CLEMENTINE'S REVIEWS

23rd October 2009
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Writers: Guillermo del Toro (screenplay), Guillermo del Toro & Mike Mignola (story), Mike Mignola (Comic)
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Alexander, James Dodd, Seth McFarlane, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, Jeffrey Tambor

As a young child, Hellboy is read a bedtime fairytale. An Elven King holds the crown which rules over an army of magically forged golden creatures with the power to crush any opposition. Deemed too destructive, the King decommissions the army and separates the crown to prevent its use. Ah but the fairytale is not just a myth - an ancient golden army is really lying in wait to be called on again. The man on that mission - the Elven Prince Nuada (Luke Goss). In ages past, humans agreed to stick to the cities and leave the forests to the elves. Over time, humans have forgotten these agreements, and their destructive ways are bringing the earth to an end. Prince Nuada believes he must resurrect the army in order to save the world.

I really liked the timely concept of the plot - humans are destroying the world, the tragic elves have accepted their time in the world is over (representing magic? The fantastic? Humanity's imagination and sense of wonder? Nature, the environment and Mother Earth?). The Prince is a tragic character, he is the only elf who believes that they should fight back, reclaim what is theirs. Unfortunately his solution involves a lot of bloodshed, some of it emotionally sacrificial. I found it difficult to see him as the villain because I really understood where he was coming from. His goal is deeply noble even if his method is misguided. But harsh times call for harsh consequences!

Costumes, prosthetics and effects harmonise to create some really wonderful character designs, particularly the Elven King, twins Nuada and Nuala, and the Angel of Death. The new head of team Johann Krauss (John Alexander, James Dodd acting, Seth McFarlane voicing) has a unique design and powers which are very cleverly achieved. The troll market is so vivid and fun! I found the Forest God really reminiscent of Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke Forest God, whether or not it was intended, it had the same important powerful questions about nature and humanity.

Hellboy's (Ron Perlman) relationship with Liz (Selma Blair), and Abe Sapian's (Doug Jones) romantic story arc explores our superheroes in more depth. I like the dimensionality of the characters - none of them are innately really good or really bad, just people with their good and bad points (well except Abe who is proper lovely). For some reason, I just don't find Hellboy himself that interesting (which may explain why I realised I haven't actually explained the plot, or his role in it anyway). One complaint I have is the plot point executions are a little too obvious and overdone, and overdone foreshadowing loses its dramatic effect.

Verdict: Entertaining action with some poignant messages about humanity and nature.