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MrAbs

-1

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I think I'm going to have a lot of people who disagree with me on this, but I think this one was much better than the first one. It had much more monsters, obviously a bigger budget and lots of action. I liked it.

Some parts were...
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I think I'm going to have a lot of people who disagree with me on this, but I think this one was much better than the first one. It had much more monsters, obviously a bigger budget and lots of action. I liked it.

Some parts were stretched out a little longer than they should have been, but I can live with that.

Great!

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Posted sep 21, 2008 10:19 pm pt

expatriot

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Although not as good as the original, I think, this was still a great movie with fabulous graphics, good acting overall and it just looked fantastic. The storyline could have been improved a bit, as it all seemed too straight-forward. However, I...
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Although not as good as the original, I think, this was still a great movie with fabulous graphics, good acting overall and it just looked fantastic. The storyline could have been improved a bit, as it all seemed too straight-forward. However, I still enjoyed watching this!!

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Posted sep 15, 2008 8:04 pm pt

diyari

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one the good movies of this time,but it wasnt as good as the previous one.
the golden army has some good action scenes and it have some comedy scenes too which I think is good for it,have a very lovely soundtrack the(Barry Manilow)s song. [+] Read Full Review

one the good movies of this time,but it wasnt as good as the previous one.
the golden army has some good action scenes and it have some comedy scenes too which I think is good for it,have a very lovely soundtrack the(Barry Manilow)s song.
the story is good.
I loved it...

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Posted aug 30, 2008 4:09 am pt

titan4lizife

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Breathless, this movie was amazing, action packed, comedic it couldn t have been better; well that s not true, Selma Blair could have delivered a few of those scenes a little better but the end product was still unbelievable. The plot, the fight...
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Breathless, this movie was amazing, action packed, comedic it couldn t have been better; well that s not true, Selma Blair could have delivered a few of those scenes a little better but the end product was still unbelievable. The plot, the fight scenes and of course the mythical creatures had me hooked after about ten minutes. As a new fan it really didn t matter whether you watched the first movie or not, as an independent film I loved it but as I sequel it put a smile on my face and I hope to continue this journey but I really don t want to see lil half hellboys.

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Posted aug 25, 2008 5:38 am pt

MovieMan2

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Guillermo del Toro is arguably the modern master of the fantasy films genre. Del Toro completes nails the true elements of the genre, which is an escapist world creating routes towards the fantasy, and tells stories which are both deep yet...
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Guillermo del Toro is arguably the modern master of the fantasy films genre. Del Toro completes nails the true elements of the genre, which is an escapist world creating routes towards the fantasy, and tells stories which are both deep yet surrealist enough to well and truly hook even the most like minded of audiences. Del Toro is arguably one of the greatest directors to exsist in movie making history. Whilst Del Toro still has a long way to go to be the master of action movies, Hellboy 2 pushes him very close to that degree. Hellboy 2 is a pure Del Toro film, busy, engaging yet action packed and overall as fun as hell to watch. Whilst Hellboy 2 suffers from a reasonable amount of flaws, the pure visual, narrative and general magic of Del Toro gives this dried out beast a lot of life you really won't believe.

The story of Hellboy 2 is generic, but it has a lot going on in it to keep it from true mundanity. According to urban myth, an ancient king broke out war between beast and mankind, but after he called and truce, and puts his legendary soliders: The Golden Army to rest, he splits the crown into three halves, disabling the power for the army, and preventing hatrid in the war. The Prince from the experience is still alive, and is determined to retrieve all peices of the crown and create a kingdom ruling the earth. Hellboy and his detective group discover odd goings on around New York, and must retrieve all parts of the crown, and destroy the Prince before Earth reaches danger. The narrative of Hellboy 2 does tread on thin ice, but has a solid amount of twists and turns that are either predictable or not, such as Abraham falling in love with the Princess. Despite the story in Hellboy 2 lacks the deep complexity of other Del Toro, the story here is well presented enough, and contains a solid amount of bonus material weaving in and out to keep you entertained throughout otherwise the film's decidely average story.

The general concept and style of Hellboy 2 has not changed from Del Toro's previous movies one bit. It is filled with the usual bueatifully lit, epic scope, and abstract and dark set design we have come to expect from his other films such as Pan's Labyrinth. Hellboy 2 also contains the highly creative and iconic monsters and beasts that Del Toro, as an artist, is hugely known for. Hellboy 2 is simply brimming with everything we love about Del Taro's line of work, so fans will lap Hellboy 2 up like a girl lapping up ice cream.

