Decent Comic Flick

Rating: Null/10 (6 April 2004)

Hellboy was an entertaining movie with some added humor and great visual displays. First off, I'm a fan of Guillermo Del Toro after seeing Blade II. It's too bad this couldn't have been rated R for some of the death scenes. for example, being slashed with a knife 80 times, there is no blood or anything, but either way, this movie was much darker and more visually captivating than most of the other comic movies I've seen. ::semi spoiler:: The image of the apocolypse was frightning, but I wish they could have elaborated more, instead of just seeing one monster hanging from the sky. Again, an R rating could have enabled them to show more disturbing images on this. ::end spoiler::
As far as acting goes, it was a good job all around. I pretty much liked all the characters, and Ron Perlman was a great Hellboy, badassed but with a kind heart. The only problem was some of the dialogue wasn't very well written, especially the bad one liners that Perlman and others had to deal with. I always liked Perlman, and this is the first leading role I've ever seen him in since City of the Lost Children, and that was all in French : \ He was great as Reinhardt in Blade II, playing a trash talking badassed Vampire. I actually found Selma Blair's character semi annoying, along with the agent myers guy, they were a little too generic. I did like the fishman guy and the professor, they just had a lot more character in them. The bad guys in the movie were well done too, the ninja like clockwinder with the knives was especially cool.
The special effects were great, as with most movies today, and the monsters were quite frightening. I only wish there was more of a variety of them, instead of the same multiplying one.
The plot was quite interetsing only there were a few holes. Basically the Nazis open the portal to hell and hellboy pops through, and the professor takes him under his wing. Then later the same people are back trying to do the same and Hellboy works with the FBI to stop them. I wish there was more background on the badguys, and who they really were and what was their connection to hell etc. And why they can be reborn etc. I would have gladly sacrificed some action sequences for more information on the characters. Also, Agent Myers question of when Hitler actually died...what was that all about ? Again the plot had holes in certain areas.
Overall I'd give Hellboy a 7\10. It's much better than the almighty badness of Daredevil. It doesn't really compete with the X-men films but it's still a good one to watch. Though I can't really help but compare it to other comic book movies, because when I watch it I can only keep thinking that it is based on a comic. But aside from that it's one worth watching for an entertaining evening, and I'd probably rent it when it comes out on video. If you liked this movie, and maybe a little more Gore, you should check out Blade II, another one by Guillermo and with Perlman. You'll notice he loves to put in the autopsy room scare.