“Hellboy 2″ is full of great visuals, action, and both comedic and romantic moments, but it doesn’t quite live up to the original.   If you liked the first, you’ll like the sequel, the next chapter in the lives of Red, Liza, and Abe.
Director Guillermo del Toro paints the world of Hellboy 2 with an imaginitive brush of movie making.

While the action is good and the mythical world is a brillant spectacle, the movie is missing something, something that the first had that the sequel doesn’t … maybe its that its no longer edgy and new, the fight scenes are predictable, or the characters are a bit shallow.   There are a few good scenes like the bonding scene between Hellboy and Abe about the “loves of their lives” and the final action battle, but the characters spend more time running and jumping than having any real meaningful dialougue.

I loved the original “Hellboy”, but was a little disappointed overall in this sequel.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  While there certainly could be a third movie, I hope that as much time is spent on the words as the visuals I give it 6.5 out of 10… I think its the 5th best superhero movie of 2008 (”The Dark Knight”, “Iron Man”, “The Incredible Hulk”, and “Hancock” were all better).

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army”

(2008) (rated: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and some language) (2 hrs)

Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, James Dodd, Jeffrey Tambor, John Alexander, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, John Hurt, Brian Steele

Writer/Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre: Superhero/Fantasy/Action/Adventure

The Plot: The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

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“Hellboy 2” poster courtesy Universal Pictures

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