Cool News
The First Piece Of HELLBOY Production Art!!! My God, Tis Cool!
Alright folks... Harry here. I'm friends with the director of this film. Guillermo Del Toro. I've known him for over a year now, and we're quite close. And ya know.... When people insinuate that the reason I like HELLBOY, or that I want HELLBOY made is because it benefits a 'friend'. Well... It kinda angers me.
Ya see, there is a reason I like HELLBOY and why I think Guillermo Del Toro is perfect for the film. It's got nothing to do with the cars he hasn't bought me, or the women he never procures for me. Nope non-benefits of his friendship have nothing to do with it. As a matter of fact. He doesn't do that sort of thing. He's just an obsessed obese film geek like me, except with a charming wife and child. HOWEVER...
The reason I want to see HELLBOY made is because after HOURS (which if all added up would total... oh... let's say 4 weeks times 24 hours... It's alot.) of talking with Guillermo, having read his script, seen his sketches and concepts.... Well, I KNOW he KNOWS how to make the coolest damn Comic Book / Action / Adventure / Horror film ever made.
For the past two weeks I've been in mortal hell. Guillermo called me up said... "Hey Harry, come over you have to see THIS" So I hopped in Kirby (my car) and drove out to behold the original of this JPG. I pleaded with Guillermo... "PLEASE YOU HAVE TO LET ME TAKE THIS PAINTING HOME TO SCAN!!!!" But the fat bastard wouldn't let me. He said, "NO IT STAYS ON MY WALL... THE ART IS MINE, ONLY MY EYES SEE IT FOR NOW!!!"... Why? Because... Well, ya know... IT FUCKING ROCKS!!!!! There ain't no bone picking about it. And if I could convince Guillermo to let me show EVERYTHING else, you would just start jizzing all over the computer screen.
That fella in the torn overcoat below wouldn't need a damn lightsaber to split Darth Maul in half.... Hell he'd just tear him like a Seymour Phone Book. (Obscure home town reference.... sorry) Looking at this piece of pre-production art can you tell me you DON'T want the toy.... NOW!!!! That you DON'T want to see this movie... NOW!!! Because for the past two weeks I've been a friggin pit-bull yanking at my chain, frothing at the mouth wanting to pull an armored heist to finance the goddamn thing!!!
The problems with the film? Well gosh, after the release of MATRIX, the big question was... But where does Keanu fit in? WHO THE HELL GIVES A RAT'S ASS ABOUT KEANU WHEN YA GOT HELLBOY?!?!?!?!? He's cooler than a guy in a leather coat shooting a gun. Hell, if he hits ya... you don't make a dent in the wall... You go through the wall, through the next wall, through the next wall, out the side of the building, through 4 plate glass windows at Neiman Marcus', unhinging a fire hydrant and imbedded into the side of a friggin BUS! SCREW that panty waste wussy kungfu.... I want to see HELLBOY take down that damn demon below!
At the same time, the story has CHARACTERS.... with more than 2 dimensions... How novel eh? It's got a plot that takes us to many many cool places. It's got weepy moments, hardcore action horror boner-inducing screaming as loud as ya can in the movie theater whilst spilling your drink moments, it's got laughs and it's got real honest to goodness non-over the top villians that make Hannibal Lecter seem like Adam Sandler's WEDDING SINGER.
And ya know what? Besides HELLBOY, ya got Liz and Abe! And in Guillermo's hands with the freedom he didn't have with MIMIC, this film will get ya to grit your teeth so tight you'll need new caps on them.
With THE MUMMY, which was pretty half-assed looking like it'll pull in $150 to $160 million domestic... You'd have to be INSANE not to make us this movie. Personally.... If I had the money I'd be on the horn about 5 minutes after I stopped drooling at the picture below and get this movie on the SUMMER 2000 track... like NOW. Stop diddling with yourselves and get moving. You have a big red cash cow cool as hell movie just awaiting to rake it in. MAKE THIS MOVIE!
Ahem.... Breathe in.... Breathe out.... Sigh. You see folks... I just want to see this done right.... once. We're getting closer. And it's a project like this that will.... get the others all on track. Reading fans thoughts my entire life, I've come to notice a sense of hopefull despair. Everytime they get their hopes up for a comic film, they have to put up with somebody reinventing the wheel. Changing the entire concept. Setting it in a post-apocalyptic future. Making the nerdy photographer a handsome super model. Taking away his skull shirt. Cheaping out at every possible corner... Well... DAMMIT. It ends here. This time we got Larry Gordon and Lloyd Levin (of the upcoming MYSTERY MEN) producing.
Guillermo doesn't have a passing fancy with comics. THE HALLS OF HIS HOUSE ARE LINED WITH THE ORIGINAL ART! He's got over 60,000 comics! He can discuss in the most amazing detail the intricacies of panel number three on page 22 of the Bernie Wrightson/Spiderman vs THE THING looking monster graphic novel! HE'S A GEEK! A geek who happens to be a director that will kickass if given the reins. LET'S SEE HELLBOY NOW!!!
This is one of the preproduction 'Budgeting' pieces of art commissioned to obtain Special Effects quotes from various effects houses for HELLBOY!
Guillermo wants me to tell you people that if you have questions about this film... Send them to Abe_Sapien@hotmail.com and Guillermo or one of his agents at BPRD will get right back to you.... Well... they'll try anyways...
To answer some of the TALK BACK questions below...
Any word yet on whether the jolly red giant will be played by an au naturel actor or if they're they're
gonna computer generate his big red hobbit snot encrusted ass?
