Rating of
3/4
*Sarah* - wrote on 12/29/08
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.
It's four years since the first release of Hellboy and watched it aged 16. I absolutly loved the first one, unlike many it seems. Was hoping 2 would be better than the first and it surpassed my expectations on many levels. Most likely in my top 5 of 2008 excellent!
Hellboy 2 already showcased glimpses on Hellboy's passes and 2 opens up with even more. We see John Hurt's character reading Hellboy the tale of the golden Army. Imeadiatly we are shown bits of De Toro's wonderful storytelling and cinematrogarphy, from what he did in Pans Labyrinth and the first film. Hellboy ashowcases some wonderful cinematraphy that is sadly not evident in many Summer blockbusters. For example in last year's Spiderman 3, which was all over the place, there was no clear foucss on anything. Hellboy tells the story and that's that. That great thing about De Toro's storytelling is that he doesn't try to manipulate the audience with several sub-plots and lack luster screenplays. De Toro's storytelling, like the first is specfic and intelligently made and not at all did I get irritated by the film.
The only thing that dissapointed me was the absence of Rupert Evans(Myers) who I thought brought a lot to the first film and of course diverted my eyes on him. However the film does make up for the absence of John Hurt And Rupert Evans and makes up for that with the new character of Johan Krauss. Krauss brings some authority to the film, but in a good way. For instance is is looked up to by the character of Manning, which is constanly being made fun out of by Hellboy. I loved the accent of Krauss, which is totally not what you were expectating when he arrives. For example he's a German "glasshole" as Hellboy calls him. Again I think that's the genuis of Del Toro, who brilliantly plays on our perceptions of characters in cinema. Just brilliant.
Acting in Hellboy is excellent. Like in Hellboy, Ron Pearlman is brilliant as Hellboy and is posisbly the coolest comic Book hero you're ever likely to see. Pearlman <i>is</i> Hellboy and I think he'll forever be remember for playing him and nothing else. His mannerisms, walk talk is just exceptional and beats Spider-man anyday. Selma Blair is again, like the first film brilliant as Liz and seems to have matures since we last saw her in the first film. Luke Goss is excellent as Prince Nuada and totally unexpected aswell. Although i would have like to see him used more but that's a minor flaw. I also thought David Hyde Pearce's voice for Abe Sapien was perhaps better in Hellboy but by the end of the film you wouldn't notice at all. Also worth mentioning Jeffrey Tambor as Tom manning, who was pretty funny to watch.
The set design in Hellboy 2 is incredible to watch ans surpasses Hellboy in every respect. From the xtrodinary fight sequence swith Hellboy and Nuada, to the scenes in the streets of Manhatten you can't help but feel compelled to watch and marvel in the greatness of Guillermo del Toro. I really hope Hellboy 2 gets the attention it deserves as the cinematoraphy was brilliant to watch. Stunning even.
The whole cast have great chemistry and not at one point to you feel irritated. The scenes with Hellboy and Liz are not pretencious and you really do feel for them. I have to mention the scene in which Hellboy and Ape are singing alone, to Barry Mannilow. Hilarious to watch, mainly because it's totally not was you would epexct to happen from this two "alien-like" characters. Also because both are drunk at this time. Brilliant!
Hellboy 2 is better than the first and contains a wonderfull screenplay and wonderfully shot and acted. In my top 5 of the year. Highly recomended!
