By: debbie lynn elias
There’s nothing quite like a closing gala at the Los Angeles Film Festival. Always a guaranteed great time, festival goers are also guaranteed an exclusive sneak preview of what is often one of the hottest tickets of the upcoming summer releases. And this year was no exception as those of us lucky enough to have closing night golden tickets were treated to the world premiere of Guillermo del Toro’s latest pantheon of visionary, sensory and (in my case) auditory delights with HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY.
However, if you are looking for substance, story or originality, you have come to the wrong theater as despite the spectacular visuals, visual effects and superb stunt choreography, the latter helmed by superlative stunt coordinator Bradley Allen (whose work is so distinctive that actor Tom Foley who was at the gala with me identified Allen’s signature styling within mere moments), at first, second and third blush (and maybe even fourth), much to my dismay and disappointment, del Toro went for nothing more than “cut and paste” of at least seven films with key scenes, even similar production design and creature creation, energetically leaping off the screen as if to say, “Remember this? Remember that?” After the dazzling and splendiferous “Pan’s Labyrinth” I expected more individuality and originality from del Toro’s creative genius.
For those of you unfamiliar with Hellboy, let’s bring you up to speed. Hellboy is actually the demon known as Anung un Rama. Brought to Earth as a baby by Nazi occultists in the 1940’2, Hellboy was rescued by the Allied Forces and raised in secret by the U.S. government’s Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense and a loving adoptive father, Professor Trevor “Broom” Bruttenholm. An interesting child with a clear sense and appreciation of style and fashion, Hellboy sports glossy red skin, a tail, finely shaved and buffed circular stumps were his horns used to be and an oversized right hand made of stone. And he has a great affection for little kittens and Cuban cigars. Since growing into adulthood, Hellboy has since been given the illustrious title of “World’s Greatest Paranormal Investigator” and together with his stalwart team of crack associates, pyrokinetic Liz Sherman (also the love of his life) and Abe Sapien – an amphibian humanoid and devoted friend (with many characteristics and traits so identifiable with an android named Data) under the leadership of the bumbling, stumbling Tom Manning, fight evil and demonic presence wherever and whenever needed; all while keeping the lowest of low profiles – NOT! But joining the team this go round is Johann Krauss – a poltergeist who makes his home in a20diving suit that strongly resembles tv’s early Robbie the Robot and someone who Hellboy clearly does not like in the least.
We are reconnected with Hellboy aka Big Red as a youngster being told a bedtime story by his father. The story is one of great fascination and fantasy to the child. It’s about another world of magical creatures led by the kindly King Balor. But earthlings and the underworld have a problem co-existing. At the suggestion of King Balor’s son Prince Nuada, Balor agrees to build a huge Golden Army (which bears strong resemblance to the Clone Armies in “Star Wars”) that will protect the magical underworld and have them reign supreme over all dominions and realms. After much war and discord, ultimately a truce between the worlds is called. The Golden Army is put to sleep, only to be awakened by the joining of three parts of a golden crown that Balor has separated and sent to the far corners of the world lest they ever be joined together, leading the Golden Army to rise up against humanity. Prince Nuada, at odds with his father over the truce for many centuries, has been in hiding, biding his time until he can overthrow his father, gather the golden sections of the crown and take control over the Golden Army. And now his time has20come for him to make his move. Who will stop Nuada? Who can stop Nuada? Could it be a little boy with red skin, a tail and buzz-cut horns? Oh to be a child and dream……Or not……After all, who knows where fantasy and fairytales and little boys’ dreams end and the real world begins.
Fast forward to present day. It seems life is not going too well for our hero. He is in love with Liz whose fiery persona doesn’t bode too well with Hellboy’s pigsty frat boy living conditions. (Let’s face it, he may be cute and adorable, but his room is a mess – worse than any I’ve ever seen either of my brothers make.) But wouldntcha know, just as Liz wants a “time out” from Big Red, the team is called into action. Seems there is a disturbance in the force between the realms and humanity is under attack.
Taking a stand and eradicating a good portion of the City with their “lowest low profile”, it doesn’t take long before the team discovers through their expert methods of interrogation that all information they seek can be found in Troll Alley. Travelling between realms, we are met with the fantastical which can only be described as the Star Wars’ cantina at Mos Eisley meets Harry Potter’s Daigon Alley. But Abe’s amphibious eye catches something else, a pale-skinned vision of loveliness who seems to be running for her life; a woman who turns out to be none other than Princess Nuala, daughter of King Balor, sister of Prince Nuada and the one who holds the third piece of the golden crown her brother now seeks so as to bring forth the Golden Army. (Could it be a child’s story book come true?) Determined to protect her and help his buddy save the world, Nuala is brought into the protective custody of the BPRD.
