Aw Crap! Hellboy and the Golden Army is awesome

Hmmmmmmm... how to begin this one. I am a Gullermo del Toro fan. I didn't arrive there in a hurry. Long before Pan's Labyrinth, made him Hollywood's fantasy darling, I saw a movie that both repelled and fascinated me. It had all to do with a mechanical scarab able to give eternal life and an insatiable taste for blood to who ever unlocked it's secret. Cronos simply won me over and then it was a matter of waiting for the world to notice. While some people had reservations about Mimic and Blade 2, they were all winners in my book.

Then along came Hellboy. I'm no coward I would recommend this movie in a heartbeat, but I am also aware is not every one's cup of tea. Deep down this is the type of film that make some people uncomfortable. It is not your regular superhero movie, it is not even rooted in reality at a minimal level. The world from which Hellboy comes and that in which he operates is precisely the place that most people instinctively turn away from. And I am sorry guys, if you like your fantasy in a box, this is not for you. Del Toro builds a bridge, gets you to cross it and then burns it behind you.

For those of you who like things that go bump in the night, grab your popcorn and get your freak on. Golden Army promises a lot in the trailers and it delivers. There is action galore, kittens in peril for our hero to save and gallons of Tecate beer. There is also a wonderful, original and imaginative world that gives Neil Gaiman a run for his money.

When I first heard that Hellboy 2 had something to do with fairies, it sorta made me cringe. Even as a fan girl, I had my doubts, you know, dew drop stuff, beautiful, yet soulless beings against Big Red sounded like a mess, but then I saw Luke Goss in full attire and I smiled and said: you bastard!

These fairies come from the most primeval sources, before the Irish sugarcoated them for mass consumption, we are talking Michael Moorcock material... okay geeks, come forward, you know what I am talking about, Prince Nuada is a nod, nah is a freaking neon sign honoring elves who know how to get their hands dirty.

Kick ass sword wielding fairies is not what this movie is about though. This movie is a jackpot. You see I went to see a good action/fantasy flick and came back with a movie that had heart, meaning and gave Del Toro the chance to explore his signature subject: choices, the ones that we are expected to take, the ones we are forced to make and most important the ones we might regret.

In a world of darkness, colors fade away and sometimes good guys pave the road to hell with good intentions and bad guys actually have a perfectly comprehensible end to justify their means. There are a couple of key scenes in this film that will make you think, and that is not what you expect from an intended summer blockbuster. I found it priceless. I thought it an unexpected gift that I could watch this movie with my 11 year old niece and after leaving the theater we were not only wowed by the special effects but able to carry on a conversation about how we felt about the reasons behind the actions of the characters and what would we do if dealt the same cards. Believe me people in order for a preteen to see beyond the explosions, there is need of serious storytelling and detailed character development. I guess Ken- Ken's thumbs up and serious debate about Abe Sapiens is the best tribute to the genius of Del Toro. Keep them coming.

The quote: "Let me remind you why you were once afraid of the dark"- Prince Nuada, right before introducing unsuspecting New Yorkers to the cute, yet vicious and Calcium loving Tooth Fairies