Punisher: First Round

Well I was really excited about seeing this as Punisher and Wolverine are some of my favourite characters. The whole VS thing is a fantastic idea in the world of comics and to have them turned into films is a great idea but this film just doesn't cut it. The acting is very poor and there is something about The Punisher that I really didn't like, maybe the constant talking through all of it. Even for a low budget film it wasn't very good. I help my friend out with films and I would even go as far as to say that ours are much better than this, at a cost of £10 too.

If you want to see a good Punisher/Wolverine fight I suggest reading the comic.

Much as I liked the Dolph Lundgren and Thomas Jane versions of The Punisher, there was always something missing, from the first film there was a lack of dark humour that was always present in the comic character, from the second there was attempting to stuff too much into the film from the comic, meaning it swung from gritty to funny and back again without warning, unbalancing the film.

Corey Sosner's film First Round manages to significantly show up both films in a short 12 minutes. The necessarily swift pace and brutal action mirrors the comic, the Punisher's route up the ladder of the underworld needing little explanation or dialogue - they're bad guys, he's big and mean with a skull on his chest - nuff said.

The addition of the character of Wolverine, a long time/some time combatant and some time ally of the comic character, will appeal to the comic fans who thought Hugh Jackman a little too clean, tall and slender to be the sideburned one.

Sosner's short seems to scream 'look what I can and could do'. The use of comic frames showing the Punisher's origins over the credits and the slightly 'video game' look to some of the special effects illustrate effective innovation, but also show the possibilities and potential of Sosner as an actor and director, given sufficient funding.

I will be looking forward to second round, third round etc, lets hope that this fight goes the distance!

Just watched the Tom Jane version last night and heard rumors of a Punisher 2. I was quite surprised by how decent the Tom Jane version was, yeah some things could have been different as we all complain about this or that, but overall pretty damn good.

While looking up Punisher 2 I came across this beauty. Seems their is a bit of people saying yeah and others saying nay, but for a picture that comes across as, more or less a fan film, this is actually well done. I think people that are arguing it's quality fail to notice a few things and try to look at it as if this was something in the movies or tries to beat out the Tom Jane version instead of a stand alone film for what it is.

It has a nice intro with the comic being used to give a nice set-up for those that have half a clue who Frank Castle is. Yes, the quality is pretty much porno-like with the acting and so on, but still it can be overlooked. One complaint is he talks to much, to which we really only hear his thoughts, very sin city like and not so bad to keep you involved with what is taking place. While the body suit he wears is another person's gripe it isn't exactly the worse in the sense of costume's in the media when you compare it to something like Daredevil's costume in the Trial of the Incredible Hulk to name at least one.

For what it is I give it thumbs up.

This short fan film has high production value for a small independent project and brings to the screen a very interesting chapter in the mythology of The Punisher saga. The inventive digital effects add to the comic book feel and give an added layer of depth to the experience. Coming from the minds (and pens) of some of the independent comic world's more inventive minds sprung from the creative well of suburban New Jersey, "Punisher: First Round" brings to life a new variation on familiar characters from the comic underworld. Convincing casting choices combined with the appropriately comic book-cheesy dialogue, backed up with some great special effects by The Warped One, present an entertaining experience that promises more to come from this talented group of film makers.

Punisher: First Round is a great film, with all the action quality a hero movie must have. Really it was the first time that i see the real punisher on screen. A nice story events that leads (anti)heroes on crash course, non stopping action and villains united. This movie really rocks, Punisher on "punishment mode", blood and bullets. The characters are in good looking way. It's like a comic book screenplay. The bullets on the punisher belt are a nice added from the visual of the punisher. Also the making off, that is available, is a very cool reporting for the film. Looks like a "war journal" film-making. The dude begging for help is fun. The movie really fulfill the expectation about the punisher himself, not a drunken dude or a mental disturbed man prayer.

Excellent film!