Superior Sequel

Rating: 8/10 (26 May 2009)

Hellboy, a comic book character that isn't as well known as other characters such as Spider-man, Superman, Batman and Wolverine. But in a way it gives Hellboy more credible and let film maker be more creative with the character.
Hellboy was a minor success when it was released in 2004 and there were doubts that a sequel would have been made, especially when Columbia split with Revolution Studios. It was Univerial who came to Hellboy's rescue. This give Guillermo del Toro a charge to make a blockbuster with real imagine, playing on his strenghts.
Hellboy II: the Golden Army starts with the legend of man and the forest creatures led by the elves and their war which resulted in the creation of the Golden Army. The war was ended by King of the Elves making peace, promising Humans the cities and the Elves the forests. But his son, Prince Nuada (Luke Goss), is disguised by this and puts himself in self-exile. He promised that he would reclaim his throne and control of the Golden Army, so he can continue the war. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is still working for the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense , and living with Liz (Selma Blair). But they are going through relationship problems. Hellboy had become more insubordinate, seeing that his adopted father had been killed and during a mission in New York City he makes such he is well known to the public. A new head of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense is appointed, Johann Krauss (Seth MacFarlane). He is able to lead the investigation which brings the team into conflict with Prince Nuada, having to protect his sister Princess Nuala (Anna Walton) and the last piece of the crown that can control the Golden Army.
Like any good sequel Hellboy follows up on the first film nicely, playing on its strenght and getting rid of the weaknesses. Hellboy is an action-comedy and is very good on both fronts.Johann Krauss is a great comedic creation for the film, with Seth MacFarlane showing his has skills beyond Family Guy. Ron Perlman is perfect as Hellboy and Luke Goss was good as the villain. It's good to see Doug Jones is more then just a body for creatures and this time he was the voice for Abe. He was very good in the role and even sounded a bit like David Hyde Pierce at times. Hellboy II shows Del Toro's skill for both action and for creating wonderful creatures such as the tooth fairies to the troll market. Hellboy II was really an advert to show that he could do the Hobbit and seeing this film I am a bit more confident that he can carry on Peter Jackson's brilliant work. Like any good film there is reason behind why a villain does what he does in film, and Prince Nuada is no exception. He is a power hungry character, but is still fighting for some sort of noble intention. To free his race. The film is surreal, but this is expected with a character that is the son of the devil, and has magical creatures and it does have some messages about identity, acceptance, fate, love and death and the film does play up to those, for the most part.
I missed Rupert Evans as John Myers, I thought he added comedy and a freshness to the first film which was a shame. Hellboy is also a harder sell then the more well-known comic-book characters. This affect the film's box office takings, which was a shame because it was clear a sequel was in mind.
I never read a Hellboy comic, which is a shame, but seeing that it's Creator Mike Mignola helped write the script then surely that has to be a good thing.
A partly fine addition to the year of comic book adaptations of 2008.