Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Hellboy's initial act sets you up for a wild ride, and promises much in its first half. The characters are interesting, the story has potential, and the concept of the film is engaging. Unfortunately, it loses its impetus more and more the further it goes, and while it remains visually interesting, it becomes hammy, lumbering and predictable. I think it suffers from the lack of a really fine villain. Kroenen simply isn't menacing enough - he is a curiosity, but his lack of humanity actually lets him down as an antagonistic presence, and his death is a bit underwhelming considering his previous resurrections. Rasputin is well played, but he is a little too much in the background. We know he's there, but the fact of that almost makes it uninteresting, since there is no relationship between him and Hellboy of Broom - things which might have been interesting to explore - and so he can almost be forgotten until his inevitable return. The Lovecraftian gods, similarly, are not given enough mythical weight to act as anything other than a vaguely unpleasant looking threat. You feel the man himself would have conveyed the horror far better. It is a shame - whilst Hellboy never gives any indication of being a masterpiece, it could have been a solidly enjoyable film, but the way the story wraps up feels somehow hurried, or, as it certainly doesn't feel too short, perhaps simply clumsy, as if the writers got tired of it. There are also a number of irritating loose ends. The action set pieces are pretty good, although nothing new really emerges as the film goes on, meaning that by the climax it has lost some of its edge. The film's best feature is certainly its lead, who looks, sounds, and absolutely acts the part, though all the performances - particularly John Hurt and Doug Jones - are excellent. It's a shame the story ultimately leaves them fighting a losing battle.

Movie Review: "Hellboy" (2004)Based on rarely-known "Dark Horse Comic" series created by Mike Mignola, then adapted with immense passion by director Guillermo Del Toro with regard to a fantasy-version of a Dark-Magic-raising "Nazi" party in aftermath a lost "Third Reich" scenario, led by pleasure-treat receiving ultra-stark designed in costume to striking villain appearances actor Karel Roden, who as the character of Gregori Rasputin combines all inherent virtues of historical dictacting figures from Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) to Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) under the influence, when actor Ron Perlman owns the show in striking deep-red full-body make-up effects that become exceedingly convincing that "Hellboy" stands apart to this day in comic book science-fiction-action splendors, highly recommended for a revisit in home entertaining "4K" resolutions or even first-look-surprises due to the shear velocity of visual reception with well-directed supports including Selma Blair as pyrokinetic freak-lady to tease "Hellboy" into a interweaving relationship and perfroming artists Doug Jones as full-body prothetics-wearing, show-stealing character of water-loving, telekinetic fish creature "Abe Sapien".Producer Lawrence Gordon, action-movie veteran from 1980s responsible for "Predator" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, raises a 66-Million-Dollar for a high-end use by director Guillermo Del Toro, for whom at age 39 the dream of Hollywood film-making becomes reality, brings everything to the table he creatively stands-for since his first feature David Cronenberg's "The Fly" homaging gothic fairy-tale "Cronos" (1993). Supporting cast surrounding perfoming artist Doug Jones as mesmerizing character of "Abe Sapien" and "Godfather" indulging John Hurt as little "Hellboy" saving and raising character Trevor Bruttenholm at the fictious "Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense", letting "Hellboy" become the politcal-correct Comic-Superior action movie that entertains the utmost in its 115-Minute-Cut by editor Peter Amundsen, running "The Thin Red Line" of being shy of R-rated blood-splashing graphic violence, which would may have destroyed the admirably childhood dream mentality to let "Hellboy" just being a great fantasy-character-driven fighting-spirit event movie of a fair variation of the stop-the-world-dominion-seeking nemesis versus "Hellboy" with respects to a highly-talented film director. © 2018 Felix Alexander Dausend Cinemajesty Entertainments LLC

A demon, raised from infancy after being conjured by and rescued from the Nazis, grows up to become a defender against the forces of darkness. I haven't read the comics and i won't try to become a smart ass but i don't get the hate for this film i mean 6.8 is very very low for a movie directed by Guillermo del Toro the director of Blade II, HellBoy 2 and Pacific Rim movies that i loved the thing is that even if you haven't read the comics Del Toro makes you care for Hellboy cause he presents him in a very sweet way he likes cats, he is in love with this beautiful girl and he is a likable and badass character where the movie fells short is with it's villains that although look scary and menacing they really aren't (especially this Ninja dude was pretty cool) but everyone dies so fast and it's truly disappointing also the CGI isn't as good looking as Pacific Rim for example but there's a big difference between 2004 and 2013 and i can get that but overall Hellboy is still a very well acted Comic Book film with good characters, great action and good humor that doesn't disappoint or make you get bored.

