Hellboy (From Penarth Times)

Hellboy

AS promisingly original as Hellboy sounds in principle, it soon loses its curiosity value and becomes just another comic book-turned movie - and not a fantastic one.

Admittedly the make-up that Ron Perlman had to endure gave him an edge well, a pair of filed down horns at the very least.

But the film is so reminiscent of many others it becomes more an exercise of spot the plot.

In the final days of World War II, the Nazis attempt to use black magic to assist their dying cause. The Allies raid the camp, but not before Hellboy has been conjured up.

It begins well enough, but soon gets bogged down under its own weight with deep references to biblical demonology, and increasingly bizarre enemies.

Perhaps the comic book explains these things in greater detail, but the uninitiated general viewer just gets lost and bored.