Heavenly reviews ... Hellboy II: the Golden Army
He's a director who delves deep into the underworld for many of his famous characters, but Guillermo del Toro must be in heaven over the reviews for his latest venture. Hellboy II is almost universally praised, with better known critics proving especially positive.
The Chicago Sun-Times' Roger Ebert says the Mexican "has an endlessly inventive imagination, and understands how legends work, why they entertain us and that they sometimes stand for something", while Empire's Helen O'Hara reckons "this has more heart and humour than most fantasy films can dream of. Hellaciously good". The Independent's Jonathan Romney says Del Toro "has an instinctive understanding of the craziness, telegraphic frenzy and dense visual clutter that often characterise the great American comics". He adds: "[The director] relishes the childlike pleasure that can give these comics their special edge."
Finally, our own Peter Bradshaw, who hands Hellboy II an impressive four stars.
"It is a crackingly enjoyable and exciting sequel, with something that the memory of Pan's Labyrinth might have entirely erased: a sense of humour," he writes. "Because Hellboy II is a comedy, as well as and ahead of everything else."
What about you? Did the latest Hellboy prove a celestial experience? Or was it the cinematic equivalent of being consigned to Hades with no supper?
