Hellboy II: the Golden Army

Director Guillermo del Toro's mastery of fantasy film-making and his understanding of the multi-faceted richness of the genre guides this sequel to visually imaginative and intricately detailed heights. This time our florid superhero Hellboy (Ron Perlman) must thwart the renegade elf prince Nuada (Luke Goss), who will stop at nothing (even killing his own father) to awaken the fabled indestructible Golden Army and conquer the human realm. Imbued with the ornate gothic fairy-tale style and emotional resonance of del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth, the film effortlessly marries dry wit and unnerving creepiness. Epic in breadth and ambition while still retaining its gentle soul, this army of golden images is another sublime example of superior myth-making from a master of the art.