Great homage to cinema

Rating: Null/10 (5 April 2004)

If you know Guillermo del Toro's other films, you'll get an added kick out of Hellboy. For some reason, he has a thing about subway systems and insects. Mimic - a great film - takes place in abandoned tunnels and features cockroach hybrids that get out of control. Cronos has a mechanical "insect" and Hellboy has a great scene in which Hellboy picks up a manhole and all of these cockroaches scatter.
Also, I had a great time picking out other film references. There's a bit of Star Wars, Men in Black, Matrix, Blade, etc in there.
Ron Perlman is the best choice for Hellboy and I can't imagine anyone else playing this role. Who did the studios want Brad Pitt? Ridiculous. Only the Europeans appreciate what a wonderful talent Perlman is. Jean-Pierce Jeunet has given him a LEAD in a film. No makeup, no latex foam. Just his muscularly wonderful self in City of Lost Children. And then of course he cast him in Alien Resurrection.
Del Toro has worked with Perlman thrice, in Cronos, Blade II and now Hellboy.
Another Frenchman (Jean-Jacques Annaud) gave Perlman his breakout role in Quest for Fire and then gave him a great cameo in Enemy at the Gates.
I just hope that this film makes Hollywood appreciate this talented actor.