Selma Blair and Ron Perlman in "Hellboy 2: The Golden Army"
courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment
“Hellboy Returns”

Warm up the DVD because “Hellboy” is back for more adventures. “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” is a visual feast of bizarre characters. It is a first cousin to the “Star Wars” cantina scene but more overblown and over the top. The strange and stranger creatures pop up all through the movie. Of course the title character isn’t your typical hero. He is a red-skinned, tail wagging, horned he-man who is the great red hope for the planet.

Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is part of a secret agency of the government. He and his friends Liz (Selma Blair) and Abe (Doug Jones) have special talents the government needs. Hellboy has massive strength while Liz is a combustible person and Abe is a fish out of water. I mean those last two descriptions literally.

In this adventure Prince Nuada (Luke Goss) comes up from the underground to take over the planet from the humans. He needs a complete crown, which was been broken into pieces years ago, in order to call up a golden army of giants. It is up to Hellboy and company to stop this threat.

Meanwhile things are complicated on the personal front as Liz and Hellboy are facing problems in their relationship. She needs space and at the same time to feel wanted, while he needs her acceptance of some of his quirks. 

What makes “Hellboy 2” better than average DVD entertainment is the fact there is humor interspersed throughout the film. Hellboy has a wry sense of humor and some of the adventures have a comic touch. So you get a break from the action at various points.

Then there is the brilliance of Guillermo del Toro. He served as both writer and director, plus his hand is seen in the visual look of the movie. When del Toro makes a movie it is unique in a million different ways.

The one negative of the movie is the fact that del Toro goes overboard in the creation of strange characters. There are just too many to absorb in one sitting. It is visual overkill.

The movie is over two hours long and it has to be in order to get the entire plot and all the visuals onscreen. There is so much action involved however that the movie speeds by in a flash. Plus one of the advantages of watching it on DVD is you can stop and start.

Perlman is hidden behind the red skin, etc of Hellboy but his personality and acting talent shine through from beginning to end. Blair, Jones and the rest of the cast provide solid support.

“Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” is a fun film to watch. Perlman and the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying themselves immensely. Because of this the audience has a good time too.

Not quite as much of a good time movie but enjoyable nonetheless is “Flashbacks of a Fool.” This film stars Daniel Craig in a role much removed from his James Bond persona. In this movie he plays a man living a dissolute life. He has money, fame and fortune but he is wasting it all away.

One day he receives a call from his mother telling him that his childhood friend has died. This staggers him and he begins to recall his life as a boy (Harry Eden). He particularly recalls the summer of his youth when tragedy struck and changed his world forever.

Craig is very good in this role and shows another side of him. His good looks are the same but his acting talent is more intense. He is strongly supported by a cast of women including Claire Forlani, Olivia Williams and Eve. All three bring out a different aspect of Craig’s character.

“Flashbacks of A Fool” is a fascinating movie to watch. Don’t miss it.

“Flashbacks of A Fool” is a movie intended for adults while anything from Walt Disney is aimed at kids. This is especially true of “Walt Disney Treasures: Wave VIII.” This set includes “The Chronological Donald, Volume Four,” “The Mickey Mouse Club Presents: Annette,” and “Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh.”

All three of these DVD’s are perfect entertainment for children from the animated adventures of Donald Duck to the sweet personality of Annette during her younger days to the historical adventures of the preacher by day who was “the scarecrow”: by night. You have a full range of entertainment and all of it right for kids. It doesn’t get much better than this!

So get “Walt Disney Treasures Wave VIII” and give your kids hours of good, solid entertainment.

Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, Donald Faison, John C McGinley, Ken Jenkins and Judy Reyes are all part of the fun on “Scrubs: The Complete Seventh Season.” There are eleven hilarious episodes in this DVD plus a grand assortment of “extras” as bonus entertainment.

You get commentary on the episodes, blooper reels, behind the scenes stories and much, much more. “Scrubs” has developed an almost cult like following. Watch “Scrubs: The Complete Seventh Season” and you will see why.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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