I have always felt that watching the latest movie release should be an escape from daily life and an event which sees time fly by. Sadly, the latest film from visionary director Guillermo del Toro, Hellboy II: The Golden Army, found me taking the first glance at my wristwatch with little more than half-an-hour gone.
There are certainly many positives that can be heaped on the film. In particular, the imaginative characters found in the so-called 'troll market' were reminiscent of those found in the course of the original Star Wars movie. And it is passages such as these - having free reign to indulge in his other-worldly creations - that del Toro is in his element.
However, as is often the case with Hollywood blockbusters, the money thrown at the film seems to have been used to fund the effects, and has neglected the quality of the script. I will be the first to stand up and applaud the magnificence of the effects that are apparent throughout the movie, but feel that they should act as a complement to great storytelling. This, unfortunately, is where the film falls flat on its face.
Without giving too much away, the premise that an ancient Golden Army constructed for battle between mankind and mythical creatures should allow for fantasy escapism of the greatest kind. But as the prince of the mythical creatures pursued the missing crown piece necessary to control the army I could feel no danger or tension building.
Quite frankly, we all knew that the sleeping army would awaken at some point, so surely the events leading up to this should build in the same way as great musical works steadily build to a crescendo. Regretfully, the build up in Hellboy II was little more than a demonstration in special effects, and the awakening of the army came with a sense of relief that the film was coming to a close.
As seems to be the prerequisite for all modern movies (no matter how inappropriate), love interests played a major role in the film. However, the chemistry between those involved was far from apparent and even when one of the couples faced death and loss, I could not feel the slightest bit of sympathy.
I implore people to see the movie to establish their own opinion and simply regard this review as nothing more than a personal outlook. Younger viewers will certainly enjoy the action scenes and entertaining characters, while an almost tongue-in-cheek attitude that is prevalent throughout will ensure an element of light relief. I may be accused of looking for something more and something deeper than what the film offers: a thrilling adventure far away from realism.
Unfortunately, I have always believed that audiences should be able to associate with what they are watching, particularly on an emotional level. Hellboy II however offers no such association and in the end felt like two hours of not-very-entertaining entertainment. There also needs to be an evolvement of the main character, yet there was no real progression from the giant red guy at the end of the first film.
Overall, plaudits should be reserved for del Toro who continues to push the boundaries of his imagination, and any future projects - most notably The Hobbit - will be watched with interest.
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