Hellboy II: The Golden Army - 3 smiles

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is not for everyone; however, if you liked director Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth,” you might want to give this movie a try. The first half of the movie focuses on the “family” of misfits working for the US government in a secret FBI installation. There’s Red (Ron Perlman), a demon who keeps his horns filed down to flat nubs. His love Liz (Selma Blair) can transform herself into a human torch. Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) is a smart amphibian and newcomer Johann Kraus (James Donn) is a creature consisting of smoke and gas. The villain is the elf Prince Nuada (Luke Gross), who seeks to recover the three pieces of a crown that, when assembled, will give him control of the Golden Army, hundreds of unstoppable, indestructible warriors. Nuada will then vanquish humanity and regain control of earth. His twin sister, Nuala (Anna Walton), who opposes his quest, and her piece of the crown fall under the protection of Hellboy and his friends and they find themselves involved in a battle to save mankind.

“Hellboy II” is more fantasy adventure than superhero tale. One of the film’s more interesting sequences is a visit to the “Troll’s Market,” where trolls, goblins, elves, and elementals come to life. It’s not hard to see why Peter Jackson selected del Toro to helm “The Hobbit.” However, there are a few plot holes that damage the integrity of the film, but these come to light in conversations that happen afterward. Nonetheless, “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is solid entertainment. 7/17/08