Movie: Hellboy 2

[amedia]

One of TODS' Mythology students works at the video store and often recommends movies for us or gives us a thumbs-up/thumbs-down on movies we're considering. (He was the one who, when he saw us about to rent Beowulf, recommended the far superior Beowulf and Grendel - we got both, and quite agreed with his assessment.) When he saw that we were getting Hellboy 2, he shook his head; he didn't think we'd like it.

I actually liked it quite a lot! I really liked the somewhat-sympathetic, somewhat-despicable Prince Nuada, and his creepy relationship with his twin sister. Abe falling for the sister was sweetly played, and I absolutely loved his and Hellboy's drunken performance of "Can't Smile Without You" (even if they were both thinking of other people). Some very cool battles and steampunky stuff. Oh, and we both loved the whole Angel-of-Death scene. Eyes in the wings FTW!!!!

Comments

[lash-larue.livejournal.com]

We liked that one too. It handled camp without descending into crap.

L

[pocketwitch.livejournal.com]

Did you see Pan's Labyrinth? I think Guillermo del Toro has a thing for characters with really fucked up, creepy stuff going on with the eyes. And the design style of Hellboy 2 was so similar in ways to the design style of Pan's Labyrinth - I think after we left the theatre we were saying "Wow, that was like getting the pretty factor of Pan's Labyrinth without the wanting-to-kill-yourself part!"

Anyway, I liked Hellboy 2 as well. Have you seen the first one? You should, if you liked the 2nd one.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Well put! It didn't take itself too seriously, but it didn't insult the viewer, either. The extras included a tour of the Troll Market that showed how much attention and care went into every detail, including things that were barely glimpsed on-screen.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, we watched the first Hellboy last summer when #2 came out, in case we got a chance to see it in the theater. (We didn't, but then we wouldn't have gotten the fabulous epilogue from the DVD, so it all works out.)

I'd heard about Pan's Labyrinth, but I had also heard that it is not for the squeamish, which I totally, totally am! So I haven't seen it.

[pocketwitch.livejournal.com]

Okay, yeah, if you have squeamish issues, then skip it. It's beautiful and brilliant, but ... *shudder* GAH. As amazing as I think it was I don't think I'll ever need to see it again.