Timon
Posts: 14545
Joined: 30/9/2005 From: Bristol
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I missed Hellboy at the cinema but the reviews I read were fairly positive citing the films dedication to character above action. Reading this, I decided to get the Director's Cut on DVD so anything I have to say about the film comes from seeing the DC as I never saw the Theatrical Version. I'd never read the comics but the premise fascinated me. A demon that works and lives with humans battling monsters from Hell. What's not to like? As soon as the film started, I was drawn in. The WWII opening with US GI's storming a Nazi occult ceromony is the kind of thing that would have had me paying for the ticket alone. If they ever make a 'Wolfenstein' film, it should be like that. The reviews were right, the film does care more about its characters than the action. This is a character piece and the film takes time to establish them and their relationships. Hellboy is your classic anti-hero. While he cares about Liz and his father, he acts like the 'lone gunmen' of so many films. He thinks he's Mad Max, Snake Plisken, The Man With No Name....but with red skin and a fist made of rock and despite his chronological age he has the maturity of the a 17 year old. The arrogance, the self confidence and the cockiness. Plus a hankering for nachos. For me though, it's Meyers that really sells the film to me and I'm worried to hear he may not be in the sequel. It's through his eyes that we're introduced to this world, the monsters, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defence as well as Hellboy's allies. As Professor Broom says, he's the young knight struggling to prove his worth - a Galahad to Hellboy's cocksure Lancelot. It's also through him that you learn that Hellboy, despite his bravado, cares about his fellow Bureau teammates as he risks life and rocky limb for them as well as mourning their death whenever they die, especially if he's too blame. On top of that, his rebellious streak often distances him from government officials and his father who he clearly loves and respects despite his attitude. In fact his presence at Broom's funeral, isolated and alone is one of the film's most powerful images especially with the score playing over it as you realise that despite the friends and family he has, he really is alone. The other characters such as Liz and Abe, while interesting in their own way, suffer from having Myers and 'Red' front and centre but hopefully the sequel will them their time to shine. The bad guys such as Rasputin and co are a tad underwritten. Nazi occult lore and such should be fascinating but their motivations at releasing the monster Gods and such are a tad vague as is them wanting to bring about the end of the world. Del Toro however though throws enough powerful imagery at you to make you forget this and it works to an extent but a rushed final act with a silly CGI monster is some what underwhelming considering what has gone before. Either way, it's a thoroughly enjoyable film and, from what I've heard, true to the source material so I for one can't wait for a sequel and The Golden Army sounds like it's going to be better than the first.
< Message edited by Timon -- 19/3/2007 8:02:12 PM >
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"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion', I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called 'The Will of God'. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves." Twitter: @timonsingh
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