Lately, sequels have attempted at both but rarely pulled off the one-two punch.

Take for instance Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Spielberg was back. Lucas was back. Hell, even Ford came back. And while the style was the same, the story was bonkers and pissed off as many fans as it pleased.

In addition, The Chronicles of Narnia: Price Caspian also saw the return of all its cast members; however, the story was pathetically done as they attempted to make the film bigger than it actually was, turning in a major disappointment and a questioning continuance of the popular franchise.

Now, as if clockwork, audiences get the opportunity to catch up with the mutant clan in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. And like usual, the film only fits half the criteria in the formula to create an adequate and enjoyable sequel.

With the entire cast and even famed director Guillermo del Torro returning for the second film in this soon to be considered franchise, the film seemed destined to live up to if not outdo its predecessor. Unfortunately, the cast was as close as the film got.

Starting with a flashback to Hellboy's childhood, the film presents its main story concerning the golden army and the power in which to control it, within the film's opening minutes. And while you can easily piece together the clues and determine how the plot will progress, a cautious thought lies within your mind, forcing you to doubt the obvious and give del Torro a chance to win you over. Sadly, the inevitable becomes fact as the story falls into place just as originally thought, making the film a predictable and anticlimactic event.

While the characters are much the same, that is both a good and a bad thing. Sure the relationship between Hellboy and Liz Sherman has slightly progressed; however, other than that, the characters seem to be caught in a time capsule, unable to advance forward with their lives or maturity.

But even with the lacking character development, I have to admit that seeing the wild imagination of Guillermo del Torro on the big screen is a sight unlike any other. Full of mystical creatures and creative beings, the imagination of one of the most elaborate and innovative directors successfully comes to life as it bewilders your mind and sends you on a visual adventure unlike anything you have ever seen.

Additionally, the choreography that went into creating and expressing the intense, dramatic and entertaining fight sequences was both thrilling and exhausting. The moves were slick and the punches were fierce, making the sequences, along with the visuals, the true highlight of the film.

Then there was the ending.

Like many endings, Hellboy II: The Golden Army seemed unsure of the series' future. Would the film be a successful follow-up? Would they ever be able to get the cast together again? Would audiences appreciate and ensure a possible trilogy? These questions and many others settled in the minds of those behind the scenes, and it came out quite clearly in the final twenty minutes of the film.

Besides the expected finale combat sequence, the film suffered from miserable dialogue and a less than stellar plot conclusion. But that wasn't the true kicker for me. Instead, I have to harp on the overly obvious way that del Torro chose to leave the story open for a third chapter. And while it was easily predicted and would have been weird without it, it was the straightforward way in which it was done that had me leaving the theater almost laughing at the ridiculous over-the-top antics.