Premiered in US theatres in 2004, "The Punisher" is a movie that combines the elements of action, crime and thriller. It is directed by Jonathan Hensleigh and written by both Jonathan Hensleigh and Michael France.
The film, the runtime of which is 141 minutes, stars Thomas Jane as Frank Castle, John Travolta as Howard Saint, Will Patton as Quentin Glass, Eddie Jemison as Mickey Duka, Rebecca Romijn as Joan, Ben Foster as Dave, John Pinette as Bumbo, and Laura Harring as Livia Saint.
The movie is around Frank Castle (Thomas Jane), a man who has seen too much death in his life, as an FBI special agent. He is finally moving out of the field and into a normal life with his wife, Maria (Samantha Mathis), and young son, Will (Marcus Johns).
On his final assignment, Castle plays his undercover role perfectly, but the operation spins out of control and a young man, Bobby Saint (James Carpinello), is killed. This places the FBI on the wrong side of Tampa businessman Howard Saint (John Travolta) and his glamorous wife, Livia (Laura Harring).
Inflamed by the death of their son, the Saints are willing to risk their newfound legitimacy on a wholesale mission of blood-vengeance. Castle's worst nightmare is about to come true, as Howard Saint and his lieutenants unleash hell at the Castle family reunion.
But Castle survives. Until this moment, he has spent his entire life adhering strictly to the law. However, experience has taught him that the law cannot adequately penalize the people who murdered his family.
Castle sets in motion a plan to punish the murderers. He takes up residence in a dilapidated tenement building in Tampa's industrial district, where his fellow tenants include Joan (Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), a waitress at a nearby diner; Dave (Ben Foster); and Mr. Bumpo (John Pinette).
Castle thoroughly familiarizes himself with the habits and routines of the Saint family. He traces the movements not only of Howard and Livia, but also their surviving son, John (James Carpinello), and Howard's second-in-command, lawyer Quentin Glass (Will Patton).
Stunned that Castle is not only alive but causing him harm, Howard Saint marshals his forces in an attempt to shut Castle down.
Yet Joan, Dave and Mr. Bumpo bring Castle the one thing he least expects: redemption. His personal goal achieved, Castle realizes that his life's work has just begun.
As The Punisher, he will provide justice for ordinary people and exact retribution from society's villains.
"The Punisher" won Taurus Award for Best Fire Stunt (Mark Chadwick), and was nominated for Prism Award for Wide Release Feature Film in 2005.
The movie was rated R for pervasive brutal violence, language and brief nudity.