Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2008) Movie Review

In the summer of superhero movies and their sequels, it is a joy to see the return of Hellboy to the big screen, who is a cigar smoking, beer chugging, wise-cracking red demon who is the good guy and played perfectly through layers of makeup by Ron Perlman. From visual inventive filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, his love for the character and mystical creatures returns in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. It is obvious that Del Toro, who is the master behind the outstanding Pan’s Labyrinth, was given more freedom, more makeup and creature effects, more budget, and evidently more time to deliver his vision in this installment than its 2004 predecessor.

The film picks up shortly after the first left off, with a brief reintroduction to Hellboy’s origin and a bedtime story from his adoptive father Professor Broom (John Hurt) about a truce between elves and humans years ago. Flash forward to present day, where the truce seems broken to the elfish Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) blaming the humans for destroying all nature and earth with their expansion of skyscrapers and cities. Nuada is all pale, with weird yellow eyes, very long hair, and a bad chip on his shoulder towards the human race. He is also quite efficient in battle. Nuada’s ultimate goal is find and put together a three piece crown, which with whoever holds has the power to control The Golden Army, which is hundreds of round gold mechanical warrior machines that can raged major havoc. In steps our heroes from the first film to stop the Prince, who is will kill anyone who gets in his way or disagrees with him, including his father the King. As agents of a secret government agency, there is of course Hellboy, who is having relational issues with his fire creating live-in girlfriend Liz Sherman (Selma Blair). Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), a psychic and vastly intelligent all blue fish man is also back as is the introduction of their new leader Krauss (voice by Seth MacFarlane), who is a gas vapor of ectoplasm that engulfs a suit that is similar to a old school diver suit. The team is once again in charge by the public relations minded Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor), who has to bribe Hellboy with Cuban cigars to keep him out of the public eye. As the battle ensues, there are many action sequences throughout the film, with visually unique characters, but ample time is also given the character relationships.

Del Toro is too smart of a filmmaker to have Hellboy II just be a visual feast for the eyes. He lets Liz and Hellboy’s relationship have dimensions, as well has their friendship with Abe, and the opposite of the villain Prince Nuada, which is Prince Nuala (Anna Walton). Though the script has numerous flaws, including consistency with many of the decision towards the conclusion of the film, Del Toro keeps it high energy and is full enough creatures and visual flair to make it a fun ride. One could see Del Toro licking his lips when putting together all the different trolls, creatures, etc in the Troll Market under the Brooklyn Bridge. There is so much business going on with the visuals in this segment of the film that it will take continuous viewings to catch a glimpse at each creature. It is also obvious that Del Toro refleshes out some of his visual monsters from Pan’s Labyrinth, but that is okay, as long as he keeps using them effectively. The action sequences are terrifically choreographed and capture on film, which includes a deadly match between our heroes and the small flesh-eating tooth fairies, and beautiful sequence between Hellboy and gigantic green forest-God creature.

Hellboy is based on the Darkhorse comic book by Mike Mignola, who had a lot to do with this film, but is obvious that this vehicle is Del Toro, his style is evident everywhere. In addition to there is also a lot of humor in the film, which includes Hellboy’s one-liners and duet of a popular Barry Manilow song. Moviegoers have to be anxious to see what Del Toro does with The Hobbit, in which Peter Jackson hand picked him to direct.

As mentioned before, Ron Perlman has a blast again playing Hellboy and he has become a character actor that is relied on heavily from prosthetics and makeup, which does not seem to faze him a bit. Selma Blair is better this time around as Liz and she also has more to work with. Doug Jones not only turns in commendable work as Abe Sapien, but he also plays the characters of the Chamberlain and the Angel of Death in the film. As the villain Prince Nuada, Luke Gross is striking and riveting, and as his sister Nuala, Anna Walton is sincere and collective.

Hellboy II is simply just an entertaining summer blockbuster, and has enough visual wonder to keep moviegoers talking well after the credits role. Hellboy is not your typical type of superhero, but he sure is a lot of fun.