Critic Reviews
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008) Rank 5 Reviews
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Eclipse Magazine (Sheldon A. Wiebe)
Del Toro shows that Panâs Labyrinth was no fluke as he sets up action sequences and emotional situations that are simultaneously larger than life and as real as oxygen. He puts his characters through trials of epic proportion, while keeping their feet ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sheldon A. Wiebe)
The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
Well the summer is half way done and we are getting another blast of heat in the movie theater. We seen the big green fighting machine last month with The Incredible Hulk which was a outstanding motion picture and made up for the last on in the series. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The King's Room (Paul Perkins)
PopMatters (Bill Gibron)
Ever wonder what it would be like if your favorite filmmaker had the creative freedom to realize his or her own inner artistic aims? Ever lament the fact that directors like Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton, or Darren Aronofsky are stuck working within a studio ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at PopMatters (Bill Gibron)
Beaumont Journal (Danny Minton)
While the first Hellboy pic was interesting and unusual, this new film comes across as vibrant and spectacular. The world that director Guillermo del Toro brings us here is much more imaginative than the first film. It is certainly more reminiscent of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Beaumont Journal (Danny Minton)
BDK Reviews (CBS Radio) (Kevin McCarthy)
Hellboy 2 is visually perfect and is a sentimental look into the world of Hellboy but keeping with the love story of the film it should have been called Heavenboy. Where was the bad-ass Hellboy for most of the movie? The movie suffers from some awful ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at BDK Reviews (CBS Radio) (Kevin McCarthy)
Film Freak Central
It's at the forefront of one's mind during Hellboy II: The Golden Army (hereafter Hellboy II), Guillermo Del Toro's brilliant dance along an ephemeral tightrope between pop and Puccini, that David Cronenberg and Howard ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film Freak Central
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
Which is funny, since he's balancing a desire to settle down with his beloved and fiery Liz (Selma Blair) and his instinctual need to fight evil in his work for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, a secret government organization, under chief ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
By far the most imaginative action movie in ages - a mix of epic fantasy, tender romance, broad comedy and double-barreled excitement that satisfies all your pleasure centers. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
San Francisco Examiner (Rossiter Drake)
Clearly, del Toro has a deep affection for both his characters and the world of gods and fairy-tale monsters, and it translates into a rich, sophisticated sequel that actually improves on the original. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at San Francisco Examiner (Rossiter Drake)
Boston Herald (James Verniere)
Big Red is back, and Iâm not talking soda pop. Hellboy, of course, is the graphic-novel character sprung from the febrile brain of creator/co-scripter Mike Mignola. Hellboy was summoned from the pit by Nazis during World War II, but adopted by a human ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Boston Herald (James Verniere)
eFilmCritic.com (Rob Gonsalves)
The Mexican fantasist behind such sui generis dark fairy tales as The Devilâs Backbone and Panâs Labryrinth (and also the first Hellboy film) clearly spent his childhood devouring every issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland he could get his mitts on, ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Rob Gonsalves)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Before he was known as "the visionary director of 'Pan's Labyrinth,'" Guillermo Del Toro was the iconoclastic director of "Hellboy," a superhero movie bred from comic-book attitude and mythic magnitude. But after feasting on the receipts from "Harry ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at St. Louis Post-Dispatch
CHUD (Nick Nunziata)
In a summer filled with the brawn and brains and technology of the biggest studio comic movies in creation, count on Guillermo del Toro and his bag of monsters to supply the heart. Hellboy II: The Golden Army is oftentimes dark, laced with underlying ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CHUD (Nick Nunziata)
Film Threat (Pete Vonder Haar)
[W]hile it's nice of Mignola and Del Toro to create something like this out of whole cloth it's the eye candy, not the story, that people are going to talk about. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film Threat (Pete Vonder Haar)
Film School Rejects (Kevin Carr)
doesn't break a whole lot of new ground, but that's part of what I enjoyed about it. In many ways, it's a superhero movie for the Universal Monsters crowd ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film School Rejects (Kevin Carr)
About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)
frustrating not to be able to get a good enough look at them to be able to absorb all the details. That's actually a smart move on del Toro's part because A) it does sell the idea that these creatures do exist and simply go about their business on a ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at About.com Hollywood Movies (Rebecca Murray)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Imagine the forges of hell crossed with the extraterrestrial saloon on Tatooine, and you have a notion of Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." In every way the equal of his original "Hellboy" (2004), although perhaps a little noisier, it's ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
It's the path del Toro takes to get there that gives the film its propulsive kick: You literally never know what's coming next, and what does is always better and cooler than you could have imagined. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Miami Herald (Rene Rodriguez)
Reel.com
Why Guillermo Del Toro chose to take another shot at the Hellboy superhero franchise is a mystery, since the first movie, released nearly four years ago, barely broke even at the box office. More importantly, Del Toro himself has since become a widely ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Reel.com
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
It's the biggest, richest, most imaginative superhero movie of the summer. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Colin Covert)
MightyGanesha.com (Diva Velez)
Del Toro's imagination cuts loose with a sharp, witty script. Hellboy 2 is the fun, fantastic comic book blast that the original film never quite lived up to. I'll be looking forward to "Hellboy 3: Rise of the Little Red Babies" in a couple of year ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at MightyGanesha.com (Diva Velez)
Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
How often does a guy go from making one of the Oscar nominees for Best Foreign Language film to making one of the summer's best action hero sequels? Not often, but the real irony is that though Guillermo Del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army is every ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Combustible Celluloid (Jeffrey M. Anderson)
Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
Guillermo del Toro first made his mark in the United States by directing highly effective genre films such as Blade II and Mimic (still one of the most underrated horror films of the last decade, in my opinion). With 2004's Hellboy, based on a popular ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Poetic, funny, darkly romantic and beautifully structured. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Chicago Tribune (Michael Phillips)
I can barely keep up with the mythology put forth by the "Hellboy" series, but I enjoyed the first film, and I enjoyed the new one. The best scene in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," writer-director Guillermo Del Toro's sequel to his comic book adaptation ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Phillips)
WCBE's It's Movie Time (John DeSando)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a helluva hoot, a complement to and departure from the spate of superhero films this summer such as Iron Man, Hancock, Incredible Hulk, and Indiana Jones. The complementing part is obvious: super powers, super problems, ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at WCBE's It's Movie Time (John DeSando)
Reel.com (Rudy Joggerst)
It's an entertaining, visually stunning romp busy with fantastic ideas and well-rounded characters... ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Reel.com (Rudy Joggerst)
Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
To make a comic-book fantasy this derivative yet this dazzling requires more than technique. It takes a director in touch with his inner hellboy. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Entertainment Weekly (Owen Gleiberman)
Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Almost packed with more imagination than we can take in, this sequel outdoes the original by deepening the characters and sending them into completely new places. It's colourful, funny and sometimes pretty terrifying too.