Well, the above image is part of the quest to answer that question. While I don't know all of the answers (as Guillermo does actually keep somethings from me... dammit) I do know that Guillermo is weighing the benefits of CGI as well as the drawbacks, along with the same goods and bads of practical. I know that Guillermo ultimately wants HELLBOY to be... REAL. He wants him to be a piece of cinematic magic, where from frame to frame you never wonder, "How'd they do that?" Instead he wants your thought to be on what Hellboy is doing, saying and feeling.
Simply saying a movie has a plot and characters does not make it so, and
when you spend more time drooling over what you think a drawn character can do to other drawn
characters than you do on explaining what exactly the movie is supposed to be about, and WHO it
is supposed to be about, well, I think you know just how big a piece of crap you will end up with.
Remember the Phantom Menace? Remember how Lucas jibed Godzilla with his "plot matters"
website, then released a movie in which plot took a backseat so far behind "comic relief" and
meaningless nonsense like blood tests and so forth that it was almost unwatchable?
A multi-part critical question of me and whether or not the project has the validity that I claim it has. Hmmm... Ok. Here we go. From time to time I might very well go off upon a fit of geekgasmic joy, but... I always come back to being centered on a project. The difference between HELLBOY and every other comic script I've read is it's not just about that hit I mention above in the body of my pre-painting orgasm. Instead it's about a passage of manhood. It's about a relationship of fathers and sons. It's about growing up and taking responsibility for you place in the grand scheme of things. It's about love between those that do not fit in. It's about new friendships and old ones. And Hellboy has concerns that he considers are more important than.... Getting the bad guy. Sure, he may be a great big red demon of a man, but at his center... He's quite human, and it's that anchor that really nails this story for me. He's ultimately not a big wrestler dyed red.... He's a regular guy who enjoys a beer, eats a hot dog, longs to find love, that wishes to lead a normal life.
Harry's a great guy to get you pumped up about a project, but is
there any explanation as to *why* those who don't know the comic (and especially those Universal
suits who're supposed to greenlight the thing theoretically!) should get all excited (like I am) to see
this film?
Yes, there is a reason. It's because people like you are excited to see this film. The fact of the matter is, unlike every comic book film that has come before (with the possible exception of SUPERMAN (but his villians in that first one were not correct) we haven't really gotten to the heart of these heroes. The thing I love in comic book heroes is their sense of mortality. When a hero's biggest weakness is that... he's human. He cares, he loves, he has desires. At the same time, because he exists in his particular universe he also has to deal with the very personification of our ID's greatest nightmares. Tenticled demons that will destroy you. Well... Great. That really screws with the hero's plan to live a nice normal life. He can't ignore it, cause innocents will die. SO he can't put his feet up on the livingroom table and play around on the internet... He has to take on this THING. The aspect to get excited about is this is the first superhero script that has characters that you would get wrapped up in, even if there were no demons, and no effects. They are engaging characters that make you care about them.
I want to know stuff
like which comic book arc (if any) is the script based on?
It's based upon the SEED OF DESTRUCTION plotline...
What stage are they in the development
of it?
The stage of getting it greenlit. A minor third draft polish is being written, and the corresponding re-budgeting of the film as well as advanced pre-production is continuing.
And my fanboy question, is the one and only Abe Sapien
gonna be in it?
Abe is not only going to be in it, and I'm glad you're an Abe fan as well cause so am I. Guillermo is determined to make sure Abe makes this film because he's Guillermo's second favorite thing about the comic. He's in the first third of the script.
Could My Ass Be Kicked Any Harder?
If your ass was kicked hard by that painting... you ain't seen nothing yet! Literally.
Also, be on the lookout for a 20 Questions Peter Jackson style about HELLBOY with GUILLERMO DEL TORO... Very soon. Don't send the questions yet, keep your eyes open for an announcement!
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This big red guy is not that cool. Darth Maul would still kick his ass, big-time. But I bet this will be a neat movie, and Harry's enthusiasm is infectious.
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...we know the stone fist is on the left hand as opposed to the right. It's intentional. And it's been blessed and approved by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola himself -- as has the screenplay. For more news and info, check out www.hellboy.com. Questions or comments? Write me.
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This is without a doupt the coolest non Mignola Hellboy pic I seen in my life. I look so forward to this film that I can
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Any word yet on whether the jolly red giant will be played by an au naturel actor or if they're they're gonna computer generate his big red hobbit snot encrusted ass?
(Personally I'd much rather see a CGI Hellpuppy than Ron Pearlman tear-assing around in a red lobster get-up) -
Christ! Not del Toro! Somebody get Schumacher on the phone.
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I just saw the HellBoy production drawing. Stellar! This is a movie that, in the hands of a director like Del Toro, would start a huge franchise. Like a chain reaction. Even my 5-year-old son read through every one of the comic books! The studios that don't pick this up will be kicking themselves in two years.
