World Famous Comics: Hellboy - Blood and Iron (Animated)
Hellboy - Blood and Iron (Animated)
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, John Hurt, Doug Jones, Peri Gilpin Directed By: Victor Cook, Tad Stones Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Audience Rating: Unrated Binding: DVD Format: Animated, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Starz / Anchor Bay Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: June 12, 2007 Running Time: 75 minutes Theatrical Release Date: March 10, 2007
Amazon.com: In some ways, Blood and Iron captures more of graphic novelist Mike Mignola's original vision than Guillermo del Toro's lackluster feature did in 2004. Hellboy, the demon brought into this world by the Nazis, but raised by "Professor Broom" to fight for good, was conceived as a drawing, not an actor buried under make-up and latex. The story, which incorporates elements from Mignola's "Wake the Devil" collection, sends Hellboy, Abe Sapien, Liz Sherman, and Prof. Broom to the haunted mansion of a vulgar millionaire. Hoping to cash in on the supernatural angle, he's filled the house with relics of "Blood Countess" Erzsebet Ondrusko (based on the 16th century Hungarian noblewoman Elizebeth Bathory), whom Prof. Broom defeated in 1939. It's really haunted, and the gang tackles harpies, ghosts, witches, werewolves, vampires, and the goddess Hecate. The key actors from the live action film repeat their roles as voices: Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Selma Blair (Liz), Doug Jones (Abe), and John Hurt (Broom). Perlman makes a suitably underplayed Hellboy, growling his annoyance at everything from a bad donut to a vicious blow from the iron-clad goddess. The limits of the animation would be less problematic if the direction were more dynamic. Tad Stones and Victor Cook don't get the needed power out of the action sequences, especially the prolonged battle between Hellboy and Hecate. It would be interesting to see what a talented director like Kazuhiro Furuhashi (Ruruoni Kenshin) or Hiroyuki Okiura (Jin-Roh) would do with this material. Blood and Iron will appeal to some "Hellboy" fans, but it lacks the dark panache of the original books. (Unrated, suitable for ages 14 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, potentially offensive religious imagery) --Charles Solomon
Product Description: When Hellboy Liz Sherman and Abe Sapien are assigned to investigate the ghost-infested mansion of a publicity-hound billionaire they uncover a plot to resurrect a beautiful yet monstrous vampire from Professor Bruttenholm s past. But before they can stop her bloodbath Hellboy will have to battle harpies hellhounds a giant werewolf and even the ferocious goddess Hecate herself.How much crap does a guy have to take from a Hungarian Blood Countess before he and his surrogate father can avenge the souls of the damned? It s going to take more than just a horde of very pissed-off demons for our heroes to see the light in this animated adventure from Creative Producers GuillermoDel Toro (writer/director of the HELLBOY movie) and Mike Mignola (creator of HELLBOY comics) now loaded with all-new Bonus Features.Bonus Features:Widescreen Presentation (1.78:1) Enhanced for 16x9 TVsReversal of Fortune: Professor Broom's StoryTales From the Tomb: A Look Inside Blood & IronIron Shoes: The Animated Debut with Introduction by Mike MignolaThe Penanggalan: An E-Comic Exclusive with introduction by Mike MignolaAudio Commentary featuring Mike Mignola Tad Stones and Vic CookRuntime: 75 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ANIMATION/ADULT SWIM Rating: NR UPC: 013138207784 Manufacturer No: P2077
Could be more, but still fun to watch. In the end, the main thrust of the story is largely dealt with by Professor Broom while the rest of his team fights off the other evils in the area. Hellboy himself gets a much more spectacular fight, but it is with a monster that almost seems added as an afterthought when they realized they didn't have enough for him to do.
Taking that into account, though, the story is fun enough to watch and Ron Perlman's wry delivery of Hellboy's lines is always fun. There is nobody who could give life to this character other than Perlman.
The animation is well done and the story moves along with efficient pacing. One thing that could prove confusing to some (though I found it an intriguing story device) is the use of flashback in this episode. The main story moves forward, but the flashbacks move progressively backward. It has the effect of putting both a beginning and an end at both the beginning and the end of the movie.
