Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #16490 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-10
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English, Russian
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 117 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
In the ongoing deluge of comic-book adaptations, Hellboy ranks well above average. Having turned down an offer to helm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in favor of bringing Hellboy's origin story to the big screen, the gifted Mexican director Guillermo del Toro compensates for the excesses of Blade II with a moodily effective, consistently entertaining action-packed fantasy, beginning in 1944 when the mad monk Rasputin--in cahoots with occult-buff Hitler and his Nazi thugs--opens a transdimensional portal through which a baby demon emerges, capable of destroying the world with his powers. Instead, the aptly named Hellboy is raised by the benevolent Prof. Bloom, founder of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense, whose allied forces enlist the adult Hellboy (Ron Perlman, perfectly cast) to battle evil at every turn. While nursing a melancholy love for the comely firestarter Liz (Selma Blair), Hellboy files his demonic horns ("to fit in," says Bloom) and wreaks havoc on the bad guys. The action is occasionally routine (the movie suffers when compared to the similar X-Men blockbusters), but del Toro and Perlman have honored Mike Mignola's original Dark Horse comics with a lavish and loyal interpretation, retaining the amusing and sympathetic quirks of character that made the comic-book Hellboy a pop-culture original. He's red as a lobster, puffs stogies like Groucho Marx, and fights the good fight with a kind but troubled heart. What's not to like? --Jeff Shannon

Synopsis
Based on the comic book series by Mike Mignola, Guillermo del Toro's gleefully eccentric film follows the supernatural adventures of Hellboy (Ron Perlman), a cigar-chomping, horn-filing demonic hero enlisted by an occult scholar (John Hurt) to fight evil in the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense. Along with the fire-throwing Liz Sherman (Selma Blair) and the amphibious psychic Abe Sapien (Doug Jones, with the voice of David Hyde Pierce), Hellboy is joined by new recruit John Myers (Rupert Evans), a squeaky-clean FBI agent assigned to keep the big red devil's exploits in check. Things get out of hand, however, when a vicious monster is unleashed by the villainous Rasputin (Karl Roden), leading to events that may set off an apocalyptic nightmare for humanity. Echoing Peter Jackson's passion for THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy, HELLBOY is a labor of love from del Toro, a longtime fan of the comic and its creator. The director's enthusiasm shows, since HELLBOY is a wondrously strange slice of pulpy adventure, mixed with horror and humor, and enhanced by stunning visual effects. In the title role (and lots of red makeup), Perlman is pitch-perfect, giving the good-natured misfit a powerful--yet surprisingly sensitive--presence. Blair, Evans, Hurt, and other actors are similarly well cast, rounding out an ensemble intent on retaining the movie's dark yet superbly entertaining tone.

Customer Reviews

I'm fireproof... you're not
When I first read about Hellboy I was a little unsure about the concept, don't get me wrong, I have a particular fascination for movies based on comic characters - especially Marvell comic characters, though being honest I'd never even heard of Hellboy, and based on what I'd read about the character; a red being/creature with one big stone hand/fist and a red pointed tail who, as a child was transported from another dimension (or hell if you like) during a Nazi experiment and is then captured and raised by a secret CIA type organisation and trained to fight evil in return for sanctuary just sounded a little too much for me. However, when I discovered that Ron Perlman (Blade2, Alien Resurrection) had been cast for the part of Hellboy, I decided to give it a watch, and I'm glad I did, it's brilliant!

Ron Perlman is a fine actor, and is brilliant as Hellboy. His fantastic deep rich voice and dry sarcastic wit combined with his cool facial expressions just bring the character to life in a way I don't think anyone else could... Ron Perlman IS Hellboy; He was made for the part!

The story/plot is pretty much standard fair; an evil adversary (Rasputin!) is planning to open a portal to hell and bring civilisation as we know it to an end, and yep you guessed it, Hellboy has to stop him. However, this evil enemy is also not of this earth and has the power to summon all manner of mythical creatures etc to help him achieve his goal; consequently the film is awash with all manner of high quality special effects and CGI, which only adds to this films appeal.

Definitely recommended, I loved it, I'm sure you will too.

Hellboy 2 is already underway; I just hope it's as enjoyable as this.