Reformed demon Anung un Rama ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Shadows on the Wall (Rich Cline)
Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
In the first Hellboy (and in Blade II before it), Guillermo del Toro, the visionary Mexican filmmaker behind such masterpieces as "The Devil's Backbone" and Pan's Labyrinth, took the backseat in the loud, fuel-burning Hummers that are big blockbuster ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Montreal Film Journal (Kevin N. Laforest)
Detroit News (Tom Long)
The film's flaws wither in the light of its brilliant ambitions. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Detroit News (Tom Long)
Lessons of Darkness (Nick Schager)
Fathers figure prominently in Hellboy II: The Golden Army â their sins, their legacies, and the responsibility that comes from turning into one. In this superlative sequel from Guillermo Del Toro, a cloud of parental duty hovers over Hellboy (Ron ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Lessons of Darkness (Nick Schager)
CHUD (Devin Faraci)
Leave it to Guillermo del Toro to explore an issue like that in a summer blockbuster superhero movie. Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a dizzying leap from the first film, a real benchmark in del Toro's evolution as a filmmaker. Marrying the director's ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CHUD (Devin Faraci)
CinemaBlend.com (Joshua Tyler)
Time for me to own up. I never thought this movie would happen. The first Hellboy wasnât exactly a box office smash and letâs face it, selling a superhero movie about a character who looks like Satan was never a sure thing to begin with. Yet Iâve ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CinemaBlend.com (Joshua Tyler)
Beliefnet (Nell Minow)
"Hellboy" is the "US Weekly" of comic book sagas. Superheroes are just like us! They squabble with their loved ones! They smoke cigars! They take pregnancy tests! When their hearts are broken they get drunk and sing along to Barry Manilow!
And then ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Beliefnet (Nell Minow)
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
At long last! A big summer movie that I actually want to see again has arrived with Guillermo del Toroâs Hellboy II: The Golden Armyâhands down the best big release Iâve seen all summer. It may not be in quite the same league as del Toroâs ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) (Ken Hanke)
New York Times (A.O. Scott)
It was made with the kind of heedless, geeky enthusiasm that has been drained out of the standard, somber superhero melodramas that crowd the multiplexes these days. Itâs an artful, clever throwaway that may, over time, turn into a valuable collectible. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at New York Times (A.O. Scott)
efilmcritic.com (Dan Lybarger)
The fact that the setup works for a second round can be attributed Perlman's ability to juggle brash enthusiasm with hardened sarcasm. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at efilmcritic.com (Dan Lybarger)
efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
del Toro has made an astounding bit of eye candy but viewers going in hoping for another emotional masterpiece on the level of "Pan's Labyrinth" may come away from it slightly disappointed. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
Like a young Spielberg before him, del Toro gives off this "I get to make movies for a living, isn't that awesome?!" vibe that's too often missing on the screen. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
Surprisingly rich entertainment, even takes on well known series: Star Wars, LOTR, & Die Hard; framed squarely within a sub-par opening and weak ending. Still, I liked it! ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
It's not perfect â thank Satan! â but Hellboy II: The Golden Army is by far the most splendidly imaginative and creatively uncorked piece of fantastic cinema since the director's Pan's Labyrinth netted an Oscar trifecta in 2007. Given the success of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Slate (Dana Stevens)
Unlike many action filmmakers, del Toro doesn't thrill to the hardware of manmade technology. He prefers the soft, organic textures of flesh, and his trove of imaginary beasties is unmatched in modern fantasy filmmaking. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Slate (Dana Stevens)
State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) (Nick Rogers)
A fabulously freaky and fun immersion into a world of skin, hair, teeth and bones that aren't our own. Revolving around the ideas of bedtime-story imagination and fatherly obligation, it's more exciting, elegant and confident than its predecessor. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at State Journal-Register (Springfield, IL) (Nick Rogers)
Reeling Reviews (Laura Clifford)
"Hellboy" was fun, but "Hellboy II" is even better...where else can one see a blotto red devil beast and humanoid amphibian massacre "I Can't Smile Without You?" ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Reeling Reviews (Laura Clifford)
Jam! Movies (Kevin Williamson)
Could the year's least conflicted superhero be a leathery-red, stogie-smoking spawn of Satan? Believe it.
After months of tormented do-gooders battling evil when they should be crawling on a therapist's couch and sucking their thumbs, Hellboy (Ron ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Jam! Movies (Kevin Williamson)
Kung Fu Cinema (Mark Pollard)
Flush with the international success of the imaginative fantasy-drama PANâS LABYRINTH, writer-director Guillermo del Toro returns to Mike Mignolaâs comic book creation for an upgraded sequel that offers more of everything while staying largely true ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Kung Fu Cinema (Mark Pollard)
Antagony & Ecstasy (Tim Brayton)
It is a truth undeniable that Hellboy II: The Golden Army does not enjoy a particularly robust and tight story; it might not be that much of a mistake, in fact, to claim that its story is a confusing mess. If that's the sort of thing that's going to ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Antagony & Ecstasy (Tim Brayton)
The Onion A.V. Club
Ron Perlman returns as the film's loveable title character, a demon gone good who's tough on the outside but tender underneath, with a soft spot for kittens, candy, and babies. With his formidable physique, cigars, giant guns, and winning way with a ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Onion A.V. Club
New York Daily News (Elizabeth Weitzman)
The inventive del Toro creates visual fantasies unlike any other, and the creatures on display here are truly extraordinary. But amid all the costumes, all the action, and all the special effects, it's the humanity that makes his work so memorable. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at New York Daily News (Elizabeth Weitzman)
New York City, where the film takes place, is pretty much a world unto
itself. Yet, if you walk through a portal below the Brooklyn Bridge,
you enter an entirely different world altogether. Words really don't
do the visual experience any justice. I ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at
Movie-Vault.com (LaRae Meadows)
Hellboy 2, the sequel to Hellboy, is the coming out story of a demon, a human fish and the hottest woman in the world. Spectacular visuals save the story from its average plot and make Hellboy 2 a serious popcorn-chomper.