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...I know you're not much of a thinker, Harry, and your reputation for meaningless hyperbole somehow procedes you. However, even you have to realize that the idea that a single painting (and we're not talking any Rembrandt or even that Ross guy who used to teach painting on PBS) somehow reflects the quality of a proposed project is patently ridiculous. Everything you described in your... what was it, really, an orgasm?... seemed to me to describe precisely what is wrong with today's "blockbusters." Simply saying a movie has a plot and characters does not make it so, and when you spend more time drooling over what you think a drawn character can do to other drawn characters than you do on explaining what exactly the movie is supposed to be about, and WHO it is supposed to be about, well, I think you know just how big a piece of crap you will end up with. Remember the Phantom Menace? Remember how Lucas jibed Godzilla with his "plot matters" website, then released a movie in which plot took a backseat so far behind "comic relief" and meaningless nonsense like blood tests and so forth that it was almost unwatchable? It's time to stop saying we know how to make good movies, and just make them. Never mind the concept art and whatever nocturnal eructations it may inspire - let's nail down a script and an IDEA that will put discerning people in seats, then dress it up pretty for all the Harry's out there...
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I can only respond in the words of the immortal Dark Lord..."Impressive, Most Impressive!"
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Niiiiccccceee..... I am very ready for a movie like this. we need heros who kick ass. we all have been missing that in film lately. yeah, matrix was kinda cool in that dept, but it still bit off other better kungfu and japanimation flicks (hey, if you're gonna bite, at least bite something tasty, though, right?) lets get some original steelo going. harry is right to be excited. i say, with fingers crossed, "woo hoo." and i must add, del toro and friends will be getting many emails from me about casting - can a boy catch some hell around here? gimme a job... i can grab some skin dye, grow my horns out, put on a few pounds in the weight room, and it's on! unless harrys already got the job.....
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Those who have read the Hellboy comics know that this movie can be the rare occurance of fantastic big-budget special effects with a plot that will leave viewers breathless. I am a little to cynical to think a movie that can be this cool, will be without a studio throwing a wrench in the works. But, I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I highly recommend reading the comics to see an extremely well written, atmospheric comics which I hope will be an extremely well-written, atmospheric, cool-as-hellboy movie.
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You know, it amazes me how many people on Talk Back are on crack. I mean, here is a stunning vision of a movie the likes of which has never been seen, and too many of you are missing the point. I've just got to respond, in order: 1.) Are you a nine-year-old, Mr. Nice Guy? Imagine if there were a whole movie about Darth Maul, and he was actually a developed character who had more than two lines of dialogue and three scenes. Imagine if he were a hero you cared about, who kicked tons of demon ass. 2.) This post is a _very_ good sign. 3.) I agree 100%. 4.) Jim, you're missing the point -- this is a _pre-production_ painting! And it's _true_ to the comic book, only translated to 3D as opposed to Mignola's flat, 2D style! Do you have any IDEA what this represents? The fact that a pre-production painting _looks_ like a great comic book cover? THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!!! 5.) Now that's an interesting questions. Hopefully once Hellboy's greenlit we'll get a "20 Questions" thing going with Guillermo a la Peter Jackson. 6.) You are definitely on crack. Ever seen Cronos? Or the first half of Mimic? 7.) I agree 100%. 8.) Refer to #1 & #4, nimrod. 9.) Are you on crack? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? The script is fantastic! Haven't you been paying attention? Harry is _not_ insane (at least not in this case). You have NO IDEA how incredibly kick-ass and awesome this movie will be. And if you doubt the fact because AICN is reporting it, why are you reading us in the first place? 10.) See #4. Don't you _want_ to see the Thing by way of Ray Harryhausen? 11.) Exactly! 12.) Hey, two smart posts in a row! 13.) Did it ever occur to you that Harry is friends with people who are cool because they are actually cool in the first place? I mean, do you think he'd like Guillermo, Robert Rodriguez, etc. if they weren't? 14.) There's nothing wrong with wishful thinking. Keep hope alive! Make HELLBOY, dammit!
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True, the picture isn't typical Mignola fare ( I was really looking for a tentacle to tell the truth )but hopefully it'll get the point across. Oh and to anybody who doesn't really know who this guy is then find out. There hasn't been a character this original and this cool in a long time. As far as the Hellboy toy you were mentioning I hear Graphitti studios is curently designing one but I suggest the Randy Bowen statue. Right now I'm just hoping del Toro keeps Mignolia around through production so we might see the same influence we saw in Dracula. Keep close to this one Harry, it's going to be great.
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Control yourself, Your Geekness. I really wish you'd put the picture at the top of the article so I wouldn't have had to go through the whole thing, getting more and more pumped about reaching the bottom and seeing this badass demon, just to get to it and see a big red version of Marvel's Thing. Mesuh not scared. Mesuh laughing in hesuh face.
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Well, for all the "geniuses" above that call Hellboy "The thing" painted red, I would like to make a couple of points, you are partially right, only in the sense that Mignola's drawings try -and succeed- to capture the type of character that "The thing" was back when Kirby drew him. Specially with Hellboy, the Kirby influence is visible. Now, where you are marred by ignorance is in the lack of knowledge of this character... possibly one of the best in the comics of the last decade. This painting capture him perfectly. How many times we bitch and moan about the movie superdude not being like the one in the comics, this painting captures Hellboy and his attitude, strenght and Kirby-esque pose perfectly. Those not excited by the painting are, most likely, unfamiliar with the comic book. Us that love Mignola's boy love this image. Forget about the Darth Maul Wrestling match you've got going, go buy the comics and look at the character, then you'll come back and love the painting exactly for what it is... asign of hope.
