Hellboy II: The Golden Army (PG-13)

Imaginative, campy comic book fun; lots of scares.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the movie? Review it
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Movie details
  • Studio: Paramount Pictures
  • Directed By: Guillermo Del Toro
  • Cast: Selma Blair, Ron Perlman, Doug Jones
  • Running Time: 110 minutes
  • Release Date: 7/9/2008
  • Video/DVD Release Date: 11/10/2008
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • MPAA Rating: PG-13
  • MPAA Explanation: sequences of sci-fi action and violence, and some language.

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this action-packed sequel includes a plethora of scary monsters and supernatural creatures and extensive fantastic violence, including shootings, superhuman fist-fights, and grisly deaths at the hands of nightmarish creatures. That said, the movie's overall tone is so light and fantastical that it never becomes too oppressive or grim for fantasy-loving teens and adults, and its sheer visual imagination is stunning to behold. The title character is a demon, albeit one with a soft spot for kittens. He likes his cigars and Baby Ruth candy bars; characters also drink, and other brands pop up here and there.

Families can talk about the film's underlying message of tolerance. What's more important, how someone looks, or how they act? How does the movie move Hellboy toward adult responsibility (although he ages slowly and is supernatural, Hellboy is fairly immature and teen-like at the beginning of the film)? Does that strike any chords with teens? What does being "human" mean for Hellboy? Where does he have the power of choice?

Message

Social Behavior:

Extensive discussion of acceptance and tolerance, as Hellboy and his outlandish paranormal-busting team endure scorn and derision due to their appearance and odd natures after they go public. The public reaction to the relationship between Hellboy and his human girlfriend prompts a news anchor to ask rhetorically "Inter-species marriage -- A threat to traditional marriage?" A German-accented character's name, Kraus, is misspoken (somewhat derisively) as "Kraut."

Consumerism:

Some real-world brands are featured, like Tecate and Tecate Light beers and Baby Ruth candy bars. A brief snippet of Jimmy Kimmel Live is incorporated into the plot.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Characters speak of "needing a beer" as a prelude to talking about challenges and problems; mild comedic drunkenness involving non-human characters, resulting in a beer-fueled Barry Manilow sing-along; Hellboy smokes cigars.

Violence

Extensive fantasy violence throughout, including (but not limited to) super-powered fistfights, decapitations, stabbings, slashings, gun battles against gigantic monsters, and property damage. A paranormal supporting character controls flames to incinerate inhuman enemies. Pedestrians are threatened by debris and tentacles during a giant monster's urban rampage. Hellboy saves an infant from peril. A supernatural creature is interrupted as it prepares to eat a cat. A brutish monster is pulled into a large set of grinding gears and ground to bits. A character spends several scenes with a blade lodged in their body; epic battles between inhuman creatures; several supporting human characters are graphically devoured by tiny, hungry gnawing fantastic creatures. A supporting character commits a mystical murder-suicide.

Sex

Unmarried characters live together; a character takes a pregnancy test. Some kissing.

Language

Fairly mild, including "crap," "ass," "poop," "a--hole," "screw" and, obviously, "hell."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by James Rocchi

Following up on 2004's Hellboy, HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY sees writer-director Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone) return to Mike Mignola's comic-book creation. This time around he pits supernatural monster-stopper Hellboy (Ron Perlman) against the machinations of evil elf-prince Nuada (Luke Goss), who's searching for the lost segments of a golden crown that, when united, will give him control of the titular Golden Army -- an unstoppable legion of mechanical warriors that he plans to use to destroy humanity in order to protect the world of enchantment. But even as he works the case, Hellboy has to come to terms with his team's existence becoming public knowledge -- and the resulting prejudices of the general populace. Oh, and his fire-starter girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair) really needs to talk to him about some important stuff. ...

Is it any good?

4
After the dizzying high art of the Oscar-winning Pan's Labyrinth, del Toro downshifts a little to deliver high entertainment with Hellboy II . Meshing the supernatural with the super-heroic, Mignola's comic-book creation is a wise-cracking, gruff-yet-good tough guy played with pitch-perfect swagger and comedy timing by Perlman. Hellboy's intrinsic goodness shines out through his bizarre appearance -- and Perlman's talent shines out through bizarre, brilliant makeup and special effects. The movie takes place in a world of gods and monsters, and some of its creations are startling, inventive, and as scary as they are fascinating.

