Movie Review: Hellboy

Would you feel safer knowing there's someone watching over you to protect you from all the bad things that go bump in the night? In April 2004, we meet a paranormal group that bumps back when things go bump in the night. 

Directing this 122 minute action/fantasy/sci-fi is Guillermo del Toro.

Some of the good vs evil cast is: Ron Perlman as Hellboy, Selma Blair as Liz Sherman, Doug Jones as Abe Sapien, David Hyde Pierce as the voice of Abe Sapien, John Hurt as Trevor "Broom" Bruttenholm, Rupert Evans as John Myers, Jeffrey Tambor as Tom Manning, Karel Roden as Grigori Rasputin, Biddy Hodson as Ilsa Haupstein, Ladislav Beran as Karl Ruprecht Kroenen and Brian Steele as Sammael.

Towards the end of World War 2 the Nazis were attempting to use black magic to turn the tide of the war in their favor. Grigori Rasputin had come up with a way to open a dimensional portal and bring
something through that could help the Nazis win the war. However, the Allies had found out about the portal and sent a team in to stop Rasputin. Unfortunately, during the fight the portal door was opened... and something came through.

In 1993 Dark Horse Comics published the first appearance of a character created by Mike Mignola. That character was Hellboy, and because of a huge growing fan base, over time Hellboy has spawned multiple comic books, movies, animes and even video games.

Guillermo del Toro and Peter Briggs' story was loosely based off of the Dark Horse Comics character, Hellboy. Toro and Briggs came up with a story that had plenty of action, was witty, fun and left you wanting more. One of the things that makes Hellboy so good (to me) is that he's not your typical "good guy superhero" out to vanquish evil. Instead, he's kind of this cool badass (least he thinks he is) with moments of almost childish behavior when he doesn't get his way. He's a huge red demon with horns, and all he wants is to fit in and mingle with the world around him. The writers did a great job at showing different sides and dilemmas of all the characters and their growth as the story goes on.
                                   

The playthrough is very entertaining and between the story and the visuals you always have something going on to hold your attention. It has a really good mix of serious and fun. You get some quick jokes here and there, some one liners, and sometimes physical gags. Even though there are monsters and other supernatural things in the film, it's not really scary. Now, to a younger audience, yeah probably, because the hellhound Sammael is a twistedly cool looking creature.

When you put together the work of everyone like Guillermo Navarro (cinematography), Rick Barker and Spectral Motion (special effects), Eden FX and The Orphanage (visual effects), Cinovation (make-up) Wendy Partride (costume design), Hilton Rosemarin and Simon Wakefield (set decoration) you end up with a really fantastic looking fantasy flick.

As for the cast, I can't imagine anyone else doing a better job at bringing Hellboy to life than Perlman. Even though I'm not a big Blair fan I still thought she was a good addition to the cast and made a balance to Perlman's character. Roden made a great bad guy and Beran was just a badass character. Then you have John Hurt. I've yet to see him do a character that wasn't good. Yeah the movie may have sucked, but Hurt has always done really good work and here was no exception.

In 2008 Hellboy II: The Golden Army was made. Since then there's been talk about making a third and final film. Perlman is all for it and has tried stoking the fires to get it going. However, (as of yet) there aren't any solid plans to put Hellboy III into production. Even though fans have been waiting, wanting and screaming for a third one. At this rate (and knowing Hollywood) I probably have better odds at getting a remake (which I don't want) before I get the third film (that I do want).

Overall, if you haven't see this one yet and you're a fan of the supernatural, then set down and give this fantasy flick a go.

It's rated PG-13 for violence.

4 stars


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