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Jun 02, 1999 8:31:11 PM CDT
Robogeek, why dontcha calm down? It's called 'democracy' -- loo
by chant
Just because some of the TalkBackers (like me) have doubts or questions about the new version of the HB movie you don't have to spout off talking tough to protect your buddy, alright? Hell, I have doubts about the new script and I had the balls to tell that to del Toro, and he was professional and pleasant enough to answer my questions and keep me in the loop as to the status of the project! If we really want to get into tossing stones about who's worthy and who's not to criticize HB, I think it should come from those Mignola fans who've been reading the comic the longest and who can explain *why* Ape Sapien or Liz are cool character. I mean I've seen Harry cover comic book-based movie projects before and honestly, I don't see Harry getting the point across that he's collected or read these books. Harry's a great guy to get you pumped up about a project, but is there any explanation as to *why* those who don't know the comic (and especially those Universal suits who're supposed to greenlight the thing theoretically!) should get all excited (like I am) to see this film? Thanks to del Toro we know now he's a fan of the medium and it's great he's answering e-mail about this project. I do believe the guy when he says he's got a passion for comic books (and his plans for his next project sound pretty spiffy), but your snotty and arrogant tone pissed me off because THIS IS a favorite project of mine. Instead of busting up posters for casting doubts or not knowing what the difference between Darth Maul and HB is, why don't you take the initiative and explain why you think the character's so cool if you've read the comic book? Which kind of leads into my second point: I also agree with the poster who basically called Harry's article an "orgasm". Harry, I think it's great you and del Toro are pals and that he wants to bring this baby to the screen intact 'cuz you'll be able to cover this one closely (like the 20 question thing with Jackson, which was great), but it really bothers me that you spend all your time telling us how this project is the second coming of Christ but there's no real meat to the article! I want to know stuff like which comic book arc (if any) is the script based on? What stage are they in the development of it? Is HB gonna be CGI or makeup? And my fanboy question, is the one and only Abe Sapien gonna be in it? The last time you reported on HB you just casually mentioned del Toro was writing a new script and that the Briggs HB script was out, which was kinda like throwing a pail full of nuts and bolts into clocktower machinery. del Toro might be able to capture lightning in a bottle again, but to guys like myself and the ones who thought the Briggs script rocked, you really could've done better journalism...aw, screw journalism, just getting the facts straight! I'm keeping an open mind about del Toro's script and I'm really looking forward to reading his adaptation of Mignola's character and Universal, if they knew what they had, would greenlight this thing NOW.
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That painting is the best Hellboy I've seen by someone other than Mignola! Seeing this is like giving me permission to let myself get excited about this film. I've still got big time reservations though.
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Hey, I'm not against seeing the big boy on the big screen, but WHY do movie people FEEL the need to CHANGE what already works? Why change the style OF the character? It's like seeing rubber-suit Burton's Batman again. Sure, it's really great, and I admire the detail, but it's not the original thing that got my clock ticking.
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I agree with the poster above. It's not that I don't like the Batman suit, but I prefer the Kane approach, or even more, the Miller approach. This is Hellboy. The way I imagined it would be in 3-D. Sadly the picture cannot be zoomed-in. Alex Ross has this type of images dead-on, he doesn't change the heroes costumes, just tweaks them enough to make them more pleasant to the eye. That's what this Hellboy does. Everyone should read Hellboy, a hands-on heroe that needs no automatic weapons to finish the job. He's a hands-on hero the way Hercules or Samson were. And on top of that the guy is just a regular, decent fella...
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If I remember correctly, you do run a comic/movie website of your own. If you don't like Harry's "journalism" or his "orgasmic" delivery, why don't you report these things on your site, adhering to the journalistic ethics of your own? Or just go to sites that report "just the facts". Obviously Harry's been sitting on this for two weeks or so (explaining his excitement to share ) and has just now been able to post the image, and thats all it is, an image. Since Harry posts daily (or sometimes more so), you can't expect this one post to cover ALL the bases you mentioned (story arc, characters, actor vs. cgi, etc.). This is what, the second post regarding a movie that is probably years away from being made? There will be more to come, hopefully covering all the things you mentioned in your post. And so what if Harry is friends with Del Toro? You seem to be pretty tight with the Briggs guy who wrote the first script. They've decided someone else will write it, get over it.
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I dunno if the scan is reversed or if it's the painting, but his big hand of evil should be on the other side. If it is the painting, and Mr. Del Toro is such a comic "geek," then he should know this. It is actually a very important detail.
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Abe here. Hope these answers adress some of the general questions: 1) The movie uses the main story line of SEED OF DESTRUCTION but mixes and matches. 2) Mike Mignola has been involved and consulted every step of the way. That includes this painting, which he loved (and YES, the hands are reversed). 3) The approach for HB is going to mix Prosthetics, animatronics and CGI for HB and the other creatures. Del Toro believes that sole CGI beings have a remoteness and still lack "gravity" on screen. They seem to exist in a Netherworld. CGI will take over in many instances, specially in action long shots. 4) Abe is in the movie for at least a third of it. Keep sending your questions to the adress above or post them in TALKBACK.
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The point here isn't whether or not Darth Maul could slice HELLBOY in two or Harry's penchant for hyperbole, what I wanna know is when the powers that be are going to allow a GREAT COMIC BOOK MOVIE to be made.
SPAWN copped out, BLADE came close, and THE MATRIX, closest yet, but now let's see it mastered. Not just done justice, or impressive, but mastered.
Movies in the past few years haven't had to be THAT good to make cash. ID4, First fuckin' Wives Club, Waterboy, Rush Hour, MIB, and most recently, The Mummy.
Have a decent product, market it well, get good word of mouth. Simple. With movies like these making cash, why not bank on what promises to be cooler?
