Pretty cool, just a little forgettable.

Rating: 2/10 (2 September 2008)

I sincerely hated Pan's Labyrinth with a hardcore passion. The clichés, the copy/paste story that has been used on every fantasy work from Mythago Wood to episodes of the dead cartoon Chalk Zone, the boring war scenes . . . what about Pan's Labyrinth was there NOT to hate? Likewise, the del Toro produced cliché-in-a-house movie that was The Orphanage made me lose all hope del Toro had any potential.
I've never seen the first Hellboy. This was the first slightly original work I have ever seen from del Toro. Without the insanely boring, pointless scenes that Pan's Labyrinth had, and with much more focused action, Hellboy gave me hope del Toro can use his potential. The man has always has amazing visions and philosophies, but until now I wasn't sure he could use them. Thank God he proved me wrong.
The movie is very far from perfect, and parts were a little too intentionally cheesy for me, but it works. It awes, it has some terror, and has some amazing over-the-top action. It really made me feel the same way I felt with all the old children's fantasy movies like The Dark Crystal and The Never Ending Story, but with a much more mature focus and presentation.
I can now say del Toro has made a movie as great as the way he thinks.
2/10