A demon, code named Hellboy ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Movie-Vault.com (LaRae Meadows)
Filmcritic.com (Brian Chen)
Hellboy II takes the fantastic make-up artistry, creature creation, and set design that we grew fond of in Pan's Labyrinth and combines all of these elements with mindblowing CGI and stunning choreography ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Filmcritic.com (Brian Chen)
Arizona Republic (Bill Goodykoontz)
Tucked in amidst all the mind-blowing images and effects of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a throwaway scene that illustrates how the visionary director gets the small things right.
Hellboy (Ron Perlman), a demon, has just kicked ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Arizona Republic (Bill Goodykoontz)
eFilmCritic.com (Mel Valentin)
In the present, Prince Nuada and his henchman, a giant troll, Wink, attack an auction house, both to obtain one of the pieces of the crown and to instill fear in the humans by unleashing ravenous tooth fairies. The government hands over the case to the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Mel Valentin)
eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
Thereâs little improvement in the bigger, badder sequel âHellboy II: The Golden Army,â which presents another ridiculously wafer-thin storyline, yet somehow manages to hang spectacular scene after spectacular scene off it without it snapping. I ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at eFilmCritic.com (David Cornelius)
Filmtracks (Christian Clemmensen)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army: (Danny Elfman) Director Guillermo del Toro returns to the world of Hellboy for his second adventure in four years, following the success of Hellboy with a sequel that cranks up the exotic locations and action sequences to the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Filmtracks (Christian Clemmensen)
efilmcritic.com (Dan Lybarger)
The âHellboyâ movies illustrate one of the reasons I was dissatisfied with the âHulkâ films. Effective makeup is always preferable to cheesy computer effects. Yes, the Hulk is not obligated to show any emotion other than destructively blind rate. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at efilmcritic.com (Dan Lybarger)
ShowBIZ Data
Comic books make another return to theaters this weekend, with Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, starring Ron Perlman and directed by Guillermo del Toro making its debut. Reviews are mostly positive. Roger Moore, writing in the Orlando Sentinel, calls the film ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ShowBIZ Data
Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
The most important thing to know going into HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY is that the chances are excellent that you will leave the theater humming Barry Manilow. Barry Manilow at his treacly, pop music-est. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Killer Movie Reviews (Andrea Chase)
efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
If âHellboy II: The Golden Armyâ does only one thing, it reconfirms writer-director Guillermo del Toroâs standing as one of the most gifted and truly visionary fantasy filmmakers in the entire history of the medium. From start to finish, he ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at efilmcritic.com (Peter Sobczynski)
BrandonFibbs.com (Brandon Fibbs)
Donât misunderstand me, Hellboy II isnât going to win any Oscars or find its way onto anyoneâs âBest Ofâ lists. Yet its expansive imagination so elevates the material that you find yourself wishing it was put to the service of something greater. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at BrandonFibbs.com (Brandon Fibbs)
Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
Hitchcock's mommy fixation or no, we musn't read too much psychobabble into a director's work. But do you suppose Guillermo del Toro was traumatized by fairy tales as a kid?
Check out his last movie, Pan's Labyrinth, which crawled through a hidey-hole ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
The talented fantasy filmmaker and heir to the Lord of the Rings throne gets the tone right throughout Hellboy 2, and the hip retro charm alone is enough to merit recommendation. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Peter Hartlaub)
E! Online (Alex Markerson)
A rollicking popcorn flick about a demonic superman who loves kittens and cigars but who's not afraid to grab sci-fi conventions by the horns. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at E! Online (Alex Markerson)
Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
Of all the comic book movies that have spun out of theaters this long and pulpy summer, Guillermo del Toro's "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is the most unapologetically comic book-y.
Thank goodness. No ironic Hollywood stars, no weighty character ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Boston Globe (Ty Burr)
Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
"Hellboy" was one of the surprises of 2004. Based on a comic book character not as well known as those from the DC and Marvel universes, it was turned into an imaginative and memorable film thanks to writer/director Guillermo del Toro and star Ron ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Daniel M. Kimmel)
Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
The summer's been loaded with superhero movies, some better and some worse than Hellboy II, but none is as exuberantly creative, nor as unconventionally committed to being so many things other than a live-action comic book. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Los Angeles Daily News (Bob Strauss)
Christianity Today (Steven D. Greydanus)
First and foremost, Hellboy II is a riot of creature and set design as well as big action set pieces. Yet Del Toro never reduces the characters to mere action figures. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Christianity Today (Steven D. Greydanus)
Sacramento Bee (Carla Meyer)
Combining animatronics, digital effects -- and most important, the director's fertile imagination -- Hellboy II gives us a taste of the magic del Toro is sure to bring to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Sacramento Bee (Carla Meyer)
MovieCrypt.com (Kevin A. Ranson)
... an improved sequel over the original film, able to build upon the foundation of the first feature and finally put Hellboy in real mortal danger... ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at MovieCrypt.com (Kevin A. Ranson)
Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Brimming with confidence and new ideas, writer/director Guillermo del Toro has made Hellboy II a different kind of film -- itself a satisfying development. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Bryant Frazer's Deep Focus (Bryant Frazer)
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (William Arnold)
There's nothing hugely new or exciting about "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," but it definitely gives us our money's worth in the sheer volume of its imaginative fantasy creatures and it's that rare superhero-movie sequel that's better than the original. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Seattle Post-Intelligencer (William Arnold)
Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Still, the sheer volume of amazing things that del Toro is able to mine from his unconscious and render plausibly on the screen is remarkable. "Hellboy II" feels pretty sequel-y, as these things go, but there's a lot in it that has no precedent of any ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
The fantasy film can be carried alone by its strong visuals. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Ozus' World Movie Reviews (Dennis Schwartz)
Filmjerk.com (Brian Orndorf)
