Ranking EVERY Version Of The Punisher From Worst To Best
3. Thomas Jane - The Punisher (2004)
On his final mission before retirement, FBI agent Frank Castle is involved in the death of mafia boss Howard Saint's son. This sets in motion a chain of events that will see his family slaughtered while he is left for dead, forcing him to don the skull motif of The Punisher as he seeks revenge on those involved.
Thomas Jane got unlucky here for a couple of reasons, one of them very petty. First off, this is a slow burn of a movie and though that isn't always a bad thing, there are times when you are too aware of its 2 hour runtime. Secondly, why did they feel the need to mess with an established backstory yet again?!
Punisher is not a cop, an FBI agent or the bleedin' Dalai Lama, he's an ex-marine. That's what makes him an unstoppable killing machine.
Seriously, if anyone knows why, please use the comment section.
As for Jane himself, his Frank Castle is a man on the edge and when he's done what he has to do, he will quite happily step over it. Obviously a project and character he feels connected to, he would reprise the role in the 2012 fan film Dirty Laundry, which is worth checking out.