I finally got to see this film last night and I will say upfront that, despite having “toe-thumb” and plastically enhanced Megan Fox in it, I kind of liked it. Of course there was a slim chance that I would as it has three of my favourite actors in it; Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and Michael Fassbender.
I was actually surprised to find that I did like it. The film has been almost universally panned from its release. I am not sure if that is because of die hard fans of the original comic not liking it, or something else. Admittedly the film is a bit choppy in the continuity of story department, but, the prosthetic on Brolin’s face that helped to transform him into Hex was brilliant.
The story, which is based on the DC Comics of the same name, deals with civil war soldier Jonah Hex who refuses a direct order from his commanding officer Quentin Turnbull (Malkovich) that results in his (Turnbull’s) son’s death. As punishment, Turnbull, makes Jonah watch his family die in front of him and gets branded on the right side of his face with Turnbull’s branding iron (QT).
Jonah is nursed back to health by a Crow Native American Indian tribe and his time spent in the world of the dead leaves him with the power to make the dead talk. He searches for Turnbull and finds out that he has died. He then becomes a bounty hunter, punishing the guilty. While doing this job a bounty is put on his head. Meanwhile, we find out that Turnbull is not dead, he’s just gone homicidally mad and is planning to start and finish his own brand of civil war.
I thought all the actors, even Megan Fox as Lilah, did a great job. Their performances sold me on this western/fantasy/action film and I never once felt like I was not enjoying it. This may have something to do with the fact that, apart from the title, I’ve never read the comic. Because of this I did not go into the film expecting anything. I just watched it and rather enjoyed this farfetched fantasy take on the civil war story.
I decided to take a chance on the film when I saw it on sale in my local Tesco Extra Store for £3 (about 5 bucks American) and felt that at such a low price I wouldn’t be out very much if I didn’t like it. But since I did enjoy it, it’s now a bargain. The film looked great, the CG and the scenes leapt out at you and the film looked like a western; a big selling point for me if it’s meant to be a western, cross genre or not.
The really big surprise was that I liked Megan Fox’s character. As a rule there has only been one other film where I really liked her performance and that was Jennifer’s Body the 2009 horror film. She really doesn’t do much for me, especially after finding out about her plastic overhaul. *Not to mention those “toe-thumbs,” shudder.*
I’d have to say that this fantasy “oater” is a good popcorn munching film of the”mindlessly entertaining” sort. So I’d have to give the film a 4 out of 5 stars for managing to make Megan Fox look good in a film. Of course having Brolin, Malkovich, and Fassbender gives it an extra star as well.
Related articles
- Review: Jonah Hex (2010) (thesightofmadness.wordpress.com)
- Doll Collector: 7″ Jonah Hex (2010) (ironjean.com)
LOL
That’s a bit mean! Even though Megan Fox can help her poor acting skills she can’t help that she has a disorder (brachydactyly). And at least she looks after her “toe thumbs”. Can you imagine people having thumbs that look like the big toes in those fungal ads? Now that’s gross!
Yeah, the problem with all “comic” adaptations are they studios can never decide who to aim the film at. Fans of the actual source or some eclectic demographic that they’ve convinced themselves is the right one! LOL
Haha well it’s funny at least, but I did read a couple of the comics and they where better, much grittier and violent 😀
I will fall back on my old stand by of, it’s not meant to be taken seriously and I felt while watching it, that they were having fun with the whole idea. Again, not a fan of the comic nor do I ever go into a “fantasy” film expecting any semblance or “reality.” And yes, I laughed like hell at the scene…
I can let a lot of stuff slip by but come on, its laughable. A friend bookmarked a clip on YouTube just to make me laugh at random times.
Aw, well, I found it all rather interesting, I suspended my disbelief at the door and didn’t have to struggle too hard to swallow the more fantastical parts of the film. LOL
I am sorry mike but the Gatling gun attached to a horse just can’t take that! Let alone the other terrible things in this film 🙁 Wasted opportunity
😀
haha Another Earth is the better of the two imo, it had me in tears :’) Definitely worth watching!! Think she’s one to keep an eye out for in the future.
They are now on “my list!” 😀
I would not be surprised to hear that it is eventually on Netflix, it hasn’t been overly popular and it stands reason that it’ll be there. 🙂
She will, but that’s the attitude people have to face in life. She’s too strong minded to let it get to her… I hope anyway!
Her and Brit Marling are the kinds of actresses I want to see more of…no more of these, as you say plastically enhanced women xD Plus they both have such a good attitude towards it all.
Which by the way brings me onto more film recommendations 😉 check out Another Earth and Sound of my Voice if you haven’t seen them already…I have a feeling you’ll like Brit Marling’s work too…she co wrote both and she acts in them, she’s effing amazing!
Never heard of it, but now I’ll keep an eye out for it. Maybe it’ll pop up on Netflix or something.
It is tragic. Lawrence is, as you say, a stunning young woman who is naturally beautiful and is not a “stream-lined” carbon copy of anyone. I think that she’ll withstand the temptation to enhance herself! 🙂
It excels their career…Hollywood, the media in general, give people a ridiculous idea of what perfection is. It’s why we all feel inadequate (we being girls in particular) Jennifer Lawrence, who in my opinion is one of the most beautiful women in film at the moment, was told she was ‘too fat’ to be Katniss in The Hunger Games originally -_-
Yeah, she was a pretty thing before she decided to reach for perfection, still, it’s not a new thing in Hollywood, Rachel Welsh did the same ‘back in the day’ and it didn’t hurt her career! LOL
I’ve seen worse, but it’s not great!
She was so pretty before the surgery too…such a shame. That’s society for you though!
Oh, I see you googled. Gross, huh? Yech!
Have a look at her hands! It’s been pointed out numerous times, her thumbs look like someone put a big toe on her hand for a thumb. In teenage parlance, EeeeYewww!
haha omg, I just googled Megan Fox’s thumbs xD LOL! that’s almost as creepy as when I noticed how eerily small CeeLo Green’s hands are!
lol plastically enhanced megan fox xD just tell it like it is, love it
but….toe thumbs?…what?
That was the main draw for me!
Josh Brolin, John Malkovich, and Michael Fassbender.would be the only reasons I would watch this film.