Films Out This Week

Aug 24 2008 Mickey Mcmonagle

Mailmusic Reviews

HELLBOY 2:THE GOLDEN ARMY (12A) *****

I was a big fan of the first Hellboy movie. Its quirky humour, bizarre characters and snappy, quippy script made it stand out from the bulk of comic book movies.

But the sequel blows it away. Director Guillermo Del Toro has gone to town bringing to life a world that only he could imagine.

The incredible Troll Market is another world under the streets of a modern city while the goblin miners'dead city under Ireland's Giant's Causeway is equally stunning.

And creatures such as the beautiful but terrifying angel of death, the scroll-holding shop owner and the forest god are simply awe-inspiring.

This film is all about Big Red (well played again by Ron Perlman) and his relationship with girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair) and pal Abe Sapien (Doug Jones).

One of my favourite scenes involves the two guys in a rare bonding moment getting drunk and singing the most bizarre duet you'll ever see - yowling along to a Barry Manilow ballad. Genius and hilarious.

Luke Goss also did Blade 2 with the same director and this time he is elf Prince Nuada, who declares war against man for ruining the world his creatures inhabit. He wants to raise the Golden Army, an indestructible robot force who will destroy the world.

His sister Nuala falls for Abe and helps the humans - and Hellboy and friends - battle her brother. The story is fast-paced and flows along nicely but it is the look of every element of this film that will make you go back to see it again.

It has to be seen on the big screen but you'll want to buy the DVD too as many sets and special effects deserve freeze-framing.

With a terrific ending which perfectly sets up a sequel, I can only hope Del Toro continues with the series - no one else could do it justice.

GET SMART (12A) *****

If you like Steve Carell, you'll love this adaptation of an ancient TV show as it's just him doing what he always does.

Personally I find him about as funny as a particularly nasty case of food posioning, so even the presence of the lovely Anne Hathaway, mentoring his useless, inept analyst sent into the field when FBI security is compromised, cannot save this film.

Total rubbish.