I enjoyed âGolden Armyâ much more than the original âHellboy,â but the concept still needs a fixation outside of ghouls and goblins. The moments that light up this sequel are the personal asides, infusing resplendent warmth that del Toro could ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Filmjerk.com (Brian Orndorf)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
There's so much beauty and imagination on display in Hellboy II: The Golden Army that it's sometimes hard to tell if you're watching an action movie or a museum exhibit called 'The Artistry of Guillermo Del Toro.' ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt (St. Paul))
ReelzChannel (Brent Simon)
A hodgepodge of sci-fi, swashbuckling adventure, wry comedy and larger-than-life comic book action, 2004's Hellboy was one of those rare mid-sized comic book adaptations that exuded a vision and spirit bigger than its (relatively chintzy) budget. Based ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ReelzChannel (Brent Simon)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
"Aw, that's cute" are generally words you don't want to hear if you're a character in anything resembling a monster movie -- and especially not if you're in one directed by Guillermo del Toro who, to quote Roger Ebert, is obsessed with "sickening things ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
ReelTalk Movie Reviews (Jeffrey Chen)
I'm becoming convinced that Guillermo del Toro is the legitimate successor to Jim Henson. Why? The man just loves creatures -- designing them, molding them, bringing them to life. Hellboy II: The Golden Army is chock full of them, and they truly ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ReelTalk Movie Reviews (Jeffrey Chen)
WaffleMovies.com (Willie Waffle)
Ron Perlman stars as Hellboy â the devilish spawn summoned to this dimension by the Nazis during World War II, but raised by a decent hearted professor, Broom Bruttenholm (John Hurt), to become part of an FBI task force to fight otherworldly demons and ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at WaffleMovies.com (Willie Waffle)
Slant Magazine (Jeremiah Kipp)
Adolescent pulp fantasia meets sentimental married life in Guillermo Del Toro's follow-up to his 2004 working-class superhero movie. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Slant Magazine (Jeremiah Kipp)
Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Will appeal to the freak inside you who refuses to follow orders and is not afraid to let your gentle side out every once in a while. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Spirituality and Practice (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
The Cinema Source (Michael M. Dance)
I find it odd that Hellboy II: The Golden Army even exists, let alone it's position as a would-be summer blockbuster. The first Hellboy was released in Spring 2004 and made an unspectacular $59 million in the U.S. -- less than its budget. It got solid ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Cinema Source (Michael M. Dance)
LarsenOnFilm (Josh Larsen)
...isn't much of a story, yet as a vehicle for the monstrosity-minded imagination of writer-director Guillermo del Toro it offers an endless array of bizarre visual riches. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at LarsenOnFilm (Josh Larsen)
Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
The line from special effects whiz Ray Harryhausen to director Guillermo del Toro has never been so clearly visible... ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Groucho Reviews (Peter Canavese)
Film e Dvd
Il principe Nuala del Regno Fantastico uccide il padre e decide di invadere la Terra, rompendo così la tregua stabilita fra la razza umana e gli abitanti del Regno. Interviene a fermarlo la squadra del "Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense" ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film e Dvd
About.com (Jurgen Fauth)
The wildly inventive talent of Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro is in evidence in every frame of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, the second installment of his big-budget franchise based on the comic books by Mike Mignola. No, Hellboy isn't a ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at About.com (Jurgen Fauth)
Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
Mike Mignolaâs crime-fighting comic book creationsâa sort of road-company X-Menâare back: Hellboy Red (Ron Perlman), fire starter Liz (Selma Blair), Aquaman Abe (Doug Jones) and their querulous handler Manning (Jeffrey Tambor) from the Bureau of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Sacramento News & Review (Jim Lane)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The temptation is to remark that if Hellboy was the appetizer, then Hellboy II: The Golden Army is the main course. To an extent, that's true. The second film is more assured, better paced, and has a stronger emotional component. It takes chances, offers ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Whoâs to say that âPanâs Labyrinthâ is an art film while âHellboy II: The Golden Armyâ is mere comic-book fantasy for the younger set? Surely not Guillermo del Toro, credited for directing both, using the kind of imagination that most of us ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Compuserve (Harvey S. Karten)
Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army continues the story of Hellboy (Ron Perlman), a dispossessed demon found at the site of a paranormal event during World War II. Joined again by Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), Hellboy must now solve a ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
Horror.Com (Staci Layne Wilson)
All that glitters is not gold; I would have preferred fewer effects and more Hellboy, but overall, fans of this freakish family fathered by the gifted Guillermo del Toro should be fulfilled by this bigger and badder sequel. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Horror.Com (Staci Layne Wilson)
ColeSmithey.com (Cole Smithey)
A visually delightful movie packed with plenty of goofy character elements that keep it entertaining. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ColeSmithey.com (Cole Smithey)
Screen International (Mike Goodridge)
Trust Guillermo Del Toro to deliver a summer action adventure which is gleefully unpretentious in its desire to entertain while filled with some of the season's most inventive visual effects and creature designs. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Screen International (Mike Goodridge)
Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
I boogied to the first HELLBOY, swayed by its novel premise, slew of slick beasties and quirky heroes. Being that Guillermo del Toro was helming the sequel, I wasnât too concerned about it letting me down. After all, the dude knows his shit! So were my ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Arrow in the Head ("The Arrow")
EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
In "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," the sequel to the popular 2004 "Hellboy," the brilliant Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro gives full expression to his boundless visual imagination and darkly humorous sensibility. For these very reasons, you are ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at EmanuelLevy.com (Emanuel Levy)
Nolan's Pop Culture Review (Michael A. Smith)
Ah, to be able to run around in the imagination of film maker Guillermo del Toro. The man who brought us âHellboyâ and âPanâs Labyrinthâ has the rare talent to take fantasy and turn it into a unique vision. Peter Jackson, the director of the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Nolan's Pop Culture Review (Michael A. Smith)
Seattle Times (Mark Rahner)
Since it's not appropriate for a grown man to file a review that consists of "Wheeee!" I'll say these things:
Director Guillermo del Toro is a mad genius, and I want to get drunk with him.
