Hellboy
Starring: William Hoyland, John Hurt, Doug Jones, Angus MacInnes, Ron PerlmanStudio: Sony Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Running Time: 122 minutes
DVD Release: June 3rd 2008
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DVD Review
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/10/2008 Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Pg13
User Reviews
Hellboy DVD Purchase - Rating: 5/5
This DVD came in perfect condition (as described), at a good price, and was shipped quickly. I was very pleased.
2 stars out of 4 - Rating: 3/5
The Bottom Line:
Overlong (this refers to the Director's Cut) and poorly-structured, Hellboy coasts for a while on the considerable charm of Ron Perlman but ultimately collapses upon itself; I love Del Toro, but found Hellboy to be a movie long on imagination and short on storytelling technique.
Hellboy - Rating: 5/5
Its fantasy..its fun.....its a comic. Its not up for any reality award. Its just a fun adventure film for family movie night. We laughed and enjoyed it. Will enjoy it other times we see it too!
All SFX, No Substance - Rating: 1/5
My curiosity was piqued by Hellboy 2's advertisements, so I decided to watch the first Hellboy to get some background. Needless to say, when the credits rolled, I quickly decided NOT to watch the sequel. This is one of those films that thinks that if it can nail the atmosphere and the special effects, it has succeeded at life. Hey, newsflash... if the story doesn't work, and the characters suck, you think I'll care?
I was bored throughout, even during fight scenes. That said, Hellboy does have a promising start -- the most interesting moments being when we find out about the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense and are acquainted with its unique inhabitants, and when Abe and Hellboy first seek out the Hellhound Sammael.
After that, it's all forgettable. Although a plot is there, it's the most tenuous one I've seen in a long while. It consists of a series of random events all connected by long, boring fight scenes. Remember Sammael? Sammael gains the power to replicate himself and does so with aplomb. He proudly hosts the longest fight scene in cinematic history. They kill Sammaels throughout this movie in the same way that you or I would swat mosquitoes. He does not deign to die properly until the very end of the movie. This shouldn't sound annoying, but it is. Instead of a host of interesting monsters, what do you get? Nonstop Sammael and little else. He's like a monster from a cheap video game -- the kind that shows up over and over ad nauseam.
Actually, comparing Hellboy to a video game is probably the best comparison there is. Marvel at its shiny graphics! Fight a Sammael; advance to miniboss; fight more Sammaels, preferably several at once; advance to miniboss; more Sammaels; advance to Boss. Fight. Fight. Fight. Experience points gained! Level 100 has been reached! Engage in hard-boiled banter and kiss the fair dame at the end, then play some fitting raucous music during the credits to celebrate. (Yawn.)
But Hellboy's greatest sin is not its overreliance on CG and the same stupid monster over and over -- in the end, its formulaic plot and unlikable characters kill this movie. Hellboy and Liz Sherman are self-centric and egotistical and downright irritating. Liz Sherman's depression is a dark self-pity which, rather than endearing her, made me want to slap her upside the head. No reason is presented for why Hellboy might find such a person appealing, other than the fact she's female and happened to be in close proximity to him for a while.
You know you're in for a rough ride when you hate the leads.
The movie seemed made only to showcase their excellence around normal people, which is one of the discomfiting signs of a Mary Sue; when a movie seems so willing to knock out the "un-endowed" for a sweet action scene, it's only proving the point (like the poor kid carrying Rasputin, whose death is not shocking to anyone as much as it simply happens). In fact, I can name only two characters I liked: Kroenen and Abe Sapien. One is a nasty, awesome villain with incredible powers and sweet moves. The other is a fascinating psychic fish-man genius with a very cool voice and a sympathetic personality. Other than that, who cares?
There's so much promise to this movie's theme, too -- which makes its failure so unfortunate. Hellboy's inner struggle to define who he is would have made this movie powerful and stirring and would have easily elevated it above your common action film fare. Instead, everything about this theme, including the cutting of his horns and allowing his personal choices to define him rather than his origin, was left half-baked. Most of this movie is reserved for butt-kicking and tepid romance. What a shame!
You see, I think the scriptwriters and filmmakers involved in Hellboy made a major error. If we don't care for a film's characters, why should we care when they succeed? Why should we care when they pull off amazing stunts or feats of strength? Why should we care if the CG is pretty? It's the likability and buildup of a character that makes those moments amazing and striking, NOT the moments themselves. As soon as filmmakers get that through their thick heads, movies like Hellboy -- with interesting ideas and characters with so much potential -- will no longer be done a disservice.
Review of Hellboy purchase - Rating: 5/5
Received this order very promptly. Purchased as a Christmas gift for my daughter. DVD was in exact condition seller stated. Had looked everywhere locally and been unable to find this DVD and then was instantly able to find it on Amazon.
