Hellboy II: The Golden Army Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this exceptional Blu-ray release
After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is
broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the
one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up
to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his
marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you
need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy (Ron Perlman). Along with his expanding
team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development — pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz
(Selma Blair), aquatic empath Abe (Doug Jones) and protoplasmic mystic Johann — the
BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of
fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who's accepted by neither,
must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.
Few directors can match, let alone best, the unique vision of Mexican-born director Guillermo del
Toro. His films amaze audiences with wondrous creatures and exotic locales, tied in seamlessly
to
a style of filmmaking that is both passionate and efficient. His camera captures the essence of
each
and every moment with unparalleled beauty, every frame awash in spectacle. His latest
outings, the critically-acclaimed Pan's Labyrinth and
the
crowd pleaser Hellboy both serve as
reminders as to what movie magic is truly all about as vivid, enchanting worlds, larger-than-life
characters, first-rate action, and spellbinding story lines dazzle audiences for two hours of cinema
delight. Hellboy II: The Golden Army continues the tradition, this film louder, bigger,
bolder, incredibly refined, a treat to look at, and a rather good sequel to what seems destined to
become a lengthy franchise. With del Toro at the helm, the franchise is in more than capable
hands; his unique vision and flair for action make this a marriage too good to stop after two films.
Hellboy takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin' in this stylish sequel.
After briefly recounting the origins of the Hellboy character, Hellboy II: The Golden Army
begins with a pre-teen Hellboy hearing the story of the Golden Army, the war
between man and mythical creatures led by the elf king, and the uneasy truce that resulted in
the crown that controls the Golden Army being split into three halves, as told by his adoptive
father, Professor
Bruttenholm (John Hurt, Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, in a cameo performance). Years later, the elf king's son,
Prince Nuada (Luke Gross, Blade II), decides the time has come to once again wage war
on mankind, in his estimation the species having become too greedy and destructive. Meanwhile,
Hellboy (Ron Perlman, Star Trek: Nemesis), Liz (Selma Blair, Cruel Intentions),
Abe (Doug Jones, Fantastic Four: Rise of the
Silver Surfer), and Manning (Jeffrey Tambor, Superhero Movie)
begin an investigation of a paranormal occurrence that has taken the lives of the attendees of an
auction where a piece of the Golden Army crown was to be sold. After a confrontation with a
swarm of evil fairies, an uncooperative Hellboy breaks protocol and makes contact with the
public-at-large. A level-headed agent, Johann Krauss (John
Alexander, Men in Black) arrives
to keep Hellboy in line and assist with the investigation. The heroes set out to track down
where the fairies originated, leading them to a secret Troll Market filled with a dazzling array of
creatures. It is there that the team meets Nuala (Anna Walton), sister of Nuada and perhaps the
only hope that remains in preventing a full-scale war.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army can be whittled down to one word: spectacle. Though the
film
features plenty of character development, dramatic angles that heighten the impact of the
action, and a dosage of humor, much of the film is all about big set pieces, captivating visuals,
unique creatures, and,
of
course, several intense and spectacularly-shot action sequences. While heavily aided by CGI, the
action sequences are generally seamless, each one outdoing the last. Both Hellboy's fight
with the Elemental and the film's climactic showdown are awash in dramatic overtones that
heighten the intensity of the action. Hellboy is depicted as vulnerable in this film, not so much
physically but certainly emotionally and spiritually, open to suggestion and forced to examine his
values and beliefs. Aside from the glitz and glamour, Hellboy II is also a film about love,
trust,
friendship, and loyalty. The film focuses on the relationships between two sets of characters,
Hellboy and Liz and Abe and Nuala. Both relationships are plagued with difficulties, Liz's
frustration with Hellboy's ways and Nuala's connection with her twin brother, and by film's
end, both relationships will be put to the test as the characters must choose between their loved
ones and the fate of the world.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is also a beautifully crafted film; its every detail, largest to
smallest,
never
fails to impress. The film's sets, costumes, props, and creatures are as much a spectacle as the
impressive action sequences scattered about the movie. In the Troll Marketplace sequence, for
example, Guillermo del Toro has created a modern day Mos Eisley on Earth, replete with an
incredible array of vivid and interesting characters, both visually and, for the ones that are
provided personalities, psychologically. The sequence is arguably the strongest in the film. Not
only does it see the origins of the Abe-Nuala relationship, but frame after frame is filled with one
of the most painstakingly elaborate, lovingly crafted, and impeccably filmed locations in recent
memory. Many viewers will appreciate the resolution and scanning ability of Blu-ray throughout
the sequence as there is much to discover. Hellboy II's climactic confrontation is, again,
a visual wonderland, both the environment and the film's namesake army on display with what
