Article source for : Full Review/Opinion: HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY
<A FEW MINOR SPOILERS>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, As I told you, I viewed HELLBOY 2:THE GOLDEN ARMY , and was EXTREMELY disappointed, to say the least. And I RAVED for a few weeks about the original movie, which I went into not even knowing who the characters were.
I think I can narrow it down fairly easily as to why I didn't care much for this-the first one was somewhat Lovecraftian, which I thought was appropriate for the character, since we're talking hell trying to cross over, etc; after all. But I was TOTALLY unprepared for what I saw this time-a fantasy on the scale of one huge Star Wars Cantina Scene-which I couldn't stand, as I thought it was nothing but ridiculous campy shit that distracted from the rest of the movie.
I'll say it was ok as far as entertainment goes-but it did NOT fit in with the Hellboy basis and characters as far as I was concerned. The elf prince, or whatever he was, was tried to be made out a supreme badass and great fighter, etc;but you were laughing at the other 'labyrinth' type characters so much that you really couldn't take him seriously. I was also EXTREMELY disturbed by the hint of incest, which I believe was fully intentional, between the prince and his sister, had no business being in a story of this type, and kids may catch it.
If they'd done what Del Toro wanted to do-give us a cameo of Kroenen (the Nazi ninja from part one) after the credits, showing he was coming back, I may have rated this higher (Universal nixed it, for whatever stupid reason). As it is, I give it a six out of ten. The first, I gave a nine. I wanted more Nazis or Lovecraftian stuff, and I got Ray Harryhausen/Clash of the Titans stuff meets George Lucas. Which is ok in its own right if you're into that sort of thing, but it doesn't work with the Hellboy concept, in my opinion.I don't think I'm alone in my thinking, since it dropped about 70% its second week(deservedly, IMO). A damned shame. There'll probably still be a part three at least, I just hope they don't screw it up as badly. First film I've ever seen by Del Toro I didn't really care for, though I haven't seen them all, but ranked it higher than average just for the effects, and a new character I liked, Johan Strausse(sp?). One other complaint, though minor, I guess,was the disgusting 'tooth fairy' things, and the horrible death they inflicted on people in the beginning. Over the top and far too gross. I've read a few comments at IMDB as to feeling sympathy for the elf prince, but I can't see how after what he did there (and that's just one thing).
