The Punisher (2004)

Scale of 1 to 10: Gun toting skull wearing car driving mobster killing Maniac

Short story: A great credit to the comic origin while reaching non-comic reading viewers.

Long story: By far, this is my favorite Punisher film. Whenever you get multiple movies made centered around the same character, each one is going to have elements that you love. A couple of elements in this version of Frank Castle's story that I love are the incorporation of Joan, Dave, and Bumpo, his neighbors in his apartment building. I also love the fight scene with Russian. Whenever a hero faces a "juggernaut" character, I get excited. Mainly because it means a long fight scene, and one where the hero needs to use some brains, not just brawn. For those of you who don't read the comics, Castle's story goes like this: His family is killed and he becomes a maniac vigilante, bringing evil men to justice.

Upsides: The movie isn't just a showcase of killings. There is a level of back story and preparation that makes the story more than just a few inches deep. It is also very easy for non-comic fans to follow the story line without needing really any background in the comics

Downsides: The movie is about a man who is an expert in killing people. Being that the movie was produced in the early 2000's, the violence is relatively mild compared to the later version of The Punisher. If violence bothers you, don't watch the movie. Another downside, for me at least, is the way it strays from the origin storyline. The origin the movie provides is still very well done, but I tend to be a purist in comic book movies, especially when it comes to origins.

Final Word: If you like vigilante movies, this is a must see. And if you like The Punisher, I recommend watching this before any of the other Punisher movies out there, of which, there are two. Go See It.