Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K Blu-ray delivers truly amazing video and audio in this excellent Blu-ray release
After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you
need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy. Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development � pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz, aquatic empath Abe and protoplasmic mystic Johann � the BPRD will travel between the surface strata and the unseen magical one, where creatures of fantasy become corporeal. And Hellboy, a creature of two worlds who's accepted by neither,
must choose between the life he knows and an unknown destiny that beckons him.
For more about Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K and the Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K Blu-ray release, see Hellboy II: The Golden Army 4K Blu-ray Review published by Martin Liebman on May 13, 2019 where this Blu-ray release scored 4.0 out of 5.
Universal has released the 2008 Guillermo del Toro sequel film 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army' to the UHD format. This new disc includes
2160p/HDR-enhanced video and a new DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack. The bundled Blu-ray is identical to that which released in 2008.
Unfortunately, it is missing key extras due to the absence of the bonus DVD.
After briefly recounting the origins of the Hellboy character, 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army'
begins with a pre-teen Hellboy hearing the story of the Golden Army, the war
between man and mythical creatures led by the elf king, and the uneasy truce that resulted in
the crown that controls the Golden Army being split into three halves, as told by his adoptive
father, Professor
Bruttenholm (John Hurt, 'Indiana Jones and the
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,' in a cameo performance). Years later, the elf king's son,
Prince Nuada (Luke Goss, 'Blade II'), decides the time has come to once again wage war
on mankind, in his estimation the species having become too greedy and destructive. Meanwhile,
Hellboy (Ron Perlman, 'Star Trek: Nemesis'), Liz (Selma Blair, 'Cruel Intentions'),
Abe (Doug Jones, 'Fantastic Four: Rise of the
Silver Surfer'), and Manning (Jeffrey Tambor, 'Superhero Movie')
begin an investigation of a paranormal occurrence that has taken the lives of the attendees of an
auction where a piece of the Golden Army crown was to be sold. After a confrontation with a
swarm of evil fairies, an uncooperative Hellboy breaks protocol and makes contact with the
public-at-large. A level-headed agent, Johann Krauss (John
Alexander, 'Men in Black') arrives
to keep Hellboy in line and assist with the investigation. The heroes set out to track down
where the fairies originated, leading them to a secret Troll Market filled with a dazzling array of
creatures. It is there that the team meets Nuala (Anna Walton), sister of Nuada and perhaps the
only hope that remains in preventing a full-scale war.
The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc. Watch for 4K screenshots at a later date.
It's not always the case these days where decade-plus-old transfers that rated very highly back then still hold up today and hold strong against new,
shiny UHD releases,
but that's certainly the case with Hellboy II: The Golden Army. Universal's 2008 1080p offering -- which is conveniently included with the UHD
disc -- remains a fairly impressive bit of Blu-ray visual excellence, revealing terrifically tight textures and fine color reproduction. The UHD isn't that a
leaps-and-bounds improvement, at least not broadly. Universal's 2160p/HDR presentation certainly betters the video in both categories,
but the textural increases are modest and while the color improvements are a bit more readily evident they certainly don't fundamentally change the
way the movie
looks, which is exactly how one should want HDR to operate.
Getting the resolution increase and resultant upgrades out of the way first: there's not a massive increase in raw detail and clarity to be found. The
picture was shot on film but finished at 2K, unsurprising given the effects-heavy nature. But at the
same time, there are a number of wondrously complex practical costumes, set pieces, and makeup work that the UHD reveals with modestly, but
critically, more definition and clarity than the Blu-ray. Subtle elements shine and major focal points enjoy a slight boost to basic clarity. Some of the
character work is striking on the UHD, showcasing an amazing array of perfectly revealed lines, seams, scales, whatever the case may be; yet none of
it offers eye-opening improvements over the 1080p transfer. Sharpness is slightly improved and grain management is likewise more sound on the UHD,
though both UHD and Blu-ray images reveal a wonderful filmic texturing that
is much of the reason why the old Blu-ray still holds up so very well. Obviously advantage to the the UHD in this category for the greater textural
finesse,
intimacy, clarity, and encode efficiency. It's a smaller edge, but an edge nonetheless.
