Review of Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) by Ben L — 28 Jul 2017

I wasn't exactly amazed by Hellboy when I saw it about a year ago. It was definitely well made and entertaining, but didn't connect with me as much as other super hero films. The Golden Army was almost the exact same thing. It was ridiculously fun, probably more fun than the first movie, but I struggled to care about the characters. The movie clearly works overtime on creating emotional connections, but I didn't feel it. It's almost like there is something I'm missing between the scenes we see, quieter scenes where more character work is done.

I forgive a lot of flaws, though, when I'm enjoying a film this much. The visuals are simply stunning in Hellboy II. Del Toro is a master with these otherworldly creatures, and the makeup and prosthetics he includes in this film are unbelievable. I feel transported to another world throughout the entire film and yet it all makes some kind of sense to me. There is also some CGI used in the movie, but it works and blends almost seamlessly with the practical effects. I also appreciated how unique the characters are so they are easy to follow in the action sequences.

The action is amazing. I love the blend of gunplay, magical powers, and straight-up fisticuffs. It got me excited every time there was a brawl, and I even found myself laughing at times with glee. The climactic battle was so great I was grinning from ear to ear, particularly when Johann Krauss started to show what he could do. I just wish I cared more about these characters beyond what they do in a fight. They try to weave in some romantic stuff and that fell flat for me. Also they do a few things that seem intended to hit us emotionally and that didn't even make me think about tearing up. Hellboy II was just a mixed bag for me. It was well-made and fun to watch, but could have been truly great with a little more tweaking.