Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pag...
Seems like we're getting back on an even keel with the rating viewings now. Quite liking the new pages in a way. Thanks for all your rates.
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Hellboy II: The Golden Army is the 2008 sequel to the 2004 film Hellboy. It is directed by Guillermo del Toro, and stars Ron Perlman as the red demonic superhero known to all as Hellboy. Hellboy was born around the time of World War 2, emerging from a void between this world and another, but was nurtured by Professor 'Broom' (John Hurt) and fights for the good of the earth.
Hellboy 2 takes off not long after the original film finishes. Hellboy and the team of paranormal investigators, including the psychic alien Abe (Doug Jones) and the fiery (literally!) Liz (Selma Blair) must unite with a new ally, Johann Krauss (James Dodd) to combat the rebellious attempts at ancient Prince Nuada to revive the Golden Army and bring about an end to man kind.
This seems like a tall order even for Hellboy, and whereas I enjoyed the first film, I felt that del Toro took it a bit too far here. The plot is basic enough - the good guys have to stop the bad guys bringing about the end of the world, but its execution seems to be intermingled with too many annoying subplots for it to work. The magic of the first film was the variety in the characters and their separation from each other in so many characteristics. Here, they are all more unified and it becomes unbelievable. Abe's character is one who does not feel emotion: he does not cry or laugh or get angry. Yet here, a subplot emerges where he falls in love.
A subplot involving Liz being pregnant with Hellboy's child is relevant to the plot, but handled farcically, and at times you wonder whether the film is supposed to be funny or serious. Based on the Dark Horse comics, which are tongue in cheek, I would say a mixture of both is intended, but not achieved.
That having been said, the action scenes are very entertaining. Hellboy himself is a prize fighter with an indestructible fist, oversized and built for clobbering. Perlman's portrayal of the character gives a comedic element which does seem to fit for the majority of the film, but it is predictable when he is about to crack a joke.
The acting is nothing special in general. There is some snivelling from FBI agent Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor) which in stereotypical of someone trying to eek their way up the professional ladder, and some solid scenes featuring the heroes, but in general this is average. I'm still going to give it 3 stars, because I enjoyed it. I was expecting more, though. Many people have loved this, but it seems too rushed and almost like the cast and crew have rested on their laurels and hoping the name of the film and the success of the first film will get it through and make it profitable. It's unlikely I'll get this on DVD, but you never know. We'll see. I may grow to like it more with time.
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Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
The feverishHellboy 2: The Golden Armyis a very busy sequel that might have looked ... more
unhinged in the hands of a less visionary director than Guillermo del Toro. Ron Perlman returns as Hellboy, aka "Red," the Dark Horse Comics demon-hero with roots in the...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
The feverishHellboy 2: The Golden Armyis a very busy sequel that might have looked ... more
unhinged in the hands of a less visionary director than Guillermo del Toro. Ron Perlman returns as Hellboy, aka "Red," the Dark Horse Comics demon-hero with roots in the...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 1 to 3 weeks...
Advantages: Astonishing effects and imagination in places, good humour, Disadvantages: Very poor scripting in parts, lacked direction at times, cringeworthy
![Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2008]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/70172420.jpg "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2 Disc Special Edition) [DVD] [2008]")
![Hellboy 2: The Golden Army [2 Disc]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/98585674.jpg "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army [2 Disc]")
Sep 11th, 2008
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