The "Hellboy" film franchise is a story that could almost be called a tragedy. Mainly in that it so perfectly encapsulates one of the most troubling aspects of modern film-making and distribution.That is, no matter how high a quality a production may be, it all comes down to the money. If a moderately-budgeted film isn't a runaway hit or doesn't attract a massive audience, chances are it won't be able to continue to completion no matter how much it clearly should. Which is most certainly the case for the beloved cult-favorite "Hellboy."Whether it be the the highly entertaining and appealing "Hellboy Animated" series that ended at two entries despite audiences being promised a third that never came. Or this film and its similarly- singular follow-up. Despite their wild popularity amongst a more niche, cult audiences and general high critical praise... they just never quite brought in those big numbers that studio-suits salivate over.It's this fact- this terrible, terrible fact- that lends both the live-action and the animated "Hellboy" features an almost poignant air when they are revisited as the years pass. Because you can see masterful artistry and top-notch production work on display that should have so much more recognition (and obviously so many more sequels and follow-ups), but just doesn't.Directed and co-written by the poetic cinematic genius Guillermo del Toro and loosely inspired by the famous comics of mastermind Mike Mignola, "Hellboy" tells the tale of, well... Hellboy. (Ron Perlman) A demon summoned to Earth as an infant during World War II by the occult division of the Nazi's in a last-ditch attempt to sway the war in their favor. However, the kindly Professor Bruttenholm and a group of allied soldiers stop the ritual that summoned him in the nick-of-time, and he is taken in by the Professor. Brought up by a good man who taught him values and morals, Hellboy now works for a secret government division known as the "Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense" where he hunts monsters and other supernatural threats while being kept hidden from the view of the public.Now, when the spirit of the infamous Rasputin (yes, THAT Rasputin, as portrayed by Karel Roden)- the man partially responsible for summoning Hellboy to Earth so many years ago- re-emerges with a plan to bring about the end of the world as we know it, Hellboy must confront this devious figure of his past. Along for the ride are a colorful cast of supporting characters, including:-Liz Sherman (Selma Blair)- a beautiful but troubled pyrokinetic who Hellboy pines for -Abe Sapien (Doug Jones)- an aquatic "fish-man" with psychic abilities -John Myers (Rupert Evans)- the new-guy at the bureau who has been assigned to watch over Hellboy -Tom Manning (Jeffrey Tambor)- the head of the bureau whose a bit of a jerk, though he just might have the smallest of soft-sidesThe cast is just wonderful. Especially Perlman, who was born to play Hellboy and makes him as fun, relatable and complex as you could possibly imagine. Which is no small feat considering he's playing the role under heavy prosthetic make-up that gives him red skin, massive muscles and devil-horns. But he makes the character so lovable and oafish, you'll constantly find yourself forgetting about his looks.Blair is also stunning in her role, adding a lot of pathos and heart to the film, especially as her love for Hellboy and his love for her plays a major role, despite them not being together. It gives the film such a great emotional core.Hurt is a blast of fun as Bruttenholm. Jones (with voice-over work by David Hyde Pierce) brings the aquatic Abe to life with an absolutely magical physical performance. And supporting roles by Roden, Evans and Tambor are very well played, even if their roles are written somewhat flatter than our leads. (Though Tambor is given a lot more room to shine in the second film.)But it could be argued that the real star here is the wonderful script and pitch-perfect direction courtesy the wickedly entertaining and talented del Toro. His work is always so poetic and complex but also never alienating. He much loves melodrama (something he admits), and it's used to perfection in much of his work- "Hellboy" being no exception. His visual direction is smooth, slick and stylish. Always moving and writhing around the scenes like a beautiful serpent. Expertly painting the visual image before us. Combining this with the wonderful cinematography of DP Guillermo Navarro, and his work here is just plain stunning.Then there's his wonderful handling of character and story, in both his actor-direction and writing. It's witty. Never dull. And oddly enough for a film about a big, red demon- frequently and consistently heartwarming. Yes, this film has perhaps the biggest heart of any superhero/comic film of the past 20 years. And that's what really drives home just how special it is.And while I do have to dock a point from my score due to a few clichés and contrivances here and there, I really hope that doesn't indicate that I don't completely love and adore this film. Because I do. For it's wonderful performances. For it's gorgeous visuals. For it's fascinating design and phenomenal score courtesy the fantastic Marco Beltrami. And for it's great sense of humor and heart.This is a near-perfect 9 out of 10. Please give it a shot if you're even somewhat interested. A hidden gem like this really deserves wider recognition. (As does its sequel, the quirky and fun animated spin- offs and of course the incredible comic that spawned them all.)