Sadly less charm than original.

Rating: 5/10 (11 July 2008)

I paused to read many comments before I chose to go see Hellboy II for my birthday. I was skeptical from previews which showed endless fight scenes and a multitude of creatures. It seemed there were no humans in the previews and I feared there would be no connection for a human who was not a fanatic of the comic series. Sadly, my gut instinct was correct. An endless array of creatures -- each more awesome in destructive power than the last, and fight scenes which are as frequent as an old Kung Fu flick. I did enjoy Hellboy himself, but there was not enough time given to his love for Miss Firestarter...or any measure of maturity gained from their relationship. He needed his father to guide him, but (other than an early flashback)there was no father figure for him. As for the newest member, a tin-plated throw-back to Robby the Robot, with a terrible German accent, he was about as entertaining as Jar Jar Binks! In retrospect, it is a very visual show, but the characters as sadly lacking for depth and human empathy.