The HDR color application makes a bigger difference. It's been carefully applied so as to remain true to the film's color aesthetics, rendering an already
dark and warm image a bit more so but to the benefit of greater tonal stabilization, color detail, and color depth. HDR handles blacks quite well,
offering
a noticeably increased feel for dark area precision and depth without absorbing details, complimenting rather than compromising the film's many low
light scenes. The picture is darkened a bit overall, but contrast is improved across the board, offering firmer, more stable colors even in low light.
Abe's scaly blue skin, for example, stands as one of the great HDR beneficiaries in the transfer, enjoying more substantial color depth and detail,
tightening the tone and allowing the color to pop against most any background. Hellboy's red skin color is likewise more pronounced, again a bit darker
but
firmer and seemingly more accurate to the character and the movie's overall tonal approach. General human skin tones are improved in similar ways.
HDR allows the film's color palette to explore its predominantly darker and warmer constructs with improved efficiency, more subtle nuance, and more
complete spectrum range.
The DTS:X track is certainly impressive and while not a fundamental transformation compared to the previously issued 5.1 lossless track, it is a more
finessed and expansive experience by configuration and by delivery alike. It's very large and spatially aware, highly detailed, and takes full advantage
of every speaker at its disposal. A training session to begin chapter two offers a substantial full stage engagement, which includes detailed overhead
components that are both discrete and complimentary. A monstrous growl a few moments later saturates the stage with an impressive depth and
immersion. City din, dialogue reverb at an auction, falling rain, booming thunder...the following sequence has much to offer, particularly when the
auction is attacked and the symphony of chaos offers a wonderfully detailed and full range explosion. The track is amazingly active through every
action scene, and most every non-action scene, too. The track finds a harmonious balance between its more substantial outputs and its more subtle
details. Nothing is overpowered and nothing is wanting for more power. Total clarity is excellent, surrounds and overheads are utilized in perfectly
balanced harmony with the fronts, and low end extension is excellent, right on the money in terms of depth and detail. Dialogue is clear and well
prioritized with a firm front-center positioning.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army's UHD disc includes a pair of audio commentary tracks recorded for the film's original home theater release. The
bundled Blu-ray is identical to that which released in 2008, which includes a number of extras, including those commentary tracks. Unfortunately,
Universal has not included a DVD disc
that released with the 2008 Blu-ray that included several additional features, including a 155-minute making-of. Fans will have to hang on to that older
release for a complete Hellboy II supplemental experience. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships
with an embossed slipcover.
UHD:
Audio Commentary: Director Guillermo del Toro.
Audio Commentary: Cast Members Jeffrey Tambor, Selma Blair & Luke Goss.
Blu-ray:
U-Control
Scene Explorer: Schufften Goggle View
Director's Notebook
Set Visits
Concept Art Gallery
Audio Commentary: Director Guillermo del Toro.
Audio Commentary: Cast Members Jeffrey Tambor, Selma Blair & Luke Goss.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army's UHD is excellent but it's not a drastic improvement over the Blu-ray, which even at 11 years old is still quite
the looker (and it sounds great, too). If one is looking for an explosive increase to both texture and color over a very strong Blu-ray, this UHD does not
deliver. If one is looking for a perfectly wonderful transfer that produces modest improvements on the macro level but critical micro adjustments that
yield a wonderfully filmic, tight, and true image, then the transfer will
satisfy. Same goes for the audio. Universal has brought over the old 2008 Blu-ray to carry the extras, but the studio has dropped a DVD that contained
several key supplements. Recommended, but fans will want to hold on to the old Blu-ray for those missing extras.
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Universal Pictures Home Entertainment will release on 4K Blu-ray Guillermo del Toro's film Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008), starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, and Luke Goss. The release will be available for purchase on May 7.
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