Awesome effects but that's all Hellboy 2 can conjure up. Too bad

Rating: 5/10 (11 November 2008)

The previews for Hellboy 2 looked incredible. Too bad the movie was beyond brutal. First off, give credit where credit is due: The effects were amazing as was the cinematography and of course the overall conception of the movie. Lots of cool characters and worlds. Visually stunning. BUT great effects etc. does not a movie make. The story could not have been more boring. An endless array of pointless dialog trying desperately to advance the story. They should have focused on making sure the action/fight scenes were a cut above, not average. It was a shame to watch these terrible action sequences take place amidst such breathtaking sets. It was like half the crew showed up and the other half just kinda coasted through the production. The acting was OK but why wasn't Hellboy himself more entertaining. he's supposed to be this loudmouth, smart ass, tough talking, take no s**t tough guy. Instead he was just kinda normal with no real edge. Not Pearlman's fault as the dialog was awful. It looks like Del Torro was too concerned with the visual aspects of the film (which he plays a massive part in) and forgot that he was also responsible for actually DIRECTING the film. As a result, the film severely lacks focus and trips over itself constantly. I know tons of people love Del Torro and this franchise but Hellboy 2 is a poor movie. It is however a stunning visual experience. Maybe if Del Torro decides to hand off the directing reigns and stick to what he clearly enjoys more (conceptualizing the movie) then if there's a third installment, the results might be different.