The one part I really liked about the Punisher movie with Dolph Lundgren was the ending, in which Frank comforts Franco's son after killing his dad, but warns him that if he ever grows up to follow his father's footsteps, he'll be waiting. It's pretty metal and it reminds me of that later published comic in which he kills a couple involved in CP, and since one of the kids will be forever traumatized by that, Frank feels that he will have to kill him once he grows up.

To this day Thomas Jane is the voice I hear in my head when reading the comics. He's like Kevin Conroy for Batman and I wish more casting directors for animated projects would realize that.

The fact that the guy who played the Russian actually got stabbed in the shoulder by Thomas Jane because of a prop mixup and continued the scene without breaking character is awesome. I'm glad that take mad it into the final film.

Fun fact about the fight scene with The Russian: the prop department switched up the retractable and real knife so Frank Castle actually ended up stabbing the Russian. Both actors knew what happened and the actor playing the Russian just played it off… and then proceeded to throw The Punisher through a wall. You can see real fear when Frank stabs him realizing that that wasn’t acting.

Since Thomas Jane (The Second Punisher) appeared briefly in Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 2 is arguably the best Punisher movie ever made.

I remember seeing Punisher: Dirty Laundry and I was surprised that before No Way Home that the guy who did the Bootleg Universe Punisher movie didn’t try to make one for Tobey Maguire or Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man.

I think Jane was the most fun punisher imo. Guy was clearly having fun. Great video as always, cheers.

I think one of the reasons that a lot of Punisher takes care more about the crime people than the Punisher is because they don’t really know how to write Frank, and decide it’s easier to just kinda treat him as a Force of Nature, but also can’t quite commit to that angle.

I like early comics punisher, where the Marvel Character Guidbook said his only hobby is “training to punish someone”

Ray Stevenson was a lot more comic accurate than the others Thomas Jane in Punisher: Dirty Laundry was also brilliant

War Zone does such a good job at small character choices that mean so much. Frank growing to respect the former gang-banger, Micro sacrificing himself, Frank obliging the sacrifice, Frank letting the girl play with the snow globe, etc. Small but effective moments that play way better at describing these characters than spelling it out

I feel as though Lundgren's movie fits the tone of the comics from that time. While Warzone embraced the violence and the Jane version ended up having the most coherent story, despite it being soapy drama feeling. They all need to fuse together but neither of them work alone.

A period piece 80's style punisher movie is my elevator pitch. It has the effect of grounding it in a reality where there's not a whole bunch of zany and wild sci-fi or magic hopping around, but also allows for that old-school camp to set in.

Dominic West was honestly a great choice for a hammy villain in War Zone. I didn't think he could pull off objectively-evil camp but he does it well.

Funny you mentioned a western in the 2004 Punisher. Thomas Jane after that he voiced an portrays a protagonist from a Neversoft Western game "GUN". He was pretty cool.

0:00-intro 1:25-The Punisher (1989) 9:05-The Punisher (2004) 16:25-The Punisher: Dirty Laundry 19:01-Punisher: War Zone 25:27-conclusion 29:42-outro

Growing up with the 2004 and 2008 films, I love that you’re talking about something that hasn’t had much spotlight hardly ever. I personally love the Jane adaptation and still hope to this day he pops up again as ol Francis sometime in the future. Great vid Xavier.

My favourite part was when Frank Castle said "RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICK"

Was able to recently rewatch the 1989/Dolph Lundgren Punisher movie. It got quite a few things about Frank Castle wrong. But, it managed to hit so many core aspects dead center. Here the Punisher was a legit OMA with a mad on for violent crime. He was a highly skilled fighter and a trained marksman with a nihilistic world view and a high tolerance for pain. The kill count for this movie is likely higher than the combined counts for the other 2 Punisher movies and the Netflix series. Lundgren’s Frank Castle was a beast. Yeah, they had him sitting buck naked in the sewers. But, where it really mattered, the movie delivered.