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is a flawed but tremendously ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Seattle Times (Mark Rahner)
Sean the Movie Guy (Sean McBride)
The original âHellboyâ was a modest surprise, charming a whole lot of people who found the film on home DVD. As much fun as the original was, the sequel, as directed by Guillermo del Toro, is a major step forward in terms of both story and special ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Sean the Movie Guy (Sean McBride)
Metromix.com (Geoff Berkshire)
Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz Sherman (Selma Blair). When angry elf prince Nuada (Luke Goss) attempts to restart an ancient war between humans and mystical creatures, itâs up to Hellboyâs team to save the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Metromix.com (Geoff Berkshire)
The New York Times
"Hellboy 2" is not a great movie â its narrative is at once too busy and too perfunctory â but like that sassy little tumor, it is lovable in its prodigious grotesquery. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The New York Times
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Hellboy II grows repetitive but never boring. You can't go wrong in the company of visionary like Del Toro, who is scheduled to direct The Hobbit, a prequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy. Bring it on. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
The New York Sun (Steve Dollar)
Mr. del Toro's visionary fancies raise the ante for fans of his art-house fare, and they surely provide an unexpected bonus for the rock-'em, sock-'em popcorn munchers in the multiplexes. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The New York Sun (Steve Dollar)
Associated Press (Christy Lemire)
Words don't really do justice in attempting to describe the wondrous array of misfits and monsters Guillermo del Toro has concocted in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army." Truly, his is a world you have to experience for yourself to appreciate it fully â if ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Associated Press (Christy Lemire)
Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
As big, mindlessly fantastical summer entertainment goes, this falls comfortably between Iron Man (the gold standard) and the not-quite Incredible Hulk. It's a visually striking, mildly amusing way to kill a couple of hours. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Orlando Sentinel (Roger Moore)
KYW Newsradio (Bill Wine)
Ron Perlman, doing the best work of his career, is the right guy in the right role: tough, self-deprecating, and funny. A brooding teen in the original, he's now a troubled romantic companion, which is why he has begun drinking so heavily. And he's ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at KYW Newsradio (Bill Wine)
Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army takes up shortly after the first one. It is briefly explained that John, Lizâs minor love interest, has been transferred away. Otherwise, the gang is all here and they are joined by a gaseous being that completes the whole ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Three Movie Buffs (Eric Nash)
TV Guide's Movie Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
The wonders are, if not endless, then abundant. And in a movie landscape where "effects" too often supersedes "special," wonders are worth savoring. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at TV Guide's Movie Guide (Maitland McDonagh)
Onion AV Club (Nathan Rabin)
Directing a sequel to a modestly successful comic-book adaptation might seem like a perverse choice to follow up an Oscar-winning international triumph like Pan's Labyrinth. But for Guillermo del Toro, directing the Hellboy movies is the opposite of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Onion AV Club (Nathan Rabin)
Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
This new movie melds the original Hellboy's kibitzy humor and crushing action with Labyrinth's darkest fairy-tale imaginings, pitting the large red fellow against the ambitious elf prince Nuada (Luke Goss) and his ghoulish minions. Nuada's father long ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Houston Chronicle (Amy Biancolli)
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Garrett Conti)
It must be fascinating -- maybe even a bit scary -- to consider the imagination of Guillermo Del Toro. Consider all of the creepy creatures or uncanny crawlers running through the "Pan's Labyrinth" director's head at any given time. Better yet, check out ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Garrett Conti)
Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
And so, the bulk of the film strongly entertains. There's not a dull moment and each element feels put together with passion -- from the CGI to the set design, to the editing, dialogue, direction, acting. It's enough to forgive the film's sub-par opening ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Hollywood Report Card (Ross Anthony)
Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
For summertime entertainment this film can't be beat. It is fast paced, filled with fascinating imagery and who could not love a scene where Hellboy and Abe sign a Barry Manilow ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
I'm becoming convinced that Guillermo del Toro is the legitimate successor to Jim Henson. Why? The man just loves creatures -- designing them, molding them, bringing them to life. Hellboy II: The Golden Army is chock full of them, and they truly ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
Lee's Movie Info (Craig Younkin)
âHellboy 2â comes in the middle of a superhero sandwich, what with last week's âHancockâ and next weekâs already proclaimed king of summer âThe Dark Knight." Iâm curious as to the legs this movie will have. The first one did ok, though I ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Lee's Movie Info (Craig Younkin)
PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
As he loves Liz, life, and TV, Hellboy embodies possibility, faith, and imagination. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at PopMatters (Cynthia Fuchs)
Philadelphia Daily News (Gary Thompson)
âHellboy IIâ could be a hit or myth thing, but Ron Perlman triumphs in lead ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Philadelphia Daily News (Gary Thompson)
About.com (Rebecca Murray)
Guillermo del Toro let his imagination run wild with Hellboy II: The Golden Army, a visual treat for the eyes crammed full of bizarre creepy creatures and magical beasties the likes of which normally dwell only in twisted nightmares. del Toro even makes ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at About.com (Rebecca Murray)
ReelzChannel.com (Brent Simon)
A hodgepodge of sci-fi, swashbuckling adventure, wry comedy and larger-than-life comic book action, 2004's Hellboy was one of those rare mid-sized comic book adaptations that exuded a vision and spirit bigger than its (relatively chintzy) budget. Based ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ReelzChannel.com (Brent Simon)
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
Inconceivable in any incarnation other than Ron Perlman whose size, head shape, bluster and irrepressible grumpiness endear him to us. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
I wanted to like the movie more; there's plenty here for a cinephile to dig. But ultimately it's underwhelming -- and, with the exception of a couple uncanny images, forgettable. I hate to suggest anything that might check del Toro's remarkable ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Film Blather (Eugene Novikov)
New York Press (Simon Abrams)
It's not serious enough to be anything more than gee-whiz fun whose gentle touch is more slight than light by the end. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at New York Press (Simon Abrams)
ComingSoon.net (Edward Douglas)
Not just a vast improvement over its predecessor, but the quality on almost every level is almost night and day with a stronger story and some of the most mind-blowing creature and FX work we've seen this summer. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at ComingSoon.net (Edward Douglas)
Bloody Disgusting (Brad Miska)
It couldn't be much worse than the first film, which is why there was a high level of expectations for Guillermo del Toro's HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY. Not only was the film expected to be better than the first, the internet fanboys have basically ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Bloody Disgusting (Brad Miska)
Movie City News (David Poland)
There are some remarkably beautiful things in Hellboy II... but suffers, in my opinion, from too much of everything. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Movie City News (David Poland)
Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews (Moriarty)
This time, the freaks carry the film, and you get the distinct feeling thats the way it was always meant to be. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Ain't It Cool Movie Reviews (Moriarty)
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
Only intermittently captures the sense of goofy, off-the-wall fun that marked the first film. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Still, the story -- such that it is -- benefits from del Toro's obsession with fusing the world of conventional fairy-tale archetypes with the grisly, almost Lovecraftian monsters that occupy the corridors of his imagination. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Metromix.com (Geoff Berkshire)
Del Toro proves yet again that he can make the fantasy genre pop visually, but without better-formed stories heâll revert back to his pre-âPanâsâ status as a minor cult filmmaker. At least heâll have a solid foundation for his next project: an ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Metromix.com (Geoff Berkshire)
Kansas City Star (Robert W. Butler)
Enjoy The Golden Army for what it is, a big fat piece of eye candy. But for the next Hellboy movie could we please have a lot more Hellboy? ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Kansas City Star (Robert W. Butler)
RevolutionSF (Patrick Sullivan)
Being a ridiculously huge Mike Mignola fanboy, I wish I could tell you that Hellboy II: The Golden Army is the best comic film of the summer, but I can\'t. There\'s much to like and there's no doubting director Guillermo Del Toro's enthusiasm, but the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at RevolutionSF (Patrick Sullivan)
KyleSmithOnline.com (Kyle Smith)
Hellboy is the working-class superhero. All he wants is to be left alone with his Baby Ruth bars, Tecate beer and television. If there werenât so many supernatural monsters that needed a good beatdown, heâd be just as happy working at Jiffy ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at KyleSmithOnline.com (Kyle Smith)
TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
The burgeoning "Hellboy" franchiseâthe 2004 original and now its sequel, "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"âstand apart from a lot of comic book-based superhero films for a couple reasons. The first is writer-director Guillermo Del Toro (2006's "Pan's ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at TheMovieBoy.com (Dustin Putman)
St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt)
There's so much beauty and imagination on display in "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" that it's sometimes hard to tell if you're watching an action movie or a museum exhibit called "The Artistry of Guillermo Del Toro."
