Ryan McNeil
These days, many movie directors want to be the real movie stars. They want their names to go above the title, as in “A Rob Cohen Film”. While I can’t fault them for their rock star ambitions, I don’t think many of the directors who do this are truly worthy of such top billing. I mean really – can the average movie-goer tell a Bret Ratner film, from a Paul W.S. Anderson film, from a Michael Bay slopfest? Doubt it.
But then, there are some directors that indeed are gods and monsters. Visual storytellers with a style unlike any others. One of the best of these chosen few is Guillermo del Toro, and his latest offering is the gloriously presented and truly cool HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY.
The movie opens with a bedtime story told to Hellboy as a child, one that details a war between man and mythical creatures. The war was supposedly won when the king of elves summoned The Golden Army – a massive force of 4900 soldiers that are unmerciful and indestructible. Think Terminators on ‘roids. When the battle was over, the king surrendered control of the army, much to the objection of his son Prince Nuada.
Fast forward a few thousand years, to when Nuada shows up in modern day New York City. Seems the boy who would be king is tired of living in exile, and has surfaced into our world of mortals to reclaim the archaeological relics that will once again give him control of The Golden Army. Guess who’s dispatched to stop him?
Yep, our favorite cigar-chompin’, beer-drinkin’ demon is on the case, and since he’s been incapable of keeping his profile low, Hellboy (Ron Pearlman), Abe Sapian (Doug Jones) and Liz (Selma Blair) soon find themselves as media darlings. At least they start out that way, but after a battle or two gets out of control, the misfits from The Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense start feeling a public backlash. After a taunting or two from Nuada, they begin to wonder if indeed they are fighting on the right side.
To no surprise, the movie’s real star is director Guiellermo del Toro. Seemingly out to prove that PAN’S LABYRINTH was no fluke, del Toro uses every brush in the box and every colour on the palette to create another amazing visual achievement. If the creatures that come to life don’t blow you away, the rooms they walk through certainly will. Thinking back, I’m pressed to remember as amazing a scene as the sword fight that takes place in a room filled with mechanical cogs and gears…the set in this scene almost feels like a character unto itself. Some of the creatures, like the Angel of Death that turns up in the third act, look like they take care of the Labyrinth for Pan when he’s out of town. Others, like the robotic Johann Krauss, call back to the serial sci-fi stories of the 1950’s – a clear tribute to those that inspired del Toro’s mad brilliance in the first place.
What makes the Hellboy movies work for me, is the fact that they tend not to drown the audience in the fantastical. While the story does involve Forest Gods, flesh-eating fairies, and elven royalty, they are off-set by buddy-cop hi jinks, dysfunctional relationships, and a few good ol’ fashioned fight scenes. The story is rooted in comic book and fantasy lore, but by mixing those roots with moments like Hellboy & Abe getting drunk and trying to understand women, it grounds the story and makes it more accessible. Unfortunately, the only problem is that the two sides of the story aren’t quite balanced properly, which threw the pacing off a little. Still – it’s a minor flaw.
Before the dust settles, there is a wink towards a third Hellboy film. However, if that is in the cards, it will have to sit and wait for a good while because del Toro’s next project will be directing the prequels to the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy with his two-film HOBBIT series. After all the visual wonder that Peter Jackson achieved with his movies, it may be difficult to think of anyone else directing them. But if the elaborate and imaginative splendor that HELLBOY 2 muscled was any indication, then trust me – Middle earth is in good hands with del Toro.
I kinda felt like I was watching Lord of the Rings during the opening story sequence, was this practice for The Hobbit?
It is visually beautiful but that isn’t what I want from Hellboy – I want fun and zaniness! I was surprized at the wink to another film, very surprized.
My friends saw Hellboy II and thought it was much better than the first one. Ill check it out soon. Nice blog, keep up the good work
Hellboy was fun; for sure that director has an amazing imagination, reminded me a lot of his work in Pan’s Labyrinth