"competence and successful wile e coyote in a world full of roadrunners" wasn't a sentence I expected to describe the punisher so well but I love that it does

I know you dislike the part of the Thomas Jane Punisher where he psychologically fucks with Saint. But, I like that part since it shows him doing reconnaissance and studying his prey. It's an interesting part that doesn't get shown that much in adaptations that go straight to him killing people.

RIP Ray Stevenson 🕊️

The 1989 Punisher movie is my favorite Punisher movie. From the over the top action, the memorable villains, the dark but colorful palette, and an underrated Louis Gossett Jr. performance, it has everything I want from a good Punisher story.

Rule number 2 made me think of a story that takes place in a future version of the Marvel Universe where the Punisher is either dead or simply cannot fight anymore and the people who takes up his legacy are the exact type of people he hated in life. Like a skin head gang and a bunch of cops start wearing the skull, and it could either be like a Dark Knight Returns deal where this decrepit Frank tries to kill all of the people wearing his logo or if he's dead they could be a big threat in some sort of future versions of the Champions since that seems like an enemy that would work really well with them.

I totally LOVE the 2004 Punisher. It’s such a product of its time that it’s very nostalgic to me. Edit: the guitar playing hitman was ABSOLUTELY necessary

Punisher War Zone is an underrated hidden gem. I don’t care what anyone says.

Mr Jane will always be my favorite Punisher when it comes to those three movies.

The 2004 Punisher is kinda like a trilogy. There is a prequel comic from garth ennis ( Thomas Jane's frank in the earlier days) . Then it's the 04 movie (and it's extended cut). And finally the 2005 punisher game with Thomas Jane returning as frank and garth ennis writing again

I said it once, and I'll say it again, the 2004 punisher is my favorite marvel movie and my favorite version of the punisher in live action. So much so that I even got the toy version of him. That's how I love the character

I really liked your _Five Rules for the Punisher_ and would love to see a video about that for Spider-Man and why writers over the last decade have gotten it all wrong.

I like how Xavier is slowly transitioning from: Godzilla “a spider-man channel” Mendoza To: Godzilla “constantly manages to find the most niche and fascinating video topics” Mendoza

My favorite part about the Russian fight scene is when Frank stabs the Russian, Thomas Jane accidentally actually stabbed Kevin Nash, and the dude kept shooting.

For me Daredevil season 2 was my favourite depiction of Punisher he kinda regressed into a different character in his own show but season 2 nailed him for what **I** want for a live action adaptation

Lundgren's "every mission is a suicide mission" thing reminds me of Max Payne. I recall him saying in the third game that he wants to die but keeps killing everyone who tries to help him in that regard.

For me it’s definitely the Dolph Lundgren movie. Felt the most like the Punisher.

Bernthal's take has only been "The Punisher" for maybe 10sec at the very end of season 2 when he's fully embraced the persona. I'm hoping they continue that direction. Similar to Jane's version. We've been able to see what they're capable of, but only in the end have they embraced "The Punisher". Meanwhile Stevenson and Lundgren are already well into their Punisher selves. Great breakdown video!

I’d love if the Gnuccis, The Russian, and General Kriegkopf found their way into the MCU

What the fuck do you call 125 murders in 5 years? Frank Castle : Work in progress

idk what the general consensus is but im a big fan of Punisher MAX. i find that some of those darker stories where he's inches from death and loads of innocent ppl get caught up in his violence (usually killed by his enemies but still) matches alot better with his story as a serial killer who kills other criminals. its like a more action packed and slightly less silly version of Dexter Morgan. (i find Dexter silly because of how he kept finding other serial killers like he had some sort of 6th sense for it and he was basically NEVER WRONG)

Warzone and the Thomas Jane movie are the best live action versions.

My favourite is the 2004 version, mainly for the "mindful" violence. I enjoyed how elaborate his plan was to ruin Howard, especially with the killer line "I made you kill your best friend, I made you kill your wife, and now I've killed you." Or something along those lines.

It's so weird that I've been on a punisher binge and all of a sudden you give yet another really good video on John Punish Man. Very sus, very needed.

Dolph Lundren has such a fantastic head of hair in that PunPun movie.

