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Hellboy (Two-Disc Special Edition) 
Actors : James Babson, Ladislav Beran, Selma Blair, Brian Caspe, Garth Cooper
Studio : Sony Pictures
by Sony Pictures
Brand : Sony
Release Date : 2004-06-21
Publisher : Sony Pictures
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 2
EAN : 9781404935921
UPC : 043396013179
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 262 reviews)
List Price : $19.98
Our Price : $9.48
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Americancivilwar.com |
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In the ongoing deluge of comic-book adaptations, Hellboy ranks well above average. Having turned down an offer to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in favor of bringing Hellboy's origin story to the big screen, the gifted Mexican director Guillermo del Toro compensates for the excesses of Blade II with a moodily effective, consistently entertaining action-packed fantasy, beginning in 1944 when the mad monk Rasputin--in cahoots with occult-buff Hitler and his Nazi thugs--opens a transdimensional portal through which a baby demon emerges, capable of destroying the world with his powers. Instead, the aptly named Hellboy is raised by the benevolent Prof. Bloom, founder of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, whose allied forces enlist the adult Hellboy (Ron Perlman, perfectly cast) to battle evil at every turn. While nursing a melancholy love for the comely firestarter Liz (Selma Blair), Hellboy files his demonic horns ("to fit in," says Bloom) and wreaks havoc on the bad guys. The action is occasionally routine (the movie suffers when compared to the similar X-Men blockbusters), but del Toro and Perlman have honored Mike Mignola's original Dark Horse comics with a lavish and loyal interpretation, retaining the amusing and sympathetic quirks of character that made the comic-book Hellboy a pop-culture original. He's red as a lobster, puffs stogies like Groucho Marx, and fights the good fight with a kind but troubled heart. What's not to like? --Jeff Shannon |
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Product Description |
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From visionary writer/director Guillermo del Toro (director of Blade II The Devil's Backbone) comes Hellboy a supernatural action adventure based on Mike Mignola's popular Dark Horse Comics series of the same name. Born in the flames of hell and brought to Earth as an infant to perpetrate evil Hellboy (Ron Perlman) was rescued from sinister forces by the benevolent Dr. Broom (John Hurt) who raised him to be a hero. In Dr. Broom's secret Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense Hellboy creates an unlikely family consisting of the telepathic "Mer-Man" Abe Sapien (Doug Jones) and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) the woman he loves who can control fire. Hidden from the very society that they protect they stand as the key line of defense against an evil madman who seeks to reclaim Hellboy to the dark side and use his powers to destroy mankind.System Requirements:Running Time: 121 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: PG-13 UPC: 043396013179 Manufacturer No: 01317 |
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Surprisingly bad |
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Supernatural thriller in which Ron Perlman plays the 'Hellboy' of the title, a demon who comes to Earth through a portal from hell as a baby and grows up to be a defender of mankind against the forces of darkness. This premise had potential but ultimately nothing much was done with the idea and although Hellboy himself is a fairly interesting character he just isn't given an awful lot to do in this film. Hellboy is supposed to be fighting to prevent the end of the world but there is absolutely no sense of impending Armageddon in this film. On top of this the villains are weak, the climax to the film is a yawn and Hellboy's love interest in this film has abilities that we are given no explanation about. A surprisingly bad film. I expected more. |
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What Makes a Good Movie? |
Comic book fans have high I.Q.'s. It's true, so sue me. But Hollywood insists that comic books are for stupid people. Sure. It makes sense. I mean--look at 'em! They're comic books, for cripes sake! So, along comes a guy who isn't from around here and doesn't know about the "comic books are dumb" rule. Guillermo del Toro makes a comic book movie as if comic books mattered. It ain't perfect, but it's a lot closer to a real comic book experience than any of the other "big time" movies that started out as comics. My friend, if you want to understand the soul of the comic book, you should watch Hellboy. Then you will understand. Maybe.
Actually, the movie is a teensy bit hard to follow.
There are script problems in the movie, that became story problems, that became editing problems. They don't really get resolved, but one of the many, many cool "extra features" in the DVD set is one featuring the Master himself, explaining that he's not making a logical proof in a math class, he's making a movie. If it's a little hard to follow sometimes-- tough.
I'm a fan of this film (and the sequel) and so I forgive it's failings. The good parts outweigh the bad--and if you watch the extras included in this edition, you'll see just how the "mistakes" were made. Lack of time (film can't be too long--theaters gotta be able to fit it into the schedule, you see). So things had to be cut (or never shot). That hurt--because the stuff that was cut was living tissue. The original theatrical release lacked a couple of scenes that helped to make things clearer--but they only helped to make it less confusing. It's still confusing, but, hey, it's not a logic test, right?
Okay. Then there is the blood. Or lack of it. No blood or gore, this is a PG-17 picture. So, here's a film about people being eaten alive by monsters and--no blood. Yeah, it's a little goofy. It also directly causes some major weirdness because Rasputin is supposed to be BLIND but they cut that part out. Seriously. Listen to del Toro's commentary.
