Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Name: Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Released: July 11, 2008
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 78
Cast: Doug Jones, Ron Perlman, Selma Blair

2008

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 36 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 513 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 513 Ratings

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Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

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Movie Details & Credits

Universal Pictures | Release Date: July 11, 2008 | PG-13

Starring: Doug Jones, Ron Perlman, Selma Blair

Summary: After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planets toughest, roughest superhero to battle theAfter an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planets toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy. (Universal Pictures)… Expand

Director: Guillermo del Toro

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 120 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Michael Rechtshaffen

With writer-director del Toro given free license to go where his singular vision takes him, Hellboy II plays like Guillermo's Greatest Hits with even hotter visual effects. Read full review

Ann Hornaday

As he has done in all his movies, from creature features such as "Mimic" to serious dramas such as "Pan's Labyrinth," del Toro creates unforgettable images, filled with color, texture, lyricism and horror. Read full review

Roger Ebert

Imagine the forges of hell crossed with the extraterrestrial saloon on Tatooine, and you have a notion of Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Read full review

Shawn Levy

The sheer volume of amazing things that del Toro is able to mine from his unconscious and render plausibly on the screen is remarkable. Hellboy II feels pretty sequel-y, as these things go, but there's a lot in it that has no precedent of any kind, anywhere, ever. That stuff makes it worthwhile. Read full review

Claudia Puig

Highly imaginative and consistently amusing without pretensions. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Hellboy II is solid entertainment, but it's a shame such blemishes prevent it from achieving a higher level. Read full review

David Edelstein

The best scene is when Hellboy and Abe get drunk and sing out raucously, which after "Hancock" suggests a trend toward superhero alcoholism. Read full review

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User Reviews

Kai82

Sep 15, 2014

A masterpiece of creativity. It is an amazing world that Del Toro created in this movie. The characters are fitting and the villain is not only well done but you can also fell his tortured soul and corrupted noble intentions. The plot is also off from simple good vs evil or black vs white.A masterpiece of creativity. It is an amazing world that Del Toro created in this movie. The characters are fitting and the villain is not only well done but you can also fell his tortured soul and corrupted noble intentions. The plot is also off from simple good vs evil or black vs white. Both sides are grey with good intentions and flaws. It is a must watch movie and far better than the first one.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

AndrewO.

Jul 15, 2008

Great humor, awesome effects, amazing movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DonnaT.

Jul 12, 2008

I loved it. Can't wait to see Hellboy 3.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

AndrewR.

Jul 10, 2008

A good movie. Maybe not liking it as much as I might, Maybe because of the hype.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Cinemassacre94

Mar 20, 2016

Directing a sequel to a modestly successful comic-book adaptation might seem like a perverse choice to follow up an Oscar-winning international triumph like Pan's Labyrinth. But for Guillermo del Toro, directing the Hellboy movies is the opposite of slumming: His affection for the comic'sDirecting a sequel to a modestly successful comic-book adaptation might seem like a perverse choice to follow up an Oscar-winning international triumph like Pan's Labyrinth. But for Guillermo del Toro, directing the Hellboy movies is the opposite of slumming: His affection for the comic's motley gang of misfits is palpable in every scene. Del Toro makes movies fanboys love in part because he's such a fanboy himself. With Hellboy II: The Golden Army, del Toro proves his geek credentials once again by collaborating with Hellboy creator Mike Mignola on the story, hiring Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane to voice a fantastical creature that looks like Robby The Robot's off-brand cousin and talks like Colonel Klink, and including a conspicuous homage to John Landis.

Ron Perlman returns as the film's loveable title character, a demon gone good who's tough on the outside but tender underneath, with a soft spot for kittens, candy, and babies. With his formidable physique, cigars, giant guns, and winning way with a one-liner, he's part McBain-style action-hero parody, part Frankenstein-like outcast. Hellboy is the key ass-kicking component of a secret government paranormal squad that includes fiery girlfriend Selma Blair, a bright, cerebral chap (Doug Jones) who bears an unfortunate resemblance to the Creature From The Black Lagoon, the aforementioned MacFarlane-voiced German monstrosity, and hapless human sidekick Jeffrey Tambor. They're like the Ghostbusters if the Ghostbusters were phantasms and beasties themselves. In his latest adventure, Hellboy and the gang take on an otherworldly prince out to take over the world with the eponymous golden army.

Hellboy 2 breezes along on the strength of Perlman's brawling charisma, a likeable tone, and a deft combination of goofball humor, pathos, and big action setpieces. It reaches sublime heights in three virtuoso sequences: a hilariously boozy Barry Manilow sing-along between the lovesick Perlman and Jones, a lyrical sequence where a giant tree monster becomes a leafy green paradise, and an eye-popping trip to a troll bazaar that recalls the canteen sequence in Star Wars and highlights the film's phenomenal, extensive creature design. Hellboy II can't help but feel slight following Pan's Labyrinth, but that's part of its charm. Think of it as a pleasant diversion for del Toro and his fans before the epic task of mounting The Hobbit for producer (and fellow geek-god) Peter Jackson.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

EY.

Jul 10, 2008

I found H2 to be rather disappointing. I feel Del Toro went a bit overboard with the effects and creatures. As a result, the story is much less believable and engaging than H1. And the voicing of Abe by Doug Jones was a real mistake. Also, Salma Blair was really quite wooden. A shame.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

GeorgeN.

Jul 12, 2008

I just got back from Hellboy. I was excited to see this movie as the first one was okay and Metacritic rated it so highly. I am so angry that I wasted 2 hours of my life watching one of the stupidest movies every made. There was no character development, the characters made decisions that I just got back from Hellboy. I was excited to see this movie as the first one was okay and Metacritic rated it so highly. I am so angry that I wasted 2 hours of my life watching one of the stupidest movies every made. There was no character development, the characters made decisions that were completely random and by the middle I didn't care if the "golden army" rose up and killed everyone in the world. I forced myself to stay seated but was in agony the entire time. Hellboy's character was annoying but not nearly as aggravating as the plot. I would rather have a root-canal than see that again. I would get more out of watching 2 hours of sesame street. However, if you have only a 2nd grade education or lower you'll probably love it. This movie ruined my night.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

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48	#48 Best Movie of 2008
31	#31 Most Discussed Movie of 2008
68	#68 Most Shared Movie of 2008