Hellboy Reviewed!

Note to self: when confronting hideous tentacled demigod from the nether dimensions, remember to stuff a packfull of grenades down its maw. Resulting explosion will blow self clear, and will drench room in blue bits of (now) deceased god. Also, Ron Perlman IS Hellboy. No doubt.

With the above spoiler (yes that is how the movie ends) my review of Super Sapiens(!!) a.k.a Hellboy kicks off. It's been a long time coming, but this week has proven to be an increasingly work-laden week for this Ox, with only the thought of a long-ish weekend to console myself (well, those personal ads didn't work...and that doll is only shipping next month). Anyway, I said it once before, and I'll say it again: Hellboy may just be one of the most important comic to film adaptations ever made, and I don't give out compliments like these too often.

Director Guillermo Del Toro (Blade 2) had a lot riding on this movie. The expectations of the legions of fan boys, not to mention the studios and producers. Still, the result, though flawed in places is an excellent example of an adaptation that not only dazzles in its interpretation of the source material but also manages to bring to life the humour, wit and general feel of the comic books, something not many directors have managed to do well. I dare say this little baby surpasses even the X-Men movies in terms of general "feel", and is a close contender after Spiderman. What it lacks in polish, del Toro makes up with in soul, and of course, Ron Perlman.

That Ron Perlman IS Hellboy (I've said this twice I think) is a given. That the rest of the cast performs equally well (with several exceptions) is an added bonus. The world of Hellboy mirrors our current one a little too well, perhaps, with its tabloids and government denials on talk shows. Brought into our world by a mad Nazi sorcerer (Rasputin, played by Karel Roden) during the final days of the second world war, Hellboy is rescued by Professor Broom (John Hurt) and absorbed into the mythical Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense (masquerading as a clean up service). There he is brought up with Abe Sapien (the voice of Frasier's David Hyde Pierce), an underwater-dwelling empath and Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) a natural pyrokinetic. They, as Prof Broom puts is "bump back" those things normal law enforcers can't handle.

When Rasputin comes back to life and begins his search for Hellboy to (what else) open a door to a universe of evil gods, all hell (is there a pun?) breaks loose. Aided by the Nazi wolf-woman Ilsa and a clockwork assassin with retractable blades (one wonders what the world would be like if Hitler really had one of these guys) the mad monk brings in a host of Lovecraftian tentacled demigods into our world. And guess who has to clean up after? Our cigar smoking, beer swilling, food gobbling demon, of course.

I could write a dozen pages on why this film works, as a whole. Suffice to say the strength of this movie is not in the story, though it borrows heavily from Indiana Jones and almost every other B movie cliche out there. Rather, it's in the characterisations of its players. From Hellboy's personal issues (and unspoken love for Liz) to Broom's love for his adopted son, these characters are real. They have problems, and get hurt (noticeably Hellboy, who gets pummeled every other minute). And yet they face their fears and make their choices consciously, knowing full well that it is always, ultimately, a choice.

There are weaknesses of course. Some characters feel more fleshed out than others, and there are some gaping plot holes in the story. But who cares, when the characters are genuinely likeable and the action fast and furious?

Hellboy could have been another mediocre movie tie in. Instead, thanks to a good script and taut directing (not to mention good performances all around), it now stands in my opinion as one of the best adaptations I've ever seen. Whether it's the wit, action, or the fact that a Russian reanimated corpse can be very funny, you'll find something to like about Hellboy.

Just try to forget the whole "Super Sapiens" business.

Ash.ox gives Hellboy a 4 out of 5.