But the plot is still a puzzle, even with some restored scenes in this "director's cut," and you just have to scratch your head to and ask "Why are they doing that? Why are they going there? How do they know?" etc., etc.
But I have a theory. It's confusing because they couldn't include the usual exculpatory scenes ("Oh yeah! That's why they went back to the old mill! ...and dumped the money in the pond!!") because the movie would have been too long. See? So they had to "rush" it along and just hope the audience would follow the story.
There is just one problem with this theory of mine. One of the longest scenes is the "big fight" between Hellboy and the monster. This is a huge special-effects event and it's just what del Toro does best--but it's confusing because it interrupts the flow of the story. The huge fight is so long and so spectacular that by the time it ends you forgot what was going on, and, if you had actually begun to grasp the plot, you'll have lost it by the time the last massive chunk of concrete comes crashing down and the "big fight" ends.
Seriously, when I'm watching this movie I actually hit the "next scene" button at the moment that the "big fight" is about to begin. The whole movie is easier to follow that way and the "big fight" proves nothing. Oh-- and by the way-- cutting the big fight shortens the movie so that, hey, wait a minute---that means that, if the "big fight" hadn't been shot at all, they could have made a movie that was 100% logical, and it would have been the right length!
But so what? This is Guillermo del Toro film. Cut the big fight to make the story more logical? Guillermo would have to commit ritual suicide on Hollywood Boulevard. No-- a word spelled the same in English and in Spanish.
No. Never cut the fight for the sake of logic! Viva del Toro! Viva Hellboy! Viva the gratuitous lengthy and expensive-looking fight scene with a cast of thousands! VIVA!
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Hellboy Movie Review |
Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy implements countless impressive ideas, including seamless computer graphics fused with animatronics and puppeteers, ingenious character designs and fascinating monstrosities. But for all of its undeniable visual flair, the film weakens due to sore-thumb dialogue and a regimen of predictable plot devices; as well as too many unlikely conveniences and the ever-popular need for heroes and villains to strike a lengthy poster-perfect pose before and after every action sequence.
During World War II, Rasputin (Karl Roden) aids the Nazis in opening up a portal to another world, which is abruptly shut when U.S. forces grenade the operation. Although Rasputin is destroyed, a tiny red creature is left behind on Earth to be raised by Professor Broom (John Hurt). Dubbed Hellboy, the demon soon grows into a powerful crime-fighter intent on keeping extra terrestrial baddies at bay.
Hellboy (Ron Perlman) is not alone, and is joined by Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), an amphibious creature that possesses incredible knowledge. Elizabeth Sherman (Selma Blair) also has super powers, although her pyrokinetic firestarter abilities are much harder to control. Together the group works for the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (BPRD), constantly and covertly cleaning up the messes left by alien life forms and resurrected enemies from the past.
The action sequences are all fast-paced, expertly choreographed, and arrive just in time to speed up the story when things get too convoluted or unexplainable. Seamlessly blending computer animated models of Hellboy, Sammael, Abe Sapien and many others with practical effects, the film achieves a startlingly realistic look. Like James Cameron's Aliens, the various monsters have a rubbery, tangible appearance, slaver real slime and appear to be actors in costumes more often than not. And this is a good thing, because it peerlessly prevents visual annoyances like those found in most major fantasy films in which Spider-men effortlessly swing from concrete jungle rooftops and hulking green men float through vast canyons.
A stepping stone to del Toro's next visual masterpiece (Pan's Labyrinth), Hellboy utilizes many unquestionably unique character designs and concepts. From Kroenen's hideously scarred visage (and his skill with bladed weapons, though not as cool as V from V For Vendetta), to Sammael's lumbering cartilaginous figure, to Abe Sapien's twitching webbed hands, the oddities speak wonders for both the makeup crew and original comic book creator Mike Mignola. Along with these bizarre concepts are idiosyncrasies and affecting personalities bestowed on every human and monster, which allows for more personable and relatable qualities from such inhuman concoctions as a giant crimson-skinned demon. The charisma of Hellboy (ample amounts of credit goes to Ron Perlman) and his wide array of emotions make the human liaison to the audience John Meyers (Rupert Evans) nearly obsolete. The set designs are also fascinating and numerous, from snowy graveyards to steaming sewers to a booby-trapped underground labyrinth.
Hellboy deserves credit for its innovative approach to visuals in a comic book adaptation, but loses points for noticeably trite dialogue from many of the supporting characters. The plot is also disappointing with its convoluted legend and prophecy jargon and otherworldly nonsense which simply doesn't do justice to the awesome characters battling across the screen. The fun somehow eludes the ruddy Hellboy, despite all of the action, comedy, violence, destruction, mayhem, romance and special effects.
