Just before I begin, I saw it at this great little place called Rainbow Market Square located in Downtown Toronto. My girlfriend and I have seen a lot of great movie's there; it has become a sanctuary for us. And if you are thinking that b/c it isn't a huge chain it's crappy, please don't be stupid. This place is not only clean (cleaner than major chains are as well- the floor is never sticky in this place), it is really cozy. They show the latest movies, same release dates as all the rest, but it isn't over crowded. Plus, in order to compete with major chains the fair for a ticket is only $7.25 and only $4.25 for a matinee. It is perhaps the most unique theatre I have seen, and has an amazing design and decor. It's very cultured, I assume to match downtown's ethnicity. The theatre also promotes job equality. There is a transexual or a cross-dresser who works there, and he/she is great. She/he is very polite and freindly towards my girlfriend and I, as we have become avid patrons and they see us almost every Monday. It really has a cpzy atmosphere. It's a great little place, and if you live near Toronto check it out. Check local theatre listing in the paper....
Anyway, back to Hellboy. I saw the film yesterday at the theatre I mentioned above. I really enjoyed the movie. I know lately comic books have gotten a make-over on the big screen, and many of them are simply campy to glory's end. However, there is something a little more unique about this film. First off, it's main character, Hellboy, is based on an ambiguous comicbook, that many are not familiar with. It is about a demon brought forth from Hell, by the Nazi's during WWII, in order to tip the scales in their favour. However, in an attempt to combat them, Professor Broom, and a few American soldiers crash the unholy ceremony. However, the demon baby comes through the portal, while the Nazi attempt gets foiled. Prof. Broom ends up finding the tiny baby demon with a stone hand and raises it from 'childhood', becoming a father to the red demon, the soldiers nicknames Hellboy.
Anyway, sixty years later, the demon pulled through Hell for unholy reasons, ends up fighting for our side, b/c he was raised to be a good-guy by Prof. Broom in a secret gov't angency of Paranormal defense.
The rest of the Plot involves the resurrection of the evil Rasputin, a notorius figure in history, and the person who brought Hellboy from the darkness of....Hell. Anyway, he seeks to bring forth these seven demon gods from another dimension in order to destroy the world, and needs Hellboy to do it...I won't divulge why, as many of you may want to see it.
The rest of the Plot involves the resurrection of the evil Rasputin, a notorius figure in history, and the person who brought Hellboy from the darkness of....Hell. Anyway, he seeks to bring forth these seven demon gods from another dimension in order to destroy the world, and needs Hellboy to do it...I won't divulge why, as many of you may want to see it.
Okay, I said the movie was supposed to be original, but yer all probably saying: "A plot to save the world...wow, MelJr. ..that is pretty original. We've never heard of such a plot line in an action superhero flick!". Yer sarcasm has some truth to it. But I guess, what makes this film so great isn't all located within the plot, or pyro-technics. Most films, especially the new comic films, are all about special effects and pyro-technics. Take daredevil, for example. That's a comic film, that has little substance and character devolopment. How is Hellboy different? Well, the characters are really complex, especially Hellboy. I'll tell you why in a sec. Plus, there is an actual rumor that HellBoy actually exists, and is not like most other comic book imaginings. Hell actually exists in a lot of people's minds, and there are a lot of conspiracies starting during the World Wars, and escalating through to the Cold War, and now everyday governmnet occurance, especially in the states. The thought of this guy actually existing, is possible for some reasons and is..well, cool.
Another thing that makes the film so great, is that hellboy is hilarious! I mean, he is so sarcastic and mellow that the things he says are not campy, and actuallymake you laugh. Usually you get some campy lines from action heroes, but Hellboy is different. You can tell his character is down-to-earth and non-pretencious. he'd rather have a beer and stay home, then be fighting bad-guys. He likes getting the job done quickly....and he likes kittens...lol! He was actaully funny, not campy. Ron Pearlman(Hellboy) really did a great job bringig him to life.
Now the best thing about this movie, that gives it subsatnce, is that Hellboy has an actual statement to make. It examines perhaps the greatest riddle to ever perplex mankind: the human condition. What is it? What makes a man a man? Is it his biological composition, or his character? Is a human being about nature ...or nurture?
You see, Hellboy is obviously a demon straight out of Hell. He is supposed to be evil, sent to bring about the apocolypse...yet under the fatherly love of Dr. Broom, he becomes a becon of hope, a protecter of good. How is that possible? Prof. Broom, states: He is a demon, but you will help him become a man". What doesn that mean? What is it that makes us human? What makes man, man? The movie argues it is not biological composition or DNA; it is our character. The movie has some Catholic implications, as Hell is more of a Christian belief. For example, there exists a lot of symbolism in the rosary Hellboy carries with him. Does faith play factor in making a man a man? In the end, the conclusion is: What makes a man a man, is the chocies you make. It lies not in how one chooses to begin things, but how he chooses to end them. The ability to choose good over evil, is what makes men, men.....
There are more issues at play here, but this was the one that most fascinates you when you watch this movie. How can this demon, be so good. I however, think they could have ended the father son realtionship between Broom and Hellboy better, as they really built it up, but it kinda loses focus near the end...but over all this was a great flick. Not Oscar worthy, but entertaining. It was driven by the charater, and your interest in him, not by explosions and special effects.
Check it out. It is really interesting to watch the human condition play out in this sarcastic red demon, who stands for justice.
Another thing that makes the film so great, is that hellboy is hilarious! I mean, he is so sarcastic and mellow that the things he says are not campy, and actuallymake you laugh. Usually you get some campy lines from action heroes, but Hellboy is different. You can tell his character is down-to-earth and non-pretencious. he'd rather have a beer and stay home, then be fighting bad-guys. He likes getting the job done quickly....and he likes kittens...lol! He was actaully funny, not campy. Ron Pearlman(Hellboy) really did a great job bringig him to life.
Now the best thing about this movie, that gives it subsatnce, is that Hellboy has an actual statement to make. It examines perhaps the greatest riddle to ever perplex mankind: the human condition. What is it? What makes a man a man? Is it his biological composition, or his character? Is a human being about nature ...or nurture?
You see, Hellboy is obviously a demon straight out of Hell. He is supposed to be evil, sent to bring about the apocolypse...yet under the fatherly love of Dr. Broom, he becomes a becon of hope, a protecter of good. How is that possible? Prof. Broom, states: He is a demon, but you will help him become a man". What doesn that mean? What is it that makes us human? What makes man, man? The movie argues it is not biological composition or DNA; it is our character. The movie has some Catholic implications, as Hell is more of a Christian belief. For example, there exists a lot of symbolism in the rosary Hellboy carries with him. Does faith play factor in making a man a man? In the end, the conclusion is: What makes a man a man, is the chocies you make. It lies not in how one chooses to begin things, but how he chooses to end them. The ability to choose good over evil, is what makes men, men.....
There are more issues at play here, but this was the one that most fascinates you when you watch this movie. How can this demon, be so good. I however, think they could have ended the father son realtionship between Broom and Hellboy better, as they really built it up, but it kinda loses focus near the end...but over all this was a great flick. Not Oscar worthy, but entertaining. It was driven by the charater, and your interest in him, not by explosions and special effects.
Check it out. It is really interesting to watch the human condition play out in this sarcastic red demon, who stands for justice.