'Jonah Hex'
(Megan Fox, Josh Brolin, et al / DVD / PG-13 / 2010 / Warner Bros.)
Overview: Out of the pages of the legendary comics and graphic novels steps Jonah Hex (Josh Brolin), a scarred drifter and bounty hunter of last resort. Jonah’s past catches up with him when the U.S. military offers to wipe out the warrants on his head if he hunts and stop dangerous terrorist Quentin Turnbull (John Malkovich).
Blu ray Verdict: I don't know about anyone else, but for a die-hard comic geek like me, seeing a Jonah Hex movie is a bit of a strange thing. Regardless, here we are with Josh Brolin no less playing the scarred bounty hunter, and John Malkovich playing his nemesis Turnbull.
The surprising production values and the even more surprisingly noteworthy cast of actors could have really combined to make Jonah Hex a worthwhile comic adaptation, but sadly, the end result isn't anything really worth writing home about, albeit the film itself is not nearly as terrible as early teasers and its poor box office had suggested. Hex is on Turnbull's tail as the villain plans to watch America burn in flames during its centennial event, with Hex's partner being that of a prostitute (Megan Fox, because they figured eye candy would be better than Hex's male comic ally Batlash).
A majority of the action scenes are shallow, not to mention the violence of which and authenticity of the old west are just watered down to comply with the PG-13 rating.
Still, Brolin is decent enough as Hex (and the prosthetic makeup isn't bad either), Malkovich mails it in, Fox's brief role is nothing more than said eye-candy, and even other actors such as Will Arnett, Aidan Quinn, Lance Reddick, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan in an uncredited cameo don't seem to have too much interest in the proceedings.
Michael Fassbender (Inglourious Basterds and soon to be seen as the young Magneto in the X-Men prequel) isn't bad as Turnbull's irish, tattooed henchman, but that's pretty much it. All in all, Jonah Hex is a brisk endeavor that isn't nearly as bad as one would think, but as said before, there isn't a whole lot to admire here either. [ND] This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.77:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:
'Jonah Hex'