After seeing The Punisher, it's a reflex to want to call the experience "punishment." It's corny, predictable and co-stars John Travolta, but it wasn't punishment. It's just what you'd expect.

Based on the Marvel Comics title of the same name, the flick stars Thomas Jane as Frank Castle, a man on the warpath after formulaic evil businessman Howard Saint (Travolta) has Castle's entire family gunned down. This was actually one of the best scenes in the movie, not because I'm morbid and enjoy watching dozens of innocents lose their lives in horrific ways, but because the film is rather no-holds-barred about it, thanks to an R rating.

Donning a T-shirt with an infamous emblem on it given to him by his son, Castle decides to make Saint pay. You can pretty much fill in the rest of the movie without thinking too hard. Punisher gets mad; Punisher gets even; Punisher lives to fight another day; yada yada yada.

Toss in explosions galore, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos for a little eye candy and a clichéd fat man and nerdy man for comic relief, and you've got a Punisher movie the only way it should be.

The film gets surprisingly morbid and dark, especially near the end, when Castle ruins Saint's life in some pretty disturbing ways. Without giving away too much, let's just say Castle gives Saint a huge proverbial middle finger before his demise (come on, don't act surprised).

Don't get confused, though. This isn't a superhero movie. There's nothing mystical about Castle. It's simply a dumb but fun action flick to watch for the sake of a bloody good time.

-- Reviewed by Jason Cox