Written & Directed By: Guillermo Del Toro
Story By: Guillermo Del Toro & Mike Mingola
Based On The Comic Book By: Mike Mingola
Cinematography By: Guillermo Navarro
Editor: Bernat Vilaplana
Music By: Danny Elfman
Cast: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Seth McFarlane, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, John Hurt, Roy Dotrice, Brian Steele, John Alexander, James Dodd
The outline of the movie revolves a great deal around Ireland and Irish mythology: Nuada is the name of the first king of the mythological Tuatha De Danann people. The mythological Nuada bore the epithet "Silverhand" because, having lost his arm in battle, he wore a functioning silver arm. In the movie, Nuada's epithet is "Silverlance", and Nuada's father, Balor, has a mechanical arm.
This is one of the rare occasions where the sequel is better then the original. The original film was ok but I had a bunch of problems with it. As it felt basic an didn't seem to have it's own personality. It's bigger and better on a grand scale.
This film on the other hand is fantastic story wise and visually captivating. Which I can always say when it comes to Guillermo Del Toro movies. Even if they are disappointing by the end sometimes. You can see that a lot of imagination and creativity went into the creation of the films. --I am just happy a lot more directors with definite creative visions are actually getting getting budgets to support and create their grand visions.
This feels more like a work of fantasy and imagination in a more full way then the first film. Which built a character. This one does also while creating a universe all it’s own. Like ours though it’s like discovering a underground society greater than ours.
It may not always work at the box office, but in the end you usually have a one of a kind memorable creation. That isn't a carbon copy of something you've seen a million times before. That is why I am happy when films by a new generation of filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Spike Jonze, Paul Thomas Anderson, Peter Jackson, Sofia Coopola, Guillermo Del Toro, Alex De La Iglesia and others.
This film has something the original lacked. A satisfying villain. What I liked about the villain here was that even though he was evil to cared about him and saw the reasoning in his plan. You also see the passion he has for it.
This film also has added attraction that everyone feels more comfortable in their roles here since it's the sequel.
There is not as much need for exposition, introduction for the audience. This one just starts right off like a continuation or the next issue in a comic book. Don't worry you will be able to follow the movie even of you didn't see the first one.
Along with the theme of acceptance is a dual love story. Both of which are heartbreaking and beautiful especially for a fantasy movie.
While I do miss David Hyde Pierce as the voice of Abe Sapien. It isn't that big a change that affects anything greatly, just something I noticed. David Hyde Pierce did the voice of Abe Sapien in Hellboy, while Doug Jones played the physical part. For Hellboy II: The Golden Army, Jones also does the voice. The reason is because the producers hoped Pierce's name would make the first film a box-office smash. But he refused to be credited because he felt Abe Sapien was Jones' work, and as such did no promotions or interviews, or even attended the premiere.
The Angel of Death's voice is done by Doug Jones doing each line twice, once in a higher pitched voice and then in a lower pitch, and then the two takes were blended together. As the Angel of Death, Doug Jones could only see out of the crack across the mask he wore. Also, the mechanical wings he was wearing weighed about 40 pounds. Doug was originally supposed to walk around the set, but when it was discovered that he could barely stand, they instead hung him from a wire. This is why The Angel of Death floats.
The role of Manning was originally intended for Larry Miller when Jeffrey Tambor was unavailable.
Hellboy the character is so classic he is supposedly the son of the devil. Only his character has the swagger and voice of an old school detective that you find in pulp novels. Who just happens to be fond of cigars and cats.
The resting place of the Golden Army was originally scripted to be under water, requiring the main characters to swim to it. This concept was removed for budgetary reasons.
The storyline here is great and mythic. It involves Hellboy exposing his and other agents of the BRPD covers an alerting the public to their existence. Much to the disdain of his supervisor ad trying to protect Princess Nuala from her brother Prince Nuada who wants to raise a golden army of robot warriors to destroy humans, but he needs three parts of a crown. One piece held by his sister. Another problem is whatever physically happen to Prince Nuada happens to his sister. Who in their scenes have a disturbing incest quality to the relationship.
When in costume as either Abe Sapien, the Chamberlain or The Angel of Death, Doug Jones was rendered almost completely blind and deaf from the prosthetic pieces on his head.
My favorite Character is Johann Kraus he is hilarious, but actually intergral to the entails of the plot.
Seth MacFarlane's first major motion picture. He supposedly based the voice of Johann Krauss on Jeremy Irons character from Die Hard: With a Vengeance
Thomas Kretschmann was the first choice as the voice of Johann Kraus, but Guillermo del Toro was not satisfied with the result, and subsequently brought in Seth MacFarlane.
My favorite scene is hell boy's battle with the isn't plant monster. That starts as a action packed fight then ends so I am going to go out on a limb and call Guillermo del toro the next dark humored Gothic Steven Spielberg. He has a weakness for nostalgia mixed with fantasy. Just like Spielberg. He is obviously on hi way to bigger and better movies to get up to the level Spielberg Is at now. They are both very visual directors who obviously love movies and have an interest and love in special effects. The major difference is that since he sketches, Mr. Del Toro has more of a hand creating his creatures and effects. Mr. Del Toro's vision isn't as childlike as Mr. Spielberg's. His films may feel more like fables, bit his creatures and stories are more gothic and usually have sad endings. He's not as upbeat as Mr. Spielberg, but this is a movie you should check out as soon as possible.
The ending is open ended but leaves you still wanting more. Though feels fatalistic also.
Peter Jackson approached Guillermo del Toro to direct Halo, and even though del Toro considered it, he turned the offer down so he could direct this sequel. Also, Del Toro turned down I Am Legend, One Missed Call, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the same reason. Not only is that dedication it isan amazing amount of great Could have been’s
Just like the first film, none of the cast member's names are written on the posters, mentioned in the trailers or shown in the opening credits.
Rupert Evans (Agent John Myers from Hellboy) couldn't reprise his role due to his casting in a stage version of "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in London in 2007 and was written out of the sequel.
Roy Dotrice (King Balor) and Ron Perlman (Hellboy) starred together in the TV series Beauty and the Beast
Special mention must be made for Ron Perlman from BEAUTY & THE BEAST in heavy makeup to this heavy make up plus having to do stunts and choreographed fights and still make a deeply felt three dimensional character proving it's the actor not the make-up that makes the Character. He is truly underrated and finally get his due.
He makes films that you have to see on the big screen in a theater to not only get the full impact, but truly appreciate all of the films. He is one of the directors who makes it worth going out to the movies. As no only a visionary (have I mentioned that enough already) but to see how much of his imagination the screen can catch and carry. Even by this being a sequel ad dealing with the mutant underworld there are so many creatures that he gets to imagine, design and make real. You can tell he is having a ball.
Underneath it all the film has a powerful love story that shows the deepness of passion and selfishness of rebellion that can exist when you fall in love and feel there is only one person for each other. You each become and gain this obsession for each other and against the world.
The inspired visuals that That this film Has are deeper yet still maintain a sense of humor albeit dark. Like it is able to let loose after the first film set up the world, characters and situations. So that it can go deeper into the story, world and characters in this film without a time wasting set-up.
Watching Guillermo Del Toro's films is always an experience and I mean that in the best way possible.
He is one of the directors who has taught me. Not only film as philosophy, but also thy no idea or creation is too way out or far-fetched to work Into a story. The only limits are your imagination.
He has continued on a more vivid challenging and rewarding path that I wish Peter Jackson would come back too. (As not only did his films become more mainstream, but his looks also which I know were mostly done for his health)
Grade: A
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