All Movie Guide:
Plot Synopsis by Jason Buchanan
Ron Perlman returns to the role of the big red BPRD agent in this sequel to 2004's Hellboy, directed once again by Guillermo del Toro and scripted as before in collaboration with original Hellboy creator Mike Mignola. For centuries, an ancient truce has kept the naïve citizens of the human race safe from the horrors of the invisible realm -- but that's all about to change, and fast. A ruthless leader has emerged in the invisible realm, a tyrant just as comfortable walking the surface realm as he is living in the land of fantasy. When this power-mad ruler defies his bloodline to assemble an unstoppable army of fantastical creatures that he will use to wage a supernatural war on humanity, it begins to appear that humankind's days are numbered. But Hellboy (Perlman) isn't about to stand idly by as the planet is purged by a demonic despot, and with a little help from his team at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, he may just be able to send our otherworldly overlords packing. Of course, Hellboy's pyrokinetic girlfriend, Liz (Selma Blair), is always willing to conjure up an inferno or two when things get desperate, aquatic Abe (Doug Jones) is prepared to dive headlong into any battle, and protoplasmic mystic Johann (voice of Thomas Kretschmann) proves an invaluable companion in times of inter-dimensional conflict. Now, as the creatures who inhabit the spiritual realm gear up for an all-out attack on the human plane, the only one capable of saving the Earth is a tough-talking hellspawn rejected by both worlds.
First things first: Guillermo del Toro is a masterful technician. And I don't mean that in any kind of Andrew Sarris-type of disrespect. I'm serious. Between Pan's Labyrinth and now Hellboy II: The Golden Army, del Toro has shown impeccable taste in set, lighting and costume design, interesting-without-being-distracting camera placement and movement, and special effects direction. The guy is obviously very talented and gifted, and I enjoy his boisterous and giving personality in interviews. So, why am I destined to only enjoy his Spanish-language films?
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to sound like all those other film critics out there who look down on superhero/comic book films; because that's not who I am at all. But, if you've followed del Toro's career, you can see the dividing line between his Spanish language, atmospheric ghost stories/fables ("Cronos","The Devil's Backbone", "Pan's Labyrinth") and his English language mainstream film projects ("Blade II", "Hellboy"). The Spanish films are slower paced, creepy, and pitched within some historical/political context that give them a bit of gravity. The English films are completely different (and good for that, but...): they enjoy loudness, exciting fight choreography, and humor, which del Toro is great at. But they also suffer from clunky and/or less meaningful storytelling and themes.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is the perfect example of his strengths marrying his weaknesses. The film looks amazing. The costumes and special effects are always convincing and extremely creative in their conception. Some of the creatures look like they could've come out of "Pan's Labyrinth", but are probably faithful to Mike Mignola's comic (full disclosure: never read an issue). But the storyline line basically amounts to: Bad Guy on the loose, misunderstood Good Guys chase Bad Guy & fight, rinse & repeat. There is a subplot with Hellboy having to learn to grow up because of Liz's impending pregnancy. Del Toro states in the film's commentary that he put all sorts of signs and clues to the pregnancy in the background of the film (in the form of street signs, words, fertility goddesses, the baby Hellboy has to rescue), but the story should've reflected this change thematically a little better. About half way through the movie, all these ideas are forgotten in order to focus on special effects-driven fighting and destructive mayhem.
Once again, the special effects and the destruction is done very very well. The success of "Pan's Labyrinth" has given Universal the confidence to supply del Toro with enough money to capture his vision; and he uses every single dollar on the screen. But without a strong emotional hook to hang onto, it means absolutely nothing. Del Toro is completely capable of providing that emotional attachment.
Del Toro has put together a good cast. He wisely got rid of the "audience-identification" character played by Rupert Evans in the first film. Tambor's humor quotient has been upgraded, as has Perlman's, yet Doug Jones and Seth McFarlane are left humorless. I have been enjoying Selma Blair in NBC's "Kath & Kim", but she doesn't have much to work with here, which is disappointing.
Though there was something about a scene where Hellboy, Liz, and the others are getting attacked by the Tooth Fairy creatures. Liz clams up, turns on her fire ability, and just uses it to protect herself (knowing that she was pregnant before anyone else did?). That was an interesting moment within the whiz! bang! of an otherwise typical action sequence.
Other thoughts:
-- The opening animated/puppet prolouge was a great way to tell that backstory of the evil creatures. I enjoy sequels that like to investigate and tell stories from a character's past.
-- Guillermo Navarro's photography is very fluid and exciting to watch. It does not call attention to itself. But there are several instances where the way the camera moves within a room to disclose different pieces of information and then to surprise; and it is very effective.
-- The ending of the film does not overstay it's welcome. Once the status quo is restored; the film hurtles towards a close. And Del Toro ends the film with a great line/exchange and a hard cut. Fantastic!
-- "I'm not a baby, I'm a tumor".
This director is a major talent and everything he does will be worth looking at, I just will find myself pining for another Spanish-language film to come down the production schedule...
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