Hellboy

Really solid movie. The way they handled Hellboy, Abea, and Liz was spot on—it’s got style, heart, and it's genuinely fun, even if the Resurrection Dogs and Rasputin felt a little lackluster as villains.

To most of you trashing this: I honestly don't get why you even sat through it. "Oh, it's such a dumb movie with weird monsters." It’s a comic book adaptation, so of course there are monsters! As an adaptation, it works beautifully. Apparently, there were studio notes suggesting Hellboy shouldn't look the way he does, or that he should only turn into a demon when he gets angry. 🙂 That would be like telling them Frodo should be a woman and the Ringwraiths should be helicopters...

Honestly, this one's a blast if you just want to switch your brain off—it doesn't quite hit the heights of LXG, but it’s definitely in the same ballpark. Yeah, okay, the CGI on the dogs looks pretty pathetic, but let's be real, that's not even the biggest issue here. And seriously, why does anyone even think about watching movies like this on a laptop? These things are built for a dark theater, a massive screen, and a sound system that actually shakes your bones. Plus, I sat through what felt like 20 minutes of pure commercial hell before the movie even started—which, for the record, is a total nightmare, and I'm not even exaggerating...

minja said:If you were a fan of Van Helsing, you'll probably dig Hellboy too.

Good grief. 😲 🙂

It seems Hollywood has finally found its foolproof blueprint: cranking out big-budget junk based on legendary comic books. 🙄

Well, I suppose it might be worth a couple of bucks just to see how they mess this one up. 🤔

P. S: I don't consider X-Men to be in that category. 😛

I caught it last week and thought it was alright—decent enough. It’s certainly better than that total disaster with Spawn, though maybe not quite as good as some others out there. Honestly, if you love comics, it's a blast; I don't really care that it isn't Shakespeare 😛

Ron Perlman is absolutely legendary, though the villains were a bit mediocre—well, except for that Nazi guy, who was genuinely disturbing (even if his fight choreography was top-tier; he actually reminded me of Ray Park). The blue fire effects looked great, but there wasn't nearly enough Homo sapiens for my liking, and the ending felt flat. They lean so hard into the supernatural elements, yet everything just wraps up with standard brute force and explosions... it could have landed much better.

slyowl9 said:yeah, except for that Nazi guy who was seriously unsettling... though his fight choreography was top-tier. totally gave me Ray Park vibes.

for me, he kind of felt like Heihachi from Tekken🙂

I mean, they always lean so hard into this supernatural stuff, and then everything just wraps up with basic old-fashioned brute force (and explosions)...

Preach. I mean, what kind of "god" are we talking about if you can just take them out with a couple of grenades? Unless they were some kind of holy hand grenades, I guess.😁

granitecobra10 said:I actually enjoyed it. It is what it is... If you are looking for something profound, look elsewhere. But if you liked Van Helsing, you will probably dig Hellboy.

That is... a very astute observation. "Hellboy" falls into the exact same category as "Van Helsing": a loud, visually aggressive spectacle. "Content? We don't need no stinkin' content!"

Personally, I found the movie great, not because of the plot or the character development, but simply because the concept is such a blast. I mean, where else are you going to find an ugly demon smoking a cigar, blasting soundtracks from Tarantino movies, filing down his horns, and fighting Nazis straight out of Wolfenstein who summon monsters from the tales of H.P. Lovecraft? They even threw in "De Vermis Mysteriis" and gave a nod to Arthur Machen. 👍

I have no idea what the comic book is like, but I will say the premise alone was enough to make me want to see how it translates to the page. It is highly probable that the comic, much like the case with "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," is significantly smarter than the adaptation—which isn't even a bad thing, considering the movie was purely meant for entertainment.

The film provided me with a few good ideas, some cool monsters, and a certain steampunkish vibe with those mechanical Nazi toys. I am satisfied.

Some people on this forum just can't seem to grasp that not every movie is built the same. You can't walk into every screening expecting the exact same experience. Different films require different sets of criteria—and honestly, different expectations.
Hellboy falls squarely into the "pulp" category; it’s popcorn entertainment, and that's how you should judge it. If you're sitting there expecting something deep like Breaking the Waves, you're either being dense or you're just a grade-A snob. 👋

casualotter21 said:Exactly. What kind of god can be taken out by a few grenades? Unless they were some kind of holy hand grenades, I suppose.😁

Would that actually surprise you? 😬

casualotter21 said:I watched it last week—it was alright. Better than that Spawn disaster, though not quite hitting the heights of some others. Honestly, if you love comics, it’s decent enough entertainment—I don't care if it isn't Shakespeare.😛

Ron Perlman is top-tier. The villains? Pretty mediocre—except for that Nazi guy, who was genuinely disturbing... even if his fight choreography was excellent (reminded me of Ray Park). The blue fire effects look great, but there wasn't nearly enough Abe Sapiens. Plus, the ending felt weak—they lean so hard into the supernatural stuff, only to wrap it up with a basic display of brute force and explosions. It could have been much better.

