Hellboy (2004) Dir: Guillermo del Toro
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Modern superhero movies are fun sure, but there's simply do not have that same "comic book" feel, for which films of the genre in the 2000s thrived upon. What's more, having an acclaimed director such as Guillermo del Toro at the helm, means there will most definitely be some excellent physical effects and intriguing creature-heavy fantasy.
Unsurprisingly, this was exactly the case in this 2004 action fantasy film. The physical effects were perfectly in keeping with the film's del Toro-esque aesthetic as well as the original 90s comics, however, the CGI was subpar at best.
As you can imagine, there is a lot of action sequences, which are, for the most part, enjoyable. There are times where the aforementioned CGI does ruin scenes, but the majority of action the sequences are solid.
There were some entertaining moments of comedy that I enjoyed a lot, with most of the jokes landing well. In terms of narrative, that is really the weak point of the film.
It meanders and lacks any real depth, other than a handful of small moments. I also found it irritating that certain scenes, which should have felt like big events in the story, almost felt insignificant - especially in the third act.
Ron Perlman stars as the hellacious antihero protagonist, and, in my view, is a really strong casting choice. I really enjoyed his dry delivery and off-hand remarks, which landed very well. He also manages to convey the emotional side of his character with a surprising amount of subtlety and sincerity.
Selma Blair has a bit more of an inconsistent showing here - she does have some strong moments, but her overall performance is diluted by some equally mediocre ones.
Rupert Evans was rather plain compared to his co-stars - he lacked any real charisma, but did occasionally provide some well delivered lines. That said, he failed to resonate me in any meaningful way.
Doug Jones, a physical effects legend, does what he does best, by providing a very good performance as one of del Toro's mysterious creatures. He is always value for money, and his showing here is no exception. I would go so far to say he is my favourite character.
Another acting legend in John Hurt has a relatively substantial supporting role, and shows moments of real quality, particularly in the first half of the film. However, I wouldn't say this is one of his premier performances by any means.
I'll also mention Karol Roden, Jeffrey Tambor and Bridget Hodson, whom all had good moments in their roles of varying significance.
Overall, this is a fun, yet somewhat mediocre comic book film that lives and dies by its action sequences, with poor CGI and a rather lacklustre story holding this back from being a truly classic of a now saturated genre.
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