Yes it was over the top violent and gory, now their's a segment of Punisher fans that wanted that, then there was a segment that liked the Thomas Jane incarnation, Punisher falls so outside the regular stable of Marvel properties its tough how to portray it, it's interesting that the villians origin is almost the same as Nicholson's Joker, substitutung Glass for Acid. In fact the Scene afterward is almost the same. Ray Stevenson of Rome Fame fit the part, but I kept on Thinkins that Titus Pullo deserved better.
It's interesting how that has happened, since that version was also heavily criticized upon release. Most people hated the changes to the character- particularly the fire hydrant gag. It just goes to show what a difference five years can make.
The villains are definitely a throwback to the comic style of the late eighties/early nineties (ie. Batman, The Flash, Dick Tracy, etc.)