The Punisher's tragic triumph

Here's my short review of the new Punisher movie, which I saw tonight.

On one hand, "The Punisher: War Zone" is as crass a shoot-'em-up as you'll ever see, with grotesque violence and appalling bloodshed. Ray Stevenson absolutely looks the part of the comic-book anti-hero, and the movie is relentless with action. The Punisher's cold precision and deadly grace with his weapons are showcased without apology. The violence is ugly. Frank Castle knows it's ugly but he faces it, and the film doesn't turn away from it either.

On the other hand, opposite from the heavy-handed carnage, Stevenson gives a subtle and compelling performance as Frank Castle. The Punisher is a commando with a broken heart and an iron will. He lives a nightmare existence of grief and despair and anger. He doesn't revel in his revenge. He does the job that he feels God has failed to do by punishing evildoers. He knows the blood on his hands condemns him, but he accepts it as the price he must pay to get the job done.

The Punisher is perhaps the most realistic of Marvel's "superheroes," because he has no super power. You may even view the character as a metaphor for the United States, like Viggo Mortensen's character in "A History of Violence." He detests violence, but he's terribly good at it despite himself, when he's pushed to it. It also reminds me of Clint Eastwood's character in "Unforgiven," who is a terrible, clumsy farmer, but as a killer he's as graceful as the angel of death.

This film is not going to be widely embraced like a Spider-Man or Hulk or Iron Man movie, because of the horrific violence (although if the camera in those movies were pointed at the recipients of the heroes' violence, they'd look this awful, too). It's the nature of The Punisher's story, because it's so dark.

For people who might be inclined to read a Punisher comic, "The Punisher: War Zone" is awesome. Ray Stevenson makes the character real. Frank Castle is a tragic hero is scorns himself, even as others admire him.

I've been a fan of Stevenson since he played the quiet, ax-wielding knight Dagonet in "King Arthur" who broke the ice on the lake and sent the Vikings for a swim. I became an even bigger fan of his with the HBO series "Rome," in which he played Roman soldier Titus Pullo, one of the main characters.

Won't it be interesting if Marvel movies become the venue for a "Rome" reunion? With Stevenson playing The Punisher, rumors are circulating again that "Rome" co-star Kevin McKidd may play Thor. For my money (which will be spent on tickets, DVDs and collectibles), that would be fantastic. I'll be one happy geek.

Hail Flying Monkey Joe! The Mighty Thor is read!

He did it! My good friend Flying Monkey Joe (that's his code name) has returned from DragonCon with the prize of his quest on my behalf. It is Thor issue #199. As a bonus, he also brought back #201 and an issue from the same era that has both Thor and Conan in it. Who knows what sweaty horrors he endured in Atlanta to retrieve such treasures? I shudder to contemplate it.

He has proved himself to be a mighty comic hunter indeed, and an extraordinary simian soarer! Thanks, Flying Monkey Joe!

I will savor my new/old comic books and report back here on the impressions I have upon reading them.

Thor #199 and me

Godspeed, Flying Monkey Joe.

My good friend Flying Monkey Joe (that's his code name -- d'ya hear that, ya hayseeds?) is going to DragonCon in Atlanta this weekend. He has his own reasons for going into that great weekend dungeon of geekdom, but he also goes with a quest for me: To seek the Odin-son.
Specifically, to find an original Thor comic, issue #199.

That was my comic book when I was a kid.

My parents were not backward, and they provided plenty of books for my sister and me to read, but somehow comic books got classified as candy or toys instead of literature. I almost never got to read comic books unless I was visiting a friend and got into his stash.

I did manage to claim ownership of at least one comic book, though, and that was Thor #199. If I had any other comic books of my own, I don't remember them, because they fade to oblivion in my memory in the light of Thor's might.

I still remember panels and images from the story. Pluto, in his form-fitting armor, wielding a double-bladed battle ax, his edicts called the ravings of "the mind of a god gone mad." Thor, looming above the battlefield, his red cape billowing about his shoulders as he answers Pluto's challenge: "The God of Thunder dares."

I never knew the context of the story, because I had read none of the other issues as the complex plot unfolded, but it didn't matter. He was a hero who sparked my imagination. A god with the voice of rumbling thunder who stood up against Madness.

I commissioned my grandmother to make me a red flannel cape, and I found a little tack hammer in the junk drawer to serve as mighty Mjolnir. One side of my godly weapon was magnetized to hold tacks, so you wouldn't smash your fingers hammering the tiny brads.

More recently, I've been following the newly relaunched Thor comic, buying each new issue at Double Header sports cards in Gardendale. I also bought Thor Vol. 1, the graphic-novel size compilation of the first several issues of the refurbished story, which captures some of
the brooding power of the old Thor that I remember.

The Thor who forged me in the fires of geekdom still lives.

Bow before your God of Thunder

While we're discussing superheroes, I must remark on the rumors about casting for a Thor movie. The rumor, repeated by the authoritative imdb.com, is that Kevin McKidd is to play the god of thunder, although Marvel is rumored to prefer wrestler Triple H. I've been a fan of Thor since I was a kid, when I was known to dress up in a red cape and run around in the back yard waving a tack hammer over my head, doing my best little-kid impression of the Odin-son with Mjolnir. Here's my take on the casting issue:

Kevin McKidd would be superb as Thor. I watched the entire HBO series "Rome," in which McKidd played Lucius Vorenus. Anyone who saw that series would have no doubt whatsoever that McKidd is capable of the angst, intensity and ferocity of Thor. Who can forget the terrifying look in his eyes when Vorenus confronted the gangster who boasted that he'd murdered Vorenus' children? Or the murderous frenzy that possessed him in the arena when he fought side-by-side with his friend Titus Pullo? Not to mention the savage swordplay he performed in that scene.

Combine the fierce, brooding character he played in "Rome" with his deep, resonate voice, and his physical appearance, and you practically have Thor incarnate. Look at him in Roman armor. He wears the breastplate and helmet like he stepped out of history. And remember the character he played in another sword epic, "Kingdom of Heaven"? Another perfect fit.



He has the blond hair of a Norseman. His sharp nose and cheekbones makes it seem like he could even have been the model for the classic Marvel depiction of Thor, if that were possible.

On the other hand, Marvel is rumored to prefer Triple H. Now, I'm a fan of Triple H. You can ask my friend, Flying Monkey Joe, and he will confirm that I have long held the belief that Triple H should be in a movie depicting a sword-wielding character. But the character Triple H should play is a barbarian. The ideal role for him would be Kane from the Karl Edward Wagner series of books about the cursed, immortal son of Adam and Eve, the first murderer. That character is a movie gold-mine waiting to be discovered. But if nobody comes through with that, Triple H could be an awesome Conan.

Triple H could project the rough-hewn power and sinew of a barbarian anti-hero. The man is a tank. What wrestling fan can forget the way he continued a match after his quadriceps muscle TORE, even allowing himself to be placed in Chris Jericho's signature leg-wrenching hold despite the injury? Talk about Conan's mighty thews!

And speaking of Chris Jericho, I've long thought he could play a terrific Viking, too. Could he be Thor's sidekick, Baldur? That, too, might be a perfect fit.

So that's my assessment. Can there be any doubt that Kevin McKidd is destined to be Thor? I say thee, Nay! McKidd should go ahead and start growing his hair long.