The official Jonah Hex thread.

[MadVillainy]

At least Brolin gets to have a Western do over with the True Grit remake

 

[MadVillainy]

i hope people will not try to make it look like if a studio makes changes that because of that it makes a movie bad.

Hex was a bad movie because they made a bad movie. you can change everything from a comic character and still make a good movie.


changes are bad for comics fanboys. the reason Catwoman and Hex are bad is because people at WB were smoking horse sh.....

I always wondered what was going through their heads when those films and The Spirit came out. Did they actually think they had a hit on their hands?

 

[Rumpy Bulge Dubz]

I always wondered what was going through their heads when those films and The Spirit came out. Did they actually think they had a hit on their hands?

more like they had a hit IN their hands (if you catch that drift)

and also

The Spirit > Catwoman (and though I haven't seen it) probably Jonah Hex as well

 

[akfj]

I always wondered what was going through their heads when those films and The Spirit came out. Did they actually think they had a hit on their hands?

I don't think WB had anything to do with the Spirit, did they? I thought that was Lionsgate.

 

[BestGirl]

With this and The Losers bombing, WB is hoping that Inception hits big....and probably have it's box office gross double it's $200 million budget.

At least WB didn't spend much making The Losers and JH. I'm not betting on Inception being some kind of smash hit, either, what with how slow the summer's been.

 

[Superman]

Well I just watched it online and even though it was a very bad copy I could still see what I needed to see to know what was going on and I must say I liked it.

It wasn't "Jonah Hex" from the comics but it was still a fun little summer movie.

I want to see it again when it comes out on DVD to see what I missed with the bad copy but for what it was, I liked it.

 

[Octoberist]

also, you probably liked it because you didnt have to pay for it either. Hoy :P

 

[lespaul59]

I saw this today. It wasn't as bad as some people made it out to be. There were some enjoyable parts, and the action was good enough, but the editing was terrible...you could tell chunks of the movie were missing. Megan Fox looked great, but besides the "I don't like being owned" scene and some of the action scenes, she looked as if she was bored to death. Josh Brolin was great as Hex, and Michael Fassbender did great, too. Malkovich what the...sleepwalking through this performance. Literally. Again, horrible editing, and some scenes literally looked blurry and "rough" like they weren't finished shots. I would say it's at least better than Ghost Rider. :-/

There are signs of an ok film in this 80 minutes. But it definitely feels incomplete. Will have to wait and see if directors cut is any better.

I agree I don't think it's as bad as people are making it out to be. The biggest problem to me is the fact that it seems like 30-40 minutes is missing. If I would have walked in right after the opening credits I would have thought I had missed the first of the movie insted of 10-15 minutes at most.

 

[Raiden]

What Hollywood can learn from "Jonah Hex" (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - When comic books are turned into movies, they can become huge hits, like "Iron Man," or resounding flops, a la "The Spirit."

Put "Jonah Hex," which hit theaters Friday, in the latter category. The Warner Bros. release of the DC Comics adaptation about an avenging Civil War veteran barely brought in $5.3 million during the weekend, one of the worst studio showings of the box office summer.

So what went wrong? And how should Hollywood proceed as it continues to develop the dozens of comic book and graphic novel adaptations in its pipelines?

In several respects, "Hex's" problems can be chalked up to its singular and troubled production history.

Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor wrote the initial script for the Warners/Legendary co-production, based on writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga's Western bounty hunter, who first appeared in DC Comics' "All-Star Western #10" in 1972. Five years later, the character earned his own self-titled series, which ran for 92 issues. However, though Hex appeared in other series through the years, he never became a major player in the DC universe.

Originally, Neveldine and Taylor also were set to direct, but that idea was cast aside after Josh Brolin came aboard to star. Animator Jimmy Hayward, co-director of "Horton Hears a Who!" took on the directing assignment as his live-action film debut.

But after Hayward delivered his cut, Warners decided to move in a different direction and brought in "I Am Legend" helmer Francis Lawrence to oversee reshoots. How extensive those reshoots were remains a subject of debate.

