Big Red is back in this visually stunning sequel that pits him and his allies from the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense against Prince Nuada, an elf royal who is trying to overthrow the present day status quo of human rule over the earth by raising a legendary army of golden armored warriors. These mechanical warriors, when originally created for a war in the distant past, were such a devastating force that their own leader, the elf King, showed mercy by calling for a truce with his former enemies, the humans. The truce called for the elves, and other mystical creatures, to remain in the forests of the world while the humans ruled the cities. Nuada, feeling that his kind has received the short end of the stick, thanks to overriding oppression by the banal human society, seeks to restore things to the way they were by reminding humans of why they used to fear the dark.
Ron Perlman is back as the grumpy, salt of the earth Hellboy, who not only has to deal with this new threat, but with an even graver situation: living together with his girlfriend Liz Sherman (the always great Selma Blair), who’s having a hard time finding her own space within Hellboy’s cluttered lifestyle. Hellboy may have had Agent John Meyers, introduced in the first film, reassigned to Antarctica because he couldn’t stand the competition, but now that he’s finally got Liz’s undivided attention, Hellboy is finding that fighting monsters and demons may be far easier than maintaining a relationship. Blair amply holds her own against Perlman and the other assorted fantastical creatures in the sequel, as she frets over how to deal with a recent revelation.
And thanks to the fine script by director Guillermo del Toro, who’s also back at the helm, the fantastical creatures get their due, as well. Abe Sapien, the thoughtful, soulful, water-breathing mutant, deals with love for the first time in his life--while the team overall has to deal with getting a new leader. Johann Krauss is a strictly by the book, Teutonic bureaucrat--who just happens to be a gaseous entity that requires a special suit in order to maintain his form. Voiced by Family Guy’s Seth McFarlane, Krauss is a hysterically funny addition to the team, and an irritating annoyance to the laid-back Hellboy. The effects are a combination of CGI, with on-set make up and puppet creatures, and the effects boys really pushed the envelope in both departments. The troll market sequence is a real visual stand out of the film, thanks to the ingenuity of the effects.
The three-disc special edition DVD, which I reviewed, offers a digital copy on a third disc that can be downloaded to your PC or MAC. The second disc comes with a feature-length ’making of’ documentary that is superbly done. Looking at the film from pre-production to the finish, it offers a fascinating glimpse into moviemaking, as well as how del Toro works out the film and creature design with executive producer (and Hellboy creator) Mike Mignola, and the effects team. There’s also a commentary by del Toro, along with deleted scenes. With this film done, del Toro now goes to work on the long-awaited adaptation of The Hobbit--and while I anticipate seeing that film, there are some very dark portents hinted at in Hellboy 2, regarding future events, that make me want to see a Hellboy 3 right now. Filled with plenty of action, humor and dazzling visuals, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is a worthy follow up to the first Hellboy, and an enjoyable film in its own right.
--SF
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