Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Guillermo Del Toro did exactly what was expected of him. The film looks like it cost three times as much as it actually did, and the parade of entertaining action scenes, monsters and original ideas is almost never-ending. Unfortunately, the film loses its pace when it works with emotions. Nevertheless, Hellboy and his crew saving the world from an invincible army is definitely worth a cinema visit, because it's still a damn good film. (11/08/2008)

The shallow and awkwardly simple clash of good and evil wrapped in the most clichéd motifs. Good characters, evil characters, an old king, a young hot-blooded lad and heir to the throne, a princess, love, monsters, a final battle, etc. We've had something similar at least a thousand times before, and if it weren't for the solid wisecracks, the beautiful costumes and make-up (it's clear that del Toro loves colors and is not afraid to experiment), the high-quality visuals and Luke Goss, who knows how to kick ass, as fans have known since the days of Blade 2, there would be almost nothing here, because this boring tale didn't appeal to me even halfway as much as I expected. (19/11/2008)

Hellboy 2 was supposed to be a non-narrative film from the start. The giants rising from the ground, giant flowers that bloom during death, and winged reapers could have silently told a story on their own, and their presence alone would have worked visually even as metaphor, which they are. They work on a fundamental level; everything around them does not. (15/09/2013)

It may hold together less than part one, on the other hand Hellboy II is full of enthusiasm and enough fantasy for another ten movies. Guillermo gives the movie the heart and playfulness of a young child who loved old fairytales and fantasy stories. I used to be like that too and maybe that’s why I gave The Golden Army a full set of stars. In fact, I’m rather disappointed that del Toro signed up for Tolkien’s Hobbit because he’s need elsewhere. Because of him we are going to have to wait longer for the third Hellboy than I would like. I’m going to miss this red guy’s world and I won’t even mention the shelving of the adaptation of Lovecraft’s ‘At the Mountains of Madness’. (02/10/2008)

Perhaps the best possible sequel I could have hoped for! The Golden Army surpasses the previous adventure in every respect, whether in its straightforward and spectacular execution, its stylish story, or its approach to the main characters, which is perhaps even more human and distinctive. Del Toro again literally revels in his work, getting the absolute most out of his characters, and his world full of diverse monsters is portrayed as breathtakingly as only a certain gentleman named George Lucas could. His direction is much more assured and less cluttered than in the first one, the action scenes are more imaginative and better structured, and Ron Perlman is still in top form, churning out one wisecrack after another, and his Red is slowly becoming one of my favourite comic book characters. Too bad we probably won't see a sequel. (29/08/2012)