Animated Hellboy - Damn, That Was Good Stuff!

[thedeadlyhook]

Huh, that was interesting. Toys and I were just watching the two Hellboy Animated movies on Cartoon Network (there was a marathon tonight) and they were both infinitely superior to the Hellboy 2 movie that I recently bitched about. As in, they were actually like the comics, right down to some of the most memorable imagery and the loveable Office-esque character interactions. There's also more than one female character, and they actually talk about, y'know, work. Such as actual supernatural research, as in the name of the organization, the Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense.

And real supernatural mythology, too - the film set in Japan featured real Japanese yokai, folklorish monsters, instead of the usual made-up stuff that Hollywood trots out.

Although... I'm damned if I can figure out why the animation was so good and the live-action film so lame. Largely the same creative staff all around, right down to the voice work. Maybe Mike Mignola is just a really laid-back guy who lets people do whatever with his property, and the animation guy just happens to be a bigger fan? Who knows.

But for those interested in why the Hellboy issue irks me so much - here's the driving philosophy behind Hellboy that I respond to.

It's a nature versus nurture story. Hellboy's origin is that he's the son of a major demon, summoned to this plane by Nazi scientists to help Hitler conquer the world. Additionally, he's the central feature of a prophecy about the Apocalypse, namely that he'll bring it about with his stone "right hand of fate."

But none of this matters to Hellboy because he was raised by a nice kindly old man who fed him pancakes and gave him a happy childhood.

Hellboy loves this world. That's why he fights. It's worth more to him than being a big cheese in hell.

That's worth something to me, message-wise. I'm tired of nihilistic, "oh, the word sucks" messages, especially for heroes. I want to hear what they're fighting for.

Boom-deyadda.

Oh, and damn, ABC Family (we're checking out Tim Burton's original Batman movie, which I haven't seen in years, for nostalgia value - shut up) just played a trailer for some new series called Samurai Girl, and now I'm dying to see it. All on the strength of one gag where some white girl (college roommate?) finds the Japanese heroine hiding in her closet for some reason, and reacts with "I thought you were that dead girl from The Grudge!" Bwah. Plus there's posing with weapons and beach-exercise-fu ala Karate Kid. I can't resist.

At this time next week, I'll be at San Diego Comic-Con. I haven't been in about three years, and I've been warned that "it's gotten more corporate." More than it was? Like, as in the year they drove a full-size Batmobile onto the dealer floor? My mind boggles.

I sorta can't wait. The bargain bins, they wait for my searching fingers. I have back issues that need finding, particularly anything featuring Hannibal King.

Comments

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

Speaking of youkai, I had started reading a series called Rosario + Vampire. It involves a youkai high school, in which the main male characters end up their by accident. It is probably not the best manga out their, and it is typical supernatural, high school, harem story. Though a few of the characters caught my interest, and I have enjoyed the story. My favorite character is a snow woman called Mizore. I also like the main male character Tsukune, he is in love with a vampire girl with a split personality.
He had been taking her blood to save her and the other girls. It got the point where he was turned into a ghoul. It's not everyday that a guy will go that far to protect those he loves.
I also like the youngest character who is a witch, she is 11 years old. And wants to have a threesome with Tsukune and Moka the vampire. Something about that just hits my funny bone, the story will also self parody when dealing with manga. So I have enjoyed it, I have no idea if it is a good series or not.
The anime of it isn't so great either, I prefer the manga. But it is light hearted, and it has Mizore.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Hmm! Sounds fun; I'll take a look at the manga. Thanks for the rec!

[wenchsenior.livejournal.com]

Didn't have time to comment on your "Hellboy" review, but you described and explained the immense irritation I felt watching that movie. I really enjoyed the first movie, so it was an unpleasant let-down.

