Hellboy

Making a movie based on a comic book is a risky undertaking. Everytime even a minor superhero is turned from newsprint to celluloid it becomes par for the course to hear the film makers commenting on the challenge in getting the old school comic fans and the rest of the moviegoing public to enjoy the flic. I don’t doubt that it can be difficult, however it would seem that you should make the decision to make a good movie regardless. If the true fans don’t like it but everyone else does, great. If the true fans DO like it but the public doesn’t, then you’ve got a cult hit on your hands…also good. When you make a crap movie that NOBODY likes Hulk it would seem that filmmakers would get the clue. Unfortunately, save for a few exceptions, the last few years have seen one stinkfest after another.

Fear not, loyal readers! I’m here to tell you that Hellboy, though it won’t win any awards, is not of the common clay. Know that I never read the comic book, so fans of the series may very well have a different take. As for your average geek with a penchant for special effects, action and comedy, I liked Hellboy. The plain truth of it though is that its nothing new. Anyone paying attention will notice similarities between Hellboy and Men in Black. Secret defenders of the earth by undercover government agents, human and non. New kid on the force being shown the ropes and supernatural creatures of all sorts being introduced to him. Like I said, familiar. Also like Men In Black, Hellboy is a fun movie to see and certainly one of the better comic book based films.

It’s nearing the end of World War II and Hitler has dispatched a number of scientists and black magic practicioners to a remote island in an attempt to bring hell to earth. US soldiers, accompanies by a young supernatural professor of their own infiltrate the outpost in time to prevent the ultimate evil from stepping through. Something DOES get through however, a demon baby of sorts with an enormouse hand of stone. The soldiers adopt the demonic offspring and lovingly name it Hellboy (how sweet!). Fast forward to present time. FBI special agent John Meyers (newcomer Rupert Evans) is summoned to the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. A secret government agency charged with protecting the US and the world from…blah blah blah. You’ve heard it before. The bureau is comprised of humans and supernatural beings alike, one of them being Hellboy (Ron Perlman), now over 60, but with the vigor and attitude of an 18 year old. The unlikely duo are teamed with John Hurt as the professor and Selma Blair as a super-powered, but deeply troubled love interest for Hellboy.

The story goes that the evil Nazi plot of the 40’s is back and not only has the mastermind, Rasputin, returned but he’s brought a seemingly unstoppable Nazi assasin and a self-resurrecting and duplicating mythical hell hound with him. A little gun play, a little adventuring and a lot of snappy one liners spouted by the red guy make for a good time, without a lot of foul language or blood. I would say the movie is kid safe, but a few visuals, although blood-less, are a little cringe inducing, unless people without lips or eyelids is nothing new to you.

The film is just over 2 hours, but only one short part causes it to slow down, so you won’t be falling asleep. A healthy dose of special effects and some pretty good chemistry between the characters make a sequel not such a bad idea and right up the alley of comic book fans and sci-fi nuts alike. After all, director Guillermo del Toro (Blade 2) describes his movie as being “made by geeks, for geeks”. I couldn’t have said it better.