The Long Road

04/08/2004 Archived Entry: "Give 'em hell, boy!"

I usually hate these "first in a franchise" movies for the fact that they spend countless minutes on detailing the origins of the main characters, explaining their relationships, conflicts, etc. Hellboy is guilty of this through some flashbacks as well as the much overly used "New Character Being Brought Into The Fold" cliche. Unlike all other comics based movies, I had a bit more patience for this kind of thing with this movie since I've never read any Hellboy. However, Hellboy feels like doesn't spend enough time explaining how the material world relates to the supernatural one. We're basically told "it's there, it exists" and the fact that Hellboy is told that he has this great destiny seems to be downplayed a bit too much as well. What the hell? Who cares about his romance with that psycho pyromaniac anyways?

I think my favorite aspect of the movie is its visuals. Hellboy, Abe Sapien, and Kroenen (a mechanical-zombie-nazi-assassin!) all look unbelievably cool. The post-apocalyptic visions as well as the various tenticle monsters look like they came straight out of an anime (this is a good thing).

In the end this movie didn't really make me crave the further adventures of Hellboy (announced today) but it did make me more interested in picking up some Hellboy comics for more background info on the universe in which he exists. The DVD will apparently have a 20 minutes longer Director's Cut, that would probably be worth pickin up.

Replies: 7 comments

In other news... I finished my thesis! Hooray!

Love, DJ Kimothy

Posted by DJ Kimothy @ 04/08/2004 04:41 PM EST

I was eagerly awaiting this flick, but I have not heard of any positive reviews. I think I'll pass.

Posted by dAN @ 04/08/2004 10:44 PM EST

so glad i didn't let you drag me to see it

Posted by Ting @ 04/09/2004 06:25 AM EST

Hopefully Cody Banks 2 will make up for it - I know you're dying to see it

Posted by Doug @ 04/09/2004 02:17 PM EST

Doug, did you make that post from your laptop using wireless internet as you camp in line for Agent Cody Banks 2?

Posted by dAN @ 04/09/2004 06:26 PM EST

I didn't not enjoy or anything, I'm glad I saw it. And the reviews for Hellboy have been generally very positive; it's getting around 75% on rottentomatoes.com which is quite impressive.

Posted by Rayne @ 04/11/2004 01:25 AM EST

Who the HELL WOULD STAY IN LINE to see that stupid wanna be a best selling movie, Agent Cody Banks 2, or whatever the hell it is called! You guys seriously must be gay if you would stay in line to see that lol! Bye all. Damn...

Posted by Sean @ 06/21/2004 09:17 PM EST