Give Guillermo the green light, hand him the reigns, and get the hell out of his way, it's going to be fantastic. -
It's my screensaver now... Just "toned it down" a bit, heavy on the contrast. Try it at home, kids.
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Jun 02, 1999 11:29:07 PM CDT
Robogeek: How can any insult top your (self-applied!) name?
by mrniceguy
Mr. Robogeek: This post is in response to your earlier one, in which you asked if I am a nine-year-old. In self-defense, I insist that you pay closer attention to an individual's body of work as a whole, referring to past postings (I'm being facetious here, of course). If you had read some of my past postings, you would instantly recognize that I am easily among the most intelligent posters on this site. In fact, I'll make you a guarantee: I'm smarter than you, Mr. Geek. I'm more talented than you, too. I'd go so far as to say I'm better than you in every respect. Furthermore, you exemplify perfectly the elitism exhibited by the regular contributors to this site. Every time you, Harry, or Moriarty say anything here, it's to correct or put down the opinions of people on the Talk Back, presumably because you're all just so much better-informed than we are. Why is it so impossible for you people -- on the PERIPHERY of the biz, I might add -- to accept contradictory opinions? Just because you're all so much fatter and have seen so many more bad movies than the rest of us, does that make your opinion suddenly more valuable? Of course it doesn't. In fact, if any young filmmakers post in this forum, I'll take their opinion over all of yours in an instant. After all, you're just "geeks", and nothing more. The connotations of that term are so negative, that you would apply to yourself as a name is indicative of your lack of self-confidence. It's a typical psychology: you are self-conscious (i.e., you fear insult) because you're a worthless (and probably hideous) outcast, so you insult yourself before anyone else has a chance to. But here's the bottom line, Geek: if I'm not nearly as impressed by a simple drawing as you are, accept that as the way it is. Don't try and force your worthless opinion on me, or anyone else. Just because you have a hand in an Internet news site does not make your opinion any better than mine. We've all seen lots of production art. This is nothing special. Accept that. And I want you to make no mistake about this, so I'll be really clear: Don't ever say anything like that about me again. I'm better than you, and when push comes to shove, I'll prove it.
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The hands were reversed for two reasons: One has to do with content: Talking to Mike Mignola we thought that -for reasons specific to the present script, which I won't "spoil" here-
Hellboy would be "The Left hand of Evil", It sounds good (Ursula K. Le Guin and the Bible would agree) and is rich as a symbol. The second reason is purely practical. A right-handed HELLBOY will make things infinitely easier when casting two, yes TWO performers to inhabit the animatronic suit that will be part of the Hellboy approach (CGI will also be involved) Ron Perlman will tentatively supply the voice. I wanted to answer this to Mr Blank, but his e-mail adress seems to be out of order. Odd... ABE
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First off, the whole idea of a 'who is smarter than who' debate is... A bit wacky. Ultimately, we have all done incredibly stupid things at some part of our life, and incredibly smart things too. It's funny but I had already talked to Robo, about the tone of his posting because... Quite frankly insulting the readers is not the wisest move. I have always treated my opinion as my opinion. If you hated Armageddon, great, if you agreed with me, great. Filmic opinions are nothing more than that. Opinions. As for monikers, it might surprise you to know that Robogeek is in fact in the biz. Not only that, but he's very skinny... Or as he would put it, Average height and weight. He's degreed and professional as all hell. Robogeek is not the name he goes under... Professionally. As I am sure is true of your moniker MRNICEGUY. Ultimately, this forum for Talk Back is to discuss the excitement for Hellboy, the trepidations you have with the project, the coolness of the pre-production art, the concept of Del Toro as a director, what is right and wrong with the world of Comic Book Movie-making, the dreams one has for this type of movie. However insults (and this is directed at both Robogeek and MrNiceGuy) should be reserved for EMAIL, and not a public discussion board. As for the world of Smarts, let's all pull out our Mensa Cards and start slapping each other silly with them. In Auguse I'm a key note speaker at a Mensa Conference... Do ya know what that means? Nada, not a thing. Just means I'm a regular guy, and that's what this site is about. Us all being regular film lovers. So both of you... get off the holier than thou horses and talk about how much this movie will suck or rock. That's what we are here, in this are to do.
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Mr. Nice Guy has a valid opinion. Is it safe to assume that you are not a fan of the comic book character called HELLBOY? Beacuse if you were, you would sigh in relief that this HELLBOY painting is closer to Hellboy than, say BLADE was to Blade, BATMAN to Batman, etc, etc and yet has variations made with Mignola's approval. Many of the guys posting above fixate on the duel of Hellboy versus Maul, or seem unfamiliar with the character. Hope they ammend that by buying the graphic novels and doing themselves a favor. Mignola is Master of the form. Just a final note to Mr. Nice Guy... a lot of us "geeks" work IN the industry. Heck, I have friends that are producers an/or agents and execs that post here...Peace and Love guys: Max.
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Some tres simple (but heartfelt) thoughts from a tired webgrrrl up past her bedtime. I'm not quite awake, but I just wanted to add these comments. Hellboy is a wonderful comic... and it could also be a rad movie someday. Also, I think people sometimes confuse enthusiasm for haughtiness or nepotism? AICN, I agree... the production art is spiff. I'm very impressed with the artist and his work. There's nothing wrong with being a geek. :P :) Also, a movie PR note is at http://www.hellboy.com/hbmovie.html. Take care, jonell the webgrrrl at hellboy.com
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We need this movie to be made. It's time that the studios/execs understood that there is a BIG audience out here for a comic book movie that takes the genre seriously. Forget always playing to the lowest common denominator. Make something of quality and make a lot of money at the same time. It really can be done!!
