This Latest Journey with Helloby Is a Blast

Rating: 9/10 (14 November 2008)

Ron Perlman is back as everyone's favorite demon in this wildly imaginative sequel to the 2004 superhero film.
This time around, an ancient elf prince is on a mission to resurrect a dormant golden army so that he can declare war on mankind. It's up to Hellboy and his gang of fellow paranormals to stop him. This film spends much more time in the paranormal underworld than the first film did, and it gives director Guillermo del Toro the freedom to unleash his fierce imagination in conjuring up the beasties that live in that world. The makeup and visual effects in this film are astounding -- a particularly notable scene involves a plague of evil tooth fairies. And the production design is top notch as well. After seeing "The Fall," I thought I wouldn't see another film this year that looked as good, but I may have to revise my opinion.
Only toward the very end, when the golden army is awakened, does the action drift toward the mundane. But the rest of the film is a blast.
Grade: A