Hellboy II

What an awesome movie.  Once again, I am in awe of the imagination of Guillermo Del Toro and eagerly awaiting his take on The Hobbit.

Going far beyond the fantasy world he introduced in Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy II is a wonder to behold, filled to overflowing with fantastic creatures.  Add to that the inventive storyline and the fantastic Mike Mingola characters, and this is a sequel that far surpasses the original (which was also a great movie).

While the characters are strange and eye catching, they are also extremely relate-able, turning the fantastic characters into people that you can't help but connect to.  Even a character formed only by steam is instantly made real and grows on you throughout the film.  (Plus he's voiced by Seth MacFarlane of Family Guy fame).

While the action is top notch and the film features some amazing fight sequences, it is really the subplots that make this film outstanding.  The ever intriguing plot line of Hellboy's desire to belong remains from the first movie with an even greater potential of a storyline hinted at for a future film.  Then there is the subplot of romance that is handled expertly by Del Toro and the cast fitting in seamlessly with the more action fueled main plot.

And I would be remiss not to add that the romantic subplot allows for the best use of Barry Manilow by any movie ever.  Trust me, it's brilliant.

Until Next Time, I cannot wait for Hellboy III.