I think also cops ruined the punisher symbol. Remember that one cop that wouldn't help the students and checked his phone and had the punisher skull for his background.

A punisher who actively wants to die is fascinating it’s why I have a soft spot lundgren

13:05 I think Thomas Jane played the Punisher as not someone who was broken, but someone who had nothing left, kind of like John Wick. Son of a crime lord, takes everything away from a former marine, who spends the rest of the movie getting vengeance by destroying their money, killing the son and then the father. The setting of the movie works with the tie-in to the drug trade in a scarface kind of way. The only problem with this movie is the way Frank loses his family. It goes too big and would've been better if the story was something like visiting his parents' house with his family and maybe the family of his wife's brother or something. To me, until Jon Bernthal gets his Punisher on the big screen, Thomas Jane is the best Punisher. The only reason Bernthal is so much more liked, is because he had more screen time with a season on Daredevil and two seasons of his own show.

Bernthal has said he won't do punisher if marvel is going to make it a joke fest. So, I doubt that's happening

Thanks for uploading this right when I’m re entering my Punisher phase again

Id really love to see an adaptation of Barracuda in a future Punisher installment. A real underrated character imo

I rewatch the apartment fight scene from Thomas Jane’s movie all the time. Absolutely fantastic sequence

Well it turns out Bernthal is the only other person confirmed to be in the new show which is cool My favorite Punisher movie is the 2004 one, but I like War Zone too (RIP Ray Stevenson) and I do appreciate the cool 80s vibe of Lundgren

Posted days before it's announced Bernthal's Punisher is returning, fun timing.

Jon bernthals back as punisher in Daredevil born again

The Punisher being in a relationship with Elektra, or anyone for that matter, feels so weird and out if character.

2004 by far. Its a good ass actual movie and the game slaps. Jane is so good War Zone is fun though

I would really love a new punisher game made in the style of hitman but less stealth oriented

Ummm fun fact we actually did get two Captain America movies

I personally like the 2004 punisher but I respect your opinion on it. All three have aspects of the Punisher they do well.

So Warzone is probably the most comic accurate with just going in and just killing everyone with no muss or fuss. I myself really like Thomas Jane’s Punisher movie. I like the whole psychological and methodical aspect to how he worked, like his Punisher was definitely playing the long game to get his justice.

I want a adaptation of the punisher born comic as a full blown saving private ryan, hacksaw ridge type war movie

Cops liking a comic character is a really stupid hangup to have.

Thomas Jane supremacy 🙏

The 2004 movie was a blast imo. I personally loved it

The Lundgren Punisher will always be my favourite. The man looks, sounds, feels and acts the part. He wants his mission to be over, knowing it will never stop, cause he won't stop. The guy is the embodiment of vengeance and savage violence. And thank fuck they didn't hold back on that department. The action is so good.

RIP Ray Stevenson, and yeah WarZone isn't a good movie but his look and the action scenes were top Frank Castle.

Surprised you didn’t mention the 2004 movie takes place in Tampa as opposed to New York. It’s like a Batman movie taking place in Toledo.

You nailed it, dude! Such a lot of good arguments! And i laugh hard of your XAVIER RULES FORGOOD PUNISHER WRITING. You're right!

7:30 i think its also important that the punisher while punisher isn’t a heroic paragon he’s still someone who’s killing people who deserve it. No matter how non real world it is the punisher the second punisher starts killing people who are innocent the second he loses all his moral complexity. I also dislike Jason Aaron’s take on the character alot because of how much he pushes in that frank isn’t a good person. While in the real world frank probably hit his kids, Frank’s strong belief in his moral code is what makes him interesting.

Great vid! Love the videos where you go over a character’s personality/history and compare them to how they’ve been portrayed in media. Would love to see this done for Venom

The 2004 Punisher is my favorite version.

Thomas Jane was the best punisher and best movie, imho. Dolph didn’t even wear the skull and war zone was just too over the top. I will say that Janes movie definitely spent too much time on other characters but overall think it’s the best one. And I just love janes portrayal.

id really love for you to cover Garth Enniss hitman comics its probably his best work

Thomas Jane just had that look and presence. All were good but I gravitate toward Jane.