In the "Hex" the studio finally released, audiences can see signs of two movies painfully trying to coexist.

The dream sequence involving Brolin and bad guy John Malkovich, which pops up at least twice in the film, actually is part of Heyward's original climax. The plot about stealing high-tech cannonballs, along with a glowing ball detonator, were added during Lawrence's reshoots, as were scenes involving Hex's back-story, President Grant (Aidan Quinn) and Hex talking to the dead. (The first cut kept his link to the dead more ambiguous.) Scenes with Michael Shannon and Will Arnett were trimmed to mere seconds.

Obvious evidence that the studio and filmmakers weren't on the same page never bodes well at the box office. But there are other cautionary realities involving the movie that filmmakers would be wise to consider in the future when turning comic books into films.

- FANBOYS MIGHT NOT MAKE OR BREAK A FILM, BUT THEY NEED TO FEEL RESPECTED.

Although many film folks claim to have "comic book cred" -- note how the annual July pilgrimage to Comic-Con has become de rigueur for genre moviemakers -- the various "Hex" hands ultimately showed little regard for the original material and spirit.

"Hex" is a Western featuring a scarred bounty hunter. It is not heavy on the supernatural, and it certainly is not some "Wild Wild West" wannabe with lots of high-tech gadgets, guns and explosions.

When the filmmakers went beyond the comic character, they created a mish-mash of genres, giving the film the feel of a 1980s comic book movie. Simply put, this "Hex" was not one the fanboys recognized.

- PICK A RELEASE DATE CAREFULLY, AND NEVER UNDERESTIMATE PIXAR.

As "Hex" was sinking during the weekend, Disney opened Pixar's latest, "Toy Story 3," to $110 million. Warners might have thought it could succeed with a bit of counterprogramming, putting the young-male-angled pic against a family brand. But the domestic bow of "Toy 3" shows that nearly everybody, including "Hex's" target audience, opted to see the further adventures of Woody and Buzz.

- NOT EVERY COMIC NEEDS TO BE MOVIE.

The movie version of "Hex" should have been rated R, made like a relatively cheap spaghetti Western instead of a PG-13 exercise with a budget said to have climbed to $50 million-$60 million, including reshoots.

If Warners didn't want to commit to a more down-and-dirty version, it shouldn't have made the movie. In fact, what "Hex" should have been, and still could be, is a limited TV series on HBO, FX or TNT. It would have been about a bounty hunter who is barely better than the men he hunts but who occasionally shows a spark of humanity.

- EXECUTIVES WOULD BE WISE TO NOT OVERREACT AND THINK NONMARQUEE COMIC BOOK TITLES CAN'T BE WORTHY OF ADAPTATIONS.

With April releases of the DC Vertigo comic "The Losers" tanking and "Kick-Ass" underperforming, some executives might be inclined to throw up their hands and decide that only such A-list superheroes as Green Lantern and Captain America are worthy of big-screen treatment.

But that would be a misreading of the tea leaves. Don't forget, it wasn't that long ago that skeptics scoffed at Marvel for making the first "Iron Man," and though based on less-well-known graphic novels, "A History of Violence," "Ghost World" and "Road to Perdition" found favor with critics. In fact, DC deserves praise for attempting to tackle the rich depths of noncaped characters.

Some comic titles might need more nurturing, and as with any other source material, need to be made with an eye on the budget.

If a movie based on a best-selling book bombs, no one says, "No more movies based on books!" But Hollywood often displays a different mentality when it comes to comics, regarding them like the little brother you grudgingly let play baseball with you and your friends.

Looks like this is a case of having too many cooks in the kitchen, although part of the problem is that the cook doesn't know what the heck he was cooking either.

 

[Superman]

also, you probably liked it because you didnt have to pay for it either. Hoy :P

That does help. t:

 

[HighFivingMF]

Hopefully the original Hayworth cut gets a release, I'd like to check out the (kind of) original vision.

