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HELLBOY II The Golden Army

With Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, James Dodd, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, John Hurt Brian Steele

Written by Guillermo del Toro & Mike Mignola
Directed by Guillermo del Toro

The tremendous cinematic talent of Cronos and Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo del Toro rarely disappoints. In his second Hellboy chapter our wisecracking red demon (in the service of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense) comes up against his biggest challenge – and that would not be his domestic disagreements with his flaming girlfriend and colleague Liz.
A bedtime story read to Hellboy by his adoptive father Professor Bruttenholm told of a war between men and races from a mystical realm. The elvin king Balor commissioned an unstoppable mechanical army, which annihilated humanity. His regret led to the division of the crown commanding the army and a truce was called. Balor’s son Prince Nuada was not happy with this and went into exile. This legend is however true and the prince returns to awaken the army – he needs all three parts of the crown to do so. So, who has to stop him? Hellboy, Liz and Abe (the aquatic third link of the paranormal trio).
What unfolds is an amazing clash of our world and a mythical one of trolls, monsters, benign- and malevolent creatures, erupting in effect-laden spectacles, battles and large scale action. At times the comedy angle comes on a little thick, but that’s just me.
Highly entertaining, but can be a bit too intense for the youngsters, the graphic novels on which is it based hardly along the lines of Casper comic books.

The only extra feature on this single disc edition is a commentary track.

4 / A
- Paul Blom


1 2 3 4 5 6
A - B - C


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never let a review decide for you, but for those who need a rating, see the Flamedrop scale below
6 - Volcanic
5 - Blistering
4 - Hot
3 - Smolder
2 - Room Temperature
1 - Fizzled
0 - Extinguished

A: Multi-Viewing Potential

B: Could Enjoy A 2nd Look

C: Once Should Suffice



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