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Harry, and whoever else is reading, I've never written in before, but I feel a need to write now. I have never read a HELLBOY comic. I have also never read a SPAWN comic. In fact, I'm older now. I haven't been in a comic shop in perhaps a decade, but I do go to all the comic movies. I do this because I keep hoping to see the magic that grew up with. Not the X-Men or SPIDER-MAN or TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. Those are not magic for me, I grew out of the comic format sometime around the time I was stuck behind enemy lines during Korea. That said, I have continued to cherish my comics of long ago. My Timelys, DCs, Classic Illustrateds, ECs, and so on. The last comics I read before the world grew up on me, was the earliest age of the monsters. TALES TO ASTONISH, TALES OF SUSPENSE, EERIE, CREEPY, etc. The last heroes I read were DEADMAN, THE PHANTOM STRANGER. The weird ones. From the look of things, I'd say that Hellboy seems to be a cross of these two groups of comics. The Jack Kirby monsters and the Steve Ditko mysticism. Is that right? Or is it all jokey and funny? Spawn never appealed to me because he was just another guy in a costume, but HELLBOY... he doesn't turn human does he? Did he in the comic? Well, I better go, I'm probably looking like an A#1 old foggie right now, but I'm curious. The painting touched a primal urge. I want to see the movie that the painting above is meant to inspire. I saw CRONOS and really loved the other worldly atmosphere it seeped. Reminded me of an old CREEPY story. Who knows though. That probably sounds like an insult to someone like Del Toro though.
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Crikey! Talkbacks at AICN. It
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How much can Hellboy benchpress?
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Jun 03, 1999 8:17:57 AM CDT
Hellboy came here to do two things...Chew bubble gum, and kick a
by captainberryman
DAMN STRAIGHT! I've liked this character since Mike Mignola dished him up back in what, 1995? He's just damn cool. He's like Indiana Jones and Spawn had a lovechild, and then someone went and kicked it in the jimmy and made it made...Real mad. I hope the movie lives up to the comic. Look at it this way...It can't be worse than Spawn or Batman IV. End Transmission.
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Oh, Harry, you had me and then you lost me. I was laughing at the dude that was rambling about how smart he was. And then you addressed the point pretty well. But then "And by the way I'm a keynote speaker at Mensa, not that it matters." If it didn't matter, you wouldn't have said it. It makes you almost as bad as him. Get over it people, we all share the same brain.
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Yes, very good image, I'll see this if it were ever made. But who the hell is this interviewer? What kind of jackass says TPM was almost unwatchable? It was a great movie! JUST BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T GET IT, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT WAS BAD. And before you argue, NO you didn't get it.
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yeah, like TPM was some work of genius or something. jeeezus. gimme a friggin break. why don't you explain to all of us what exactly there was to "get" that we all apparently missed. or maybe you just understood what the hell crap jar was saying and were privy to some info that everyone else missed. if you don't want to reply to me here, just email me your insights on the layered subtext of the phantom saturday morning cartoon.
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Sounds like a lot of passion regarding Hellboy. I read/collect about a dozen titles faithfully, but HB isn't on my list. How about a suggestion of issue #'s for a story arc that will introduce those looking for a taste?
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In recent weeks you have made several references to The Mummy. Your point seems to be that if a medicore comic book/horror fantasy like The Mummy can make good, then a 'real' horror/pulp/comic book type movie cannot help but succeed. Well, can I offer another perspective? Have you ever considered that the reason The Mummy succeeded was because it was a mildly amusing romantic comedy with attractive leads and some interesting art work? Maybe it worked because it wasn't scary, pulpish or whatever. If you want to push Hellboy or any other comic/horror/pulp thing, that's fine, but don't delude yourself into thinking that darker is always better. Sometimes dark is just dark.
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This is my first time posting here, I have always read this column and have contributed info. On that note, before I go on, I need to apologize to Harry for the Information I gave him back in '97 about Rambo 4. It was true, but things tend to fall apart. I digress. Firstly, I have not read up on Hellboy, but I know who he is and am familiar with him. For all geeks, my first exposure to him was as a cameo at the funeral of The Savage Dragon. Anyway, the general conception of bringing a comic hero to the screen is that not everyone reads comics and we (the studio) need to make him/her acessible to the masses. This is where subtle changes turn into a complete overhaul. For examples see: X-men, Spawn (Todd McFarlane is a money hungry sell-out), most every Marvel project. Fans of Hellboy must concede that if they want to see their hero on screen, they will have to accept changes. Sad, but true. If Del Toro is a true fanboy, then take heart that he will put out the best interpretation possible. Unfortunately, there has never been a big enough fan base in any comic/cartoon/video game genre to warrant a faithful adaptation to screen. As Nicky Santoro said, "It's all about the dollars..."
