The Marvel Comics vigilante is brought to the screen in the guise of square-jawed giant Dolph Lundgren. He's no superhero though, merely a leather-clad man on a motorbike avenging the murder of his family by the New York Mob, in this unremarkable thriller. Lundgren certainly looks every inch the comic-book hero, plus there's better-than-average support from Louis Gossett Jr and Jeroen Krabbé (the bad guy, naturally). The film also has one interesting genre twist up its sleeve - when Lundgren assists his adversary - but the lack of visual style, repetitive action scenes and a lifeless script place this in the second division of comic book adaptations.

The avenging angel of Marvel Comics fame comes brilliantly to life in this searing action-adventure thriller! Dolph Lundgren stars as Frank Castle, a veteran cop who loses his entire family to a mafia car bomb. His ex-partner believes Castle survived the blast and became the Punisher, living in the sewers and exacting vigilante violence against mob bosses throughout the city. When the populace is caught in the midst of a gang war that he caused, Castle must again emerge from the shadows and save the innocent.