Hellboy

Last night I rented the original Hellboy to prepare for the upcoming sequel. I saw this film only once before (in the theatre in the Spring of 2004), so it had been long enough that I didn't remember it all that well. Turns out there was a good reason for that: the first installment in the Hellboy series wasn't all that great. It's not that it sucked compared to other superhero movies, it's just that it wasn't good, especially in the context of all the praise it somehow received. The story was a bit ridiculous and forced, even for a comic movie, and the visuals and direction, although decent for this kind of fare, weren't up to the standards I think we're all starting to hold Guillermo del Toro up to post Pan's Labyrinth.

Surprisingly, this criticism does not have any serious effect on my desire to see the sequel, out later this Summer. I've seen the trailers for the upcoming film, and if nothing else, the design looks to be up to par with del Toro's previously-mentioned masterpiece. Hopefully the story, action, and acting will follow suit as well...