The Punisher is a
2004 film based on the
Marvel Comics character of the same name, starring
Thomas Jane as
Frank Castle and
John Travolta as Howard Saint, the
money launderer who orders the death of Castle's entire family. The story and plot were mainly based on two Punisher comic book stories;
The Punisher: Year One and
Welcome Back, Frank along with scenes from other Punisher stories such as
Marvel Preview: Featuring The Punisher #2,
The Punisher War Zone and
The Punisher War Journal.
[The Punisher (2004) - Trivia]
Plot
The film opens with an arms deal taking place at a port in Tampa Bay. Bobby Saint and Micky Duka meet with their contact, Otto Krieg, to provide him with the payments, but at the last moment, the FBI intervenes, and in the ensuing confrontation, Bobby and Otto are shot dead (Bobby is killed by one of the Russian arms dealers, and Otto by the FBI), and Duka is taken to prison. However, it is then revealed that Otto Kreig is in fact FBI agent Frank Castle, who was undercover and wearing a bulletproof vest. Shortly thereafter, Castle celebrates a retirement party with his friends, and heads home.
