Hellboy II: The Golden Army

The film begins with a quick summation of Hellboy's origin, as del Toro couldn't secure the rights to Hellboy, he couldn't use any clips. What follows almost led me to fear the worst as the first scene shows Professor Broom and a young Hellboy on Christmas eve with the professor telling his son to go to bed but being convinced to read him a story first. Picking up an old and large tome, he tells him the story of a war between humans and mythical creatures.

The Elfin King Balor orders the creation of an army of 70 times 70 unstoppable golden warriors who slaughter the humans mercilessly. Regretting his decision, Balor offers a truce to end the war splits crown that controls the army into three - two parts for the elves, one for the humans.

The action moves onto an auction in New York where the humans portion of the crown is up for sale but the sale is interrupted by Balor's son Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) who never agreed with the truce and has decided to resurrect the Golden Army. Setting loose two boxes of very hungry tooth fairies, he takes the crown piece, kills everyone in the auction house and leaves the mess for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence (BPRD).

The BPRD, especially Hellboy, have been testing Manning's (Jeffrey Tambor) ability to keep them a secret and when they get to the auction house and fight the tooth fairies 'Red' is blown out of a window landing on a car in front of photographers, the secret is out. In an attempt to control the publicity seeking demon the government adds the ethereal German scientist Johann Krauss (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) to the team as a new leader - much to Hellboy's chagrin but Abe's delight.



Del Toro used to make one film for him and one for Hollywood ( Cronos then Mimic, The Devil's Backbone followed by Blade II) but in doing Hellboy he found a pet project that was accepted in America. Now, after making the sublime Pan's Labyrinth he has returned to Mike Mignola's comic book but not being bound to a pre-written story this is the closest that a mainstream Hollywood movie has felt like a personal del Toro film.

It's been so long since I saw Hellboy that I can't really use it as a point of comparison so I'll have to judge this on its own merits. At times it felt like the second part of a trilogy in terms of character dynamics and relationships but for the vast majority of the running time it was a fantastic fantasy film. The script was funny, the pace didn't lag, the cinematography, character design, special effects make up, CGI and direction were all excellent and Ron Perlman was again great. He was more than ably supported by Selma Blair and especially Doug Jones, who showed that he didn't need David Hyde Pierce to provide the voice of Abe. The scene with Abe and Hellboy drunkenly crooning along to Barry Manilow is almost worth the price of admission alone. Luke Goss continues to surprise as an actor after his fine performance in Blade II - who'd have expected that from one half of Bros? - and was a great bad guy.

Hellboy II is a great visual experience, especially the troll market scene, and one to see on the big screen if you get the opportunity. Although he has stiff competition from Terry Gilliam and Tim Burton, del Toro, for me, really is the master of warped fairytales.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army goes on general release on August 22nd rated 12A.