Photo courtesy of Lions Gate Films Thomas Jane is (insert dramatic pause here) "The Punisher." With this and "Kill Bill: Volume 2," revenge is in the air. So don't let that guy who cuts in front of you at the coffee shop get away, because that's not what they do in the movies.

There are several conspiracies about who runs Hollywood. Some people think it's the liberals. Others think it's the conservative right wing. I have come to the conclusion Hollywood is run by neither. That kid in your high school who collected comic books runs it.

In the last couple of years, there have been 8 bajillion comic book movies released. Most of them are your run-of-the-mill action movies with very little character development, simply because of the assumption that everyone knows the characters already.

In "The Punisher," however, that assumption is not made. The filmmakers give the whole background story and the basic motivations for the hero. So those of us who don't read comic books can understand the character beyond the action.

Frank Castle (Tom Jane) is an undercover FBI agent who does one final sting before retiring and ends up killing the son of Howard Saint (John Travolta). Saint goes ape and orders his men to kill Castle. Then, Saint's heinous, conniving wife, Livia, insists Castle's entire family be killed instead.

Saint's men go to Puerto Rico to Castle's family reunion and kill every single person in Castle's family, extended family included. Certainly, Saint is not working under an important rule of engagement: proportionality.

By the grace of God and a local witch doctor, Castle lives. But he is a changed man. His only purpose in life is to seek vengeance on Saint and his gang.

Castle is not technically a "superhero." He doesn't have superstrength, supersmarts or superpowers. Maybe that's part of his charm. He is a normal guy with nothing to lose. The lesson here: A man who has nothing is invincible.

The interesting development in this story, however, is that the laws of morality become somewhat murky. The lines of good and evil are crossed back and forth, and in the end, Castle becomes a product of his violent lifestyle.

There are many pluses to this movie. 1) Jane is exquisitely handsome and a fine actor. 2) John Travolta is at his peak of overacting, but if you assume it's intentional, it's quite entertaining. 3) The hero is flawed. 4) It is quite bloody, and the fighting scenes are very well choreographed. 5) Did I already mention that Jane is handsome?

There are, however, some minuses as well. 1) The "quirky" supporting characters never really find a place in the movie, yet they have a lot of screen time. 2) The kid who plays Travolta's son looks like a coked-out Hayden Christensen with an edge. 3) One of the guys from "Armageddon" is in it. 4) There is some cheesy voice-over near the end. 5) It's a comic book movie.

This movie is good. In a way, it is above the rest of its kind. But I'm sure there will be a sequel soon, so they can ruin it ÷ since comic-book geeks are taking over Hollywood. Mark my words.