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Reviews
Punisher: First Round (2005)
Finally a Punisher film which resembles the Original character
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!