As a huge Hellboy fan, let me tell you how much I enjoyed this film. I loved it!
I’m one of those freaks that liked the first movie a lot too but I also am a fan of the comic book. Hellboy II keeps things real in the Hellboy universe but takes it to the next level. The second installment is much more fantastic than the first where the first dealt with more ancient evils the second deals with more fantasy characters and the story of the Golden Army.

Guillermo del Toro did a great job on taking Hellboy’s story and kicking it up a notch. Of course you get to see Hellboy, Abe Sapien and Liz Sherman do their thing but you also get to know a more personal side of all three characters. There are also a few twists in the plot that I did not expect to see take place but I think you, like I was, will be pleasantly surprised.

Ron Perlman is Hellboy. He is such a fantastic actor. He can play these crazy mythical creatures and make them seem so real. For a guy who’s 58, he’s still getting around like he’s 40! This is another fantastic job by Perlman to say the least.

Doug Jones played Abe again. Last time, David Hyde Pierce did Abe’s voice but he obviously was too good to reprise that and it’s a good thing. Doug Jones is the man who should get ALL of the credit for Abe. He played Abe in the first film and continues to in the Golden Army. However, Jones gets to be the voice of Abe this time around too. Not only does he fill in and make the transition flawless but he makes Abe a bit more personal. I’m glad Pierce didn’t do the film because it gave Jones his chance.

Selma Blair reprises her role of Liz in the second film and ads some depth to her character. Last time he was nothing more than a young, confused girl who couldn’t control her power. Now she’s an angry woman who can control her power and I liked it.

A new character added was Johann Kraus. He’s a specter that lives in a suit and has a very by the book, scientifically mind. It sets up a great dichotomy between him and Hellboy. Kraus is played on film by James Dodd and voiced by Seth MacFarlane, yes THAT Seth MacFarlane. I had no idea it was Seth doing the voice until I was told during the credits that it was him. He did a spectacular job and I really like this character in the mix.

Luke Goss, Anna Walton, Jeffrey Tambor and John Hurt do a fine job as always but their characters are not too stand out in my view. Gross and Walton did well as the royal twin siblings but their characters were a bit 2-D for me. Nevertheless, the acting was on par for the film (that means it was good).

The CGI in Golden Army was a lot better than the first. Obviously they have had time to update technology but still it amazes me at what can be made. Del Toro loves to use as little CGI as possible, which is why I love the Hellboy films. Everything looks so real because it is! There is way less CGI in the films than you would think. However, with that said the Golden Army has a lot more CGI than the first but it was not out of place at all. It all blended seamlessly.

The plot was decent but straightforward. Obviously it’s about the lost Golden Army which was good and all but the side stories of our band of heroes is what interested me most. I love to see character development and Hellboy II did not disappoint.

It’s a GO from me! Go watch Red take out the baddies and smoke a stogy while doing it. Be on the look out for a scene between Red and Blue that will knock you down laughing (that is, if you’re standing at the time).

Till’ next time. Watch out for those Critical Hits!

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