Del Toro, who produced, directed ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at St. Paul Pioneer Press (Chris Hewitt)
EricDSnider.com (Eric D. Snider)
What is it about me that makes me fail to love the "Hellboy" movies? I liked the first one well enough, albeit unenthusiastically, and now the sequel -- "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" -- strikes me as nothing more than moderately enjoyable, occasionally ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at EricDSnider.com (Eric D. Snider)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army begins with a bedtime story. It's Christmas Eve 1955, and little Red - a horned, tailed devil-child spawned by the Nazis, and now living in New Mexico with his bearded, benevolent professor surrogate dad - is getting ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
CineSnob.net (Kiko Martinez)
When del Toro's in charge, the film feels richer when it's an intimate story like "Labyrinth" or "The Devil's Backbone." With "Hellboy 2," itâs a ruckus that has some heart and is all Hollywood. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CineSnob.net (Kiko Martinez)
The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
"Hellboy II: The Golden Army" is a solid, if not overwhelming, action feature that will surely please comic book fanboys. If the premise isn't exactly air-tight and the pacing is uneven, the visual panache and central character work helps to make up for ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Movie Boy (Dustin Putman)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Hellboy II has the inclinations of a gas guzzler but the soul of a hybrid, and the two resist each other like partners in a loveless marriage. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Toronto Star (Bruce DeMara)
Hellboy is back, with a host of new and hideously imagined enemies, the usual relationship trouble and the same old rock-'em-sock-'em action.
Plus, there's a bundle of joy on the way.
(This proves that, despite his best efforts to keep them filed ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Toronto Star (Bruce DeMara)
Newsday (Rafer Guzman)
Hellboy II, like its 2004 predecessor, has a middling story line, but it's made memorable by the dark, freaky visions of director Guillermo del Toro. And this time, his imagination runs wilder than ever. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Newsday (Rafer Guzman)
New York Post (Kyle Smith)
To its credit, Guillermo del Toro's more extravagant, $75 million follow-up to his 2004 B-movie doesn't take any of this particularly seriously. It's a monster movie in which the monsters listen to Barry Manilow. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at New York Post (Kyle Smith)
Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
Fanboys won't mind the absence of depth or emotion; they may even welcome it for making the film more representative of its comic-book origins. The rest of us, however, cannot rejoice at the overspending and overkill likely to come in Hellboy III. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Charlotte Observer (Lawrence Toppman)
LivePDX (Kimberly Gadette)
On this latest Boy Meets Ghoul: Hellboy II's look is red hot. But it lingers too long on the fire, its promising sizzle ultimately losing flavor. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at LivePDX (Kimberly Gadette)
Hollywood.com (Pete Hammond)
Whatever success Hellboy--and now itâs sequel has--is at least partially due to Perlmanâs dry, funny interpretation of the role. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Hollywood.com (Pete Hammond)
San Antonio Express-News (Larry Ratliff)
Go to the movies long enough and you'll eventually find yourself rooting for a blood red, horned monster-man from hell. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at San Antonio Express-News (Larry Ratliff)
Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
In 1944, U.S. military adviser Dr. Trevor Broom swept up a little red creature with knobby horns, a long tail and a right mitt like a sledgehammer.