Hellboy 2 has such endearing characters, it is truly hard to believe you are watching a misunderstood red demon. Hellboy's characters are very well developed, and flawlessly cast. The actors genuinely care about their roles, which also adds to the film's specality. Despite Hellboy 2 is arguably one of Del Toro's finest, the movie does have problems which prevent it from being a masterpeice it well and truly could've been. Hellboy 2 suffers from it's small and predictable story, and the ending is sadly something you could see coming. Whilst Hellboy 2's action is mostly incredible, there is maybe a little too much of it. There is very little breathing spaces in this film, and Hellboy's small context does deserve to be seen be more. Hellboy 2 suffers from a little generic ending. Whilst the ending is very good, it feels a little bit like Lord of the Rings gone comic book. Overall, Hellboy 2 is not a masterpeice, but most certainly another crowning effort from one of the best directors ever: Del Toro. Hellboy 2 is a highly fun action romp, and deserves to be seen by any Del Toro fan. Get your horns out, and get ready to experience the ultimate Hellboy experience, by the creative cinematic genius that Guillmero Del Toro.

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Posted aug 25, 2008 4:19 am pt

Bobeagle77

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The hellboys movies are one of my best movie. I wasn't expecting much from this one. But I was really surprised when I saw it and love the special effects and sounds. And I know some people probably don't get the humor or don't like it. That's why...
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The hellboys movies are one of my best movie. I wasn't expecting much from this one. But I was really surprised when I saw it and love the special effects and sounds. And I know some people probably don't get the humor or don't like it. That's why they say everybody is a critic. If you're a fan of the first movie don't expect to much and trust me you'll love it. And your WELCOME.

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Posted aug 13, 2008 12:26 pm pt

TheReviewBunny

-1

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Hellboy 2 was not what I expected, it was good don't get me wrong, but I feel that a lot more could have been brought to the table in this sequel. I'm pretty sure that anyone would agree that the original was much better than this one, but having...
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Hellboy 2 was not what I expected, it was good don't get me wrong, but I feel that a lot more could have been brought to the table in this sequel. I'm pretty sure that anyone would agree that the original was much better than this one, but having said that, some credit is due to this movies entertainment value. The plot was relatively simple, dealing with the story of "The Golden Army" that you learn was a tale told to Hellboy when he was young. A series of events challenge him to choose what side of morality he is truly on as the story continues leading to an action packed, but not quite sensible ending. In conclusion, if you liked the first one, odds are you will enjoy this one equally or a little less.

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Posted jul 25, 2008 12:35 pm pt

b87boy

-1

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I don't understand why much people like this. Is a little boring -and creepy- for me. I'm done.

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Posted jul 22, 2008 12:27 pm pt

BrookllynBoy94

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it was okay. kinda mediocre but the visuals were fantastic!

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Posted jul 20, 2008 1:22 pm pt

VincentVendetta

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Worst. Timing. Ever. I don’t know who decided it was a good idea that this movie gets released one week before The Dark Knight, but I don’t think we can consider this a smart move. That’s pretty sad, because people are so...
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Worst. Timing. Ever. I don’t know who decided it was a good idea that this movie gets released one week before The Dark Knight, but I don’t think we can consider this a smart move. That’s pretty sad, because people are so obsessed with the new Batman movie that this one won’t be seen as much as it could have. And believe me, Hellboy II: The Golden Army does the job very well when it comes to both action and comedy. The Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, which Hellboy is part of, is now called to solve the mystery of an incredible mess that happened in an auction and was caused by Prince Nuada. The ultimate goal of the prince is to get back all the pieces of a crowd that will awaken the Golden Army, 4900 gold soldiers that are simply indestructible, and use it to kill the humans which he feels they betrayed him. Hellboy, Ape Sapien, Liz and a certain newcomer to the BPRD must now stop this man before it’s too late, while problems between the main character and the civilians appear.

When it comes to an adaptation of a comic book like this one, you totally must have a good director that can sum it all up while still make it believable. And seriously, that’s not such an easy job, nor an okay one. It’s freakin’ hard, and so we can be pretty happy to have Guillermo del Toro. For those of you who don’t his works, he directed the original Hellboy (but that’s not a surprise) but also Pan’s Labyrinth. So we can already yell a great “Hooray!� right now. But most importantly, the script is excellent, and sure delivers on the most frequent ingredients of the genre; little humor and big action. Kinda like Hot Fuzz. But instead of opting for some cheap way to make you laugh with a bad or too simple joke, the humor is a lot based on the complicity of the characters. The scene of Hellboy and Abe singing and drinking is just… I’m sorry, but you need to see this scene. It’s just so much funny to see them like that. Also, actions sequences are solid here. The battles between them and giant monsters and little-but-still-a-lot-more-deadly-then-they-look-monsters are all great. Maybe the public relations thing ended a little bit too fast, but overall it’s pretty good.

The casting of the film is a great one, but I most say I am more impressed with the acting, and for good reasons. Ron Pearlman and Doug Jones are simply excellent with their roles. And it’s not just because they pull off these with as much make-up in their faces. They also make those characters believable, with a lot of personality. The complicity between the characters is excellent. The others actors, without this challenge, are still good, but not as great.

