Everybody's a critic - 'The Punisher"

One star (out of four)

A typical action/comic book-based film, "The Punisher" remains true to its genre with plenty of explosions, shoot-outs, fast cars, blood, etc.

While it is not a remake of the 1989 film of the same name, it revives the character of Frank Castle, mechanically played by Thomas Jane. Here he is bent on avenging the unjustified slaying of his family.

The film plods along, hitting every station of the action formula and stopping occasionally for an amusing nod to other typical Hollywood cliches. At one point, the characters conduct an old fashioned gunfight that is won by the man with the fastest draw and a damsel in distress appears on a train track.

This is a mostly forgettable film that drags on far longer than it should before finally reaching its predictable conclusion. Not even John Travolta's respectable performance as the villain can rescue this below-average movie.

- Bryce Eddings, credit manager

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Three stars

(out of four)

Agent Frank Castle, played by Tom Jane, retires from the FBI after his final undercover job has him running after the bad guys again. This time he is out for, not what he considers revenge, but punishment for the killing of his family.

Crime boss Howard Saint, played by John Travolta, had Castle's entire family killed upon the request of Saint's wife, Livia, because Saint's son was killed in Castle's last undercover sting.

This movie is extremely violent and contains scenes that are hard to watch. Not exactly what you would expect from a movie based on a Marvel Comic series. However, there is a lot of action and the storyline will hold your attention.

I found the relationship that develops between Castle and his neighbor to be interesting and somewhat touching.

- Lisa Quick, case worker

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One star (out of four)

When going to watch "The Punisher," I came in with few expectations, looking forward to another comic book hero movie. I came away feeling depressed, vengeful and full of hate and negativity.

The violence and depressing themes in the movie just tear you apart. The story starts out with hope and life for the main character, Frank Castle (Thomas Jane), who retires from the service and begins to strengthen relationships with his wife and son. The movie takes a terrible turn shortly thereafter and never gives any hope or any chance of light for Castle, who becomes "The Punisher."

He becomes a hateful, vengeful and careless man who does not care who he hurts in the process of getting revenge on the movie's bad guy, Howard Saint (John Travolta).

For the few positives of this movie, there were too many negatives.

- Ben Martin, student