Product reviewsHellboy 2 - The Golden Army (DVD, 2008)

top film

top film really funny lots of action

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: sylvia1935123

Far too soppy!

After enjoying Hellboy so much, I decided to buy Hellboy 2. I've got to say though, it was no where near as good as the first one. The story line had too much focus on Hellboy's relationship with his girlfriend. It was far too soppy for me!Read full review...

Great Watch

I brought hell boy 2 cos i had already got hell boy and really enjoyed that 1 so wanted to watch number 2 and wasn't disappointed

Very dark

Guillermo Del Toro has become the new master of dark fantasy -- first with the quirky clockpunk "Hellboy," then with the Oscar-winning "Pan's Labyrinth." Not to mention forthcoming travels to Middle-Earth.

So you know he has the skills to pit Mike Mignola's scarlet anti-hero against an army of fairies and elves, and not make it silly. Instead, it's a spectacular dark fantasy full of humor, action, quirky appeal, romance, and some truly astounding special effects. But what really shoves this movie over the top is Del Toro's brilliant direction, and the stunning performance by Ron Perlman.

Decades ago, Professor Broom (William Hurt) told a small Hellboy a yuletide bedtime story about the Elf King Balor and his unstoppable Golden Army, and how the crown that controls the Army was split into thirds and divided among fairies and humans.

Well, you can't really expect that kind of power to never be revived.

Cut to current day. Hellboy (Perlman), Liz (Selma Blair) and Abe (Doug Jones) investigate a strange supernatural attack on an auction house, where the archeological curiosity known as the Crown of Bethmoora was being sold -- only to be attacked by savage tooth fairies. Turns out the crown was stolen by Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), a resentful young elf who is determined to take the world back from humanity -- using, of course, the Golden Army.

And while Hellboy chafes against strict new commander Johann Krauss (a suit filled with ectoplasm), Abe encounters Nuada's sister, Princess Nuala -- who also happens to have the last third of the crown. But Nuada will not allow anyone to oppose him as he searches for the Golden Army's location, and Hellboy and his friends must venture into a strange, ancient kingdom to stop him from destroying all of humanity.

The worst you can say about "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is that it sticks to the formula of the demonic outsider with a dark destiny, and his continuing romantic woes. There's some retreading as Hellboy realizes anew that he'll never fit into the world of humans, because he's big and red and has horns and a tail. Okay, we got it. Next big psychological issue!

Fortunately those flaws are relatively minor ones. Del Toro is still able to spin a dark, twisted story with some truly bizarre creatures (the utterly alien, eye-winged Angel of Death), clockpunk robots, trippy underground goblin markets and a new BPRD agent who is basically ectoplasm in a suit. And for the action scenes, Del Toro does not pull punches when it comes to the smashing action scenes -- giant thrashing vines and a one-on-one duel with Nuada are among the highlights.

But what really sets this movie apart is the "children of the Earth." No flitting Victorian sprites -- these are creatures that are weird, grotesque, dangerous and immensely powerful, from nasty little tooth fairies up to vast rock monsters and plant gods. There's an alien, bizarre aesthetic to these creatures that feels wholly real, as if Neil Gaiman casually dropped a few sketches onto the drawing board.

But as amazing as the visuals are, Del Toro never neglects the characters. Perlman is perfect for the role of "big Red" -- he's gruff, sarcastic, moody, but also endearing and self-deprecatingly likable. There are more hints of his potentially dark future, and he faces some delicately-handed temptations. But Big Red's good heart is still very much in the forefront, no matter how much human beings fear him.

Hellboy 2 is definitley worth watching.Read full review...

Strange ideas, but funny and fantastical!

On the face of it Hellboy 2 is a really silly film! Although there are some interesting ideas in it. What saves it from being another run-of-the-mill superhero film is the humour, and the gorgeous detail in every frame.
The diretor, who also directed Pans Labrinth, another fascinating, albeit strange film has put together an enormous spectacle of colour and inginuity. The story, about an elf prince returning to restore the world to fairy rule is perhaps on the face of it a bit strange but the director Guillermo del Toro and his team have created a world of monsters and strange creatures to delight the eye and fill the senses.
But the execution, sets, costumes, CGI and camera work lift it above the usual blockbuster film. The copy I bought also came with a second disk with a documentary about how the film was made, and the creation of the creature effects, sets and costumes, really fascinating stuff, which gives an insight into the mind of Guillermo del Toro. Suspend disbelief, buy a copy!Read full review...

Hellboy II

If you liked the first Hellboy movie then you'll like this one. Again Hellboy has to save the human race from a Prince who is determined to raise The Golden Army to destroy all of human kind. Humans uncontrolable greed, always wanting more no matter how much they all ready have, and to show why the human race is scared of the dark, the things that they have forgotten is why the Prince has decided the truce between his father and the humans made long ago must end. I love this film, the graphics are great and there is a nice underlying love story that continues over from the first film. Defo worth 4/5.Read full review...

'Hellboy II- The Golden Army':

As a Hellboy fan, I was always going to like this film. However, what makes this film great is that it stands alone as a great film. The dynamics between the characters are fresh and palpable, and the first film is helpfully condensed into a photograph at the very beginning . You will not miss out on any major themes by just watching this film. It is an adventure itself, and the special effects are just as stunning, if not more so, than the first film. The creativity and the mystical fun of the first film are upheld and in credit to Marvel, the story line loses none of that comic-esque feel of the original Hellboy graphic novels. Hurrah!Read full review...

Hellboy II - The Golden Army

Well this was a great follow-up to the 1st Hellboy film. Don't listen to the 'professional critics' on this one as I know they slated it. This was a thoroughly enjoyable film from start to end. The characters have 'grown-up' a bit, but the witty one-liners and everything that made the 1st film great are still there. Special effects were good and the story was easy to follow. Just like a comic book should be!! The ending of the film has left it wide open for Hellboy III - which I for one will be keeping an eye out for. Well worth a watch, dont miss it!!Read full review...

Hellboy 2 - The Golden Army

I bought this dvd for my son at Xmas. All action, corny lines and a great story. The first film was excellent and we loved it - this one was nearly as good and the special effects are excellent.
We like to view together with popcorn in front of our big screen (wall-mounted blind) on my projector (borrowed from a mate) with some phat audio.
That's it really, pure escapist tosh - buy it today and find out!Read full review...

Hell boy 2 - The Golden Army dvd

A MUST SEEN FILM

HELLBOY II

this sequence is a Cross between Blade, the matrix and pans labynth

Jam packed full of action which will leave you breathless. the only dissapointment youw ill recieve is when the film finishes!

You will recieve comedy/romance/fighting/and death

HELLBOY II's rather interesting antagonist Prince Nuada intentions of restoring control over Earth to an Elvish race by regaining the key to unlock the indestructible Golden Army.

i wil not reveal the ending but you should watch it or you miss out on one of the best film ever made!!!Read full review...