In 2004 I reviewed Hellboy; the truth is I didn't really like that movie: I was somewhat disappointed and a whole lot confused. So I was a little reluctant to see Hellboy 2: The Golden Army&ellips; that is, until I had seen the trailers and heard that the creature team from the wonderful movie Pan's Labyrinth was involved—and I knew that Guillermo del Toro had done such a wonderful job with Pan's Labyrinth. So I gave the original Hellboy another chance, and I enjoyed it more the second time.

The start of HB2 resembles the first movie; there is the background that is provided, complete with the origin of Hellboy's love for Baby Ruth candy bars and more. There is also some additional background provided regarding Hellboy's teen years. This helps set up the plot.

(Sidenote: I have always appreciated and respected Ron Perlman, and while he will become noted for this character I would love to be able to see more of his expressions. He does a great job, though, using his voice tones to overcoming the limitations of the makeup involved.)

But questions remain. Is Hellboy from Hell, is he an angel, is he a demon? What exactly is he?

One of the things I appreciate about HB2 is the development of character, and examination of the inward confusion we see Hellboy going through. He struggles with everything from acceptance to missing his adoptive father, and from love to his acceptance by the human race.

We also see additional development of Liz Sherman, Hellboy's love interest played by Selma Blair. One of my favorite character developments this time around, though, is Abe Sapien, an intelligent man-fish that kind of resembles the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

In all of the characters, we see the inward struggle of coming to an understanding of who they are, what they are here for, their own lack of humanness, and lack of appreciation from the human species. There is the use of drama, comedy, and great emotion often filled with humor. Each actor does a wonderful job here.

HB2 is also laced with spiritual questions. Apart from trying to figure out if Hellboy is really an angel or demon is the idea that he carries a cross; we also see Liz constantly wearing a cross. There is one scene where the temptation of Christ is played off of, with Hellboy atop a business sign high in the city, being tempted by serving and saving self instead of serving and saving the human species. In the background is a lighted cross, and a movie marquee that says, "Get Saved." Again, for me at least, the questions continue. We see battles and discussions taking place in the shadows of statues that resemble angels and much more. While discussion of God isn't in the movie explicitly, it is certainly strongly evident in the imagery.

There are other significant spiritual overtones; the need to care for the planet is sure to be one of those that gets some conservatives upset (though I never could figure out the harm of that). An even greater message, and a message that hit home far more this time than last time for me, is the willingness of Hellboy to give up his own comforts and desires to care for a population of people who don't even like him, who mock him, spit on him, make fun of him. One can't help but make some comparisons to Jesus.

It took a number of years to do this follow up. I am glad; it seems as if everyone involved has worked to deliver a quality story with good special effects, and solid entertainment mixed in with spiritual questions for all of us to consider. While not perfect, and maybe not even the best movie this summer, Hellboy 2 is worthwhile and in some ways may be the most thought-provoking movie of the summer thus far.

If you go in searching and looking, you may find and appreciate some of the answers provided, and the search for the truth of the questions that remain will be well worth the journey.

While Hellboy received a mediocre review from me, this one is at least twice as good; so I am doubling that original rating of a 4 that I gave Hellboy and say that Hellboy 2: The Golden Army is deserving of at the very least an 8.5.