DVD review (region 2)
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Starring Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Doug Hutchison, Colin Salmon, Julie Benz
Release date Out now

The former Special Forces vigilante is back, trying to make up for murdering an FBI agent as he brings down another crime family...

This third screen attempt at bringing Marvel's anti-hero Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, to life is certainly the nearest that anyone has come to capturing the essence of the character – at least as far as his MAX appearances goes – with Ray Stevenson an excellent choice for the titular role.

Director Lexi Alexander uses similar colours and scene set-ups to the comic book, although occasionally this faithfulness grates. It's one thing to have stereotyped Italian gangsters in a comic book, but another to have them played straight in a movie: they come across as ridiculous, which goes against the spirit.

Colin Salmon’s dodgy American accent doesn’t help: while there’s a good chemistry between his FBI agent (the partner of an agent that Castle accidentally kills) and Stevenson's violent hero, he just sounds wrong.

Julie Benz, here playing the agent's widow, must have a thing about violent movies – she's as awash in fake blood in this film as she was in last year’s Rambo! She gets a great confrontation scene with Castle mid-movie, but then unfortunately becomes a bit of a cipher.

Dominic West hams it up completely as Jigsaw, but Doug Hutchison (Tooms from The X-Files) steals every scene he's in with his portrayal of Jigsaw's insane brother, Loony Bin Jim, whose descent into total madness as his medication wears off is brilliantly played.

Punisher: War Zone is not high art. It's a well choreographed action movie with moments that make you wonder if you've really just seen what was on screen. If you make sure to check your brain at the door, this is great fun. Paul Simpson

VERDICT: 7/10
Violence is golden.