Sunday 30 January 2011

Jonah Hex: Blood, Guts and interrogating the Dead in a Steampunk Way …

Funny, but true: sometimes movies happen.

Well, obviously, they happen.

I’d not be writing this, if Movie Night Adrian, Kevin D and I hadn’t watch the results when one had, tonight.

Well …

I’m assuming you’d guessed that, hadn’t you … ?

The one we’d actually managed to see, tonight … ?

Was the fairly recent DVD release, the Josh Brolin/John Malkovich/Megan Fox film, Jonah Hex, based on the comic book of the same name.

Hmmm …

«•»

Jonah Hex sees Brolin playing the title character of Jonah Hex, a former confederate soldier driven to bounty hunting after the US Civil War ended.

And ended badly for him: after being accused of treachery by his former commanding officer, Quentin Turnbill, played by John Malkovich, murders his family.

He survives: in part comforted by his girlfriend, Lilah, played by Megan Fox.

And in part … ?

In part, because after the injuries Turnbill inflicts on him, his wounds are treated by Crow Native Americans.

Leaving him scarred …

But with an ability to talk to the dead …

And with a desire to inflict a terrible revenge on the man who’d killed his family.

«•»

Which is where I sort of get into explaining the ‘Hmmm … ’ comment I made, earlier.

You see, I’m thinking — and I know both Adrian and Kevin agree, here — that Jonah Hex is a bit …

Problematic …

You see, what you actually get on screen is …

Nice

Let me try and clarify, here …

Jonah Hex is nicely shot, well acted, with a steampunk* look and feel that’ll will play well.

But …

Hmmm …

We all of us agreed that Jonah Hex is a fantastic looking trailer for the film that possibly should have been made.

And just over 80 minutes … ?

It could have been a touch longer, telling us more about the characters and their motivations for doing what they’re doing.

As it stands … ?

Jonah Hex is much like Megan Fox’s costume.

Nice to look at.

But definitely a touch skimpy.


Actor

Character

Josh Brolin

Jonah Hex

John Malkovich

Quentin Turnbill

Megan Fox

Lilah



Director

Jimmy Hayward

Writers

Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor


Jonah Hex.

Watchable. ★★☆☆






* Trust me, we had to give Adrian a quickie potted definition and history …

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