 

[Rumpy Bulge Dubz]

Looks like this is a case of having too many cooks in the kitchen, although part of the problem is that the cook doesn't know what the heck he was cooking either.

and a damn shame it is

 

[Metamorpho1977]

Hopefully the original Hayworth cut gets a release, I'd like to check out the (kind of) original vision.

Maybe it will be like the Donner cut of Superman 2.

 

[lespaul59]

Maybe it will be like the Donner cut of Superman 2.

Lets just hope it's not 26 years from now give or take.

 

[dark_b]

is it true that they used CGI to clean up Megan Fox's make up ?

 

[Rac]

What Hollywood can learn from "Jonah Hex" (Reuters)

- FANBOYS MIGHT NOT MAKE OR BREAK A FILM, BUT THEY NEED TO FEEL RESPECTED.

Although many film folks claim to have "comic book cred" -- note how the annual July pilgrimage to Comic-Con has become de rigueur for genre moviemakers -- the various "Hex" hands ultimately showed little regard for the original material and spirit.

"Hex" is a Western featuring a scarred bounty hunter. It is not heavy on the supernatural, and it certainly is not some "Wild Wild West" wannabe with lots of high-tech gadgets, guns and explosions.

When the filmmakers went beyond the comic character, they created a mish-mash of genres, giving the film the feel of a 1980s comic book movie. Simply put, this "Hex" was not one the fanboys recognized.

- NOT EVERY COMIC NEEDS TO BE MOVIE.

The movie version of "Hex" should have been rated R, made like a relatively cheap spaghetti Western instead of a PG-13 exercise with a budget said to have climbed to $50 million-$60 million, including reshoots.

If Warners didn't want to commit to a more down-and-dirty version, it shouldn't have made the movie. In fact, what "Hex" should have been, and still could be, is a limited TV series on HBO, FX or TNT. It would have been about a bounty hunter who is barely better than the men he hunts but who occasionally shows a spark of humanity.

Spot on.

 

[Webhead2006]

interesting article there.

 

[That-Guy]

Just read the review over at CHUD and laughed my ass off. I'm glad I didn't pay money to see this film (not that I was actually planning to, anyway).

 

[BestGirl]

Like i said, JH is not under DCE and WB turned it from R to PG13 once Watchmen bombed at the B.O. I read the original script w/ the Crank writers and it was everything we were hoping for and more! Here is what could had been... Such a wasted opportunity...

I wonder what the rewrites changed, because the plot description from the original script sounds like what we actually got.

 

[Webhead2006]

well things probably did get cut here and there/

 

[mikey1974]

saw it last night,and i though it was alright...not the horrible,piece of **** film i was led to believe,like Steel....

it was a typical summer action popcorn flick....though if there is a director's cut it will make a WORLD of difference cause the one thing that really stood out to me was it felt like a film with a lot more to say,a lot more to show,and a lot more scenes to develop characters and relationships - but that those parts didn't get put up on the screen....what we got is the barebones version of a much longer,more complex film...

 

[jondoe]

Let's change the title of this to DC Showcase Jonah Hex please?? Here's an interview w/

Actor Thomas Jane Discusses "DC Showcase: Jonah Hex" Animated Short Role

HUNG STAR THOMAS JANE
FINALLY GETS HIS MAN AS JONAH HEX
IN ALL-NEW DC SHOWCASE ORIGINAL SHORT

If at first you don’t succeed, take the animated role.

Therein lies the lesson of Thomas Jane’s quest to play the role of comic book anti-hero Jonah Hex. The star of HBO’s popular series Hung once lobbied to play the theatrical role of Jonah Hex and, though he fell short in that attempt, Jane has found another path to the character as the disfigured cowboy’s voice in the DC Showcase Original Short, Jonah Hex.

The all-new, animated Jonah Hex appears as a companion piece on the upcoming Special Edition Blu-Ray and 2-Disc Special Edition DVD release of Batman: Under the Red Hood, the latest entry in the ongoing series of DC Universe Animated Original PG-13 Movies coming from Warner Home Video on July 27, 2010.

