Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

With the success of 2002's Spider-Man and other comic films like the X-Men movies, comic book film adaptations were back and in a big way. While those comics were of classic superheroes from Marvel Comics, other adaptations were emerging from other publications relating to Marvel. One comic that was a hit since its debut in 1993 was Hellboy, a demon from Hell who fights for the U.S. government against dark forces as he was raised by an old professor. Written by Mike Mignola, the Hellboy comic was a hit with readers as it continued to maintain its popularity throughout the years. In 2004, Mignola teamed up with Mexican director Guillermo del Toro for an adaptation of the beloved comic for the film version of Hellboy.

Directed by Guillermo del Toro with an adapted script by del Toro based on the screen story he co-wrote with Peter Briggs. Hellboy tells the story of a red, demonic creature from Hell who was raised by a professor as he fights for the U.S. government to rid of other demonic creatures with help of agents and other creatures. Based on the comic, notably the story Hellboy: Seed of Destruction, the film is more of who Hellboy is and how he was found and such while fighting villains to save the world. Playing the title character is Ron Perlman, who had worked with del Toro previously in 1993's Cronos and 2001's Blade II. Also starring Doug Jones, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Rupert Evans, Ladislav Beran, Karel Roden, and John Hurt. Hellboy is an excellent, entertaining, and visually-astonishing film from Guillermo del Toro.

It's 1944 in Scotland as Nazis are trying awaken demons with the help of Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden) to combat enemies. With the help of his aide Isla von Haupstein (Biddy Hodson) and assassin Karl Ruprecht Kroenen (Ladislav Beren), Rasputin hopes to use the dimension portal he built to rule the world and destroy it. Yet, they're stopped by the U.S. army with help from Professor Trevor Bruttenholm (Kevin Trainor) as Rasputin is killed while Islan and Kroenen have escaped. Bruttenholm, an expert in magic and sorcery, discovers a bright red infant with a big hand and little devil horns as he takes it into his arms as the little infant was dubbed Hellboy.

60 years later in the U.S., a young FBI agent named John Myers (Rupert Evans) arrives into a classified building where he has been transferred to the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense run by Bruttenholm (John Hurt). Myers is introduced to a psychic, fish-like person named Abe Sapien (Doug Jones and voice by David Hyde Pierce) as his job is to work with the adult Hellboy. Along with several agents, one person missing from BPRD is Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) whose frequent departures has put her into a mental hospital feeling she couldn't control her fire-starting abilities. Meanwhile, Isla and Kroenen has resurrected Rasputin where they travel to New York City to wreak havoc.

Yet, Rasputin and his cohorts unleash monsters to attack the city yet Hellboy, Abe, and several agents decide to combat the monsters where things don't go exactly well due to the monster that Hellboy kept attacking. With a few agents dead, FBI head Tom Manning is upset as Hellboy sneaks out to meet with Liz, whom he loves. He meets Liz at the mental hospital where she is trying to protect herself from herself as she's learning to control her fire-starting. After being sent home, Hellboy and Abe discovers the eggs that were latched on Hellboy's body during his encounter with the monsters. Bruttenholm meanwhile, tells Myers that he's dying as he makes Myers promise not to tell Hellboy that Bruttenholm is dying. Rasputin meanwhile, makes his own visit to Liz where she loses control of her powers where she almost destroyed the hospital she's staying in.

Myers offers to help Liz out as she reluctantly returns to the BPRD after another botched mission Hellboy encounters with the Sammael monster as things get worse when agents including Clay (Corey Johnson) encounter Kroenen, who has now become robotic where he shuts himself off to play dead. With Myers deciding to be a friend for Liz to contend with her difficulties with Hellboy, Bruttenholm discovers Kroenen's body as his fears of Rasputin's return has come true as he also fears for his son. When Rasputin suddenly appears, Bruttenholm is forced to see a glimpse of the future that Rasputin hopes for with Hellboy's help in the role he's destined to play.

With Manning now in full control, Hellboy, Liz, and Myers decide to go to Russia to stop Rasputin unleash his horror as they meet a corpse named Ivan (voice of Guillermo del Toro) as they go to Rasputin's lair as Hellboy learns of the role he's destined to play. The big question is that, will Hellboy play the role that he was destined for?

Most comic book adaptations often tell the story of how heroes became who they are and such. For Hellboy, it's different though the film's first 10-15 minutes tell the story of how he's found by Professor Bruttenholm. Instead, the film does act like a standard, comic book type of film but with a mix of dry humor, lots of action, and elements of horror and fantasy. Screenwriter/director Guillermo del Toro plays true to the film's comic book standard story while adding a bunch of hilarious one liners, a sense of improvisation, a lot of action, and moments of fantasy. Though the plot and story has moments of predictability that comes with most comic book film adaptations, del Toro makes up for it with humor and accessible characters where Hellboy knows he's a hero. One who likes to eat loads of pancakes, Baby Ruth, chomp on cigars, and listen to Tom Waits.

The direction of del Toro is truly superb with a lot of style and flair as he creates a film that is true to the look of a comic book but meshed with fantasy. From the look of New York City and New Jersey to the look of Russia, del Toro has amassed a look that is true to his love of comics and fantasy while adding elements of monsters and creatures that are a mix of puppetry and visual effects. Guillermo del Toro also creates moments where he lets the audience have a break from the action for characters to develop and even delve into humor and drama. The approach that del Toro creates is truly solid and definitely a film that is true to both his own vision as well as Mike Mignola.

