Hellboy (Review)

hellboyHellboy was actually a discovery made through the blood, sweat and chanting of a Nazi / occult collaboration, who upon opening a portal to another dimension were ambushed by Allied forces who shot most of them dead – including occult liaison and ‘mad monk’ Rasputin – closed off the doorway to hell, and Angelina Jolie’d the prize discovery, that of two foot tall red skinned and hammer handed Hellboy.

60 years later and Hellboy is still around, however thanks to his own unique ageing process he is about 20 something (ironically Ron Perlman the actor portraying him was well over 50 at the time of filming) and filled with the flaws and stubborn idiosyncrasies we all have as we mature.

Now working for the Bureau of the Paranormal alongside his discoverer and father figure, the now elderly Professor Broom (John Hurt), Hellboy is kept under wraps as a Top Secret government asset, only broken out in the event of paranormal emergency – which thanks to this film seems quite frequently.

Hellboy doesn’t work alone, though that’s how he prefers to live. Others on the team include a pyschic fish-man Abe Sapien and newly appointed nursemaid… assistant John Myers. But Hellboy is the drawcard here, a muscle bound, cat loving, juvenile acting cigar chomping surly loner who resents the fact that he is detained for his own safety, but detests the attention that comes with being a 6 foot tall bright red Mr Universe with the horns filed down.

Hellboy wants out. He wants to experience what normal people have. Most inexplicably he wants to be near Liz (Selma Blair), an ex-member of the team who has pyrokinetic abilities which ‘spark’ into life if she is angry or hurt. Liz worries that she unfortunately has little control over these potentially devastating powers, especially around the big red former boyfriend whose ignorance and stupidity is always a threat to set them off.

Things become a lot more hell-acious when the Nazis reappear on the scene with the resurrected Rasputin in tow, citing unfinished business pertaining to a certain doorway to another universe… not a nice one.

Guillermo Del Toro manages to once again demonstrate his visual flair and imagination – he even manages an autopsy scene in a PG movie! And of course I have gone over his love of tunnels before and best believe they play a prominent part in this film.

However the commercial responsibilities that come with being a Hollywood director seem at loggerheads with Del Toro’s unique (read: non-commercial) ideas. So we have a PG superhero flick filled with (diluted) dark elements and starring Ron Perlman and Selma Blair – both B movie actors prior to this film (and the sequel) who retreated straight back to B afterwards.

This battle between good (non-commercial) and evil (Hollywood sell-out-ism) isn’t all bad, the visuals are strong, some of the creatures well designed and compelling, and Hellboy himself is a solid character worthy of having his own film. And really, Hellboy is a surly loner from Hell who fights Nazis, the damn films should be a little dark!

I just wish that Del Toro fought harder to get someone better than Selma Blair, who could be standing right next to Abe Sapien and still would look like the bigger wet fish. The film is also too long, which in part only makes it seem more patchy. A good 20 minutes could easily be excised for the benefit of the film simply by cutting a few unnecessary plot elements. Once scene in particular has Hellboy furtively tailing Liz and John for several minutes. Several tedious minutes.

I have already covered off Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, an equally patchy sequel that at least had better action and even more eye-opening visuals thanks to the continuing advancements in CGI. Hellboy 2 is one of those rare sequels that is better than the original, though in truth both films could and should have been better.

Final Rating – 7 / 10. Unless your favourite superhero is the Green Lantern there is every chance that Hellboy won’t show him up, but the film works as an example of what a visual director might do with a budget and a cool character.

About OGR

While I try to throw a joke or two into proceedings when I can all of the opinions presented in my reviews are genuine. I don't expect that all will agree with my thoughts at all times nor would it be any fun if you did, so don't be shy in telling me where you think I went wrong... and hopefully if you think I got it right for once. Don't be shy, half the fun is in the conversation after the movie.
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