In the short, the tough-as-nails bounty hunter always gets his man - until someone else gets to him first. In this case it’s a murderous madam who wants to steal more than just bounty from Jonah Hex. The animated short Jonah Hex is based on a story from the award-winning comic series, and scripted by renowned author Joe Lansdale. Jane leads a voice cast that includes Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), Michelle Trachtenberg (Mercy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael Rooker (Days of Thunder) and Jason Marsden (Spirited Away).

A lover of both comic books and westerns, Jane felt a certain kinship to the character – and the result is clearly evident in his vocal depiction of Hex and the emotional range of the performance. Jane was the ultimate perfectionist throughout the recording process, never settling for good takes when great was attainable. From the original recording session through follow-up ADR, the give-and-take between Jane and the filmmakers – including executive producer Bruce Timm – was quite collaborative in achieving the final presentation.

Jane currently headlines HBO’s Hung, though he’s active in numerous other projects, including films being developed by his own production company, Raw Studios. Coincidentally, Jane founded Raw Studios with Timothy Bradstreet and Steve Niles, the screenwriter of the first DC Showcase short, The Spectre. Jane’s directorial debut, Raw Studios’ Dark Country, continues to play to rave reviews and enthusiastic crowds at conventions and festivals around the world.

No stranger to the fanboy/comics realm, Jane co-wrote his own comic book miniseries, Bad Planet. He played the title character in the 2004 version of The Punisher, starred in Mutant Chronicles, and had roles in both The Crow: City of Angels and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He has drawn widespread acclaim for many of his non-fanboy roles, especially his turn as Mickey Mantle in the HBO film, 61*. His numerous credits run the gamut from Magnolia, Deep Blue Sea and The Thin Red Line to Boogie Nights and Face/Off.

After shooting all morning on the set of Hung, Jane came into the recording studio to put some final touches on his Jonah Hex performance – and to chat about his attraction to anti-heroes, his adoration of comics, and how he came to (literally) rub elbows with Ringo Starr. This is what Thomas Jane says …

QUESTION: This isn’t your first run at the role of Jonah Hex, is it?

THOMAS JANE: I’ve been a fan of the comic and the character and that whole western world. I’m glad to be voicing the role, and I actually wanted to do the live-action film. When they were casting the movie, I had a guy come and do my makeup, we took some photos and sent them off to Akiva Goldman. I know some of those photos have leaked out online. They had a different director at the time, and Josh Brolin had just hit with the Coen brothers movie, so he had pick of the litter. And that spelled outski for me.

QUESTION: Did you do any research to voice the role?

THOMAS JANE: Well, I lived with a pack of wolves for a week up in the ponderosa foothills to perfect my growl (he laughs). No, mostly I just tried not to love my voice. I tried my best.

QUESTION: Any thoughts on the look of Jonah Hex?

THOMAS JANE: The animators did a great job in capturing the ugliness of the character. He’s not a pretty boy. He looks like he’s been butchered by a blind barber. He’s mean as hell, and I can’t imagine anybody wanting to make love to the dude. He must be awful lonely. And that just makes him meaner. He’s a true anti-hero, and I really love that kind of character. Hollywood doesn’t do the anti-hero justice very often – it’s a tough character type for the studios to understand. The closest you get these days is like (Michael) Chiklis on The Shield. Taxi Driver may have been the last great anti-hero film. There’s always good ones in video games, especially games like Grand Theft Auto. Actors and directors lover anti-heroes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be the case with the rest of America right now.

QUESTION: Now that you’re directing, has that perspective effected your performances?

THOMAS JANE: I’m a lot nicer to the guy directing than I used to be. I’m also a little more pragmatic. I understand the needs of the story on the whole, and I’m less myopic in my view of the role as an actor. I’m serving a machine, the story as a whole, so the mechanics of me trying to strike an emotional truth are counter-balanced by not gurgling into the microphone or throat clicking. There’s a balance between the technical and the emotional that you have to strike.

QUESTION: Did that director’s perspective lead you to your asking to re-record so many lines after seeing/hearing your original performance?

