Almost four years after the first HELLBOY film and with more say now that films like PANS LABYRINTH did so well and received so much praise, director Guillermo del Toro can pretty much make any film he wants too. So why not make a second HELLBOY on a budget a little under seventy five million dollars. The first film, never made it’s budget back while in U.S. theaters but did good overseas and did very well in DVD sales. So it was only right for the studio to give De Toro the go ahead for another film. However I question the release date of the film, as the week before you had HANCOCK come out and a week after THE DARK KNIGHT. I think HELLBOY 2 could of made more box office cash if it had a better studio release date. The good thing it has going for it however is that the film is just as good, if not a littler better than the first one.
HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY takes place a littler bit after the first film. Hellboy and Liz are now living together at their home base in Hellboy’s area of the compound and things are not going so well. Meanwhile in the city above we learn that Prince Nuada, prince of the elves of the underworld is planning on overthrowing his father rule as king. In the past the golden army was built by trolls for the king of elves to command. They are an indestructible army and who ever holds the secret crown to control them and do a lot of damage. Realizing his mistake the king shut down the army and split the crown into three pieces. keeping one for himself, one for his daughter and the other part he gave to man. However, Prince Nuada, is sick and tired of living under the earth while man thrives above. He is intent on finding the three pieces to the crown and releasing the golden army to take over the earth and destroy man. He is an outcast among his people, but has hired hands to help him in his cause. While acquiring the first piece of the crown from man, Hellboy is called in to clean up the mess, left by Prince Nuada. After recognizing the clues left behind by the prince, Hellboy and the gang go on a quest to stop him from releasing the golden army upon mankind and destroying the earth.
The script written by del Toro and HELLBOY creator Mike Mignola is actually very well written. While I’ve learned that The Golden Army was created for the film and was never really mentioned in the comic books, the story still works very well and fits in the theme of what Hellboy’s job is, in stopping paranormal being from destroying the earth. We are introduced to some new characters such as Johann Krauss a German spirit that takes shape in a robot type body.( Voiced by FAMILY GUY creator Seth MacFarlane.) as well as a slew of fantasy like creatures. The script has a great flowing story and some great comic bits. Also the dialogue is written in true HELLBOY fashion with some great one liners that only Hellboy would be able to come up with.
The returning cast is very good, Ron Perlman was great once again as Hellboy, Doug Jones was even better the second go aorund as Abe Sapien and a few other supporting roles he got behind. The ever beautiful Selma Blair was also great as Liz Sherman, and although Rupert Evans did not return to the role of John Meyers (It’s mentioned in the film that he was transferred to the European Division); Jeffrey Tambor character of Tom Manning did a great job in the leadership role of the U.S. paranormal division. John Hurt did have a cameo in the beginning of the film, in a flashback scene where he tells Hellboy the story of the golden army, and the rest of the cast all did a pretty good job especially Luke Goss who play Price Nuada and Anna Walton whom played princess Nuala. The only performance that I didn’t care for, (and yes I’m going to say it) was that of the actress who played the child Hellboy in the beginning. I think she’s better off just doing effects in films which she won an Oscar for.
The film had some really good production value, all the visuals and sets were really fun and cool looking, and although some of them had that PANS LABYRINTH feel to them, who am I to complain, because all those sets look great, and it was nice to see del Toro use imagery that has worked for him in previous films. Everything was pretty good with the overall production. I was not a big fan of the last shot of the film which is a giant ugly close up of Hellboy’s face after finding out a surprise from Liz, but I believe it was done to add to the comic side of the film. There were also some scenes where the make-up effect on Hellboy himself looked a bit fake especially with some of the shots of the back of his head, but it’s nothing that I think the normal eye won’t pick up on.
In the end, HELLBOY 2: THE GOLDEN ARMY is a great movie, with a very well written script. It has a few minor flaws, but nothing to crazy and is one of those great fun popcorn movies with plenty of great one liners, action packed scenes, and some great martial arts fight sequences. If you were a fan of the first film or even of the comic books I’m sure you’ll agree with me that this film is a fun and good one. I think even if your not a fan of the films or if you’ve never experienced the first film, you’ll have a blast with this one as well. It’s an overall great movie and is sure to be a hit with fans of the films and comics.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