Quality comic book adaption with a terrific lead character
Yet another comic book adaptation comes to the silver screen, this time in the form of Hellboy. But this is different. Firstly the comic from which this originates is not that well known (I'd never heard of it before this movie came out), certainly when compared to Spiderman, X men etc. Secondly its main protagonist is not a human/mutant with deep psychological issues but a demon raised by humans, which helps put those nurture vs. nature arguments to bed.
In 1944 those pesky Nazis are looking to turn the tide of the war by utilising the powers of the occult. In case you're thinking this all a bit unlikely it's well documented that both Hitler and Himmler were interested in the occult and did indeed explore it as way of defeating the Allies. In cahoots with Rasputin for reasons that are never explained they attempt to open a trans-dimensional portal so hell can be unleashed on earth but their plan is foiled by an American Platoon (Surprise surprise) in conjunction with a paranormal expert Professor Bloom and all that passes through is a baby demon boy. This boy is raised as his own son by Professor Bloom and they both end up working at the top secret Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defence. But Rasputin isn't finished yet and he returns 60 years later trailing fiendish minions and slobbering hell beasts in order to re-instigate his original plan. It's up to the Bureau to find a way to stop him. Fortunately help is at hand in the form of a psychic man -fish and a pyrotechnic woman who Hellboy..ahem has the hots for.
If all this sounds a bit silly, well it is, but then so is Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. This is in fact a supremely stylish film, entertaining, with a terrific central character. The real coup was made in the casting of Hellboy. Ron Perlman is a very under-rated actor and brings a cynical humanity to the character of Hellboy. Perlman radiates a visible personality through the makeup, making this unlikely hero the most believable part of the movie. In truth he acts every one else off the screen. Apart from John Hurt as the elderly Prof Bloom, who brings genuine gravitas and elderly insouciance to his role? Selma Blair is a little bland as the love interest Liz. Rupert Evans as Hellboys F.B.I. Minder Myers isn't given enough to do apart from stir up Hellboys carnal desires for Liz. Abe Sapien the man -fish is rather bizarrely voiced by David Hyde Pierce and his origin is never sufficiently explained. (The man -fish, not Hyde Pierce)
The production design is stunning throughout. And director Guillermo del Torro clearly has an eye for this type of dark fantasy . Apparently he turned down the latest Potter movie to make Hellboy. Good for him. MInor gripes could be made about the array of rather one dimensional foe Hellboys has to deal with. Multiple slimy tentacled beasties which although superbly integrated via the CGI lack variety and are a bit bland. Rasputin meanwhile lacks any emotional core to his evil so he just isn't convincing as an all conquering villain. His stitched up Nazi stooge is a genuinely interesting creation but isn't able to speak so is merely an excuse for some none the less visceral set pieces. Given that all the hordes of hell were presumably at the disposal of the production team I'd have thought some more radical and genuinely terrifying options would have lent the film a harder edge. But perhaps they wanted that 12A certificate more?
Still this is a tremendous film. Hellboy as an anti-hero is far more preferable to some pumped up uzi-toting oxo cube, spewing one liners faster than his bullets. Who can resist a 6 foot 5 inch demon with an enormous stone hand that files down his horns and goes through enormous stoogies like a well known European golfer? Yes indeed he, s one Hell of a guy.

"I'm fireproof... you're not"
When I first read about Hellboy I was a little unsure about the concept, don't get me wrong, I have a particular fascination for movies based on comic characters - especially Marvell comic characters, though being honest I'd never even heard of Hellboy, and based on what I'd read about the character; a red being/creature with one big stone hand/fist and a red pointed tail who, as a child was transported from another dimension (or hell if you like) during a Nazi experiment and is then captured and raised by a secret CIA type organisation and trained to fight evil in return for sanctuary just sounded a little too much for me. However, when I discovered that Ron Perlman (Blade2, Alien Resurrection) had been cast for the part of Hellboy, I decided to give it a watch, and I'm glad I did, it's brilliant!

Ron Perlman is a fine actor, and is brilliant as Hellboy. His fantastic deep rich voice and dry sarcastic wit combined with his cool facial expressions just bring the character to life in a way I don't think anyone else could... Ron Perlman IS Hellboy; He was made for the part!

The story/plot is pretty much standard fair; an evil adversary (Rasputin!) is planning to open a portal to hell and bring civilisation as we know it to an end, and yep you guessed it, Hellboy has to stop him. However, this evil enemy is also not of this earth and has the power to summon all manner of mythical creatures etc to help him achieve his goal; consequently the film is awash with all manner of high quality special effects and CGI, which only adds to this films appeal.

Definitely recommended, I loved it, I'm sure you will too.

Hellboy 2 is already underway; I just hope it's as enjoyable as this.