As I sat in amazement through the first few scenes of the glorious film, "The Punisher," I could only stare in sheer awe at the local Carmike screen. Had somebody finally created a film that makes "Citizen Kane" look uninspired? Indeed, someone has -- my friends. Playing in your local Cineplex is a film that is grandiose, yet simple. Poetic, yet brutally honest. "The Punisher" will wash away all memory of every other film in contemporary American cinema.
There is only one word to begin my unheralded praise of this modern-day Mona Lisa. That word is "Travolta." Through the years, John Travolta has dazzled our hearts and touched our souls. Genius performances in such unforgettable fare as "Look Who's Talking," "Look Who's Talking Too" and the timeless "Look Who's Talking Now," made the man a legend.
In "The Punisher," Travolta devilishly captures the evil villain, Howard Saint. He turns in a performance so raw, so articulate, it can only be matched by his flawless portrayal of the Psychlo, Terl, in a little masterpiece named "Battlefield Earth." This man just does not miss.
Equally impressive as Travolta is Thomas Jane, the actor courageous enough to bring "The Punisher" to life. He boldly delves into his character's motivations and fears, nearly crying a real tear when he sees the dead bodies of his murdered family. I hope the Oscar committee has their eye on this young talent.
The icing on this epic cake has to be the revolutionary action sequences. The filmmakers use a compilation of Ju Jit Su, rubber knives, techno music and hand grenades to create action so thrilling that I felt my heart stop for one brief moment. Even Michelangelo, when painting the Sistine Chapel, could not have imagined something so beautiful.
In fact, when I die, I plan to leave no will and testament. Instead I will leave DVD copies of this film to all my loved ones so they too may forever experience the unique brilliance that is "The Punisher." Cheers to the makers of the film -- your lives are now complete. My generation now has its "Casablanca."
Questions, comments should be sent to grumpy@cavalierdaily.com
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