This is about a week late. Sorry!

Last week, I went to LA to visit my friends and take in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. I happen to be one of those people who really LOVED the first movie. I have the Director's Cut DVD and a lovely Hellboy messenger bag that I lug proudly about.

And I love Guillermo del Toro's visionary work. He can make me laugh and scream and cry all in the same movie. The creatures his imagination comes up with. I shudder to think the nightmares he had as a child. Though... he probably had fun with the nightmares.

Hellboy II brings together his comic-book geekiness, the power of his artistic vision, and a fun romp of a story. Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is still charming and grumpy at the same time he is trying to find acceptance in a world that fears the Other. He is happily in a relationship with Liz (Selma Blair), though can't comprehend what gets her mad. Luckily, though she has the power to fire it up with her temper, he's fireproof, so it all works out. I thought the first movie used her instability very well, but I loved the fact that she was more confident.

Doug Jones as Abe Sapien is comfortable in his skin. I think he's more confident, especially since this movie uses his real voice and he's not dubbed over by David Hyde Pierce. Abe is vulnerable and very sweet as he finds himself in love with an elven princess.