|
|
|
2008
|
HELLBOY
II:THE GOLDEN ARMY
|
|
|
STARRING:RON
PERLMAN,JOHN ALEXANDER,SELMA BLAIR,JAMES DODD, LUKE GOSS,DOUG
JONES,(VOICE OF) SETH MACFARLANE,(VOICE
OF) DAVID HYDE PIERCE,BRIAN STEELE,JEFFREY TAMBOR,ANNA
WALTON
BASED
ON THE COMIC BOOK CREATED BY MIKE MIGNOLA
STORY
BY MIKE MIGNOLA & GUILERMO DEL TORO
SCREENPLAY
BY GUILEROMO DEL TORO
PRODUCED
BY LAWRENCE GORDON,LLOYD LEVIN,MIKE RICHARDSON & JOE ROTH
DIRECTED
BY GUILERMO DEL TORO
GENRE:ACTION/ADVENTURE/FANTASY
RATED:AUSTRALIA:M/UK:12A/USA:PG-13
RUNNING
TIME:120 MIN
|
In
Hellboy II: The Golden Army, filmmaker extraordinaire Guillermo
del Toro has crafted a visually extravagant, action packed comic book
movie which capitalizes on the promise of the first film and leaves
it lying in the dust.
The film re-introduces the viewer to the whacky personnel which inhabit
the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence; there is the spunky
fire starter Liz (Selma Blair); telekinetic fish-man Abe (played by
Dog Jones, voiced by David Hyde Pierce); and, of course, everyone's
favourite man/child/devil, Hellboy (Ron Perlman).
In control of the Bureau is political weasel Tom Manning (played by
the always entertaining Jeffrey Tambor), who is facing a PR crisis
after a scuffle between Hellboy and one of the films many monsters
resulted in the public becoming aware of the Bureau's existence. In
turn, Manning recruits an interesting new addition to the team in
Johann Krauss (played by James Dodd and John Alexander, voiced by
Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane), a German spirit
who resides in a containment suit, (thankfully del Toro ditched the
annoyingly dull Rupert Evans in order to accommodate Krauss.)
As the team work on their chemistry, a self exiled ruler from a forgotten
time named Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) breaks a century's old truce and
wages war upon mankind. In order to bring about humanity's extinction,
the Prince must possess the missing piece of his late fathers crown
to command the invincible and merciless Golden Army. However the last
piece belongs to his twin sister Princess Nuala (Anna Walton), who
has fallen in love with Abe. This gives the Bureau even more incentive
to kick the Prince's butt.
Thankfully, the romance sub-plots work much better this time around.
The relationships between Abe and Princess Nuala, and Hellboy and
Liz bear unexpected fruits (quite literally in the latter), as well
as hilarity (love lorn Abe and Hellboy drinking their miseries away
to Barry Mannilow is in contention for scene of the year).
Performances wise, Hellboy II delivers. The funny and
brawly Ron Perlman continues to prove that he was born to play this
role, while former 1980s pin up boy Luke Goss delivers an effective
villain to rival his turn in del Toro's Blade II.
Yet let's not beat around the bush; the films surprising humour and
taut performances are only a welcome addition to the films real drawcard:
big budget action and visual effects. And in this regard, del Toro
has not failed and in the process has cemented himself as one of the
great visionaries of our time. The effects are gob smacking amazing,
the art direction is inspirationally fantastic, and the varied creature
creations are both original and entertaining. Excellent action choreography
enhances its visual surroundings.
The fact that our red hero is destined to bring forth the destruction
of the world places the viewer in a conflict of interest: should we
root for the good guy even though he is death incarnate?
The answer to that question also sums up my feelings towards this
film: Hellboy may not be perfect, but he will give us quite an entertaining
and adventurous ride while he is here. |
|
|
