).
Wouldn't more source material make it easier to find a story they could adapt into a movie though?
Also Wanted follows the first book of the series pretty closely and keeps many of the themes and tone of the book.
Also added a Loom of Fate, but still.
niceguyeddie
12-07-2008, 06:00 AM
saw it today...
it wasn't horrible.
i thought it was good fun.
i imagine it's better than wanted but i've yet to see that movie.
esophagus
12-07-2008, 06:23 AM
Just got home. This movie could have been absolutely mediocre, livable, enjoyable, action movie fun if it hadn't been for some very key writing problems. I don't think any of the acting was particularly bad.
I would like to make special note of the scene where LBJ starts smashes all of the mirrors in the hotel lobby. That is where the film jumped the shark for me. It stopped being a film with some significant errors and become a total trainwreck.
I think Josh's concern about the Punisher on the podcast was especially relevant to this movie. He kills people, and then it's done. There is no depth.
"Why do you do this?"
"They need to be punished."
"You realize you'll be punished to?"
"Yup."
That should not be the end of the conversation. Not unless you're trying to make a movie where the genius is people who explode while doing parkour.
cyberauron
12-07-2008, 06:56 AM
I went into this movie expecting it not to be the next Dark Knight, but a movie about a guy killing people, thats it and it deliverd. What were u expecting a heart felt scene where the punisher puts down his gun and negotiates a truce, thats not frank castle. Punisher kills bad guys, and this movie delivered on that
niceguyeddie
12-07-2008, 07:19 PM
Just got home. This movie could have been absolutely mediocre, livable, enjoyable, action movie fun if it hadn't been for some very key writing problems. I don't think any of the acting was particularly bad.
I would like to make special note of the scene where LBJ starts smashes all of the mirrors in the hotel lobby. That is where the film jumped the shark for me. It stopped being a film with some significant errors and become a total trainwreck.
I think Josh's concern about the Punisher on the podcast was especially relevant to this movie. He kills people, and then it's done. There is no depth.
"Why do you do this?"
"They need to be punished."
"You realize you'll be punished to?"
"Yup."
That should not be the end of the conversation. Not unless you're trying to make a movie where the genius is people who explode while doing parkour.
the one thing that didn't really bother me but was just kinda odd was the fact that they had the free walkers but they didn't even really use them at all.
no chase... just fodder.
cormano
12-08-2008, 04:42 AM
Oh man, I am three minutes in and I have to say… I am far MORE excited about this movie now than I was before hearing this.
cormano
12-08-2008, 05:00 AM
I had basically no interest in this, the beginning of the podcast made me look forward to a train wreck, but now that I'm almost done listening and I am starting to really regret that they didn't go the full slapstick route.
I kind of just want to see it for the Montreal scenery and seeing a guy explode while doing a flip in the air.
But I won't pay for it, I'll wait for it to be on the movie network I think
esophagus
12-08-2008, 07:45 AM
I am glad you guys mentioned the man being punched THROUGH the face. As soon as it happened I was looking for other things that must have taken place.
"Did he hit his head on something? He must have hit his head on something. Did he pull a knife? What happened. He didn't really get punched directly through the head did he?"
The only scene worse than that was the mirrors scene.
jaflanagan
12-08-2008, 02:45 PM
Every time the widow and the little girl showed up, it became the worst scene ever filmed.
thenextchampion
12-08-2008, 04:12 PM
It seems like from hearing this podcast that:
The director tried to make it both like Ennis's Punisher series. She probably got the 'Welcome Back Frank' trade and a trade of Ennis's MAX series and tried to make it both a black humor and gritty film. Obviously that didnt seem to work since it confused the hell out of you guys on what type of film it should be.
Oh and although I have yet to see this, not cool on hatin Alexander. Green Street Holigans and the short film Johnny Flynton were really good films. This is just probably a rough patch for her and I cant wait to see her next film.....and yes she, Stevenson, and West were all happy with the final product.
esophagus
12-08-2008, 06:44 PM
Johnny Flynton could have been good, I haven't seen it, but it was nominated for an Academy Award. Green Street Hooligans, however, was absolutely terrible.
cammyknoxville
12-08-2008, 07:49 PM
Josh apologizing to all the movies at the beginning had me laughing out loud on the bus.
Well done, Flanagan, well done.
cammyknoxville
12-08-2008, 08:08 PM
Also, the film made $4 million (http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/) it's opening weekend.
jaflanagan
12-08-2008, 09:48 PM
Green Street Hooligans was easily the worst movie I saw that year, and possibly the year after it.
brandeezy
12-09-2008, 12:42 AM
Wow....So is this worse then Wanted? Cause I thought that film with the Loom of Fate would make it the worst of the year.
Geez, I'm starting to really worry about watching this...
