Del Toro is a bad ass, and I think he just getting warmed up.

Rating: 8/10 (7 April 2004)

Some people take themselves so seriously they could never even bring themselves to like a film like Hellboy. Pull the stick out of your butt and enjoy this unabashed comic book movie. If you don't this is a work of a genius while check out this director's third film the devil's backbone. Knowing that Del Toro has masterpieces like that in his catalog helps me to relax and realize that this film is meant to be fun.
As a blockbuster action movie it is a step above. Del Toro brings his unique visual style and ability to direct actors. He brings also a patient ability to pace the story to involve many of the complex elements of the comic.

Del Toro is a hidden talent on the verge of being noticed for the genius that he is. I knew it watching Blade 2 seeing that under all the studio/silly blade stuff was a stylish director who has a amazing sense of visual style. Del Toro look weird but beautiful at the same time. His style is what Clive barker calls grotesque glamour. I respect the fact that he can also make blockbusting ass kickers like Blade 2 and Hellboy and come down to earth and make fantastic works of art like Cronos and the Devil's backbone.
Any hooÂ…Pearlman is great and delivers lines like he went to the Bruce Campbell school of B-movie acting, which of course is a great thing. At the same time he brings a incredible humanity to playing a demon with a heart of almost gold. I was not sure the love story of hellboy would work but with pitch perfect acting and lines stolen from Del Toro's real-life courtship of his wife it worked. The action and horror are done well but do not dominate the film. A great piece of popcorn movie art. Thumbs up.