Loaded with action (some of which is intense, if otherworldly), Hellboy II: The Golden Army also takes the time to give us full-drawn characters. Hellboy sincerely cares for Liz, is a good friend to the team's psychic -- a genteel man-fish named Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), and even comes to terms with his higher-ups at the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, including the all-too-human Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor) and the disembodied spirit Johann Kraus (voiced by Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane). For every eye-popping effects sequence or line of hokey comic-book dialog, there's also a brief moment of human warmth or goofy comedy, and if the film's a little loose and slapdash, that hyper-inventive spirit surprisingly enhances its charm instead of undercutting it. Hellboy is hardly the best-known big-screen superhero, but Hellboy II: The Golden Army is the most brilliantly bizarre, visually vibrant, slyly self-aware and freakishly funny example of the genre you could hope for.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 12 reviews.

3

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor
1


Posted on 11/22/08 by Adam Razak Adult contributor

If This Movie Kicked Off the Franchise, I Wouldn't Have Seen Part 2

I was very disappointed by the second installment of this franchise. I loved the first Hellboy, but I absolutely hated this one.
3

Posted on 07/25/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor
4


Posted on 07/21/08 by outsider Kid contributor, age 13

A really good movie i think parent should think about.

This movie is great for someone 13+. I think anyone under this age wouldnt get the material in this movie. And I think someone 10+ could stand the violence.
5


Posted on 07/16/08 by adrock1231 Kid contributor, age 10
5

Posted on 07/15/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a must see for teens.
0


Posted on 07/15/08 by constance Kid contributor, age 7

proliferate violence not appropriate for any age

I think that the producers, actors, and anyone involved in making this movie are irresponsible and thoughtless as to how violence on the screen affects teen-agers and young children.
5


Posted on 07/14/08 by flyingpig24 Kid contributor, age 10

Action on the big screen

this movie is entirely made for kids.
5


Posted on 07/12/08 by FamilyGuyLover Kid contributor, age 13
1


Posted on 07/11/08 by grubes25 Adult contributor

let us all have a laugh at this

A year ago a movie like this was supposed to be good "I mean come on what happened"(qtd. The Dark Knight). The big red guy is a D**n girl in this one compared to the first one. The badass from the first movie is completely non existent in this one almost a different character all together. Plus every line that hellboy has is forced and doesn't feel right. The movie itself was made more into a joke after the original which was truly outstanding. I dont like the direction the movie went and where a possible third could go from here, which shouldn't even be a thought right now.

See all 12 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

3

Posted on 01/04/09 by Anonymous Adult contributor
1


Posted on 11/22/08 by Adam Razak Adult contributor

If This Movie Kicked Off the Franchise, I Wouldn't Have Seen Part 2

I was very disappointed by the second installment of this franchise. I loved the first Hellboy, but I absolutely hated this one.
3

Posted on 07/25/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor
5

Posted on 07/15/08 by Anonymous Adult contributor

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a must see for teens.
1


Posted on 07/11/08 by grubes25 Adult contributor

let us all have a laugh at this

A year ago a movie like this was supposed to be good "I mean come on what happened"(qtd. The Dark Knight). The big red guy is a D**n girl in this one compared to the first one. The badass from the first movie is completely non existent in this one almost a different character all together. Plus every line that hellboy has is forced and doesn't feel right. The movie itself was made more into a joke after the original which was truly outstanding. I dont like the direction the movie went and where a possible third could go from here, which shouldn't even be a thought right now.
4


Posted on 07/09/08 by kungfuflypig Adult contributor

Kids Reviews

There are 6 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/21/08 by outsider Kid contributor, age 13

A really good movie i think parent should think about.

This movie is great for someone 13+. I think anyone under this age wouldnt get the material in this movie. And I think someone 10+ could stand the violence.
5


Posted on 07/16/08 by adrock1231 Kid contributor, age 10
0


Posted on 07/15/08 by constance Kid contributor, age 7

proliferate violence not appropriate for any age

I think that the producers, actors, and anyone involved in making this movie are irresponsible and thoughtless as to how violence on the screen affects teen-agers and young children.
5


Posted on 07/14/08 by flyingpig24 Kid contributor, age 10

Action on the big screen

this movie is entirely made for kids.
5


Posted on 07/12/08 by FamilyGuyLover Kid contributor, age 13
5


Posted on 07/09/08 by kitkat101 Kid contributor, age 11

awesome movie

awesome movie!! a must see for kids 11+
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