The demon was nicknamed Hellboy. The moniker stuck, and Broom raised the youngster to work against his ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Boxoffice Magazine (Mark Keizer)
If anyone living in the imaginary worlds of Iron Man, Hulk and Hellboy stand to benefit from this summerâs rash of destructive super-villainy, itâs the demolition and garbage disposal companies entrusted with cleaning up the messes created by these ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Mark Keizer)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
On average, a first run movie ticket will run you Ten Bucks. Were Cranky able to set his own price to Hellboy 2: The Golden Army , he would have paid . . . ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
With Hellboy II: The Golden Army, writer-director Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, Mimic) continues his tradition of making visually magnificent spectacles that succeed not just through gorgeous eye candy, but by giving his characters the room to breathe. Th ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
With Hellboy II: The Golden Army, writer/director Guillermo del Toro continues his fascinating oscillation between arty Spanish-language fantasy-horror films and balls-to-the-wall Hollywood fantasy-horror films. Coming off the critically adored and ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Q Network Film Desk (James Kendrick)
Chico News & Review (Craig Blamer)
Returning with the second installment of the Hellboy franchise (one last stop before disappearing for the next few years in Hobbitville), director Guillermo del Toro at times seems as if heâs using what was left on the cutting-room floor of Panâs ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Chico News & Review (Craig Blamer)
Chico News & Review (Craig Blamer)
If nothing else, Mexican director Guillermo del Toro is one of the most interesting visual stylists working in film these days. From his clockwork vampire debut with Cronos, through his melancholy ghost story The Devilâs Backbone on up to his ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Chico News & Review (Craig Blamer)
MovieWeb (Dodd Alley)
What a hellish world Guillermo Del Toro must live in. This does not necessarily refer to the literal world that we see, breathe, and eat, but the world that exists inside the man's head. There are very few directors working today that exhibit a signature ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at MovieWeb (Dodd Alley)
Bullz-Eye.com
Before Guillermo del Toro was a household name, he directed perhaps the most underrated superhero movie ever made. Based on Mike Mignolaâs mid-1990s comic book ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Bullz-Eye.com
Flipside Movie Emporium (Rob Vaux)
This director has shown us how good he can be, and with a character he adores as much as this one, he should have more to show for it than the mixed bag on display here. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Flipside Movie Emporium (Rob Vaux)
Nights and Weekends (Kristin Dreyer Kramer)
Thanks to movies like the first Hellboy and the award-winning creep-show, Panâs Labyrinth, writer/director Guillermo del Toro has made quite a name for himself. When you think Guillermo del Toro, you think dark and creepy, with all kinds of wildly ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Nights and Weekends (Kristin Dreyer Kramer)
Moviepie.com
Back in 2004, director Guillermo del Toro helmed the first Hellboy movie to a moderate level of acclaim and fanboy delight. But back then, he was just the sorta-known guy who made that movie where Mira Sorvino runs from giant bugs in sewers. Cut to 2008, ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Moviepie.com
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY has my vote for this year's "WHAT
DREAMS MAY COME" Award for the most spectacular visuals in
service to the least worthy story. The two films are somewhat
different in that WHAT DREAMS MAY COME was saccharine while ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at
CBC.ca Arts
On top of a head as big and red as the sun, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) has a Steven Seagal ponytail and two sawed-off horns. Years ago, baby Hellboy was rescued from a thwarted Nazi experiment by kindly American scientists, and now, he files the horns daily, ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CBC.ca Arts
The Scorecard Review (Jeff Bayer)
Hellboy is itâs own world. That is a compliment and also the problem. Director Guillermo del Toro has envisioned a fantastic looking world, but itâs just a vision. The storyline and romance angles just drag the film down from being a kooky, badass ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Scorecard Review (Jeff Bayer)
RevolutionSF (Navin Vembar)
Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro Inarritu and Alfonso Cuaron have recently been celebrated as a powerhouse of Mexican filmmaking. It would be hard to avoid noticing these three friends created Pan's Labyrinth, Babel and Children of Men in the same year. Del ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at RevolutionSF (Navin Vembar)
Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
It's not perfect â thank Satan! â but Hellboy II: The Golden Army is by far the most splendidly imaginative and creatively uncorked piece of fantastic cinema since the director's Pan's Labyrinth netted an Oscar trifecta in 2007. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Austin Chronicle (Marc Savlov)
Mansized (Chris Laverty)
When a truce between the fantastical realm and Earth breaks down, errant Prince Nuala (Luke Goss) attempts to corral the mystical world into rebelling against humanity.
Only noble demon Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his band of merry misfits, including ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Mansized (Chris Laverty)
Fulvue Drive-in
There should be little doubt after âHellboy II: The Golden Army,â released nationwide July 11 2008, that filmmaker Guillermo del Toro is the heir apparent to Jim Henson. The paper-skinned creatures with eyes coming out of strange places, desperately ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Fulvue Drive-in
Atlantic City Weekly (Lori Hoffman)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is not a sequel that soars to new heights, but it does slip into a nice summer-movie comfort zone . . . ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Atlantic City Weekly (Lori Hoffman)
Preview Family Movie Review
After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an army of mechanical ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Preview Family Movie Review
HollywoodChicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
In Hellboy II, director Guillermo del Toro delivers the Hollywood filet mignon we've come to expect wrapped nicely in all the special-effects bacon we've come to desire but without the heart we've come to demand. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at HollywoodChicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
MovieWeb (Gil Brooks)
Walking around the premier party for Hellboy II, and listening to the chatter of fellow attendees, I began to question my taste in films. Surely I had seen a different film than everyone else. Director Guillermo del Toro's signature visuals, his eye for ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at MovieWeb (Gil Brooks)
Box Office Prophets
I'm not exactly sure what my expectations were. The director, once again, is Guillermo del Toro, the gifted filmmaker behind Pan's Labyrinth and producer of The Orphanage, one of the best horror films in recent memory. The man knows cinema; he's a pure ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Box Office Prophets
Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Hellboy, a sensitive devil with a tough exterior, is an inspired creation but limited as a dramatic protagonist. When you start with a demon hero, you can't settle for making his adversary a less complex demon. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Globe and Mail (Liam Lacey)
Movie Retriever (Brian Tallerico)
When Hellboy II: The Golden Army gets to its big, titular climax, it's difficult to care because you can sense that the director doesn't really care either. It's a mere obligation. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Movie Retriever (Brian Tallerico)
Can Magazine (Fred Topel)
This is the Hellboy movie. Hellboy 1 was just some thing that was made. It's the most creative movie of the year. I would call it Fred's Labyrinth. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Can Magazine (Fred Topel)
Time Out New York (Joshua Rothkopf)
âIâm not a baby, Iâm a tumor!â chirps an unusually chatty growth in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. As it happens, this creature is, indeed, conjoined with its toothy monster of a mom, obviously the recessive carrier of the good genes. Thatâs the ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Time Out New York (Joshua Rothkopf)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
