Film review: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Tagline

Saving the world is a hell of a job

plot

In this sequel to 2004’s Hellboy, Big Red is as compelling and likeable as always, in no small part thanks to the ever-wonderful Ron Perlman. The titular Hellboy finds himself struggling with his love interest (Liz, played by Selma Blair), his peers, and the pitfalls of burgeoning fame. It's not easy being a hero, especially when the one doing the rescuing is a giant red demon. It's not as clear cut who he should be fighting this time, either, as the villain of the piece, an Elven prince (played by Luke Goss), has his own reasons for wanting to destroy mankind. Can Hellboy stop Prince Nuada from unleashing the destructive clockwork Golden Army upon the world?

Acting

Hellboy II visually stunning, more so than any other Del Toro picture I've seen - even more than Pan's Labyrinth. Rich, sunny golds mix with vibrant reds and lush greens and blues in a masterfully blended colour palette, reminding me exactly why I love Del Toro productions so much. The creatures are instantly identifiable as Del Toro's work, and have a great deal of humanity to them, no matter how bizarre, or hideously beautiful they are. The elves, Prince Nuada in particular, are a revelation. They are utterly different from any elf I've ever seen before. Distinctly inhuman, with their stony white skin, eyebrow ridges and sturdy musculature, they are pretty much the opposite of 'elfin'. The costuming for the elves is equally as striking and lovely (I particularly loved the use of colours).

Most of this film is utterly enchanting and nigh on perfect, but the finale spoils it by being anticlimactic. The prior fight sequences far surpass it, especially a spectacular scene with a forest elemental, which was both fun and strangely poignant. A final confrontation with the two most magnetic characters should have been explosive, but left me wanting more. One of my only complaints would be that instead of the mostly superfluous romantic sub-plots, I would have liked to have seen the villain a little more fleshed out, for what was shown was more tantalising than satisfying.

Verdict: I'd have given this a 9/10 if it weren't for the last half hour of it. It's fun, funny, and the most cinematographically stunning thing I've seen this year. It was almost completely brilliant, and I left the cinema just a little bit disappointed. I was more excited to see this than The Dark Knight, and truth be told, I wanted it to be better. So near, and yet so far.

Amanda [guest reviewer]