In short, it doesn’t take long for all hell to break loose – along with the hormones and emotions of Big Red and Abe who both drunkenly pine for the women of their dreams as they sing along with Barry Manilow’s “Can’t Smile Without You” (okay, the highlight of the film for me) – as Nuada seeks to find his sister, raise the Golden Army and destroy mankind for their flagrant abuse of Mother Nature and the planet, and our heroes valiantly try to stop him and save the world. And did I mention Liz is pregnant?
Ron Perlman returns as everyone’s favorite red guy. And although he will to me forever be the half-man/half beast tunnel-dweller known as Vincent of “Beauty and the Beast”, Perlman makes one might fine Hellboy with a heart of gold. With self-deprecating humor and impeccable timing, he is quite simply, FUN to watch. Selma Blair returns as Liz and once again, you can see the sparks fly between her character and that of Perlman, although this go round, I think she got the short shrift in terms of characte r development and screen time. Doug Jones is a delight as Abe Sapien, undoubtedly the most well written and crafted character of the film. In full amphibious regalia, Jones has an almost elegant air that also captures the human desires of Star Trek’s Data. It is an inspiring and welcome performance. I can’t remember a role for which Jeffrey Tambor has not made me laugh and here is no exception. Returning as Manning, his pompous insecurity is engaging, enlightening and fun. Always joyous for me are little casting coups and here we have the legendary Roy Dotrice as King Balor. For those of you who may not recall, Dotrice played Father to Ron Perlman’s Vincent in “Beauty and the Beast”. Always playing roles with a wisdom and calm, here is no different. Above all, Dotrice has some of the truest drama in his limited but pivotal performance. Anna Walton steps out of obscurity and into our hearts (and Abe’s) as Princess Nuala. Beauteous, timid and confident, she is a breath of fresh air. But the real scene stealer is Luke Goss as Nuada. He has the athleticism and grace of a gazelle but with a formible presence that commands the screen – even when going toe-to-toe with Big Red.
But here is where the problems start. Written by del Toro from a storyline co-written with Mike Mignolia, the creator of the Hellboy comics, the story is inconsistent, characters are not fully fleshed out (pardon the pun as few are flesh and blood) and dangli ng plot lines abound. There’s a blend of action adventure and political activism (global warming) that never meshes and is nothing short of detracting from the kick ass fun. Even m ore unfortunate is on watching the film, from visual, plot and character development standpoints, there are at minimum seven well known films that scream recognition as if lifted scene for scene and plunked into this film. Take a look for yourselves and you will see “Star trek”, “Star Wars”, “Harry Potter”, “Independent Day”, “Men in Black”, “Forbidden Kingdom” and above all – “The Wizard of Oz” (with Hellboy being Dorothy, of course). Always heartwarming and “fuzzy” to see homage paid to a beloved film, to an excess such as here does nothing but make me feel cheated. Where is del Toro’s originality? Where is that creativity we saw in “Pan’s Labyrinth”? Not here. Although I must concede and bow to the man as who else but del Toro would think of having Big Red and Abe working magic with Manilow.
Technically, the films is beyond reproach. The production values are exceedingly high. CGI is a technofest of eye-popping creativity, and although seemingly mimicked from other films, the visuals, production design and creature creations are fantastical, gorgeously designed and enthralling to watch no matter where their origination, thanks to cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, production designer Stephen Scott, and the incomparable FX team, all of whose work is unparalleled excellence in the20field today.
So, follow the yellow brick road to Hell, Hellboy that is, as Big Red and company attempt to save the world from destr uction by an invisible realm, another world that defies human logic and sensibility, a world with a maniacal leader out for revenge against mankind and where everyone has a helluva lot of fun in the process – even me.
Hellboy – Ron Perlman
Liz Sherman – Selma Blair
Abe Sapien – Doug Jones
Tom Manning – Jeffrey Tambor
Prince Nuada – Luke Goss
Princess Nuala – Anna Walton
Directed by Guillermo del Toro. Written by Guillermo del Toro based on a story by Mike Mignolia. Rated PG-13.
