Hellboy II: The Golden Army Review AKA Dartflix Edition #37

I apologize for not being able to come up with anything clever more the post title but you all get the point. I just saw Guillermo Del Toro's new flick "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" and I have to say that it met and exceeded all of my expectations. This man's cinematic track record speaks for itself with such modern classics as "Cronos", "The Devil's Backbone" and "Pan's Labyrinth" in addition to blockbuster flicks like "Blade II" and the previous "Hellboy" it's clear that Del Toro is one of the best directors of this era.

The story centers around a legendary crown that was constructed at the order of the Elven King to be used wage war against humans eons ago. The crown is worn by the highest ranking royal in the family of elves and is used to command the invincible Golden Army. The humans and elves made a truce way back in the days and the Elven King dismantled the crown and sealed The Golden Army away underground in a remote location.

As you would expect, millennia later the son of the Elven King springs up on the scene with the hopes of reassmbling the crown, resurrecting The Golden Army, destroy humanity and take over the world. Guess who stands in his way? Hellboy (and his family)! Hellboy, Abe Sapien and Liz all respond to the threat. I won't pull a Hancock on you and reveal any real spoilers this time so relax.

The team have a skirmish with the rampaging Prince Nuada and his minions and eventually gain an ally in his twin sister Princess Nuala who opposes him and his attempt to combine the ancient crown. Throughout all of this, Hellboy and Liz are having relationship issues and Hellboy wants to stop being in the shadows and get some recognition for always saving the world. He gets his wish when Nuada's attack can't be hidden from the public and he becomes an instant celebrity.

The crew has to find not only the remaining piece of the crown before Prince Nuada but they have to find out where the Golden Army is being held before he does. A bunch of twists and turns abound that I found rather entertaining and very little of the film was contrived or unoriginal, not something you normally get with summer blockbusters.

This movie has an excellent script, good pacing, it's funny, the special effects don't detract from the film and aren't overdone (Speed Racer, I'm looking at you!) and the story draws you in. The flick is also funny to balance out a lot of the weirdness that you see on the screen. Even if you've never cracked open a Mike Mignola "Hellboy" comic book or graphic novel you can get into the characters and the story.

Not only did this movie surpass the first installment, I can't wait to find out the storyline for the final part of the slated Hellboy trilogy. I didn't see a lot things in this film coming which I always appreciate. I give it a mos def. Go see it soon.



Films I recommend in theaters (7.15.08-7.31.08) or to add to your queue early or for rental from either Netflix or Redbox:

The Dark Knight
The X-Files: I Want To Believe
The Bank Job
Meet Bill
Secretary
Brothers Five (Shaw Brothers)
Tai Chi Master
Challenge Of The Masters
OutFoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War On Journalism-Fox Attacks (Special Edition)
Cocaine Cowboys 2-Hustlin' With The Godmother
Voice
The Last Winter
Bird (Two Disc Special Edition)
Electroma (Daft Punk)
21
Robot Chicken: Star Wars
Doomsday
Joe Louis: America's Hero...Betrayed
Freakazoid-The Complete First Season
War Games (25th Anniversary Edition)
Dark City (Director's Cut) (Blu-Ray)
The Hunt For Red October (Blu-Ray)
The Lost Boys (Blu-Ray)
Beowulf (Blu-Ray)
Vengeance (Blu-Ray)
Tiger Blade (Blu-Ray)
City Of Men
Drillbit Taylor
Stop-Loss
The Ruins (Unrated Edition)
The Closer-The Complete Third Season
30 Days: The Complete Second Season
Shotgun Stories
Dragon Squad
Sonatine
Drunken Angel
Eagle Shooting Heroes
Adulthood
Patriotism (The Criterion Edition)
Batman: Gotham Knight
Batman Begins (Blu-Ray)
Gangs Of New York (Blu-Ray)
Vantage Point
Sleepwalking
The Tracey Fragments
Jet Li's Fearless (Unrated Director's Cut)
Hard Times At Douglass High: A No Child Left Behind Report Card
Chop Shop
American Zombie
Blood Brothers
Chaos Theory
Be Kind Rewind
The Incredible Hulk
Wanted
Mongol
The Promotion
The Boondocks-The Complete Second Season
In Bruges
Charlie Bartlett
Jumper
Persepolis
The Grand
Funny Games
Californication-Season One
Burn Notice-Season One
Jericho-The Second Season
Rescue Me-The Complete Fourth Season
The Dead Zone: The Final Season
The Restless
Just Add Water
Flawless
Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs
So I Married An Ax Murderer (Deluxe Edition)
Diary Of The Dead
Finishing The Game
Cleaner
War, Inc.
Redbelt
The Air I Breathe
The Warriors: Director's Cut Special Edition
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
Savage Grace
A Dirty Carnival
Cross Bronx
Iron Man
The Machine Girl
The Forbidden Kingdom
I'm Not There
The 4400-The Complete Fourth Season
Botched
Rambo
The Chair
The Tiger Blade
Bomb It
Inglorious Bastards (1978)
Heroes Of The East
Come Drink With Me
88 Minutes
Street Kings
Paranoid Park
Snow Angels
How To Rob A Bank
Shoot Down
Chicago 10
Weeds-Season Three
Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?
The Onion Movie
The Killing Of John Lennon
John Adams (HBO miniseries)
Invisible Target
The Signal
Right At Your Door
Civic Duty
Dragon Tiger Gate
Definitely, Maybe
Fade
Player 5150

Dart's Movie Recommendations (I personally cosign all of these joints):

The Dark Knight
The X-Files: I Want To Believe
Boy A
Doomsday
OutFoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War On Journalism-Fox Attacks (Special Edition)
Cocaine Cowboys 2-Hustlin' With The Godmother
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
City Of Men
The Tracey Fragments
Chop Shop
Dragon Squad
Batman-Gotham Knight


Rent/Watch these movies at your own risk:

Never Back Down: Never Watch This.

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay: Who gives a fuck?

Mamma Mia!: Hell to the no.

Step Brothers: Will Ferrel isn't getting dime one of money for a long ass time.


Coming (relatively) Soon To A Theater (or computer) Near You:


One.