I cringed when I read in the newest issue of Entertainment Weekly that the upcoming sequel to The Punisher would be released in December without Thomas Jane in the title role.
The first Punisher film was outstanding in every way: compelling action sequences, well-drawn characters, satisfying story arc. There wasn’t, in fact, anything I would have changed about it, apart from the extremely over-the-top scenery chewing of John Travolta’s villain. But, as the film’s source was a graphic novel, some comic book exaggeration could certainly be tolerated.
Thomas Jane “made” that movie, however, much the way he carried the HBO film 61* with his sympathetic portrayal of Mickey Mantle (Thanks for reminding me of that, TommyT!). It is really hard to imagine either film with anyone else in those roles. But the replacement of Jane with actor Ray Stevenson might just work.
Stevenson is known to me only through his prominent role in HBO’s mini-series Rome, though I’ve only seen two episodes of that show, at most. From some of the publicity shots circulating around the internets, Stevenson certainly looks the part.
Here’s hoping the film – and Ray Stevenson in the title – do not disappoint. I’m really looking forward to this one.
3 responses so far ↓
1 Stu // Nov 10, 2008 at 3:10 PM
That was the *second* Punisher movie…the first was a bomb with Dolph Lundgren in it. Speaking of “movies-to-live-for”, the “Watchmen” movie will arrive soon. The trailers look great….but the book is a hard act to follow.
2 spitballarmy // Nov 10, 2008 at 3:28 PM
I suppose I should have referred to the Thomas Jane film as the “first in the current series.” I was indeed aware of the Lundgren attempt, but am of the opinion that the versions that are widely considered to be bombs don’t really need to be widely considered at all.
Watchmen is slated for sometime in 2009 now, as the next hearing in the Fox v. Warner lawsuit that has been delaying its release is scheduled for January. I saw the trailer when I caught Dark Knight in the theatre, but couldn’t see much meat beyond the special effects that were flying past with hyper-speed editing. Judging from the sometimes overwhelming buzz about it online, I represent the minority opinion. Is the source a book, or a graphic novel?
3 Stu // Nov 10, 2008 at 9:24 PM
A graphic novel, and a fantastic one at that.
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