Longtime cinematographer Guillermo Navarro creates a wonderful look to the film on a visual scale with use of blue-green lights for some of the film's exterior scenes in Russia as well as some of the battle scenes with Sammael. Navarro's sepia-like, yellowish look is truly wonderful and awash with style as Navarro's work is definitely a highlight of the film. Editor Peter Amundson does some excellent job with the film's leisurely yet rhythmic pacing while creating great cuts for action and drama for the film's sense of style and such. Production designer Stephen Scott along with set decorator Hilton Rosemarin, and supervising art director Simon Lamont do an amazing job in the look of the underground base that Hellboy lives in, the look of New York City, and the world of Rasputin.

Costume designer Wendy Partridge does an excellent job with the film's costumes with the Nazi garb that Rasputin and his cohorts wear to the long trench coat that Hellboy wears as it adds a sense of coolness to the character. Makeup designer Rick Baker does an amazing job with the film's look for several of the film's characters including Hellboy, Abe Sapien, and Sammael. Especially in the work Baker and his team create for the actors in playing those roles along with Baker's brilliant special effects work. Visual effects supervisors Edward Irastorza and Jonathan Rothbart do great work on the look of the monsters and look for some of the film's spectacular scenes that involves Rasputin's look into the future and such. Sound designer Steve Boeddeker and editors Frank E. Eulner and Robert Shoup do great work in the sounds of gunshots, growls (provided by Guillermo del Toro), and such to add a sense of fantasy and horror to the mix.

Music composer Marco Beltrami does some excellent work on the film’s music with use of a string orchestra to emphasize on the film's action, drama, and humor while creating triumphant themes for some of the film's action. Beltrami's score is definitely excellent and top notch. The soundtrack features a diverse mix of music ranging from Tom Waits, Vera Lynn, Pete Yorn covering Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' Red Right Hand, Palo Alto, Johnny Crawford, and Al Green for emphasis on humor and such.

The casting by Jeremy Zimmerman is definitely top notch with cameos by del Toro and comic book writer Mike Mignola as onlookers in a battle scene along with cinematographer Guillermo Navarro's two kids Alvaro and Emilio also as onlookers. Small roles from Angus MacInnes as a World War II sergeant, Jim Howick as a WWII corporal, and in the roles of FBI agents, Brian Caspe James Babson, and Stephen Fisher. Brian Steele does some great work in playing the Sammael monster with his miming movements while notable, standout small roles from Corey Johnson and Kevin Trainor as their respective roles as Agent Clay and the young Professor Bruttenholm are also good. Biddy Hodson is excellent as Rasputin's loyal assistant and lover Isla with her sneering delivery while Ladislav Beran is great as the mute assassin Kroenen.

Karel Roden, who worked with del Toro on Blade II, is brilliant as the villainous Rasputin whose desire for power and terror is matched by his huge presence as a man who is hell-bent on destroying the world and such. Roden's work is great for just being an excellent villain. Jeffrey Tambor is wonderfully funny as Tom Manning, the FBI director who often has issues with Hellboy as he serves as the comic relief for the film. Rupert Evans is excellent as John Myers, the agent sent to be Hellboy's reluctant partner as he tries to help Liz deal with her issues while trying to help Hellboy about his role. Though Doug Jones doesn't actually speak, with an un-credited David Hyde Pierce doing the voice, Jones' performance as Abe Sapien is great for its movements and such as Jones brings life to the character.

John Hurt is wonderful as Professor "Bloom" Bruttenholm, Hellboy's adopted father who worries for what would happen to his son when he won't be around. Hurt's performance is full of class and brilliance as an old man whose knowledge of the occult and magic shows a man who teaches his son about doing what is right. Selma Blair is great as Liz Sherman, a pyrokinetic woman with special powers struggling to deal with those powers and the harm it has caused as well as her relationship with Hellboy. Blair's performance is definitely the anchor needed for Hellboy's own recklessness as the chemistry she and Perlman have is great.

Finally, there's Ron Perlman in the title role as it's a rare leading performance for the veteran actor for any kind of U.S. studio picture. Perlman definitely sells the role with such wit, humor, and charm as he plays a hero who likes being a hero while getting to smoke a cigar and fighting monsters. It's the kind of role that most actors can't do but Perlman does it with such ease, it's as if he's born to play the character as he proves he can be a bad*ss with a heart of gold despite being the biological son of the Devil. It's a great performance from Perlman who often doesn’t get a lot of work outside Europe or playing roles fitted for character actors.

Hellboy is a remarkable, fun, and visually astonishing from Guillermo del Toro and comic book writer Mike Mignola with a great leading performance from Ron Perlman. For fans of comic book films, Hellboy is one of the finest while it delves into a myriad of genres while sporting a great supporting cast that includes Selma Blair, John Hurt, Jeffrey Tambor, Karel Roden, and Doug Jones. For fans of del Toro, this is pretty much one of his essential films that would later set the stage for his 2006 masterpiece El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) as he's now becoming one of cinema's hot directors. With Hellboy 2 already in high anticipation, the first Hellboy is definitely worth checking out.

Guillermo del Toro Reviews:

Cronos (1993):

(Coming Soon)

Mimic (1997):

(Coming Soon)

The Devil's Backbone (2001):

http://www.epinions.com/content_440198270596

Blade II (2002):

(Coming Soon)

Pan's Labyrinth (2006):

http://www.epinions.com/content_309310361220

Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008):

http://www.epinions.com/content_437145472644

The Hobbit (2011):

(Coming in 2011)


Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for Groups
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12