can only be described as unparalleled grandeur. While these and virtually all of the film's
characters and sets represent a visual tour de force, del Toro's fine direction never becomes lost
in focusing on them. The direction remains steadfast, placing story first, with every set, effect, or
creature playing second fiddle to the drama and underlying themes of the film.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army comes to Blu-ray with a reference-quality 1080p,
1.85:1-framed transfer that retains the film's original theatrical aspect ratio. Detail is impeccable,
even in the film's darkest scenes, of which there are many. This disc offers up one of the finest
film-like qualities yet on Blu-ray; the exterior, nighttime, rainy scenes represent a remarkable
home video achievement in recreating a high quality cinematic look. Take a look in chapter six as
Nuada declares his intentions to revive the Golden Army and wage war on man. His flowing
golden locks are reproduced with uncanny accuracy as every strand is literally
distinguishable one form the other, a wonderful representation of the high quality presentation
available on this disc. This same sequence features a highly detailed and visually stimulating
environment with earth colored walls and old iron furnaces and equipment that offer sharp,
larger-than-life, beautiful imagery. In fact, virtually every environment seen throughout the
movie features incredible clarity, depth, and realism. The detail on clothing, uniforms, skin, and
objects that adorn each character is equally impressive. Colors are amazing throughout;
Hellboy's red skin and Abe's aqua blue are but two excellent examples of the rich color palette
that manages to bring this otherwise dark world alive. Black levels are perfect, a key ingredient
in recreating the generally dark world on display throughout the film. There aren't enough
platitudes to discuss just
how fabulous this transfer looks, and it is matched by the incredible soundtrack that
accompanies it.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army bursts onto Blu-ray with an incredibly loud and engrossing
DTS-HD MA 7.1 lossless soundtrack. Another masterful effort from Universal, they don't
come much more active as this one. This is a completely immersive mix that never fails to engulf
the listener thanks to the track's breathtaking use of the entire
soundstage. Practically every scene, whether the robust and hard-hitting action sequences, or
the more mundane and every day sequences -- such as a rainstorm, voice reverberation, crowd
chatter, and other ambient sound effects in chapter two -- fill the soundstage with perfect fidelity.
The battle with the fairies in chapter four is perhaps best described as intense. Gunshots explode
all over the soundstage, hundreds (if not thousands) of the pesky
enemies buzz through every speaker, and the sequence features an almost unprecedented level
of bass, topped only by some of the finest soundtracks available, like Universal's The Incredible Hulk.
The battle against the Elemental in chapter 11 is also an amazing sequence: bass rumbles
incessantly with not just power but clarity and realism; surround speakers go berserk; sound
spreads throughout every inch of the listening area, flowing seamlessly one speaker to the next,
the end result a 360-degree sonic marvel. With pitch-perfect dialogue, massive levels of bass,
monumental use of the surrounds, and a practically nonstop feeling of total immersion into the
film, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is easily ranked with the best-of-the-best audio
experiences Blu-ray has to offer.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army arrives on Blu-ray as a solid-gold special edition. A
feature
commentary track with director Guillermo del Toro is first. The director offers up a video-based
introduction (480p, 0:22) before diving into the track. Del Toro discusses the series' historical
lack of performance at the box office, but his nevertheless receiving the green-light to helm a
sequel, this time from a different studio. He goes on to discuss artistic decisions that were made
in light of the film's limited budget (although the film looks absolutely fabulous despite a budget
millions smaller, even smaller than that of lesser films), the films that influenced his visions, his
"fetishes" for gears, exotic
locations, and creatures, the film's color palette, and so much more. The track is an easy listen,
the information interesting, and del Toro highly engaging. Every fan will want to check this
feature
out. Also available is a cast commentary featuring Jeffrey Tambor, Selma Blair, and Luke Gross.
A
surprisingly dull track, Selma Blair at one point recommends switching over to the del Toro track,
which is a good idea. This track is slow, and while fans will learn a bit about the making of the
film
and the actors, this one is only for the film's die-hard fans.
Like many other Universal discs, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is U-Control enabled.
Offering a series of in-movie featurettes that play over the course of the film, viewers will see four
different features scattered throughout. Scene Explorer: Schufften Google View
shows various effects-heavy sequences in several stages of completion; Director's
Notebook allows viewers to go more in-depth with Guilermo del Toro as he discusses his
inspirations for certain segments of the film; Set Visits offers behind-the-scenes video
segments featuring some of the film's unique sets and characters in preparation for several
scenes; Concept Art Gallery is simply a series of drawings and photographs featuring
concepts for creatures seen throughout the film. This disc also features BD-Live (Blu-ray profile
2.0) functionality. In addition to several previews under the "BD-Live Center" tab and a
"community" tab where viewers may participate in adding favorite scenes or chatting with other
users, there is an "Exclusive Content" tab which promises viewers additional features to be
coming soon.
