Choice Thoughts on Hellboy 2

Although comparison of this film with The Dark Knight is entirely expected given the chronological closeness of the two and their places within the comic book genre, I don’t think the comparison really serves either film with any fairness.

The Dark Knight has been garnished with praise beyond belief and no doubt it is an outstanding film. But it’s by no means the be all and end all of comic book movies. It’s a beautifully-created mess of a film that is very good but exhausting given the bleak worldview, relentless thematic ideas and huge performance of Heath Ledger. It leaves a space for a film like Hellboy 2 to fill, a comic book movie that eschews the engagement with real crime and overtly political issues that The Dark Knight hits and rather provides a phantasmagorical fantasy story-book world in which an audience can exist fall.

Guillermo Del Toro’s previous film prior to Hellboy 2, Pan’s Labyrinth, is among the finest pieces of work created on this side of the millennium. One of its key charms is the imagination that he manages to bring to the piece, specifically to the set design and the monsters he creates as part of the fantasy world of the lead character. Although I would argue that perhaps Hellboy 2 goes one monster too far in its array of fantastical beasts, eventually becoming an veritable conveyor belt from Del Toro’s mind, the sheer wealth of design ideas here and the consistent ability to avoid getting bogged down with overarching themes and plot gives this film a lightness on its feet that makes it both charming and hugely enjoyable to watch. Maybe it’s somewhat hollow but I think to start walking into every comic movie post-The Dark Knight expecting to watch a coruscating deconstruction of superheroes and relentless ‘dark’ storytelling is both dangerous and unwarranted. Surely there is no one who really wants to see constantly dark comic book movies because at some point, there becomes a need for entertainment to burst through and for movies to make sure they understand their place as escapism. I loved The Dark Knight, but I don’t want to go into a Hellboy film an be engaged on issues of national security, surveillance and domestic terrorism.

Hellboy 2 is fun, funny and breezy, never taking itself too seriously and providing a great slice of entertaining escapist cinema with set design and imagination to rival anything around.

Read Cassam at Screenjabber’s thoughts on the film here.

Most Anticipated Summer Movies

With so many films planned, I bet you’re all wondering what I’m most looking forward to at Electricity and Lust and well, I’m going to tell you. So here’s the five films I’m most anticipating across June, July and August along with some honorable mentions. (UK release dates)

The Big Linkbowski

The puns are Coen-ed this week.

Lost’s Emilie de Ravin has joined the cast of Michael Mann’s Public Enemies.

The Coens’ Burn After Reading will open the festivities at the Venice Film Festival.

Jason Bateman is to star in Mike Judge’s Extract.

Latino Review has the new TV spot for Indiana Jones.

The trailer for Alan Ball’s Towelhead has turned up.

Marc Guggenheim’s Resurrection comic has been optioned.

Del Toro talks Hobbit.

Here’s eighteen non-Spielberg blockbusters what are good.

Not film as such, but here’s a list of 50 great cult books.

Here’s an interview with Jeff Bridges on his photographic history.

Nathan Fillion has signed up for a new pilot on ABC.

Finally, the Top Twenty-Five Opening Credits of 80s Action TV Shows.

P.S. You can check out my review of Robin Williams in Man of the Year on Screenjabber. I’ll be writing for them regularly so please click away on their site.

Linking Bull

How to make your own Judd Apatow movie.

Here’s an interview with Amy Poehler.

Gervais vs Fey vs Lowe. Nerf War.

Shockingly enough, Eli Roth is aiming to hit the blockbuster circuit.

The new Dark Knight poster… I’m not loving it to be honest.

Brian De Palma’s The Fury is being remade.

Guillermo Del Toro will officially be directing The Hobbit.

Jimmy Fallon to replace Conan?

Ewan MacGregor to join cast of Angels & Demons. Ewan…

A new trailer for Don’t Mess With The Zohan has turned up. Adam Sandler? It’s a no.

Wesley Snipes will serve 3 years. One of which must be attributed to Blade: Trinity.

SpoutBlog has a review of The Wackness.

The AV Club loved Errol Morris’ Standard Operating Procedure.

Finally, the return of the cock!

Jo-Link

The AV Club holds it’s third annual film poll.

We love Ellen Page here and indeed, it seems The Guardian has also fallen pray to her cheeky charms.

I also love rotund Spanish genius Guillermo Del Toro and he has been linked to yet more projects.

Now I know you’re all sat there wondering, ‘what will Slate writers be reading this winter?’ Well folks, by clicking on the highlighted portion of this very sentence, you can instantly find out.

