Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 802 Joined: 6 Mar 2008 | I went to see Hellboy II last night. I loved the original, so I was quite looking forward to the sequel.
The Hellboy movies are based on a comic book series about a demon that has been raised by a kindly old professor and works for the U.S. government eliminating supernatural threats. They are directed by Guillermo Del Toro, known for the fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth. His origins are most thoroughly explained in the first film.
Hellboy (played by Ron Perlman) longs to fit in better with human society - he has horns, but files them down to look more normal. He has a rather sarcastic attitude, but actually is quite kind-hearted. He is physically very strong and durable, and his weapon of choice is his enormous right fist made of indestructible stone. While in the field, he is usually teamed up with Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), a psychic fish-man, and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a young woman with pyrokinetic powers. The second film introduces a new team-member - Johan Krauss (voiced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane), a disembodied spirit who wears a special suit to affect the physical world, but is able to possess other beings as well as inanimate objects.
The main antagonist of the film is Prince Nuada, a grim, elven warrior who wields a silver spear. He seeks the three pieces of a golden crown which will allow him to control the Golden Army, a force of giant automoton warriors, which he will use to destroy humanity for despoiling the wild places of the earth. The heroes must protect his twin sister, Princess Nuala, who possesses the third and final piece of the crown.
Overall, the film was quite good. The character designs, a collaboration between Del Toro and the comic creator, Mike Mignola, were excellent - a myriad of amazing creatures is a feast for the eyes. The action scenes were very exciting and entertaining. Most of the comic relief was pretty funny - one part especially (All I'll say is it involves a Barry Manilow song).
The dialogue was fairly good in most parts, as well as the acting. Seth MacFarlane's performance was rather hammy in my opinion - him being cast for the role just seemed kind of gimmicky. And sadly, David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame) did not reprise his voice-over role as Abe. Doug Jones, who physically played Abe in both films, also provides the voice in the sequel. He does a good job of it, but not quite as good as Pierce. Perlman and Blair give solid performances like in the first film.
One thing that may bother fans of the first movie or the comics is the feeling in some parts that this is like "Pan's Labyrinth meets Hellboy" - there certainly is a "traditional fantasy" element that was not in the first movie. I didn't mind it myself.
So in conclusion, I would certainly recommend Hellboy II as one of the better comic book movies. Anybody looking for an action-packed and creature-filled romp can't go wrong. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 802 Joined: 6 Mar 2008 | No replies? At all?! *sigh* Well, here's a bump... |
Beat Writer Posts: 194 Joined: 6 Apr 2008 | I need to see this movie. |
Beat Writer Posts: 128 Joined: 3 Jan 2008 | Solid review and definitely a very enjoyable movie. You half expected to see the Faun wandering around the marketplace, lol. |
Beat Writer Posts: 218 Joined: 17 Dec 2007 | The movie is enjoyable--in some places its really awesome. The best way to describe it, though, in more cynical terms, is basically Guillermo Del Toro's special effects team masturbating onto film. It's VERY SFX heavy, and there are weird monsters EVERYWHERE. There's no attempt nor real need for restraint--it sacrifices the tight, focused approach of the first Hellboy, but makes up for it by creating a much richer, more vibrant world, establishing more solid foundations for wider, broader sequels. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 802 Joined: 6 Mar 2008 | RentCavalier:
The movie is enjoyable--in some places its really awesome. The best way to describe it, though, in more cynical terms, is basically Guillermo Del Toro's special effects team masturbating onto film. It's VERY SFX heavy, and there are weird monsters EVERYWHERE. There's no attempt nor real need for restraint--it sacrifices the tight, focused approach of the first Hellboy, but makes up for it by creating a much richer, more vibrant world, establishing more solid foundations for wider, broader sequels.
