I like both, but I can't really be trusted with these sorts of vaguely hard sci-fi movies.

The director's cut does add some interesting new and extended scenes, there's some great new Sean Bean stuff, but it doesn't change the overall tone (and your issues with the movie).

You're absolutely right in that it seems they chose the path of least resistance, it lacks punch I guess. But then... Clash of the Titans, its sequel and Immortals all seem to have gone too far in the other direction. That's not to say it's all bad though, there are a few elements I like. I think they chose poorly with their casting of Achilles. Brad Pitt might physically be apt for the role, but to my eyes he was always too 'modern'.

I'm not a fan of that Punisher movie, or of Thomas Jane's interpretation. Frank Castle isn't the sit around and mope type of character, which is what he does for most of the movie, and he's certainly not a stand around and watch criminals raping women and beating up children kind of character either.

For me, the best Frank Castle is the Garth Ennis in Punisher Max.

Interesting... haven't listened yet, but I hated this film, mostly on principle.

Wow, that's just amazing. And of course, that was Josh Brolin as the elder brother! It's funny how some of the actors look similar, whilst others look completely different.

1. Star Wars (1977) - to me, there has always been Star Wars, I can't remember a time pre-Star Wars
2. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) - always my favourite growing up, such fun to watch and it had a cool Chinese kid who did martial arts. I was a kid who wanted to be that cool and do that stuff.
3. The Vikings (1958) - historical epic with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis, ends with big battle, I'd run about my garden swishing my wooden sword around humming one of the tunes from the soundtrack

Django Unchained... I liked it very much, it has the same sort of tension building play-like sensibility of Inglorious Basterds, which I also liked a lot, with a bit of the cool factor of Kill Bill thrown in.

Well, it does have Ursula Andress and Joanna Pettet in it. That's always a plus.