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Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2 Disc Special Edition) [2008] | ![Hellboy 2: The Golden Army (2 Disc Special Edition) [2008]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51vMRX5kdhL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Actors: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, James Dodd, Seth Macfarlane
Studio: Universal Pictures UK
Category: DVD
List Price: £22.99
Buy New: £12.98
You Save: £10.01 (44%)
New (15) Used (7) Collectible (1) from £10.34
Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 76
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Number Of Items: 2
Running Time: 115
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5050582556162
ASIN: B001DZA2K4
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: December 8, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The feverish Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is a very busy sequel that might have looked unhinged in the hands of a less visionary director than Guillermo del Toro. Ron Perlman returns as Hellboy, aka "Red," the Dark Horse Comics demon-hero with roots in the mythical world but personal ties in the human realm. Still working, as he was in Hellboy, for a secret department of the federal government that deals (as in "Men In Black") with forces of the fantastic, Red and his colleagues take on a royal elf (Luke Goss) determined to smash a longtime truce between mankind and the forces of magic. Meanwhile, Red's relationship with girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair), who can burst into flames at will, is going through a rocky stage observed by Red's fishy friend Abe (Doug Jones), himself struck by love in this film. Del Toro brilliantly integrates the ordinary and extraordinary, diving into an extended scene set in a troll market barely hidden behind the façade of typical city streets. He also unleashes a forest monster that devastates an urban neighborhood, but then--interestingly--brings a luminous beauty to the same area as the creature (an "elemental") succumbs to a terrible death. Del Toro's art direction proves masterful, too, in a climactic battle set in a clockworks-like stronghold tucked away in rugged Irish landscape. But it's really the juxtaposition of visual marvels with not-so-unusual relationship issues that gives Hellboy 2 a certain jaunty appeal hard to find in other superhero movies. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 32 more reviews...
 Hell, Boy was I impressed!!! January 5, 2009
I usually say that sequels are never as good as the original - I would be wrong on this occasion. The original was very enjoyable and told the story very well with a cute 'Hell Baby' to boot. However, Hellboy 2 is even better! I thoroughly enjoyed this film from beginning to end and was not bored for a moment. It's funny, it's sad and the overall look of the film is absolutely superb! The colours and images are amazing - such a contrast to Bat Man Dark Knight which was actually very dark in it's look - the first thing I said when we finished the film was that I had really enjoyed it, the second was what amazing colours!! OK so the story isn't gonna tax your brain but it's just fabulously entertaining and Selma Blair looks great in this too!!! What's not to like - hence 5 out of 5
The quirkiest blockbuster of 2008 January 5, 2009
Do you ever find yourself saying, just as the credits roll: "I wish that film had been a bit longer..."? No? Me neither, but I did here. I really enjoyed the first film, and there's no denying that this one came at things from the same off-centre, quirky angle. But I felt it was all a bit rushed. It looked great but the story seemed to just...slip by too un-noticed.
Am I the only one to feel that the whole elements were simply not given enough time to come to a full flowering? Abe's little romance, the story of the legendary figures being forgotten, it was all there but somehow not clear enough. I really wouldn't have minded another 20 minutes or so to round things off properly. Was Del Toro forced to trim the time down? The emergence (or not) of a directors cut will answer that I suppose.
In short, a good sequel with some GREAT ideas, but not used to their fullest advantage. And fair play to Luke Goss - I was ready to laugh him off the screen (I remember BROS!) but his scary, white skinned, evil-eyed monster guy shut me right up. Again, I would like to have seen more of him. In a way, Hellboy is almost like a TV character - I would love to be able to see him more frenquently in varied stories (the comics will have to do for now.)
Also, Del Toro's love of the weird mechanical machines shines through again - you either love that or your don't. And finally...some sort of prize for best ever use of a Barry Manilow song?
More Visuals, less Story January 1, 2009
...is the Impression I got when I saw this movie. It has many truly beautyful Scenes. It got the same likable Charakters and even managed to expand some of them - a bit. The Problem for me was, that with the Introductions and general premises out of the way (in Hellboy 1) this film could have taken the Ironies and the non-stereotypical characters and followed this through. It didnt. What we have here ist great popcorn Kino with awesome CGI and dramatic battles, with the aforementioned Depth shining through here and there. The Addition of the ectoplasmic Investigator was an especially tough one (at least for me) to swallow. He seemed to be there merely for comic relief and did not develop much of a characer at all. Even the "Change of Heart" near the end seemed forced and contrived.
All in all this may sound very negative for a 4 star Rating. But this is only the case because the actors/characters and regisseur have so much potential. The Film is NOT bad. And it is very entertaining. But that is also part of the problem- it aims too much to entertain. And so delivers a little less storytelling.
WOW! December 31, 2008
I have just finished watching this and I can truly say WOW! This is much better than the original even though the first Hellboy rocked. This film takes us deeper into the world of Hellboy with all its fantastic demons, trolls and hulking gold robots that are just awesome. There are great little funny quips here keeping this sequel edgy, funny and scary. The FX are some of the best I have seen in years, the CGI use is kept at a minimum for many of the hundreds of creatures within this film. I do hope they make a 3rd as this really did make me pine for more.
Big Red is back December 27, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
No-one should expect the 'Hellboy' franchise to be an Oscar-winner. It's a comic-book adaptation, and all that goes with it. In that respect it is unashamedly big, brash colourful and loud. In addition, Del Toro brings to it his own unique style, a style that is unparalleled. Indeed, he has been called a genuine visionary and in 'Hellboy 2' one can see why, although one would be forgiven for seeing inevitable similarities between it, 'Pan's Labyrinth', and the original 'Hellboy', but that's simply Del Toro's sensibility.
In regards to 'Hellboy 2' itself, I have mixed feelings. While it is unquestionably visually stunning which is to be expected from Del Toro (the part with the Forest God rampaging through the street is just extraordinary) it falls a bit flat on storyline and dialogue. I can't quite put my finger on it, it just lacks something. Having said that, I still enjoyed it because I liked the first 'Hellboy' and can forgive the fact that rarely does a sequel live up to expectations. I'm also developing an appreciation for Del Toro's direction and vision as a whole, and am beginning to realise that he rarely puts a foot wrong. In fact I don't think any other director could have taken 'Hellboy' in the direction Del Toro did.
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