Review of Hellboy (2004) by Manny C — 11 Mar 2011

Why is Hellboy one of the best comic book movies of recent memory? Because it's fresh, funny and even warm. Ron Perlman, decked out in red body paint and horns is the titular character who nails every line with a deadpan birlliance.

What's even better about Hellboy is how wonderfully and faithfully director Guillermo Del Toro recreates Mike Mignola's amazing Dark Horse comic series to the big screen. Hellboy (or Big Red or HB as his friends might call him) is taken form the Nazis during World War II and raised by Professor Broom (John Hurt).

Now sixty years old, Hellboy resides in New Jersey, where he's been trained to fight against evil creatures at the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Hellboy himself is a cigar-chomping, pancake-eating cat-loving guy who must stay hidden from society, that is unless monsters are walking the earth.

Then Hellboy comes out to kick some ass. The monster attacks start off thrilling, but soon become a little repetitive. Del Toro also works in a hot-blooded relationship between Hellboy and Liz, a pyrokinetic played by a touching and strong Selma Blair.

Hellboy is blazing with laughs, action and even some scares, not to mention Del Toro's signature visionary brilliance. The character development and heart is a bonus.