Another good addition to the Hellboy franchise... Finally got to check out the second Hellboy animated movie. I came away from it the same as I did the first. It was good, but I'm sure true Hellboy fans are the ones who really appreciate this. The animation is solid and the NR rating leaves it open for plenty of blood but not as much violence as you might think. The story about the vampire queen trying to make her return was interesting; though a little slow at times. Even though I realize part of the plot involves the vampire queen making a deal with the goddess Hecate to return, it still seemed a little forced at the end when we resolve the vampire's story only to go into a big battle between Hecate and Hellboy. Don't' get me wrong, it was a cool battle, it just seemed a bit forced into the story. Overall, I like the characters and will continue to support any projects that come out, but I doubt I'll ever become a true fan.
Yep! It's that good...even better than the first. What else can be said? There's a lot of very good reviews already here, and I'm not sure what I can add, except to say that after seeing the first live action movie (and I'm looking forward to the second one!), I got interested in checking out the original source material (i.e., Mike Mignola's excellent comic) and the auxillary things that have been done along those lines, most of which have also been first-rate (the prose short stories, novels, and other creators' comics versions).
But, of all of the different Hellboy "universes" out there, I'm actually beginning to enjoy the animated movies most of all (sorry, Mike!), largely because a) Professor Bruttenholm (how it's pronounced "Broom" I'll never understand) is still alive and active in Hellboy's life, which is very good for characterization possibilities, and b) while combining aspects from the comics universe more than any other (such as the BPRD's move to new digs in the Colorado mountains from their original Connecticut HQ [NOT New Jersey, though Jersey is, I guess, a funnier location]), the animated universe is a bit more, oh, _cheery_, than the current direction of the comics, and the movies just keep getting better as they go. I can't help it, I'm a sucker for happy endings, or at least satisfactory ones. Yes, Mike, one needs to put one's protagonist in tough situations for dramatic conflict, but jeez! Give the poor guy a break once in a while, can't ya?
I'd like to see an origins storyline (perhaps in the third animated, dealing with Lobster Johnson in the 40's), or even a romantic idea for the Big Red Monkey. But not Hecate; she's just not his type (and if you're not sure about that last, read the second graphic novel, "Wake the Devil." It's a good one [and at a nice price at Amazon!]. Aw, heck, get them all; you won't regret it!). ;->
Another great animated Hellboy movie! The Red monster hero Hellboy (Voiced by Ron Perlman) with his friends Liz (Selma Blair) and Abe (Doug Jones) are back! this time they are joined by Hellboy's father figure Professor Broom(John Hurt) to travel to Hungary where they investigate a haunted mansion. Of course along time ago, Professor Broom was there in Hungary once as he defeated a lovely but deadly vampire named Erszebeth as right now she has been brought back to life bringing hell in the Hungarian town. Now the team must face Harpies, Werewolves, ghosts, demons, and a powerful goddess named Hecate.
Excellent sequel to the first animated movie that has quality animation and great voice acting by the cast especially Ron Perlman's character! Hellboy creator Mike Migola and Hellboy movie director Guillermo Del Toro produced this movie and it's true to the comics themselves much like the phenomenal live-action movie. If you like the live-action movie, the comics and the first animated movie then i suggest you see this one! it's a great appetizer for the next installment and the sequel to the live-action movie coming out summer 2008.
This DVD has some good extras like "Reversal of Fortune" which has the flashbacks of Professor Broom in their correct order from the movie, "Tales from the Tomb" featurette, "Iron Shoes" a Hellboy animated short with introduction by Mike Mignola, "The Penanggalon" interactive comic with introduction by Mike Mignola and audio commentary.
Animated Hellboy returns Blood and Iron, the second direct-to-DVD release of the animated Hellboy, improves upon the first for me. The first was not bad, but this one just had more of what I wanted. First of all, Prof. Broom plays a large part in this one, and the flashback sequences they show of him were pretty cool. Kate from the first movie shows up only briefly but Broom's presence more than makes up for that.
Plus the haunted mansion in this is the perfect location to throw this team in. There's vampires, werewolves, ghosts and witches. What more could you ask for? There's a good amount of action and usually the humour works although sometimes it seems like it tries too hard.
The flashbacks are what help elevate this effort as well, playing them backward ala Memento (which the creators admit they got the idea from, so I'll let it slide). The features on this set aren't as in depth as the last movie but better than nothing at all. Plus there's also the mini comic that it comes with. A good movie for Hellboy and comic book animation fans alike.
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