“Hellboy” (Columbia Pictures)
Sometimes when they convert a character and story from a comic book it works (“Spiderman”), and sometimes it doesn’t (Daredevil”). The secret is in being true to the mood, the mystique, and the characters of the story. That is exactly what Director Guillermo Del Toro has done, and it pays off with “Hellboy” being a super entertaining transition of comic book to film.
The movie starts off a little slowly. Once again we are back in World War II and the Nazis are trying another weird experiment to help them win the war. This time they are trying to open a portal which will allow demons to enter. The good guys thwart their plans but a little demon does enter. He is adopted by paranormal expert, Dr. Broom, and given the name of Hellboy.
Now the movie flashes forward to the present and we see FBI Agent John Myers (Rupert Evans) showing up for his assignment at the BPRD, “The Bureau For Paranormal Research and Defense.” Myers has been assigned to work with Dr. Broom (John Hurt) and Hellboy (Ron Pearlman).
Myers soon learns Hellboy has a crush on a young woman named Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) who possesses some strange skills of her own. She is a “firestarter” and when she gets excited or overly emotional things start to combust. Liz has left BPRD in order to try to find a semblance of a normal life. Hellboy is heartbroken over her departure.
Later Hellboy has his hands full when a mystic creature named Sammael appears This monstrous beast is almost unstoppable and when you do kill it, two more creatures just like it take its place. Plus there is a villainous mastermind behind it all who turns out to be Rasputin ((Karel Roden), the mad monk of Russian history.
It takes all the force and power Hellboy can muster to fight all this evil, and that includes calling on the talents of his friends Liz and Abe Sapien (Doug Jones), an Aquaman looking creature who has some special gifts too.
The movie is action packed from beginning to end, but that is not what makes it special. What makes it stand above the crowd is the lead performance of Pearlman. He is able to take you behind the outer mask of the character into the heart and humanity that lurks within. Pearlman knows something about acting under heavy makeup, as he was the “Beast” in the TV series “Beauty and the Beast.” Those who watched Pearlman in that role are immediately drawn to him in this part.
The movie also has a good dose of humor. Hellboy is the master of the one-liner throwaway. He does it with a flair and with perfect timing and delivery. That is what makes “Hellboy” more than just a comic book movie.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and comic book violence.
Thanks to Pearlman, the special effects teams who worked on the film, and the humor that is written into the script; “Hellboy” comes off as a better than average movie. It looks like we may be seeing this character in a series of adventures. I, for one, will be anxiously anticipating the next installment.
I scored “Hellboy” a demonic 6 out of 10.