Off topic, but....two of the major world religions take a burning bush as a representation of God. I'm just saying, in the scheme of things there are all kinds of ridiculous things out there.
brandeezy
12-09-2008, 12:52 AM
Also, there are Black (aka African) Irishpeople. It's a small world and Ireland is part of the UK, a society that enslaved a good part of the word and has a lot of said population come through its borders.
cyberauron
12-09-2008, 12:56 AM
Hey any movie where frodo baggins get his ass kicked is not the worst movie ever
thenextchampion
12-09-2008, 01:20 AM
Hey any movie where frodo baggins get his ass kicked is not the worst movie ever
Exactely! lol
Seriously, I really liked that film. Why do you think it's so bad josh?
six-gun
12-09-2008, 02:07 AM
Best Podcast Ever
six-gun
12-09-2008, 02:11 AM
I still contend that the Thomas Jayne Punisher was a pretty decent film. Just FYI.
esophagus
12-09-2008, 02:15 AM
I really can't get over how solid so many of these performances were and how absolutely terrible the movie was. I think Doug Hutchison and Julie Benz were the only ones I had any problems with.
cenquist
12-11-2008, 04:51 AM
Just listened to the podcast....haven't watched the movie....don't know if I will now....
Everyone pitch in $5 to the Ifanboys and they can make a better Punisher movie I am sure, you guys can do it on a $50 budget probably from the sounds of it.
jaflanagan
12-11-2008, 04:24 PM
Exactely! lol
Seriously, I really liked that film. Why do you think it's so bad josh?
A) I'm a big LOTR fan, so I got nothing against Elijah Wood.
B) I don't remember what I didn't like about it, because I didn't commit it to memory. I just remember a lot of confused looks and eye rolling, and feeling very let down.
esophagus
12-11-2008, 10:10 PM
For what little it's worth, Green Street Hooligans got a 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. It's not like the iFanboys are the first to dislike it. Bad movie all around.
jaflanagan
12-12-2008, 02:05 AM
I can't believe it's that high.
kartoffelkopf
12-12-2008, 10:18 AM
A) B) I don't remember what I didn't like about it, because I didn't commit it to memory. I just remember a lot of confused looks and eye rolling, and feeling very let down.
Was it the laughably implausible characters? I like Wood too but as a football hooligan? Just no. Or was it the cringeworthy cockney accent from his (English!) co-star that made Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins sound like Ray Winstone. I lived in East London for the first 30 years of my life, so trust me on this one.
If it wasn’t any of those things then it must have been because it was yet another yawn-inducing, outdated and clichéd film about football hooliganism being somehow something to aspire to. I’ve been to West Ham matches and even had a passing acquaintance with a member of their ‘hooligan’ element through a school friends bigger brother in the 80s and hooliganism is a horribly violent and unpleasant world full of tragically misguided men and we’ve seen them portrayed infinitely better in films like The Firm and ID (both actually made in the 80s/early 90s when hooliganism was prevalent).
Dirty, grubby and patronising little film with minimal cinematic flair and the reason I have not been in the slightest bit excited for Punisher War Zone even though I’m a huge Ennis/Max fan. The comics had a heart and a tragic depth, this film doesn’t look like it has any of those things. I may be wrong but early reviews tell me I’m not and I’d really rather go buy some more comics than go to the cinema to find out.
sarahg42
12-12-2008, 04:38 PM
I still contend that the Thomas Jayne Punisher was a pretty decent film. Just FYI.
Thank you. I agree. Of course I am sorta more a DC girl than a Marvel chick... so I suppose I am not as critical.
I have heard nothing but bad things about War Zone. With maybe one or two gore-hound exceptions. I don't think I will be seeing this one. I mean, I like gore and violence as much as the next gal (probably more so -- given I grew up on horror). I just don't dig on this sort of blatent gross-out contest.
Loved the podcast, btw. Couldn't stop laughing. Did you send that apology letter to Halle yet? teeeheee
cyberauron
12-13-2008, 07:47 AM
Dont judge me, my friend is a manager at a movie theatre and I was killing time their until my poker game.
Looking back Ray Stevenson was pretty good as Frank Catsle. I even will say that he was my favorite actor as the punisher. There was just a certain way he carried himself that made him look like a complete badass. Dolph Lundren had the look and Thomas Jane had the actor cjops to play frank castle, but not the punisher. For me it would be ray, thomas jane than dolph lundren
vercingetorix
12-13-2008, 08:00 AM
I really liked this movie, and thought that this movie was several times better than Wanted and many of the other movies that were apologized to. I think that it was because I went in expecting mindless action, and the movie definitely delivered. I didn't expect a character study or any really deep scenes, and agree that the ones in the movie probably did more harm than good.
The movie had some weak points: those accents and a few of the bit characters. Also some of the scenes really did drag the movie down a lot, i.e. Carlos' death scene and that chandelier scene. But for the most part I think that this was among the more enjoyable films I've seen in theaters this year.
I admit that I laughed at a couple of the scenes, but I just thought they were there for over-the-topness. I mean blowing up parkouring black irishmen, punching through someone's face, crazy Italian breaking mirrors, these were hilarious scenes that I thought were intended to be hilarious.
bonemachine
12-14-2008, 05:25 PM
Also, there are Black (aka African) Irishpeople. It's a small world and Ireland is part of the UK, a society that enslaved a good part of the word and has a lot of said population come through its borders.
Know it's off-topic and I don't wanna come off as a crazy Irish patriot but Ireland is NOT part of the UK. If you mean Northen Ireland then my mistake but the Republic Of Ireland hasn't been part of the UK for over sixty years!
Once again I'm not a crazy patriot who will hunt you down I just thought it needed to be corrected. Not trying to start any arguements, flame wars, etc,etc