Why is this movie low rated?
-
brushfyr — 14 years ago(September 15, 2011 03:30 PM)
Everything is subjective, and not everyone likes the same thing.
Personally I didn't like the movie, other then Ron Pearlman and the guy doing Abe.
I liked the comic book, not an obsessive fan but it's nice that Mike Mignola was doing wanted instead of doing other people's characters.
I also liked most of del Toro's work, liked Chronos despite it being low budget, and thought Mimic was great, loved Pan's Labrynth. Didn't bother with Blade because they looked kind of stupid. I was going to pick up his vampire novel but found out the vampires have 6 ft long tongues, which doesn't seem like a vampire. I know he likes weird things, but at some point it's just to damn goofy.
As far as this movie, first they added some nonsense that since Hellboy will live for so long that despite being 'born' 60 odd years ago he's closer to a teenager in attitude. That was just needless, someone decised to make kids like the character was to make him more relatable in the most absurd way.
I also hated Jeffrey Tambor's character, it was also needless, the most simple minded character ever - the dickish boss. He's added nothing, they could have conflict with better characterization but Tambor is jut onscreen to be booed.
Also in the comics, there are alot of weird things that are general knowledge. The BPRD is well known, hence the insignia. If it's a super secret underground group no need for an insignia. The whole 'secret monsters running amock' crap is pretty played out, and honestly in the age of youtube and cell phones that take pictures it wouldn't stay secret for long. You could say people who posted Hellboy pictures would be considered crazy like UFO nuts but that's kind of how people found out about him in the movie, plus the whole purpose is to keep people from finding out would be ruined as some people would start to think something's up.
And really, considering that they deal with things that could kill millions, being super duper double secret noone knows us doesn't make sense. The FBI doesn't publish and names and pictures of all their agents but people know who they are. If an FBI agent shows up at your door you're not going to seriously say "who? never heard of you guys!". So people knowing who the BPRD is cuts down on the whole "ok, you've never heard of us but trust the fish man and devil person, we're obviously here to help you!" it was yet another needless element added because noone thought the storyline through to realize the cliche doesn't make sense.
This seemed like a movie geared towards 14 years more then a well done action movie. Costumes and sets were cool, story was lacking.
SOmeone said that some people had problems with scenes that are silly considering the character is red with horns. Really, Hellboy's look doesn't bother me, I watched alot of horror and scifi, read alot of comics as a kid, so it is possible for something with Hellboy to be to silly.
What if the did a Bollywood song and dance scene before the fights? What if Hellboy can jump high be have super sulferous farts? Passes gas and he goes up 20 feet! What do you mean it's to silly he's red and has horns! Why not have it turn out that Abe is Hellboy's father? Why not that was the best scene in Empire Strikes Back, sure they're no enemies, but noone will see it coming! It's going to be awesome!! -
TheManInOil — 14 years ago(October 12, 2011 03:52 PM)
It's got some cool monsters in it and it's well-made, but what it comes down to is that the story is weak and convoluted.
"I'll book you. I'll book you on something. I'll find something in the book to book you on." -
redpetals — 12 years ago(July 25, 2013 12:06 AM)
Because unless you have read the comic books, the movie doesn't really explain how Hellboy came into being and why he was a good guy. There is quite a bit missing about how he grew up.
There was little for me to imagine on how Hellboy came to be before Meyers arrived. I am not saying it should be the movie makers' job, but was I required to read the comic books? The characters appear only how they are now in this one epic adventure we, the audience, have with them. Do you as a viewer feel that way when you watch
Indiana Jones
, or any other kind of action film about a hero? Even in
Apocolypse Now
, the film opened with a very intimate reveal of the main character's inner struggle and how susceptible mentally he could be to the antagonist's hostile ideas. Watching
Hellboy
, I absorbed more of HB's quirks, inclination to being jealous, and cute interests (e.g. cat lover, nacho lover, etc.). The scenes with his father did not impress me as much as I got out of his hanging out in his bedroom, punching monsters, or stalking Meyers with Liz.
I somehow felt it an important theme, the relationship between Hellboy and his father, how Hellboy grew up, yet I was not given any of it.
Nevertheless, I thought the depth of the characters' relationship were meant to be subtle(e.g. the friendship between Abe and HB, the love between Liz and HB, the dislike between the cigar man and HB). Subtle. Like, I need to take for granted there is a lot more to the individual characters, and they're not just part of a predictable plot in a well made film. I think the director made the character's need for each other clear; he made their love and pain clear. But something was missing to make the characters a part of me, or remind me they're complex. I think you would like this movie if you really, really love the red guy. -
carmmm4 — 12 years ago(March 13, 2014 08:13 PM)
I think this movie is ranked far too highly.
I loved Pan's Labyrinth. It had atmosphere, suspense, and incredible drama. (no spoilers) I found myself in tears, even understanding that it ended the only way that it could or should have ended.
That being said, Hellboy was NO Pan's Labyrinth! I didn't really enjoy it much at all. I just watched it for the first time this week and found it disjointed and difficult to get into. I didn't really relate to or care about the characters and the presentation of the mythology just didn't work for me. It had a lot of potential, but so much of it wouldn't have made a difference for me had they replaced Hellboy with the Hulk. (Hellboy smash bad guy! Hellboy angry! Hellboy like pretty girl. Yawn.)
I feel like I gave this movie a fair shake. I saw it three separate times this week, in case I had just missed something. I just don't see the brilliance here. -
fredpaii — 10 years ago(May 17, 2015 11:05 PM)
I believe it's got low ratings because people go into it expecting it to be something it's not. Hellboy has humanity, warmth, and humor. I'm guessing those are traits that watchers of this genre aren't so fond of.
-
Thinking_Stardust — 9 years ago(May 14, 2016 03:09 PM)
I liked it for the same reason I liked any Riddick movie: despite all the cheesiness the movie/franchise may have (Uh, "necromongers"? Really?), the main character is such a damn cool bad-ass, it kinda saves the whole thing.
-
DracTarashV — 9 years ago(May 15, 2016 07:11 PM)
Whether it's because of the usual dissatisfied comic fans or people who simply didn't think it was executed very well, the rating for these kinds of fantasy films always seem to be low on this site. I myself think it could've been more interesting story wise, but overall, I love it. The humor, the action, the production values, the effects, and of course the star of the movie are all fantastic. It's a visually pleasing movie that's tons of fun.
You want something corny? You got it! -
prplayer — 9 years ago(August 27, 2016 02:27 PM)
the movie is visually appealing but i found the story and the characters not very interesting, especially Selma Blair's character and her forced romance with Hellboy
still it's a decent movie, and its sequel too
so many movies, so little time