Thomas Jane in ‘The Punisher’ Is a Free to Stream Hit on Tubi.

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As a dedicated Marvel enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the anticipation building for Jon Bernthal’s MCU entrance as Frank Castle in “Daredevil: Born Again.” In the interim, it seems that the 2004 adaptation of “The Punisher,” where I played the titular character after Dolph Lundgren, has found its way back into the limelight, making a comeback on Tubi’s Top 10 most-watched list. Despite receiving criticism from critics, it’s clear that there’s still a passionate fanbase for this movie, as evidenced by its resurgence on streaming platforms.

The rising popularity of “The Punisher” on free streaming indicates a positive trend for the return of Frank Castle in the MCU’s “Daredevil: Born Again” later this year. Even though new actors are involved, and Bernthal has garnered much acclaim for his portrayal, there might be an opportunity to pique interest among those who haven’t watched previous versions of Castle, thanks to discussions about his upcoming comeback.

In the hands of director Jonathan Hensleigh, the character The Punisher made his debut. This gripping story follows a former FBI agent turned vigilante, seeking retribution and justice for his slain family, and taking down those who have wronged him. Unlike many superhero movies of its time, this dark, urban-set film stood out. After two decades, the brooding, gritty style of comic book adaptations has not only garnered a fanbase but delved even deeper into darkness in films such as The Batman. The movie’s summary goes:

* In the capable hands of director Jonathan Hensleigh, The Punisher was unveiled. This captivating narrative follows a former FBI agent who transformed into a vigilante, seeking justice and vengeance for his murdered family while taking down those who have wronged him. Unlike many superhero movies at that time, this dark, urban-set film stood out. After two decades, the brooding, gritty style of comic book adaptations has not only found a fanbase but delved even deeper into darkness in films such as The Batman. The movie’s summary reads:

In this adaptation, FBI agent Frank Castle, portrayed by Thomas Jane, metamorphoses into the merciless Punisher after a group of criminals brutally slays his family, including his wife and child. The brutal assault leaves Castle near death, causing Howard Saint (John Travolta), the crime lord who instigated the attack, to presume him dead. After recuperating, Castle morphs into an armed avenger with a relentless mission: to bring vengeance upon Saint and destroy his criminal empire.

Was ‘The Punisher’ Misunderstood?

In 2004, the release of The Punisher didn’t win over critics with its portrayal of Frank Castle. This gritty comic book adaptation came at a time when viewers were accustomed to the vibrant action of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films, and it echoed Lundgren’s film from more than a decade prior, which also received mostly unfavorable reviews. While Jane earned some positive feedback for her performance, the film’s 20% Tomatometer score led many to criticize it as being “excessively violent” and a “run-of-the-mill revenge story.

Berthal’s portrayal of Castle is often likened to Jane’s, much like how Jane’s performance was once measured against Lundgren’s less remembered role as the R-rated anti-hero. For viewers, the 63% score on Popcornmeter might have been lower than the Netflix series’ 79%, but the appreciation for the action movie has steadily increased over time.

A query that’s been floating around lately is if the MCU multiverse might permit Liv Tyler to return as a version of The Punisher (Frank Castle). Although it theoretically could happen, Tyler previously addressed this topic in an interview before the launch of Deadpool & Wolverine. When asked about reprising her role, she stated:

I’m a fan of Jon Bernthal as The Punisher. To be honest, I found it challenging because Frank Castle is meant to be an Italian-American character, and I’m not. As an Irish-American, I had to alter my appearance and adopt a new role, but Bernthal carries it off so convincingly that I believe they should continue with him.

Even though viewers might not expect Jane’s interpretation of Frank Castle to show up in a fresh movie, the fact that The Punisher is still ranking high on Tubi streaming charts demonstrates that even after 20 years, both seasoned Marvel fans and newcomers are open to revisiting older versions of various comic book characters. Critics’ initial opinions seem irrelevant when it comes to these timeless characters.

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2025-01-10 03:31