Troll Market Tour With Guillermo del Toro (480p, 12:22) is a walk-through of this
remarkable set with an enthusiastic director. Production Workshop begins with a brief
introduction (480p, 1:29) featuring del Toro discussing the film's epic opening battle featuring
puppets. The feature, entitled Professor Broom's Puppet Theater (480p, 3:12),
showcases the sequence in three stages of development, a crude storyboard, a more refined
storyboard, and the film's final sequence. The feature also offers an optional commentary by
director Guillermo del Toro. Six deleted scenes (480p, 5:04) are next, again provided with
optional director commentary. Zinco Epilogue Animated Comic 480p, 5:14) is included
next. Comic Book Builder allows users to grab screens from the film which will be altered
to a comic book visual style. Users then may select from a list of texts to include over the images
in addition to choosing a front cover. User-built comics may also be uploaded to the
"Community" tab of the disc's BD-Live page. Concluding the supplements found on disc one is a
series of four still photograph galleries -- Creature Design, Mike Mignola Creator
Gallery (with commentary by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola), Production Design, and
Production Stills.
Disc two of this set is a DVD that contains several supplemental features, all presented in
standard definition, as well as a digital copy of the film. First on the disc is a prologue (0:23) with
director Guillermo del Toro. The meat-and-potatoes of this disc is Hellboy: In Service of the
Demon (2:34:51). Taking viewers through a detailed journey into the making of the film,
this feature reveals a myriad of details, beginning with an examination of the strengths del Toro
brings to his films. Broken into 19 chapters, the feature examines, in detail, everything from the
characters to the special effects. The sheer length of the piece makes it more for die-hard fans
only, but for anyone interested in learning more about how a major studio film is crafted, this
feature is worth the time and effort. The disc also features a Marketing Campaign
section,
allowing viewers to access both Print Gallery and Poster Explorations. The disc
also contains a printable version of the film's script, accessible from a personal computer equipped
with a DVD-ROM drive. Finally, the digital copy of the film for playback on personal computers
and select portable video devices is included. The quality isn't too bad for a digital copy. While it
includes some rather heavy blocking, it looks solid enough with decent colors and
detail. The audio is surprisingly
robust and satisfying.
This collector's set of Hellboy II comes packaged with a couple of goodies that
Hellboy fans will enjoy. The contents come housed in an outer cardboard box that
measures approximately 7.75" in height, 6" in width, and just under 4.5" in depth. Of course
the two-disc Blu-ray set is first, complete with lenticular slipcover, identical to
the stand alone release. Also
included is a hefty and seemingly well put-together "Golden Army" figurine. Buyers will have to
attach its arms, and both arms pivot around the shoulder. A certificate of authenticity is included
with the figurine. The most substantive extra is the inclusion of Guillermo del Toro's
hand-written and drawn notebook, or at least a portion thereof. Handsomely bound and twelve
pages in length,
the director's notes and sketches are scattered throughout the pages. Most of the notes are
written in Spanish. The biggest drawback to the set is the inclusion of the limited edition mini
poster illustrated by noted artist Drew Struzan. Unfortunately, Universal has included it as part
of the notebook itself, stapled and folded inside with some additional hand-drawn images printed
across the back of the poster. Even should buyers choose to remove the poster from the book
and frame and hang it, there will be four staple holes in the middle, not to mention the loss of
the artwork on the opposite side. A far more practical and user-friendly solution, it seems, would
have been to include the poster separate of the notebook, and leave the artwork on its backside
intact in the journal. Eight snapshots of the set are available via the "Screenshots" tab above.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army is an entertaining film that accomplishes everything a good
sequel requires. It enhances the characters on a psychological level, introduces one or two new
primaries, features bigger and bolder sets, more intense action, and introduces a formidable
opponent
for the heroes to battle. Most importantly, the film sees the return of director Guillermo del Toro,
whose impressive vision and eye-catching directorial style once again lend vigor, vitality, beauty,
and grace to a Hellboy film. It should comes as no surprise that Universal's Blu-ray
release
of Hellboy II: The Golden Army is phenomenal. With an incredibly detailed and film-like
transfer that shows just what Blu-ray video is capable of presenting, a lossless DTS track that is
as
good as they come, standing toe-to-toe with Universal's The Incredible Hulk soundtrack,
and featuring a mind-boggling supplemental package, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is a
fine
representation of what Blu-ray is all about. Regrettably, this collector's set seems lacking,
especially considering its current asking price of $44.99 at Amazon.com, almost $20 more than
the standard release. While the material contained herein is nice, the set feels somewhat skimpy
and the way the mini poster was included into the notebook itself is a major disappointment.
Hellboy II: The
Golden Army Collector's Set is recommended only if it can be found around the same price as
the stand-alone two-disc set.
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has revealed the final specs for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army', which is due to hit store shelves on November 11th, day-and-date with the DVD release. Coming on a BD-50, video will be presented ...
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has revealed the complete specs for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army', which is due to hit store shelves on November 18th, day-and-date with the DVD release. The two-disc set will feature 1.85:1 1080p ...
Universal Studios Home Entertainment has revealed some specs for the upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army', which when announced will come day-and-date with the DVD release. The standard Blu-ray will come as a two-disc release. There will also ...
