Hellboy 2: The Golden Army

Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro  (“Pan’s Labyrinth”)
Written by: Guillermo del Toro  (“The Devil’s Backbone”)

There’s no denying how imaginative Guillermo del Toro is as a director and screenwriter. Anyone that can create a world as threatening and picturesque as the one in his critically-acclaimed “Pan’s Labyrinth” should be praised for his natural vision.

But as del Toro’s films start reaching a grander scale (like “Blade 2” and now “Hellboy 2”), there is something lost as his fantasies. Although still striking, they seems bloated.

In “Hellboy 2,” the perfectly cast Ron Perlman returns at the red-demon title character alongside his mutant team on a quest to save the planet from the evil Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) and his army of fantastic creatures.

As the special effects run rampant, Perlman keeps the film centered with his unique take on this comic book monster – a spawn of Satan and Nazis who now fights for the welfare of mankind. The mythology is still as interesting as its predecessor, but less important this time around.

When del Toro’s in charge, the film feels richer when it’s an intimate story like “Labyrinth” or “The Devil’s Backbone.” With “Hellboy 2,” it’s a ruckus that has some heart and is all Hollywood.