This
is a much more complex film to review than I thought it would be going
in. Firstly, it will draw comparisons to Del Toro's vision of Hellboy,
featuring iconic actor Ron Perlman in the lead, and a terrific
supporting cast.
This film has none of that.
But that doesn't make it a bad film on it's own. In fact, there are plenty of things to enjoy about this version of Hellboy. The practical effects are wll done and provides a gorier backdrop to the adventures of the demon spawn. It features deeper elements of Mignola's core material, including Hellboy's connection to Arthurian Mythology, vampires, faeries, and plenty of supernatural weirdness. It even features an appearance from The Lobster!
But while there is plenty here that DOES word, there is a lot that does not. Much of it seems to have been developed in post production, including CGI that doesn't feel fully rendered and an incredibly dry and boring performance from character actor Ian McShane and performance that goes all over the place from Milla Jovavich. David Harbour puts a decent enough spin on Hellboy, but it feels a little schozophrenic at times. When he does nail it, though... he really nails it.
In closing, Neal Marshall has a very specific style and feel to his films... and this movie lacks even that. It feels like a film that was taken away from it's primary vision and director and went through a post-production where the studio and it's producers cobbled together THEIR vision of a film that forgot there was source material and relied on too many tropes in the footage that was shot.
Despite all that's essentially "wrong" with the film, I found more to enjoy than there was to dislike and had a good time with it. While it won't hit my top ten of the year, it will be seen again and it's good b- grade monster munching goodness with gore and blood and all the fun stuff I personally enjoy.
This film has none of that.
But that doesn't make it a bad film on it's own. In fact, there are plenty of things to enjoy about this version of Hellboy. The practical effects are wll done and provides a gorier backdrop to the adventures of the demon spawn. It features deeper elements of Mignola's core material, including Hellboy's connection to Arthurian Mythology, vampires, faeries, and plenty of supernatural weirdness. It even features an appearance from The Lobster!
But while there is plenty here that DOES word, there is a lot that does not. Much of it seems to have been developed in post production, including CGI that doesn't feel fully rendered and an incredibly dry and boring performance from character actor Ian McShane and performance that goes all over the place from Milla Jovavich. David Harbour puts a decent enough spin on Hellboy, but it feels a little schozophrenic at times. When he does nail it, though... he really nails it.
In closing, Neal Marshall has a very specific style and feel to his films... and this movie lacks even that. It feels like a film that was taken away from it's primary vision and director and went through a post-production where the studio and it's producers cobbled together THEIR vision of a film that forgot there was source material and relied on too many tropes in the footage that was shot.
Despite all that's essentially "wrong" with the film, I found more to enjoy than there was to dislike and had a good time with it. While it won't hit my top ten of the year, it will be seen again and it's good b- grade monster munching goodness with gore and blood and all the fun stuff I personally enjoy.
7 out of 10. Partially recommended, though if you really hold the original on a pedestal you might want to skip it. But if you can let it go, it's a fun ride.
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