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Dear Van Helsing,
My name is jonell napper and I'm the webgrrrl who compiles http://www.hellboy.com as a hobby. I'm watching the replies people make to this AICN article and noticed your post. You wrote: "How about a suggestion of issue #'s for a story arc that will introduce those looking for
a taste?" VH, I think the best story line to start off with is the first series, "Hellboy: The Seed of Destruction." It has a nice explanation on how Hellboy came to earth. Unfortunately(?), there isn't a "regular" Hellboy title... no issues numbered 1-70 or anything like that... it's not published monthly. (It has many little "series.") The "Seed" issues are a little hard to find, but they have been compiled by Dark Horse Comics. I have a list of compilations at http://www.hellboy.com/hbcomp.html. Even though the next trade paperback I am suggesting was published much later, I think it has some of the best "stand-alone" stories in it. "Hellboy: The Chained Coffin and Others" has tres cool one-shots. After that, "Hellboy: Wake the Devil," really gives demonstrates some of the problems Hellboy has with being "who he is," i.e. a demon who is basically a regular joe and a cool guy. I hope this helped a little. Also on the site, you can see http://www.hellboy.com/hborigin.html for a short origin for Hellboy. I guess you can tell I really love the story of Hellboy. I do. It's a quasi- passion of mine. take care, jonell, the webgrrrl at hellboy.com -
First: Alex DeLarge; Don't make me smack you. And you morons thinking Darth Maul could kick Hellboy's ass: Hello!!? Did you see the pissy way he died in Phantom Menace? He was 2 feet from Qui-Gon, and -STILL- managed to extend his damn lightsaber - BOTH ENDS! Yet Obi-Wan flipped up, and over his head, and Maul just stood there watching like a dumbass!! Only to turn around, wait, and die. Sweet fucking Christ!!
We all know how this movie will be treated; If those Hollywood assholes in suits don't pull their heads out of each others asses, then they won't make this into a good film. They'll do surveys and other shit, using the most retarded people they can pluck off the streets (and never read a Hellboy comic in their pathetic lives), and change everyhting around. Del Toro is a good writer/director, but if he doesn't have final say on the film ... it'll turn to shit. We all know it. Comic books = Possible franchise to milk - Big budget = overpaid whiners, and F/x - Comics + big budget = Get whiney celebrities to sell it, because you don't have a fucking story. I for one am a h33lb0y phr34k, and have every Hellboy book published (including the illustrated novel), and hope they make this film. It would kick major ass, and every studio would glom on it, trying to `remake' the same thing with a slightly different concept. I won't get my hopes up too high about it, but it'd certainly rock if it was actually good. Shit, I might go see it twice if it turned out good. I said it before, and I'll keep saying it "Hollywood originality? If that's not an oxymoron, I don't know what is" -
Hi Kid Eternity :) You mentioned in your posting, "but HELLBOY... he doesn't turn human does he? Did he in the comic?" ....I don't think it's a spoiler or anything to say that Hellboy _hasn't_ turned human in the comic... He's a demon for the long run (as far as I've been told.)
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Random thoughts... why not have an actor (a big ass actor!) wear a suit and trenchcoat, and then match-move on a CG head and hooves? This, I think, would save a lot of money, and give audiences what ILM has been unable to show them... (real looking fabric). Plus, with the combination of Guillermo's and Mignola's lighting preferences, it would be easy to hide compositing flaws in shadows. The reason I thought of this was because I couldn't imagine why they bothered using CGI for Jar Jar's body in TPM... the guy has the body of a man, and a neck made of rubber! Anyway... that's that, for what it's worth.
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And that painting ain't Mignola. Let's face facts, what makes Hellboy special is the way Mignola draws. the stories are just good, solid, folktale and Lovecraft inspired pulp. But what'll make or break a Hellboy movie is whether they can capture the dark, gothic, everything-in-shadow Kirby stylization of Mignola's art, and that painting is more of the Frazetta, glistening oiled biceps school. be afraid, Hellboy fans.
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i saw the film Lock,Stock and two smoking barrels recently and though it was no more than a two hour over styalized tv commercial with a better third act the old fella with the raspy voice,the bald dude who got it in the end although a little old in my opinion would make the perfect Hellboy
opinions?
comments? -
I am a Hellboy fan. It's that simple. Not obsessed, but a real completist. For everyone that keeps saying "calm down" it's only a drawing... may I remind you about the first time you glimpsed the re-designed Godzilla? This is the first time a non-Mignola piece of art has ever captured the character of the Big Red guy. Not only that but this thing is bein generated by the guys making the movie. Who's doing the CGI?? Who painted this image??
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The painting is great-personally , going ga-ga that someone other than Mignola illustrated Hellboy "correctly" is a little premature.I'm excited at the prospect but hesitant to start cart-wheelin'. What exactly will Mignola's involvement be? Spawn had great effects but I and everyone I knew that read the book thought the movie wasn't faithful to the feel of the book,story,character development etc...( I've heard TMc's reasoning).It's no longer enough to see the image of the character come to life on the screen.
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hey, the hellboy artwork looks great! Who's the artist responsible for this masterpiece.
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God I pray that this movie keeps to the orginal vision of the Comic. Mignolas art is a study in minimalism, using black and white and simple colors to gobsmaking effect. God Harry, I'm soooo heartened by what you've told us. Hollywoods capacity for raping and then draining the life from fine subject matter (especially comic based stuff) seems boundless. But it seems that the lessons are being learned and the suits are letting the fanboys do it right.
I assume its too early to speculate, but I did hear Ron Pearlman was being considered for the part. Just no Spawn-like CGI for the main man! On the other hand, CGI will be the only way to portray the Cthuloid horrors- no rubber monsters ala. In the Mouth of Madness please (hats off the Carpenter for a Trojan effort by the way).
