Hellboy II: The Golden Army

[drugmassacre]

The goggles thing is pretty easy to understand. Everyone could see Nuada, Wink and the Tooth Fairies because they were making no efforts to mask their presences. They needed the goggles to see the troll thing masquerading as an old woman because she was doing that to blend in with normal people. But once they're inside the Troll Market, they don't need them because again, those things have no reason to mask themselves in there.

I guess I missed the part where they explained that the goggles saw through deliberate self-masking...to me it seemed like they were stating that "we simply cannot see goblin-folk" or whatever

What you're saying makes sense, I just don't recall that explanation in the movie

[AgentHelix]

It's not explicitly said, but I thought it was more or less self explanatory.

[drugmassacre]

It's not explicitly said, but I thought it was more or less self explanatory.

there was so much unneccessary exposition and walking contradictions in that script that i had a difficult time finding anything satisfyingly self-explanatory

I'm actually amazed at how much i enjoyed the movie and find myself recommending it to people when I consiuder how much i find wrong with it. It's just so beautiful

[AgentHelix]

It's not explicitly said, but I thought it was more or less self explanatory.

there was so much unneccessary exposition and walking contradictions in that script that i had a difficult time finding anything satisfyingly self-explanatory

I'm actually amazed at how much i enjoyed the movie and find myself recommending it to people when I consiuder how much i find wrong with it. It's just so beautiful

I agree, and I feel basically the same way. On a purely objective level, it feels like I didn't like the movie at all, but I really did. It's just such a mess at the script level.

[che-che]

this movie, is a cool movie, its what a great summer blockbuster is supposed to be. simple story, you dont have to think about it, you just watch and be amazed by all the eye candy. yet it still had characters for of character. it was a fun movie to watch. who cares about stupid believability, its not like these guys were the first ones to have a baby in a fight scene surviving death defying baby stunts. you member hard boiled, tequila and the baby that likes to piss on flames.

its fun and entertaining!! no doubt!

[Wetterschneider]

It would have been nice to see the Giant's Causeway. They said they were going there, and it's a real place, but nope, nada.

[CameronStewart]

The thing that bothered me about the baby scene wasn't that the baby survived being rattled around, but that there's really no reason for Hellboy to endager it in the first place by clambering up a rickety sign on the side of a building. It's there purely to create fake and contrived "drama" in the scene without really making a lot of sense.

And, you know, I like thinking. And I like it when screenwriters think too. They're being paid enough.

[CameronStewart]

It would have been nice to see the Giant's Causeway. They said they were going there, and it's a real place, but nope, nada.

Yeah, that bugged me too. The Giant's Causeway is one of the most fascinating and distinctive rock formations in the world and when they specifically namedrop it but then don't go there it sort of begs the question why they mentioned it in the first place. It's like saying that they have to go to Stonehenge and then just show a pile of rocks.

[Elliotanimated]

It's hard to defend any of the negative comments made about the film, but I enjoyed it thoroughly nonetheless.

SPOILER included in this comment...

Although too long, I particularly liked the opening preface told with the puppets.
After Lord of the Rings I imagine it's hard to come up with an interesting way to do these things.
Maybe it would have been nicer with proper stop motion.

Also - it was explained very specifically that the goggles saw through the fairy cloaking aurora.
Selma Blair told the Dr Phil man in the back of the truck.

The only thing I thought was kind of glaring was the decision everyone made to quit, which kind of bookended Johann's swiftly explained reason to join them on their mission.
The Family Guy bloke, whose name I don't recall, did a fantastic job, I think.

[CameronStewart]

The Family Guy bloke, whose name I don't recall, did a fantastic job, I think.

He was really good. I liked Johann's voice a lot.

For all my bitter complaining I didn't think it was a terrible movie, I do think it was an improvement on the snoozer that was the first film. But I am slightly baffled at the overwhelming critical praise for what think is a beautiful but fairly empty and poorly-thought-out movie.

[Wetterschneider]

The thing that bothered me about the baby scene wasn't that the baby survived being rattled around, but that there's really no reason for Hellboy to endager it in the first place by clambering up a rickety sign on the side of a building. It's there purely to create fake and contrived "drama" in the scene without really making a lot of sense.

And, you know, I like thinking. And I like it when screenwriters think too. They're being paid enough.

Wasn't he ordered to reach high ground to take a shot at the glowing brain part of the creature? It doesn't explain why he brought the kid, but it looked like the shell would have protected the brain from a ground level shot.

[Elliotanimated]

But I am slightly baffled at the overwhelming critical praise for what think is a beautiful but fairly empty and poorly-thought-out movie.

Maybe so.
Personally I think it's a lot stronger than some of the similar matter we've been served this year.
I didn't think it was so empty or poorly thought out (but make no mistake, it hardly think it was brilliance).

[Elliotanimated]

Wasn't he ordered to reach high ground to take a shot at the glowing brain part of the creature? It doesn't explain why he brought the kid, but it looked like the shell would have protected the brain from a ground level shot.

Not quite.
He was ordered to shoot the thing in the head once he got to higher ground.
His choice to climb to higher ground in the first place was prompted by flailing tentacles and cars being tossed about.

[Elliotanimated]

Also - this film contained one of my most hated of modern conventions:
The splat of digital blood/water/mud/spittle on the camera lens.
Fucking awful.

[deantrippe]

Wasn't he ordered to reach high ground to take a shot at the glowing brain part of the creature? It doesn't explain why he brought the kid, but it looked like the shell would have protected the brain from a ground level shot.

Not quite.
He was ordered to shoot the thing in the head once he got to higher ground.
His choice to climb to higher ground in the first place was prompted by flailing tentacles and cars being tossed about.

He was ordered to get to higher ground. It was a quick line from Johann, so I can see missing it. Especially if distracted by the implausibility of the mom being pulled away from the kid and/or the gorgeousness of the Elemental monster.