It's not Vengeance . . . it's Punishment.

From a comic book standpoint, the only thing I know about the Punisher is that he made his first appearance in the pages of The Amazing Spider Man, so I can't comment on how faithful the 2004 film starring Thomas Jane and John Travolta might be to either the letter or the spirit of the comic.

It's a violent film. Not quite Sin City violent, but close. Old Testament violent--an eye for an eye, or in this case, a family for a family.

As Frank Castle, Jane makes an impressive transition from hardworking undercover cop who is finally retiring to a desk job so that he can be with his family to destroyed but driven vigilante with a serious score to settle. He's somewhat like Batman, in that he uses brains before (and in addition to) braun, but darker and favoring an excessive use of force when the situation calls for it.

Travolta offers a lackluster performance as Howard Saint. He's a pawn, a small time player in the big game. There is no reason to think that he might triumph. He is too easily made a fool of, and the goon assassains he sends after Frank Castle are cartoonish and impossible to take seriously as threats.

The ones to actually fear are Saint's wife, Livia, and his second in command, Quentin Glass.

The characters to actually like are Castle's quirky, misfit neighbors.

Without an effective villain and with a brooding, grieving anti-hero who doesn't say too much, it's the supporting cast on both sides that makes the movie work.