The Punisher (1989) ** 1/2
(First Viewing)

Based on the Marvel Comic, Dolph Lundgren is Frank Castle an ex-cop who lives in the sewers and acts as judge, jury, and executioner to the city's criminals in retaliation for the unpunished murders of his wife and kids. Frank's ex-partner Jake (Louis Gossett Jr.) finally catches up with the vigilante as he tries to stop the Japanese mob, which is trying to take over the city's mafia operation.

I really thought Dolph Lundgren did a good job as The Punisher. This was A LOT better than I expected and I enjoyed it very much. It had mafia and yakuza figures and it was actually set in New York. I probably enjoyed the remake more because it went in depth with the Frank Castle character. What I didn't like about this film is they never really say how or why he became The Punisher. The movie just picks up with him being "on the loose" for the past 5 years. Sure we know his family was blown up in a car explosion, but why? There were too many questions that needed to be answered. Also what I liked about the remake more was Frank Castle had military training, whereas in his picture we're only told he was a former cop. I think the military training is more believable for succeeding at the task at hand (namely riding the city of crime figures).

SPOILERS!!!!!!!

SPOILERS!!!!!!!




Just finished watching "You've Got Mail". Obviously I admire The Godfather references, but I am a complete and total sucker for the scene in that absolutely beautiful garden, and that line, I wanted it to be you so badly.

It gets me every time.

Oh yeah, Brinkley the labrador in Riverside Park with "somewhere over the rainbow" playing, great scene.

A very guy friendly "chick flick". I loved it.

Yeah, um I'm going to go ahead and say that Bad Boys II was a sequel not a "remake".

You keep bashing these Bay moives - but I don't think you've watched them all the way either, so basically you're talking out your Irish you know what kind sir.

Now am I really going to sit here and say that Bay is a great and masterful film maker - no not really. However at what he does he is more than above par. So instead of social commentary his films are filled with explosions. You know what that is what some people want to see. Did Pearl Harbor suck...yes. Was the Island bad...beyond belief - I mean not Sean Bean as a bad guy, Scarletts fantastic aesthetic appeal, and Djimon Hounsou forceful presence were enough to save it. However being as I've watched them I can say that - without trying to just sound like I have taste.

I meant sequel, not remake. And yes I do feel it was unecessary




Ah, I own Bad Boys and Bad Boys II. I've seen The Rock, Pearl Harbor and The Island. Really the only Bay movie I haven't seen is Armageddon (which given the time, I'll do this weekend). So what's with all this "you haven't seen them all sh*t?"

I saw Red Eye yesturday. It was pretty good.

ARMAGGEDON is a piece of shit that is autuer Bay's ultimate retarded statement. Hell, Billy Bob Thornton in retrospect admits that if it wasn't for the cash, he wouldn't been 300 miles close to that turkey.

The problem with BAD BOYS is that it follows very closely the buddy-cop formula to the hilt, but I've seen it numerous times...and hell if I can ever remember:

(1) The villains & their scheme
(2) What did Martin Lawrence ever do to make him justified as a worthy cop protagonist? Will Smith is doing his jiggy with guns, but Martin is supposed to be a clown...except he's about as funny as a Nazi Death Camp.

If anything, what makes BAD BOYS suffer is the fact that it lacks "something" to make it worthwhile. It has the formula, but without anything unique gimmick added, it becomes an average-ass action movie.

BAD BOYS 2 though is just a mediocre 150-minute movie that is 60 minutes too long. Apparently, Bay intentionally kept alot of unncessary footage so to piss off his critics. It worked. That is very petty, since it kept his movie from playing as much in theatres as it could, and make a bigger profit.

But don't get me started on the fucking retarded 3rd act in Cuba. Miami cops take out the Cuban Army? Hey, I know its a banana dictatorship and all, but its an ARMY...and Miami police wouldn't exactly last long against an ARMY.

Did I mention the 5 minute car-ride from Havana to Guantanamo Bay? Jesus....

Thing is, Irish, you ever heard the story about Michael Bay and Ed Harris?

Short answer is, Bay got some bruises.

Apparently you haven't seen Rambo, part 2

svsg, not only part 2, but I've seen RAMBO 3...and lived.

Have you?

Have you seen this Ronnie ? It's actually painful to look at.

http://www.ramboiv.moonfruit.com/

I agree pizzaboy. I enjoyed ROCKY BALBOA, but this RAMBO IV sounds basically like THE APOSTLE thrown into a blender with RAMBO III. Yeech.