The end of the movie was kinda great, most of all because of the final battle… of maybe the one before the final battle. But anyway, the last scene of the film is also really solid. In fact, I have to say that it was better than the two battles we had, but not by much. What it does is make you leave with a big smile. But finally, is there gonna be a Hellboy 3, since after all the two movies were the dream project of the director? I seriously don’t know.

Again, what a horrible timing to release Hellboy II: The Golden Army just before The Dark Knight, because in the end, you will be missing out one great summer movie. Every ingredient is there and they all work. The casting is perfect and the characters are great. And to end this review, let me say something… Hell, this is life.

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Posted jul 19, 2008 12:48 am pt

• [+] The Hollywood Reporter
  
  100
  With writer-director del Toro given free license to go where his singular vision takes him, Hellboy II plays like Guillermo's Greatest Hits with even hotter visual effects.

  by Michael Rechtshaffen | Read Full Review »
• [+] Salon.com
  
  100
  Poetic, funny, darkly romantic and beautifully structured -- is a very different picture from "Pan's Labyrinth." But there's no doubt that it springs from the same cathedral.

  by Stephanie Zacharek | Read Full Review »
• [+] Los Angeles Times
  
  100
  Del Toro is almost alone in his ability to re-create on screen the wide-eyed exhilaration and disturbing grotesqueness that is the legacy of reading comics on the page.

  by Kenneth Turan | Read Full Review »
• [+] Slate
  
  90
  Perlman's Red is hilarious, combining the gritty delivery of a film noir cop with the physiognomy of a horned behemoth. And the script, by del Toro and Mignola, alternates action smackdowns with sweet, goofy moments, like a scene in which Red and the lovelorn Abe drink beer and croon along with a Barry Manilow record.

  by Dana Stevens | Read Full Review »
• [+] Time
  
  90
  If the film is just as strange and endearing as its glowing protagonist -- and it is -- that's because the director and co-writer (with Mignola) is Guillermo del Toro, 43, who has the wildest imagination and grandest ambitions of anybody in modern movies.

  by Richard Corliss | Read Full Review »
• [+] Variety
  
  90
  Not to disparage the f/x guys, but what's onscreen in Hellboy II is all about the seismic eruptions in del Toro's head. Comparing his work to most fantasy cinema is like comparing cave drawings to the Cathedral of Cologne.

  by John Anderson | Read Full Review »
• [+] Washington Post
  
  90
  As he has done in all his movies, from creature features such as "Mimic" to serious dramas such as "Pan's Labyrinth," del Toro creates unforgettable images, filled with color, texture, lyricism and horror.

  by Ann Hornaday | Read Full Review »
• [+] Wall Street Journal
  
  90
  Hugely inventive -- and smashingly beautiful.

  by Joe Morgenstern | Read Full Review »
• [+] Chicago Sun-Times
  
  88
  Imagine the forges of hell crossed with the extraterrestrial saloon on Tatooine, and you have a notion of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army.

  by Roger Ebert | Read Full Review »
• [+] Miami Herald
  
  88
  It's a dry, mundane title. It's also the only thing about the film that doesn't blow your mind right out of its comfortable, I've-seen-all-this-before rut.

  by Rene Rodriguez | Read Full Review »
• [+] The Onion (A.V. Club)
  
  83
  Ron Perlman returns as the film's loveable title character, a demon gone good who's tough on the outside but tender underneath, with a soft spot for kittens, candy, and babies.

  by Nathan Rabin | Read Full Review »
• [+] Entertainment Weekly
  
  83
  The Golden Army dazzles like something out of "Jason and the Argonauts." To make a comic-book fantasy this derivative yet this dazzling requires more than technique. It takes a director in touch with his inner hellboy.

  by Owen Gleiberman | Read Full Review »
• [+] Village Voice
  
  80
  Despite the rosary beads Red wraps around his wrist, Hellboy II doesn't have much on its mind, but few will care since del Toro and his stellar "Pan's Labyrinth" team, including Oscar-winning cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, stage one virtuoso set-piece after another.

  by Chuck Wilson | Read Full Review »
• [+] New York Daily News
  
  80
  The endlessly inventive del Toro creates visual fantasies unlike any other, and the creatures on display here are truly extraordinary. But amid all the costumes, all the action, and all the special effects, it's the humanity that makes his work so memorable. Yes, the monsters are amazing. But the moment when a heartsick Hellboy discovers Barry Manilow? Priceless.

  by Elizabeth Weitzman | Read Full Review »
• [+] Film Threat
  
  80
  Better than the first in some ways: the superfluous Agent Meyers is gone, Doug Jones is great as Abe, and Strauss is an amusing addition (if almost structurally identical to Kroenen).

  by Pete Vonder Haar | Read Full Review »