King Sheep Productions

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Village Cinemas 7:10p 9:40p
Admission: always too much

Hello all faithful readers. This week I’m doing something a little different and giving everyone the heads up on a movie that’s coming out this weekend. That’s right, not a cheapo 3rd run crapfest, but an expensive, shiny 1st run blockbuster (plus it has blasphemy in the title). First, the setup: In the mid-nineties, visionary artist Mike Mignola created Hellboy, a demon summoned by Nazis and raised by American soldiers.

The comic was such a hit that director Guillermo Del Toro developed it into a big budget film. The original movie impressed more than depressed critics (79%) and the sequel is on track for the same reviewer love (87% thus far). For those of you who are skeptical (or skeptible) of a superhero movie that wasn’t around when you were a kid, here’s the sales pitch.

“Fun from start to finish, Hellboy tries to bridge the gap between fanboys and their parents. And it succeeds — in part thanks to Barry Manilow.” David Foucher EDGE Boston

Horary for the man who brought Mandy to the world. Did you know that he wrote the songs that made the whole world sing? Oh, and Copacabana.

“Hellboy is it’s own world. That is a compliment and also the problem. Director Guillermo del Toro has envisioned a fantastic looking world, but it’s just a vision.” Jeff Bayer The Scorecard Review

Hold up, you’re holding this movie to an unfair standard. The criticism is that it didn’t create a new world? First, all movies are ‘just visions.’ And second, if he had created a new world, where would we put it?

Don’t try to resist the cuteness. Give in! Give in!


“Hellboy is without a doubt the most compelling and interesting superhero character ever on screen.” Joshua Tyler CinemaBlend.com

At least until The Dark Knight comes out. Three cheers in the meantime.

“…in a summer of billionaires with robot suits and nerdy scientists with rage issues, somehow the red-skinned demon who drinks beer in the shower is the big screen superhero I can relate to the most.” Luke Y. Thompson L.A. Weekly

That’s an amusing (if somewhat disturbing) insight into the life of a movie critic. If I’d had a beer in the shower this morning, I’d probably be grumpy by lunchtime. Like this guy.

“Simply a bull in a china shop, smashing around aimlessly, desperately hoping we’ll at least be impressed with the horns.” Matt Pais Metromix.com

Maybe it’s just me, but I’d be plenty impressed with a hornless bull prancing around a Crate and Barrel. And entertained. And pooping myself. Let’s move towards a conclusion.

“A feast for the senses: Del Toro’s wild imagination is boundless and Hellboy II unfolds as a spectacle of lights, sounds, images and effects, some of which highly original and diabolically amusing.” Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com

A diabolically imaginative feast of amusing originality and boundless spectaclality (complete with sounds, lights, and images). Are you sold yet?

Purgatory Don’t Justify

Better dead than what?

This is Abe. He’s the cute one.

Look! Hellboy is as famous as Jordon!