Hellboy II: The Golden Army (DVD)
Guillermo del Toro, director of the Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth, has yet to run out of steam. Hellboy II: The Golden Army was one of the most visually appealing and sense-stimulating flicks of last year.
The plot is simple. After a long-held treaty between humankind and creatures is broken, a vicious elf prince declares war against man and threatens to release the mythical Golden Army.
Hellboy and his fellow members of a secret bureau must do everything possible to prevent the war.
The action scenes are carefully calculated to showcase the brilliant CGI, convincing makeup and staggering stunts. The fights are diverse, with some of the most fascinating monsters in movie history: the tiny but fierce Tooth Fairies, a Hellboy-equivalent troll, a giant plant and a troop of metallic soldiers. The visuals are magnificent.
But all these magical creatures leave very little time for the main cast of humour-loving Hellboy, his pregnant, fire-starting wife Liz, and intelligent fish-man Abe Sapien. The film touches on bigger issues like the environment, parenthood, identity and racism, adding depth to the simple plot.
The Collector's Edition includes unmissable behind-the-scenes shots and extra features. If you missed it at the cinema, put down your Young Post and head to the shops. Now.