The Punisher *** (1989, Dolph Lundgren, Jeroen Krabbé, Louis Gossett Jr) – Classic Movie Review 3118

Dolph Lundgren stars in one of his best roles as hero-cop Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, who turns underground avenger when his wife and kids are slain by the mobsters he had been pursuing.

This self-appointed punisher of all the guilty lives in the sewers and stalks evil Mafia boss Gianni Franco (Jeroen Krabbé), and acts as judge, jury and executioner to the city’s criminals in retaliation for his family’s unpunished murders, while he is himself pursued by his ex-partner Jake Berkowitz (Louis Gossett Jr).

Mark Goldblatt directs a vigorous, violent, slightly absurd 1989 Marvel comic-strip caper, with a dark comic-book tone and lots of derring-do from dashing Dolph as the vigilante assassin avenger. Written by Boaz Yakin, it is good, disreputable fun.

It was remade as The Punisher in 2004 with Tom (Thomas) Jane, who also starred in the sequel The Punisher: Dirty Laundry in 2012. Ray Stevenson and Dominic West starred in Punisher: War Zone (2008). A reboot is in pre-production in 2015.

Dolph Lundgren turned 60 on 3 November 2017.

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© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 3118

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