PopMatters also picks out some books, this time the finest they experienced throughout the previous twelve month period we oh so love to know as a year.

Microsoft has bid $44.6bn for Yahoo. Which seems like quite a lot doesn’t it? Isn’t Yahoo rubbish now? Hmm…

Entertainment Weekly selects a few choice action movie one liners. To be honest, it’s a little rubbish because not once is Arnie noted for his Commando, Running Man or Batman and Robin work. Poor show EW, poor show.

To background this, Jimmy Kimmel had a running joke on his show about inviting on Matt Damon and then running out of time. Probably the funniest gags ever done involving that fat lump of idiocy. Until now, although this doesn’t really involve him. This one is all about Sarah Silverman, Matt Damon and coming clean. Enjoy.

Here’s a very good list of the twenty meanest love songs. Despite this, REM’s ‘One I Love’ used to be among the most played songs at weddings despite being an exploration of love as a throwaway commodity. People are great.

M Ward discusses his working with doe-eyed indie siren Zooey Deschanel on a very anticipated album for E&L.

Newsweek is calling for finality to come to the Oscars. I agree, it’s time to put that golden fool down once and for all.

Cracked.com theorises on what might get nominated for the Oscars next year if the strike fails to be resolved. A couple of them sound great.

Lupe, Lil Wayne, MadLib; all good practitioners in the hip hop game. Better though, Bill Cosby.

The Washington Post adds its name to the list of publications which loved 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days.

Barack versus Hillary played out calmly with no blows truly landed. The International Herald Tribune discusses.

Here’s a clip of Les Savy Fav playing ‘Patty Lee’ on Conan. They rule.

Josh Hartnett in a martial arts movie, you say? Tell me more.

Milk, Gus Van Sant’s new movie about Harvey Milk, is looking very cool and CHUD has some pics of Emile Hirsch sporting a wig for his role.

Marc Jacobs, Betty’s fashion Jesus, played out an homage to himself in NY last night.

Deerhunter and the Black Lips have had their respective frontmen unite to deliver collaborative tuneage.

9 to link, what a way to make a livin’

Dolly songs this week. For literally no reason at all. (Except the overruling reason that they’re FABULOUS! – Beth)

Let’s kick off by going all proggy with a select group of ridiculous album covers.

Dude… I gotta read the news more. You gonna eat those Cheetos??

Guillermo del Toro is reported to have entered talks to direct The Hobbit. Awesome.

Sparks are playing 21 shows in a row. The Guardian salutes the genius of Mael.

Pitchfork loves the Afro-pop indie of Vampire Weekend. So do I! Pitchfork and I should become BFFs!!

Slate reviews Breaking Bad. I watched the first episode of this last night and I’m undecided as yet.

The really quite lovely Marion Cotillard’s career is really kicking off post La Vie en Rose. Now she gets to meet Depp.

Wilmer Valderrama and Rosario Dawson make out in a dramatic telenovela about VOTING! Come on Americans – Declare Yourself!

The world is really being kind to me lately – now there’s going to be a HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL… erm… musical, live in London at the Hammersmith Apollo. There is a god. And his name is Zac Efron*.

(*I’m guessing Zac will not actually be in it. I’ll just take my contact lenses out and pretend it’s him up on stage… ahem.)

Erm – NOOOOoooooooooooo… McFly are parting ways with their record company. (Although still making music apparently.) They’re going the way of Busted… oh good lord, I’m still not over the demise of Busted… where are you Matt Willis? Get back on my tellybox!

NBC is casting for contenders for the second season of American Gladiators – BuzzSugar wants to know what your Gladiatorial name would be. Ponder carefully…

Where Did Our Link Go?

The AV Club has a glowing review of No Country For Old Men. On the subject, PopMatters has an interview with the Coens.

You can choose your friends. But not your family.

Garrison Keillor talks Halloween on Salon.

Hirsuite genius Guillermo Del Toro is to remake UK series Champions. For those who don’t know, here’s what that is.

The Village Voice reviews Sufjan Stevens.

Ellen has pissed off some writers.

The Pringles Ad of Brad Pitt’s past is back to haunt him.

The Office‘s John Krasinski is looking yummy in this sports-related spread from Men’s Health.

This evening Beth has mostly been playing High School Musical: Sing It! and marvelling at how complicated the harmonies are.

And Sam enjoyed Glengarry Glen Ross at The Apollo Theatre in London, starring Aiden Gillen and Jonathan Pryce.

There be some women out there who truly hate Observer Woman magazine…

And finally – here’s the Rashida Jones (Karen in The Office) starring Foo Fighters video for Long Road To Ruin