Saturday, April 11, 2009

Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

A fine homage to Tolkien and Rowling, but not without its problems. Bad dialogue and bad acting, but great action scenes, great sets, great costumes, great effects, great monsters, a gynormous (heh heh) Venus of Willendorf, and poetry by Tennyson (don't worry, Glenn, he's dead). It's also nice to see Ron "Hatchet Face" Perlman getting steady work. Overall, it's no Pan's Labyrinth, but I'll probably still watch it like 10 more times. Alternate ending here.

RATING: 80%

(Image from moviesblog.mtv.com. I do love me some Mignola.)

12 comments:

laurie said...

The P.C. name for the Venus of Willendorf is now Woman of Willendorf. I think it's a feminist thing...I just remember them telling me that in art history. So you know, get with the times man. Or don't because there are only like 100 people on earth who give a crap.

John said...

I think you mean the Womyn of Willendorf.

John said...

Here's an argument along the lines of what you're talking about. I'm inclined to disagree with it, though--I think some feminist art historians are projecting their own sneering rage onto dead patriarchs, as they sometimes do. She looks like a goddess or mythic "type" to me, anyway, and IMO the inspired and flawed name "Venus of Willendorf" is far sexier and more imaginative than the rather pedestrian "Woman of Willendorf."

John said...

The self-portrait argument is interesting as well. I think it tries too hard, in an ideological sense, but maybe that's necessary to push the pendulum away from straight up paternalistic fetishism. In any event, it takes an interesting look at the way we as a nation perceive and interpret the events around us, and whether there is actually any such thing as one solid "truth" to be found.

Heh heh heh

laurie said...

Actually now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure the Venus/Woman thing was about white people co-opting and/or making light of native cultures...or some shit. So I guess now you get to rail against that one, I.J.

John said...

"...or some shit."

I imagine 10 years ago it was all about heteronormativity and queering the Woman of Willendorf, and now the issue is the patriarchal essentialist assumption that the statue hasn't had a sex change, or that it would have to get a sex change if it wanted to get the F off its driver's license.

*snore*.

laurie said...

But I just told you it's not a feminism thing, it's a white man's burden thing or whatever. You're supposed to start bitching about western culture or globalization or some shit!

John said...

Post-colonialism is soooo 1994. But done and done. Look up.

laurie said...

That was so unfulfilling.

John said...

I know you're dating a vegan, but don't take it out on me.

Me said...

I loved the first one. Really need to see this one.

r. said...

Those posters are crazy! Imaginus maybe?