What I dont is, "He's Back, and this time, its personal"

Huh? I thought John Rambo was pissed when America left POWs to rot back in Vietnam, or when the Soviets were like Gestapo-exterminating the Afghans...now he's personal?

This sounds like a Stephen Colbert comedy sketch.

I LOVED Rocky Balboa because it wasn't even really a fight movie, it was a movie about acceptance and moving on and I think it was done rather well.

Another Rambo, however, is a revolting notion. I guess that's why Sly's been toting human growth hormone through Europe, because it's personal.

I was (brain)dead after part 2

I agree pizzaboy.

When you read about him, Stallone was one of the bigger super-egomaniacs in Hollywood in the 1980s, quite a turn from being a humble aspiring actor/writer. Years of flops and being a bloody joke perhaps put him back several pegs. Good for him.

But with ROCKY BALBOA, he actually made the first ROCKY sequel that's a worthy sequel to ROCKY. No sillyness of getting revenge or fighting the Russians or winning...

If anything, I'm just shocked that Stallone actually kept the only logical and right ending to the fight. The Sly of old would have demanded the usual ROCKY ending.

ROCKY BALBOA (2006) - ***

BTW, you reminded me pizzaboy....I laughed when I read that Mr. Balboa was using the roids.

As silly and dumb as RAMBO 2 is, RAMBO 3 is even more stupid. That is an acheivement in its own right.

Are any of the supposed alternate endings included in the Rocky Balboa dvd ?

Well, Sly shot like numerous different conclusions to the fight:

(1) Sly win by knockout
(2) Split-Decision
(3) Loss - Points(SPOILER)
(4) Win - Points

I think its the Win by points that is on the DVD, but I'm not sure.

No I haven't heard of it. What's the long answer?

Basically Irish, if the reports are to be believed, Michael Bay fancies himself to be a Steven Spielberg sort of director. However, he wanks himself to think of himself as James Cameron's heir apparent.

Egomaniac aside, he repeatedly asked Ed Harris over and over again during THE ROCK shoot in how Cameron shot this and that scene in THE ABYSS.

Ok, so what? Harris and Cameron fucking hated each other in the infamous hellish production of THE ABYSS, so having a punk music video director fancying himself to be Cameron repeatedly asking about THE ABYSS, which was not a fun time at all for Harris....it sorta pissed Harris off.

After telling him politely to quit, Bay kept doing it...and Harris proceeded to punch him. The crew joked and laughed at Bay for getting his annoying-ass knocked down by Harris.

Hey Irish, answer me this about THE ROCK....why is there mining shafts on Alcatraz?

I was wondering the same thing myself It's a Michael Bay movie, maybe suspect_5 knows?

Hey Irish I sorta remember you telling me something about turning one movie off halfway through - thus my insinuation that you haven't watched them all.

As for the mine shafts...? Maybe it was part of the military installation - some type of subterranean supply conveyance...yeah I'm just talking out my ass

Your asshole talks, like NAKED LUNCH? Wow

what military installation?

Yes, Alcatraz was an American base during the American Civil War, but that basically meant some guys on a piece of rock in San Fran Bay, with some guns and maybe a canon or two. The deepest holes they dug was for the latrines.

Also, I have serious problems with Ed Harris' character motivations in regards to THE ROCK.

He wants to honor his forgotten comrades by bio-weapon bombing the city. Right. Unless he's really a rogue Al Qaeda agent, this is bullshit that no American would think.

Besides, why not simply take over Alcatraz and making it very open? Force it to be public, and embarras the fucking hell out of the American government.

You know, instead of DIE HEAD knock-off #26.

Still, it tells you Michael Bay's lame and terrible career so far when his fans, and haters, seem to agree that this is Bay's best shot film. Talk about being damned with faint praise.

THE ROCK (1996) - **1/2

Full slate of quick-ratings of Bay's autuership of garbage:

BAD BOYS (1995) - **1/2
THE ROCK (1996) - **1/2
ARMAGGEDDON (1998) - * - BOMB
PEARL HARBOR (2001) - * - BOMB
BAD BOYS II (2003) - *1/2
THE ISLAND (2005) - **

Nope, I've seen them all the way through. I turned Blood Diamond off halfway through

Ronnie, I am interested to know why it is your opinion that Pearl Harbor was a bomb.



Don Cardi

Apart from the love scenes,i thought this was a decent film,which ive watched many times..must just be me..

I liked the movie. The attack scene was absolutely impressive. And the love story...well...I liked it too. I admit Lassie and Rin Tin Tin were better actors than Ben Affleck, but I loved this movie all the same.

So im not the only one,lol

Oh I will...when you tell me why you didn't like THREE KINGS.