Plot: What’s it about?
As the Nazis are beaten back and defeated at every turn, their forces begin to dwindle and the chance of victory is slim. A plan is needed if a final wave of attacks is to be forged, otherwise a surrender is more in order. So the Nazis turn to black magic master Grigory Rasputin (Karel Roden), who plans to open a portal into another dimension and set loose the Ogdru Jahad, the Seven Gods of Chaos. If this action is completed, the world would be thrust into suffering and servitude, in a tidal wave of violence and brutality. But just in time, American forces raid the location of the ritual and the portal is closed in time. Well, sort of. A baby demon managed to sneak through the portal, but he is scooped up and taken by the American forces. The imp is called Hellboy and taken to paranormal research facilities, where more can be learned of his powers. Decades later, Rasputin emerges once again and has new plans to bring the end of the world closer. But the world has a hero that can stand up to the forces of evil and that hero is Hellboy (Ron Perlman). He is now grown and able to use his immense powers for good, as well as for romance, as evidenced by his love interest, the pyrokenetic Liz (Selma Blair). But can even Hellboy and his crew stop Rasputin this time, or will the world fall into darkness?
The world of comic books has been raided by movie producers, with all kinds of famous comic book stars exploding onto the silver screen. But I doubt anyone expected Dark Horse’s unusual hero Hellboy to star in his own epic adventure, let alone one that made decent bank and left audiences primed for a sequel. Guillermo del Toro (Blade II, The Devil’s Backbone) took an obscure comic book and turned it into a wild, over the top action picture that retains all the humor, tone, and depth of the original source material. I am sure some folks will find fault with the adaptation, but I though this movie was quite faithful to the comic book. Ron Perlman was the ideal choice to take on the title role, while the rest of the cast is also terrific. You’ll see Selma Blair, John Hurt, and Jeffrey Tambor, all in fun, well crafted roles. But the performances take a backseat to the visuals, as Hellboy shines with incredible cinematography, wild special effects, and some wicked makeup effects. The budget was well spent in this case, as you can see almost every last cent up on the screen. Hellboy is the kind of movie that you can tell was fun to make, the actors seem into it and the production team nailed the bullseye. A three disc edition due out soon is the lone reason to skip this version, but I’d still at least rent this one in the meanwhile. As far as the movie itself, I loved it and I can’t wait until Hellboy 2 hits theaters.
If an actor can be destined for a role, then without a doubt, Ron Perlman was destined to be cast in this role. I remember when the project was announced, before any casting decisions had been made, the internet was abuzz with rumors on who would play Hellboy. Of course, most folks were sure the studio would demand a high profile, bankable star, but we all knew that would doom the movie. The name most mentioned as the best choice was Perlman, who wound up scoring the role, after both the director and the comic book’s creator agreed he was the natural choice. I mean, if you look at the comic books, the character even looks like Perlman, as if the artist knew all along that the film would be produced with him in the role. But it isn’t just the look, as Perlman pulls out all the stops in a no holds barred performance. Even under countless hours of makeup, Perlman shines and cuts loose in a wild, enthusiastic effort. I can’t even imagine anyone else in this role, as Perlman is a perfect choice in all respects. Other films with Perlman include Enemy at the Gates, Star Trek: Nemesis, Alien: Resurrection, The Last Supper, The City of Lost Children, Cronos, and Romeo is Bleeding. The cast also includes Selma Blair (Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde), Jeffrey Tambor (My Boss’s Daughter, How the Grinch Stole Christmas), and John Hurt (The Osterman Weekend, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin).
Video: How does it look?
Hellboy is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. This movie needs a dynamic visual presentation, which Columbia has delivered here. The film throws out all sorts of visual tricks to enhance the images, but this transfer never slips and delivers a dynamic, top notch presentation. The colors wander the spectrum from lifeless and dull to bold and vibrant, dependent upon the scene at hand, while black levels remain sharp and flawless throughout. I saw no evidence of compression errors either and aside from some slight grain, I have no complaints with this treatment. I know this had to be somewhat of a nightmare to transfer to DVD, but Columbia has done some impressive work and fans should be thrilled here.
Audio: How does it sound?
Although the included Dolby Digital 5.1 option doesn’t reach reference status, it comes close and ranks as a damn impressive audio experience. I think a DTS track might have pushed this material to a perfect score, but Columbia chose not to include a DTS option, though we can hope for one with the eventual two disc re-release. The tense and action driven scenes put the speakers through the paces and then some, with creative and highly effective presence, which adds to the eerie, offbeat atmosphere. The more reserved scenes also sound terrific, while the musical score is tight & immersive here, a very memorable audio treatment indeed. This release also includes a French language track, as well as English and French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
A pair of audio commentary tracks start us off, the first with director Guillermo del Toro and Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, the second with cast members Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Ron Perlman, and Rupert Evans. The first track is more technical in focus, with production details and stories on how Hellboy reached the screen. But this is also a brisk, candid track and the two share a lot of worthwhile information. The cast track is more focused on anecdotes, with a lot of humor and memories from the set involved. A trio of branching options lets you view some storyboards, comic book artwork, and set visits, all worth a look. The rest of the goods arrive on the second disc, the best of which is The Seeds of Creation, a wonderful documentary that runs almost two and a half hours in duration. The piece chronicles the production from start to finish, with all kinds of great interviews and looks behind the scenes. This release also includes animatics, still photo & production galleries, storyboard comparisons, a few deleted scenes, cast bios & character profiles, tv spots, and the film’s theatrical trailer.