This guy sounds like a white cosmonaut picture show and I love every minute of it

These movies were available on Disney+ in my country and I just can't tell how it's weird to me to see Disney recomending Punisher

Mendoza really did imply punisher hates cops and put an out of context panel where the follow up Page Frank straight up says to the cop that of course he wasnt going to kill him since he's a cop. Everytime

Mendoza: did we really need that scene with the guitar player in the diner Me:YES! That scene is gold! And you know it is! I'm playing I love that scene and love your channel

I hate how the punisher logo has been roped into the world of politics, its a memento mori skull nothing more. I know that "certain" people wear it but their actions don't define the logo.

I love the guitar scene from the Thomas Jane Punisher. I think it's very atmospheric and bad ass if pretty goofy lol

I like all versions for different reasons. Dolph's is '80s action schlock as all hell, Jane's is a slow burn western meets gangster, and Stevenson's it's just so bad it's good and absurd and surreal. My least favorite ends up being Bernthal's, since I really don't care about "I'm giving up this life" type of stories

I saw Joaquin Phoenix in You Were Never Really Here and thought that was perfect Punisher. I would’ve liked that

My buddies and I are all huge comic book readers and enthusiasts and we love getting together to watch comic book movie. I watched Punisher War zone and actually really dug the movie and the over the top tone. I showed it to my friends however and they tore it apart and hated it. They were expecting something like the TV show and that just isnt what that movie is so I get it. Still personally I like the movie.

You just gave me an idea. Jon Bernthal can be a villian in Spider-Man 4. Then at the end SpiderMan, Daredevil and The Punisher can team up against the Kingpin and Scorpion

I honestly think Thomas Jane's Punisher would be perfect if they gave him another shot and based it on the Greg Rucka run since Garth Ennis's tenure is so overused.

So we're just not gonna mention that Thomas Jane ACTUALLY stabbed Kevin Nash!? And homie just kept doing the scene?

I actually hate the part that the hit on Castle's family was intentional. I love the fact that just like Peter Parker, it could happen to anyone else. Frank and his family were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. If it was raining that day, nothing would happen.

If I remember right the tomas jane shirt that his son bought represented good luck or something on that island it’s been a while since ive seen it so i can be wrong

I think the bootleg is kinda cool for not making him being exetremely heroic, he only start to being a punisher when he heard the story about the neighborhood past. It kinda unique like that one line Garth Ennis wrote in the game when Frank try to find the Nuke and sink it “New York may stand some purges but not like this”

Let’s be honest: The single greatest Punisher portrayal EVER was in the Xbox video game (again, Thomas Jane, whether you loved the film or not.) I’ve never seen a depiction of ANY adapted character that perfect and flawless (the fact that that game was 10,000 times better than it likely ever deserved to be, and is still the single greatest third action “shooter” game EVER this side of Max Payne 3 also helps. (Source: Being a game designer/dev, gamer, and Punisher fan most of my life)

You knock them down and they get back up, I knock them down and they stay down!

Great video I was completely absorbed and fascinated with it.

as someone who has been dying for more punisher content from you im excited for this

This video came out at a perfect time, I've been in a punisher mood lately

I always cringe when I see people with punisher logos on their truck as if they even know what Frank's philosophy is. Doubly so if it's a cop.

Tom jane punisher is by far my favorite

I love the fact that Dolph's Punisher says Batman sent him to Lady Tanaka.

i think dolphs face was supposed to be the logo, the way the light hits his face and 5 oclock shadow makes his face look like his logo

Fun fact about the fight with the Russian, when Jane stabbed Nash...He accidentally used a real knife. And Nash just took it like it was nothing. And the "Oh SHIT" look on Jane's face is 100% real because he realized he'd just stabbed Kevin Nash in the shoulder and "Oh god what's about to happen to me" lol

Finally for once KZfaq decided to give me a notification that you uploaded

Thomas Jane is my Frank, but War Zone clearly had a lot of love in it... even with such a low budget.