That's a very good take on it that I can agree with. Not that it's a bad thing, though. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1182 Joined: 11 Jun 2008 | You didn't discuss any of the thematic elements of the film or even the moral dilemas that were later abandonded by the film's ending. You really didn't offer any nuanced perspective or observations. |
Pulitzer Laureate Posts: 802 Joined: 6 Mar 2008 | BallPtPenTheif:
You didn't discuss any of the thematic elements of the film or even the moral dilemas that were later abandonded by the film's ending. You really didn't offer any nuanced perspective or observations.
Uh, thematic elements and moral dilemmas? Sorry, I honestly wasn't aware of any, really. Just cool monsters beating each other up. Unless you mean Liz's choice (I don't want to spoil anything) and maybe Abe's actions too. Sorry, I guess. Thanks for the criticism!
EDIT: Oh yeah, and also the public's relationship with Hellboy, too. Yeah, I did drop the ball on that. |
Gone Gonzo Posts: 1182 Joined: 11 Jun 2008 | ThaBenMan:
BallPtPenTheif:
You didn't discuss any of the thematic elements of the film or even the moral dilemas that were later abandonded by the film's ending. You really didn't offer any nuanced perspective or observations.
Uh, thematic elements and moral dilemmas? Sorry, I honestly wasn't aware of any, really. Just cool monsters beating each other up. Unless you mean Liz's choice (I don't want to spoil anything) and maybe Abe's actions too. Sorry, I guess. Thanks for the criticism!
EDIT: Oh yeah, and also the public's relationship with Hellboy, too. Yeah, I did drop the ball on that.
nah, Guillermo Del Toro dropped the ball on that one. it was like... issue, issue, issue, aw fuck it, let's go to Ireland. |
I went to see Hellboy II last night. I loved the original, so I was quite looking forward to the sequel.
The Hellboy movies are based on a comic book series about a demon that has been raised by a kindly old professor and works for the U.S. government eliminating supernatural threats. They are directed by Guillermo Del Toro, known for the fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth. His origins are most thoroughly explained in the first film.
Hellboy (played by Ron Perlman) longs to fit in better with human society - he has horns, but files them down to look more normal. He has a rather sarcastic attitude, but actually is quite kind-hearted. He is physically very strong and durable, and his weapon of choice is his enormous right fist made of indestructible stone. While in the field, he is usually teamed up with Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), a psychic fish-man, and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a young woman with pyrokinetic powers. The second film introduces a new team-member - Johan Krauss (voiced by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane), a disembodied spirit who wears a special suit to affect the physical world, but is able to possess other beings as well as inanimate objects.
The main antagonist of the film is Prince Nuada, a grim, elven warrior who wields a silver spear. He seeks the three pieces of a golden crown which will allow him to control the Golden Army, a force of giant automoton warriors, which he will use to destroy humanity for despoiling the wild places of the earth. The heroes must protect his twin sister, Princess Nuala, who possesses the third and final piece of the crown.
Overall, the film was quite good. The character designs, a collaboration between Del Toro and the comic creator, Mike Mignola, were excellent - a myriad of amazing creatures is a feast for the eyes. The action scenes were very exciting and entertaining. Most of the comic relief was pretty funny - one part especially (All I'll say is it involves a Barry Manilow song).
The dialogue was fairly good in most parts, as well as the acting. Seth MacFarlane's performance was rather hammy in my opinion - him being cast for the role just seemed kind of gimmicky. And sadly, David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame) did not reprise his voice-over role as Abe. Doug Jones, who physically played Abe in both films, also provides the voice in the sequel. He does a good job of it, but not quite as good as Pierce. Perlman and Blair give solid performances like in the first film.
One thing that may bother fans of the first movie or the comics is the feeling in some parts that this is like "Pan's Labyrinth meets Hellboy" - there certainly is a "traditional fantasy" element that was not in the first movie. I didn't mind it myself.
So in conclusion, I would certainly recommend Hellboy II as one of the better comic book movies. Anybody looking for an action-packed and creature-filled romp can't go wrong.