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The Nazis—the world's most popular big screen villains—are back in this week's most popular new movie. The story begins during World War II, as Hitler's minions attempt to harness the power of the paranormal. Led by that resilient Russian villain Grigory Rasputin, they attempt to open a portal to another, darker dimension. But Allied forces arrive just in time to upset this otherworldly experiment, foiling Rasputin's plans—but not before a childlike demon jumps into this world. The Allies capture the little imp and train him up to be a redeemed devil who devotes his life to saving the world from supernatural bad guys. His name, appropriately, is Hellboy.

Guillermo Del Toro's adaptation of Mike Mignola's comic book series brings to life a conflict of good versus evil. The "good guys" belong to the United States Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. The bad guys, who have varying methods of cheating death, are trying to invite some particularly nasty alien forces called the Seven Gods of Chaos down to earth to wreak havoc.

As comic book films go, Hellboy may prove particularly interesting to religious moviegoers. It boasts more religious symbolism than any comic-movie yet produced. Our enormous, crimson-skinned hero has a fondness for pizza and kittens, but he also carries rosary beads the way other heroes carry secret weapons.

The idea of Satan being opposed by one of his own raises interesting questions. Unfortunately, Hellboy fails to explore them. The movie has more in common with Ghostbusters and Men in Black than it does with any story about true spiritual conflict. Religious symbolism lends it an air of importance, but it's not much more than a live-action cartoon about a sarcastic, grouchy hero who goes around smashing big ugly monsters. While the high points of the films are the quieter moments of character development, these are drowned out by a lot of noisy chaotic action that is not particularly interesting or inventive.

My full review is at Christianity Today Movies.

"Watching Hellboy makes you appreciate all that the X-Men movies, Spider-Man, and even Hulk got right," says Steven D. Greydanus (Decent Films). He is disappointed at the film's failure to acknowledge the spiritual questions at its center. He also observes that Del Toro fails to provide "vivid and memorable villains … an intriguing and clever story … well-rounded supporting characters and meaningful relationships."

Steven Isaac (Plugged In) says, "There are emotional interludes, clever character development and plenty of subtext. The clear message that it matters more how you end things than how you start them is a good one. As is the idea that none of us have to remain slaves to our evil inclinations. But non-stop violence and nods to necromancy should dissuade discerning families from bonding with this horned boy from (way) down under."

Michael Elliott (Movie Parables) cautions families not to rush off to this film, due to its focus on paranormal activity and heavy violence. But he adds, "Surprisingly, Christian messages are communicated quite clearly during the course of the film. We don't have horns or a tail, but our story is similar. We were born dead in sins, subject to the god of this world and his evil ways. Our Father loved us enough to give us a choice as well as the ability to turn away from the evil and embrace the good."

William Foote (Christian Spotlight) says, "Hellboy continues the same humanistic world view theme that we have seen so frequently in recent comic book movies, i.e., man is morally good and has the power to prevail over evil."

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April (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48