- Mike Massie
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In the absence of light, darkness prevails |
While some good directors never quite "get it," it took Guillermo Del Toro only one misfire -- the icky, slow-paced "Blade 2" -- to get the whole comic-book adaptation thing right.
In fact, just about everything is right with "Hellboy" -- Del Toro crafted an action blockbuster with a grimy, slimy cult-movie feel and a quirky sense of humor. It's graced with excellent acting, spectacular action scenes, and the trappings of clockpunk and Lovecraftian horror -- not to mention that it stars a six-foot-tall scarlet demon with a soft spot for kittens.
In 1944, young Professor Broom accompanied an army regiment to a remote Scottish island, where the Nazis -- led by Rasputin -- were about to open a portal to another world, and allow the vast tentacled Ogru Jahad (Seven Gods of Chaos) to enter our world. Rasputin and the Nazis were destroyed, but something came through the portal -- a baby demon, whom Broom names Hellboy.
Fast-forward sixty years -- a grown Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his fishy friend Abe (Doug Jones) are working at a paranormal government agency that specializes in policing the supernatural, with the weirded-out Agent Myers (Rupert Evans) just joining the team. Soon afterwards, Hellboy is called on to kill Sammael the Hellhound -- but it turns out that Sammael can replicate himself indefinitely.
As Hellboy and his team try to hunt down the remaining Sammaels, the dying Professor Broom (John Hurt) finds that a revived Rasputin and his immortal Nazi followers have orchestrated all this. And Rasputin is continuing to pull the strings behind the scenes -- including using Hellboy's love Liz (Selma Blair), a depressed pyrokinetic. And when Hellboy suffers a devastating loss, his journey will take him right back to his roots -- and the potential destruction of the world.
Watching "Hellboy," it's easy to see how Guillermo Del Toro because world-famous for the exquisitely dark "Pan's Labyrinth," and why he's been chosen to direct the forthcoming "Hobbit" movies. This adaptation could have just been another paint-by-numbers comic-book story, but Del Toro gives it the kind of grime, quirk, brains and heart that a lasting cult movie should have.
Part of that cult appeal is "Hellboy's" distinctive look, with Lovecraftian tentacle-gods and some steampunky details. And the action scenes are pretty spectacular -- trains, slimy hellhounds, sword-swinging Nazis with chopped-up faces, giant clock cogs, and a fiery explosion in a mental asylum. And there are some truly spectacular action scenes in a vast underground labyrinth, full of ancient hammers and collapsing bridges. There's just enough action and grossness, without going overboard.
But Del Toro is able to balance out the action with some truly touching moments, such as the aged Broom's final scenes in his firelit study. And there's a lot of dark humor here as well -- and not all of it is Hellboy's dry one-liners. The movie is liberally peppered with dark humor moments ("1945, you mean. Hitler died in '45." "DID he now?"), including some hilariously macabre scenes involving a bad-tempered Russian zombie ("This is Ivan Klimatovich. Say hi, Ivan." "Go that way, Red Monkey!").
Most importantly, Del Toro is able to give his characters little human quirks -- hair plugs, love of cats, and Hellboy sanding down his horns in the morning. Perlman is simply amazing as "Red," whose gruff scarlet exterior hides a kindly, affectionate heart. Not many actors could emote through that many prosthetics (including a very lifelike tail), but Perlman makes it look natural.
Though he's playing a ninetyish old professor, Hurt plays his role with a quiet, powerful sense of goodness. Jones and Evans also do excellent jobs, one as an erudite psychic fish-man ("We lead a charmed life," he observes as cockroaches skitter around him) and an earnest young agent. Selma Blair is the one downside -- she sort of mumbles in a monotone most of the time.
"Hellboy" is one of the best comic-book adaptations that Hollywood has turned out, primarily because of the darker, eerier aesthetic Guillermo Del Toro brings to it. Definitely a must-see. |
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"Lets Go Fight Some Monsters" |
First things first, let me say "Welcome to the material plane oh Great Red One!" The '04 cinematic release of `Hellboy' definitely brought new meaning and dimension (dimension, get it?) to the superhero film genre and the never ending battle between Good and Evil.
The storyline contains all the elements the astute comic book fan or student of the esoteric and arcane would expect; nightmarish locations and stormy nights, magical incantations and prophetic utterances of impending doom, animated corpses and demonic entities, portals to the Otherworld and of course plenty of Nazis. Add to the mix the mad monk Rasputin, the awakening ot the Lovecraftian "Seven Gods of Chaos" and you've got a Cosmic confrontation on your hands that only the likes of Hellboy can withstand.
This movie has it all, well developed storyline, superb special effects with an entertaining mixture of action sequences and witty, intelligent dialogue delivering a lot of quotable dialogue. Ron Perlman is absolutely perfect as Hellboy and under the magnificent direction of Guillermo del Toro it was truly a match made in Heaven (sorry, couldn't resist)! |
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