It was a very cool world, but that was about it. Dialogue was mostly flat, editing and pacing were for crap, and they seemed to be trying to explore ambiguous themes about loyalty but did such a poor job that it all came out a muddle. And I lost count of the obvious rip-offs by the "Princess Mononoke" sequence...I think I was already into double-digits, and by the end of the film I was sure there hadn't been original idea presented.

Now I'm very concerned about del Toro directing "The Hobbit." I just read a quote by him in EW that "all movies should be designed like animation, where style is the substance." Perhaps he truly is referring just to the design element and not the actual story or themes of a film, but that quote makes me really twitchy.

How is it getting getting good reviews? Weird.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Gah, I'd forgotten about him directing The Hobbit. Yeah, that doesn't bode as well now, although maybe the straightfoward structure of Tolkein's story (it is, after all, practically the ur-quest tale upon which every Dungeons-'n-Dragons-style followup has been templated) will help with that. I hope.

[herself_nyc]

Huh, that does sound interesting.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

The comics are top-notch; I highly recommend the collections of Mignola's early Hellboy strips that cover his origin. The animated movies, although more generic-looking in terms of art style, really do capture the characters and tone of the comics. The only animation that actually looks like Mignola's work is The Amazing Screw-On Head, which I think has only aired on TV a couple of times on odd occasions.

[herself_nyc]

OK! I'll look for them.

[yourlibrarian]

When you said "corporate" I had to laugh because I've only been to ComicCon once, 5 years ago, and that was pretty obvious. I would have gone with "crowded." There's plenty to see and do, assuming you can get from place to place in time and the presentations aren't already shutting people out.

There's a lot going on this year though, so it should be fun.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

We're only going to be there for the first couple of days, so that should help at least a little with the crowds - Saturday and Sunday were always the worst, as I recall. At any rate, I'm not expecting a lot - I've been to Comic-Con so many times it's not a novelty anymore, and if I can't get into panels I'd like to see, c'est la vie. I'm all about the back-issue dealers this year, and meeting up with people I only ever seem to see at this kind of venue.

[monkey-junkey.livejournal.com]

Well Hollywood studios have certainly latched onto the fact that SDCC is more or less a free buzz generator. I don't have much comparison to the past though as I only discovered 3 years ago that I was in fact an adult with my own credit cards and keys so didn't make the trek 'til then :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the Hollywood presence has been getting stronger every year for awhile now, but since I've been out of the loop I'm curious to see how big it's really gotten now. Anything I should be looking out for, by way of Stargate tchotchkes or merch?

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

SD Con is just much, much bigger, and a large part of it is about promoting movies now -- most of them comic movies or fantasy or something under that broad umbrella. For the most part, I think that's cool. The booths for the heavy comics hitters (DC, Image, etc.) aren't booths at all anymore - they're environments four aisles square, towering constructions with lighting effects and stuff.

Because of the press of humanity, it takes a hell of a long time to navigate the exhibition hall. Actual comics sellers (muhahaha! *rubs hands*) are usually located at each end and around the sides, along with the T shirt sellers and the people who peddle painted unicorns and scrying balls and such. The only place where the choking throng thins up is Artist's Alley, which is so sad. :(

More than it was? Like, as in the year they drove a full-size Batmobile onto the dealer floor? My mind boggles.

Oh, yes. Much more of that kind of thing -- bigger! Wilder! Crazier! It's pretty fun, in its way, in terms of crass spectacle. :)

If only it weren't so crowded. There are lots of cool panels and sneak previews, but the lines are so long you either have to camp out for a big event and miss a bunch of other stuff, or wait at the end of a huge snaking line and maybe have the room fill before you get in.

(Props to the Buffy singalong people last year -- when they realized they had one third the space they needed for the crowd, they cajoled two more rooms, somehow found two more projectors, and managed to drive on.)

I'm hoping to see some Watchmen... something, but I can just imagine hgow mobbed that will be.

