Hellboy (2004)

Very favorable impression. I like the moral of choice at the end very much (it's my mantra for fictional characters). Unfortunately because of the premise, I know it's not sustainable for the future. But it was the right ending for this movie, and if I were in charge it would also be the ending for the last movie (which may never happen).

I was very much impressed with the bonding moment between Hellboy and Manning over lighting the cigar, because I did not remotely expect it between them when it happened. It's amazing, Hellboy's been on Earth for 60 years, and Manning is the first person kind enough to bother teaching him the proper way to light a cigar. And Manning's a grade A buttmunch. Tells us how everybody else treats Hellboy.

I like that right before Rasputin kills Broom and shows him the grim future, Broom calls Hellboy his son anyways. Which says a lot of good things about Broom.

I love how jealous Hellboy gets of Liz and Meyer. His stuff with the kid was a scream.

I would be remiss to point out that this movie is perhaps the greatest triumph of casting in Hollywood history. It's not just a triumph because Perlman was the right guy for the role. It's because Guillermo Del Toro believed that so fully, he actually fought for him. The studios wanted a big name for the big-budget effects tentpole, not the second lead of an obscure 80's TV soap that wore lion make-up the entire time. But Del Toro refused to budge, and Hollywood actually made a big-budget effects movie in which Ron Perlman actually got top billing. I like that very much. I think he's perfect for the role, but even if there WAS someone out there better than him (it's possible, name actors tend to actually be good) I love him because Del Toro decided it was him, and that's the end of it. And if you ask me, that's how all movies should be cast. Names should be irrelevant in every single casting for a movie like this. If you ask me, if you need a big star to gets seats for your picture, what you REALLY need is a better picture. Del Toro believes he has that and I think he's right.

So I really enjoyed that. It was a lot of fun. ****.