he film's creatures â which include trolls, goblins, elves, evil fairies, ectoplasmic entities and such â are fantastic. In fact, at times this comic book-based sequel almost seems like an audition tape for one of screenwriter/director Guillermo del ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Deseret News, Salt Lake City
NewsBlaze (Prairie Miller)
Del Toro's followup is infused with the creative guru's unique imaginary world blending the fantastical and frightening, but plays out less like an adventure story on steroids, than a mass murderer's wet dream. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at NewsBlaze (Prairie Miller)
The Phantom Tollbooth
Hellboy is back for fans. Ron Perlman, under tons of red make-up and rubberized suiting, plays the hero who secretly works for the government (sound familiar?) as part of the U.S. Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Their headquarters are ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Phantom Tollbooth
CNN Showbiz (Tom Charity)
He also has a down-to-earth side: a fondness for Cuban cigars, Mexican beer, TV and candy. He has a short fuse and he'd like a little appreciation for his efforts, please. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at CNN Showbiz (Tom Charity)
Time Out Chicago (Joshua Rothkopf)
Ultimatelyâand this is to Del Toroâs creditâhe wants to make a film about the struggle to heed our better angels: Perlmanâs Hellboy is constantly reminded of his inborn potential for destruction, yet heâd rather lean into his role as a future ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Time Out Chicago (Joshua Rothkopf)
Comingsoon.net
But that's nothing on poor Selma Blair. She always struck me as a strange casting choice the first time around, but her willowy performance fit the dissociated character she was playing so it worked. This time around, Hellboy's long-suffering pyrokinetic ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Comingsoon.net
Beyond Hollywood
ellboy is unique in the world of superheroes. He was conjured from hell by the Nazis, but heâs a good guy who watches too much TV, and enjoys a fine cigar, Baby Ruth, and the touch of a soft kitten. His weapons of choice are his rock hard Right Hand of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Beyond Hollywood
Tiscali UK
The absurdist sight of the red, devilish Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his aquatic pal Abe (Doug Jones) sitting by the fireside, drinking beer and listening to Barry Manilow's "Can't Smile Without You," seems more like a scene from Monty Python's Flying ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Tiscali UK
Newark Star-Ledger (Stephen Whitty)
It's del Toro telling stories in the language of Hollywood. And I miss the language of his dreams. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Newark Star-Ledger (Stephen Whitty)
Chicago Tribune (Michael Phillips)
The tooth-fairy swarm scene reminds you just how inventive Del Toro is, and how, in the right hands, digital effects, creature design and directorial elan can work together to give you the best sort of willies. (Del Toro was the fantasist behind ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Phillips)
The Trades (Jim Pappas)
It is certainly refreshing to see a film where the story isnât predictable, things arenât always what they seem, and the bad guy can, in the end, be a tragic figure and almost sympathetic, too. And such is the case with âHellboy II: The Golden Army. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Trades (Jim Pappas)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
For all its eye-popping, Middle Earth-meets-Mos Eisley majesty -- its mix of Heironymus Bosch, Jules Verne and George Lucas -- Hellboy II is a letdown. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
I want to say that II is pure dumb popcorn fun while you're watching it and instantly forgettable the moment the credits start to roll, but actually, I was forgetting it while I was still in the process of watching it. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Flick Filosopher (MaryAnn Johanson)
Parent Previews
Saving humanity can be a hard and thankless job. Add to that the stress of a rocky relationship at home and things can be down right difficult. Such is the case for the gun-slinging Dark Horse comic character Hellboy (Ron Pearlman). ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Parent Previews
The Globe and Mail
Hellboy, a sensitive devil with a tough exterior, is an inspired creation but limited as a dramatic protagonist. When you start with a demon hero, you can't settle for making his adversary a less complex demon. To create conflict, you need an opponent ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Globe and Mail
Hollywood Snitch (Matt Johnson)
Hellboy (Ron Perlman) settles into domestic bliss with Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) who ignites figuratively and literally with Hellboyâs habits. The pair is called upon to help out when a mythical kingdom starts a rebellion against humans after ages of ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Hollywood Snitch (Matt Johnson)
FromTheBalcony (Bill Clark)
We've come to expect a lot in recent years in terms of storytelling with Batman Begins and its ilk, and Hellboy II still feels like a relic from four years ago that hasn't evolved with the rest of the field. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at FromTheBalcony (Bill Clark)
National Post
If nothing else, the arrival of Hellboy 2: The Golden Army illustrates director Guillermo del Toro's recipe for nightmarish movie monsters, as seen in 2006's Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth. Step 1: Take your garden-variety, run-of-the-mill monster; an ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at National Post
Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
About a half hour into âHellboy II: The Golden Army,â my friend turned to me and asked âDoes this movie have a point?â I gave him a sideways shut-your-mouth look and didnât dignify the questions with a spoken response⦠Until around the hour ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Arizona Daily Star (Phil Villarreal)
Frank's Reel Reviews
Hellboy returns with a whole new host of imaginatively grotesque creatures, the usual hard-boiled everyman's attitude, and the same old blow 'em up action sequences. But whereas Guillermo del Toro's 2004 vision, Hellboy, found an audience entranced with ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Frank's Reel Reviews
Christian Spotlight on the Movies
is a strange amalgam of humor, pathos, and violence which gives the movie its PG-13 rating. Although the violence is not grisly, it is graphic and, in accordance with the rating, children under 13 should not see it unless they are accustomed to watching ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Christian Spotlight on the Movies
Metromix.com (Matt Pais)
Simply a bull in a china shop, smashing around aimlessly, desperately hoping we'll at least be impressed with the horns. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Metromix.com (Matt Pais)
RopeofSilicon (Brad Brevet)
I can deal with the silly one-liners and the relationship issues between a demon from Hell and his firestarter girlfriend, but when the Fishman falls in love with the Elfish looking woman you can consider me stupefied.
Don't know what I am talking ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at RopeofSilicon (Brad Brevet)
Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) (John Wirt)
Hellboy II, like the recent Chronicles of Narnia sequel, sacrifices story and character on the altar of action, effects and underwhelming creatures. ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) (John Wirt)
Movies Schmovies! (Kevin Farley)
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is the sequel to the previous Hellboy film, released in 2004. Like its predecessor, the film follows the titular superhero, Hellboy (a red, horned, tailed, demonspawn adopted/recruited by the U.S. Government) as he battles ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Movies Schmovies! (Kevin Farley)
The Stop Button (Andrew Wickliffe)
Once I heard the concept for Hellboy IIâHellboy versus elvesâI knew what was going on. Del Toro was going to make a (tonal) sequel to Panâs Labyrinth instead of an actual one to Hellboy. As my wife said on the way home, thereâs a big difference ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Stop Button (Andrew Wickliffe)
Movies Schmovies! (John "Mervius" Murray)
It seems that long ago earth was shared by humans and a race of elf-like beings. The two groups went to war, with the supernatural folks commanding a magical bunch of robots - the golden army. A truce was eventually reached, with the elves agreeing to ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at Movies Schmovies! (John "Mervius" Murray)
The Critical Critics
II: The Golden Army. Often dark and gritty, the visuals in the movie range from average to amazing. Perhaps it is because del Toro is willing to venture so far into the fantasy realm that it makes the characters plausible. The creatures are so fanciful ...read the complete Hellboy II: The Golden Army movie review at The Critical Critics
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