Oh, yeah, bring food -- granola bars or whatever. Keep them on your person. Really. ;)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Good tip on the food - I've already stocked up on some snacks, and I guess I'll plan to hit the Safeway when we get there for water and whatnot. And I guess we'll have to arrange some kind of way to meet up once there, since I don't have a cell phone. : ( It doesn't sound like it'd be much of an idea to just hope we'll run into you!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

Bring my cell number with you, I'll have it on me always. I send it to you in email in case you don't have it handy.

When are you arriving? I'll just be kicking around Wednesday evening, as I don't think Astrid will arrive until midnight or so.

How about fish tacos at Anthony's? It's near the Maritime Museaum on the waterot. Say 5-ish? Or lunch there on Thursday at noon?

(The Watchemen trailer! Aiyeeee! I saw it and geeked! Ahhhhh!)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

I think we do have your cell number, so we'll bring that along. Maybe we'll be able to borrow a phone for the weekend from the relatives. And we're arriving on Wednesday night too, although we'll be staying way out in the 'burbs with family and taking the bus in for the con, so maybe lunch on Thursday is the way to go. I'm pretty sure I know the restaurant you're talking about, too - it's in that little maritime village by the Marriot, yeah?

I haven't seen anything for Watchmen yet, so I'm completely unspoiled so far. Great to hear that it looks good!

[jwaneeta.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I know the restaurant you're talking about, too - it's in that little maritime village by the Marriot, yeah?

No, it's farther down the boardwalk, past the big docked aircraft carrier ship/museum. If you need a steer, just ask any of the bicycle rickshaw dudes.

Call me Wednesday night and I'll give you crystal directions. :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Will do!

Just checked out the Watchmen trailer on the Apple site. I have to admit, it looks pretty cool. Although from the trailer, it almost seems like the entire thing was filmed in slow motion. Hee.

[asta77.livejournal.com]

You're going to Comic Con? Can I ask you a favor? If and only if it doesn't disrupt your plans or take you out of your way. Jamie Bamber has a direct to DVD horror flick coming out, Pulse 2: Afterlife. Genius Products (the distributor) and The Weinstein Company (the production company - technically, Dimension Extreme is the production company) have a booth. Jamie is suppose to be there on Saturday from 11:00am until 1:00pm. No, I am not going to ask you to line up for me since I already have autographs from him, but if you happen to be by the booth anytime during the weekend (Booth #3945 - across from the SciFi booth) and they have some Pulse freebies, could you grab me some? I'll pay you back for shipping or whatever. Or maybe there won't be stuff. I have no clue. I was just able to zero in on when Jamie would be there.

Also, if there is any BSG merchandise you see I might like. ;)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Can do, I'm on it! We're gonna be there on first day, so I'll see what I can snag for you. Hopefully they'll have all the good stuff out right at the beginning and we can make an easy score.

And is there any particular BSG merch you already have or don't want that I should avoid?

[asta77.livejournal.com]

Wheeeee!!! Thank you! :)

It's funny, I was exchanging emails with Jamie's publicist today (yes, my life is strange) and he's hoping to find out more about 'Pulse 2' after Comic Con. Hee!

Well, you know I'd be partial to any merchandise showcasing Lee...or Laura. ;) I pretty much like everyone on the show and I don't have a ton of merchandise so I'm pretty open when it comes to swag. ;) I do have coffee cup and travel mug, DVDs, and CDs, but that's about it.

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Check and check! I'll see what I can find for you.

[toysdream.livejournal.com]

And real supernatural mythology, too - the film set in Japan featured real Japanese yokai, folklorish monsters, instead of the usual made-up stuff that Hollywood trots out.

It still cracks me up that, no sooner had you wondered whether we'd get that one-eyed umbrella monster, than the animators promptly delivered. My personal favorite would probably be the Kappa that shriveled up like a Fiji Mermaid after Hellboy dangled it upside-down and drained all the water out of its head. :-)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, yes. I was pretty pleased to see the sandal spirits too, the long-necked spirit and the floating flames.