Anyway, best of luck to everyone involved in the project- I know it won't fail for lack of talent or vision. JUST KEEP THE SUITS AWAY FROM THE DAMN SCRIPT! -
I'll tell you what you didn't get: Jar Jar was just a comic relief and he was funny. Aside from that, I don't know what YOUR particular grievances were and frankly I don't care. If you didn't like the movie, then NO, YOU DID NOT GET THE MOVIE. THIS DOES NOT MAKE YOU DUMB FELLA, I DIDN'T GET FORREST GUMP. BUT ITS YOUR PROBLEM IF YOU DIDN'T GET THE HUMOR IN JAR JAR, STOP INSERTING YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS INTO OTHERWISE GOOD ARTICLES ABOUT COOL THINGS LIKE HELLBOY!
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still didn't answer my question, fool. What was it that I, or anyone else who didn't like this film didn't "get." I know that jar jar is comic relief... only he wasn't funny. Liking a film (which is totally based on subjective opinion) and "getting" a film (which is another word for understanding) are two completely different things. I "got" the film but I didn't like it. The two are completely unrelated. But I guess that's a little too complicated for you to "get." Oh, and as for interjecting my "personal problems" in a Hellboy talkback... well, I'm not the one who brought TPM up, now am I?
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You didn't get the jokes, fool. No, if you didn't think they were funny, then you were just not in the right vien--many others saw them and laughed happily. I don't know what the experience of seeing this film for you was, but you clearly did not RECIEVE--anther definition of "get--the enjoyment that I did. But my original complaint was that the interviewer puts up this "lousy plot" BS as if it was established fact. It is NOT. I put forth that movie WAS good and there are many who agree with that. We GOT the movie, and I'm not talking mental copacity. If you don't "get" slang Mean Ween then I'm sorry for you. Hmmm, maybe that's why you didn't like TPM.
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uhhh, I really don't know what "getting slang" has to do with liking the phantom menace. I don't remember much slang in the movie... but you're obviously looking for a way to pin me down. And I do know that "get" also means "receive." I received this movie. I paid 7 bucks, sat down, and received it. I also understood it. But I didn't like it. The audience I sat in was silent during the "comic relief." Now, I know, the audience YOU were in was probably cackling like maniacs when jar jar stepped in shit or said "how wude." They were probably rolling in the aisles, convulsing from laughter, tears streaming down their faces. It's sad that you say that whoever didn't like this film didn't get it. Why can't you accept the fact that there are people who did not like this film? I can accept the fact that there are people who do like it.
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You know.....it would be nice to read about why to be excited about a up and coming movie without the graphic description on what things like the hellboy script and picture do to Harry's control of his sexual organs and other parts of his anatomy. The visuals are too repugnant for me to handle. Harry, just tell me that you liked the script and you 'obviously' have faith in the director. Nuff said. Please don't gross out your readers.
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Yes, I accept some people didn't like the movie. But I don't accept the vocal backlash. Like I said, I've seen many movies that I didn't care for, but I kept the cheap shots to myself. I didn't insert my singular view into an interesting interview as if my view was the one true fact. And if people can say that Jar Jar and the movie were immature and silly then they didn't get the movie, they didn't understand the spirit. The humor doesn't appeal to them--and that is a form of not understanding. I chose to call it "getting" the movie but since you have a problem with that, fine! But you realize that you just made it sound like enjoying the movie was wrong, and that it is YOU who are the enlightened one who see the truth, that the movie wasn't good at all and the rest of us are just fooling ourselves. While I can see you have your view, I disagree with it and I was offended that the interviewer placed that opinion without a counter. So I responded, and then you responded to that thinking me just some loud-mouth screaming for attention, and then I responded, then you again, and so on and so forth. I think we all are just seeking a balance of the force, trying to offer the counter to another opinion. So post away my "Mean" friend.
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1) having something appeal to you is not the same as understanding something. the two words are not synonymns... and this is what your argument hinges on. go get a dictionary and look both words up. 2) just because i chose to take you to task for a statement you made does not mean that i see myself as more enlightened than you or that i see more truth than you. and I never said that i thought you were spouting off for attention... you're putting words in my mouth and using them against me. that's pretty fucking weak, Drath 3) you don't like vocal backlash? what about calling the reviewer a jackass. that's some pretty vocal backlash there. stop trying to play the saint here. 4) it's been fun arguing with you. I still say that you don't understand the fundamental meaning of the word "understand" versus the concept of "liking." and that's my argument with you. not the fact that i think my opinion is more valid than yours or that i think tpm is trash... i just disagree with your bending the meaning of certain words to suit your own need. bye bye ---- Meaner
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You're right Gorgan, this is petty. But to Mean Ween about criticizing my slang, NOBODY ASKED YOU!
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i realize that participating in these talkbacks has seriously ruined my chances at being reincarnated to a higher plane. oh well. see ya on the ant hill. ---Meaner
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I love hellboy. I have the Seed of Destruction and Wake the Devil trade paperbacks, and I loved them both. But see, I also love Batman, and look at what happened to those movies. I read one of the other TalkBack things where I guy said something about getting joel schumacher to do hellboy. I don't think so.
Personally, I've always thought that movies based on comics should be animated. Hellboy would make an awesome animated flick. But live action? Ewww...
Also, Seed of Destruction wasn't as good as Wake the Devil. I understand why they would decide to use the first one, but the way the second one was written, you could read it without feeling that you started in the middle. It's like the way "empire" was better than "phantom menace."
I am excited about the Hellboy thing, but how easily can it translate to film? Although, I hope the Madman thing works. God, that would kick ass. -
Why the hell are you "jizzing" yourself over some crappy picture that makes the film's direction point directly towards that god-awful Spawn movie?
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