THOMAS JANE: I’m really interested in a great performance. I’m interested in the texture of a performance and I understand that, especially in the animated projects, the human voice is really all you’ve got to connect with on a visceral, emotional level. You’ve got the writing, the words, and the human voice. And that’s what gives it life. So even more so than live action acting, I pay particular attention to the vocal performances.

QUESTION: You’ve had the chance to perform the dialogue wild, and also to picture. Was it easier or more difficult to record the lines while seeing the actual animation?

THOMAS JANE: It’s both. Without the animation, you have more freedom to make up the rhythm of the scene, and you can take more chances in your delivery because hopefully the director will choose an interesting performance, and the animators will animate to that performance. Once you’re locked in and I come back to redo the lines, I’m stuck with the rhythms that have been predetermined by the animators. But that also gives me structure, which affords me some other freedom in the delivery of the dialogue – because then I have a set rhythm and I can play with the intensity of the performance.

QUESTION: How would you describe your relationship with comic books?

THOMAS JANE: I discovered comic books when I was about 8 years old and I’ve been in love with them ever since. I thought I’d outgrow it, and I sort of did in my 20s, but then came back full force in the my early 30s. It’s because the medium is so powerful. As a kid, I thought of it as kid stuff, and then I grew up and found more adult material.

I never liked super heroes – I was always drawn more to a great story. I even loved the illustrated classics like Moby Dick – adaptations of a classic novel, or some of the original autobiographical stuff. And then there’s all the independents – Robert Crumb or Charles Burns or Daniel Clowes. The medium is so broad, much more so than film. There’s so much more room in comics for genres, styles, flavors, different auteurs. That’s what makes comics a great and timeless medium – a medium that will always be a compelling way to tell a story.

QUESTION: Do you have a favorite western?

THOMAS JANE: I love westerns. One of my all-time favorites is High Noon … and Stagecoach. Then there’s Red River, and The Unforgiven. Even The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has the western themes. That’s what counts. I think you could make a western in a city so long as it has that western theme of an individual against the group. Man against nature. The outsider. Those themes are common to all westerns, but you can branch that out into other genres.

QUESTION: Which actors do you most like watching perform?

THOMAS JANE: My favorite actors are the “still” actors – guys like Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen, combined with Montgomery Clift, John Garfield, William Holden and Sterling Hayden. They were all guys who had something interesting going on underneath. That combination of stillness on the surface and a boiling underneath is pretty much my favorite way to go.

QUESTION: What’s the hardest part about being a celebrity?

THOMAS JANE: I think it’s the misconceptions that people have about you. When I met Ringo Starr, I went to shake his hand and he said, “How about an elbow?” So we rubbed elbows, laughed, and I thought, “What the hell – he doesn’t want to shake my hand?” But it was about germs – he was going on tour and he didn’t want to get sick. When I was on tour for Punisher, there were about 500 people in line for an autograph and wanting to shake hands, and I finally stopped. I got inventive. It was funny to be on that side of it. I figured that I had to shake several people’s hands over the next few weeks and chances were pretty high that I was going to catch something that would be bothersome. The point is that you’re going to upset some folks when you don’t act the way they think you should. But it’s got nothing to do with who you are. It’s about taking care of yourself.


http://www.worldsfinestonline.com/news.php/news.php?action=fullnews&id=789

looks GREAT! Hopefully better than the movie. t

 

[Webhead2006]

nice interview.

 

[signalman]

Love that shot of Hex riding into town. SWEET!!!

 

[lou2099]

also, you probably liked it because you didnt have to pay for it either. Hoy :P

I didn't pay for it either, and I liked it. but I still might have liked it, even if I paid for a matinee.

It wasn't campy as everyone expected it to be. The problem is that Hex can raise the dead. That is just lazy effing writing there. And Brolin really does carry the movie, it looks like he's having fun even with the restrictive makeup.

Don't get me wrong, this is another terrible DC movie effort. But thanks to good acting from Brolin, Megan Fox in a corset, some nice set pieces, and moderately exciting action, this DC movie was NOT Steel, Catwoman or Batman & Robin bad.