The direction felt scattered.🙄 Certain elements just didn't connect.🙄

The film is decent 👍

Papa Smurf said:The movie is decent. 👍

Yeah—it's for toddlers!😁

Exactly. For me, this movie works perfectly fine if you just view it as pure popcorn entertainment. If I start digging around looking for actual substance or artistic depth, I’m going to come up empty-handed, and that’s where the film really falls apart. It's just... well, entertainment is entertainment. Hellboy and the Nazis are definitely the highlights, though I have to say, the Nazi Kroenen completely outshines everyone else in the film with his whole aesthetic and that mask...

frozeneagle49 said:Honestly, the Nazi villain Kroenen completely steals the show here; his whole aesthetic and that mask are just next level...

It might be the single best concept in the entire movie. I am definitely stealing that bit for my D&D sessions, especially the way he builds up hype right before a fight. 😁

casualotter21 said:I have no clue what the comic is actually like, but I will say this—the concept alone was strong enough that I genuinely wanted to see how it translated to the page.

Look, the movie irritated me enough that I actually went out and picked up a few issues just to experience the real deal. To me, the character felt brilliant—cynical, weird, layered—but the film just "softened" him until he was completely uninteresting.
Now, the folks who have been reading Mignola's work for decades are probably going to laugh at me, but for me, Hellboy was a total revelation. Unlike the movie, the comic is absolutely stellar. Most of it centers on this strange hero—a demon whose whole "destiny" was to usher in the apocalypse and let the forces of evil take over the world. He fights external enemies in every issue—villains, devils, demons—but the real battle is the one happening inside himself (where else would it be? 😁), specifically his stubborn refusal to accept the fate others have laid out for him—even if that "other" is the Dark Lord HIMSELF. Unlike so many other comic or film characters, Hellboy isn't searching for his "true self," hunting for truths about his past or some grand "purpose"; instead, he’s actively running away from any new realization about who he is—effectively rejecting the whole idea of predestination...
My collection certainly reflects that...

And, yeah, Rasputin works brilliantly in the comics—as a man who has transcended his limited human nature (biologically speaking) to become the literal embodiment of chaos and evil. And he's no lightweight either 😁 😁

Carol Long95 said:Honestly, the movie annoyed me enough that I decided to go pick up some comics just to experience the real deal. I thought the character was fantastic—cynical, weird, and unique—but the film just "softened" him until he was completely bland.
I’m sure the die-hard Mignola fans will have a field day laughing at me, but discovering Hellboy was a massive revelation for me.

Where did you find them? Any idea what they're going for?

I actually stumbled upon the GURPS Hellboy: a quick guide for playing Hellboy using GURPS rules at a Disney store in Washington, D.C. I haven't sat down for a deep dive yet, but it sounded pretty awesome. For those who aren't in the loop: GURPS is one of the most popular tabletop RPG systems out there, where players build their characters and the Game Master facilitates the story they all inhabit.

I honestly didn't know whether to laugh or cry while watching that movie. It was an absolute train wreck; sometimes, you just have to stick to the comics and leave the screen alone....
As much as I hated the film, I have to admit Hellboy is such a killer character—those ruggedly handsome sideburns, those weathered horns, and that heavy-duty stone hand...😂

casualotter21 said:Where'd you pick up the comic? What was the damage?

I grabbed mine at "More Comics"—it's tucked away right by that skyscraper downtown. Each volume runs about $42.
There’s actually an anthology in there too, full of homages to other legendary creators with some seriously great stories; it's pretty fascinating seeing how different artists tackle Hellboy—some go full slapstick while others get all poetic and moody.
(Whatever you do, don't bother with the Profile Megastore. They charge like fifty bucks more for the same damn thing.)

Anyway—I bought it. Yes, I bought it. Honestly, I really need to change this ridiculous nickname 😁 because everyone keeps assuming I'm a guy.😠

Bahhh, honestly, some people here couldn't recognize a great movie if it bit them on the ass! Hellboy absolutely rocks. Ron Perlman is incredible as the lead—the rest of the cast is top-tier too, just great
It's shot beautifully, the editing is tight, and I really don't get why everyone is whining about it. It wasn't designed to be some deep, pretentious masterpiece, but as a pure popcorn flick? It's elite. I can't wait for the sequel👍

Wait, hold on... Hellboy is a comic book, right!? That’s the lens you have to view the movie through! So, even if it feels a bit ridiculous or totally nonsensical at times, you just have to expect those metallic Nazi types... slimy monsters and "one-dimensional" characters tossing out lines that are just slightly too cool for their own good... 😉 Personally, I am absolutely obsessed with comics... I’ve had the chance to dive into some Hellboy issues and really get to know the cast... and, generally speaking, everything that makes the comic "breathe"... 😉 I’d argue that Del Toro did a brilliantly imaginative job translating the comic to the big screen, and—as everyone already knows—by casting Ron Perlman as Hellboy, he truly nailed it! 👍 A lot of people have pointed out that the movie doesn't have nearly as much action as other comic book adaptations out there... but that's because he focused so heavily on giving every single character deep, meaningful development! In my book, it’s one of the better comic book movies ever made... 😉

poirot said:This movie clearly wasn't trying to be some deep, philosophical masterpiece, but as pure entertainment? It's top-tier. I'm already counting down the days until the sequel.👍

It seems we’re reaching a consensus on this one.🤔 🙂 👍