Hellboy Director's Cut
October 2007 Reviewed by: Doug Blackburn Format: Blu-ray	(all ratings out of 5): Overall Enjoyment Picture Quality Packaged Extras Sound Quality

This remarkable feature combines elements of the original Hellboy comics with director/screenwriter Guillermo Del Toro’s (Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II) spin on what makes a perfect comic-to-screen transformation. The result is this spectacular story of the origin and early adult life of fireproof and (maybe) indestructible super-hero Hellboy, who is helping the covert Bureau of Paranormal Research defeat evil monsters unleashed by Rasputin-led, occult-obsessed Nazis. This Blu-ray Disc Director’s Cut does a great job of showing why Hellboy is arguably the best comic-to-film adaptation thus far.

Film grain is present in every scene, but the video image is comparable to that of other excellent film-based movies. Only CGI releases (no film) have appeared to be grain-free in high-definition releases. Frame-by-frame examination reveals small random white spots caused by dirt on the negative used for the transfer. Hellboy is no worse than other high-quality transfers in this regard. If these tiny spots are not visible to you in other movies, you won’t see them in Hellboy either. Shadow detail is exemplary, giving the underground scenes a you-are-there feeling. This MPEG-4/AVC transfer has no visible compression artifacts during the most demanding scenes, even when sitting 4" from the screen and advancing one frame at a time to look for problems. There were a small number of fades that exhibited contouring.

The uncompressed LPCM 5.1 soundtrack is loaded with detail and unique sounds that come off as being completely appropriate for the on-screen action. This is one of those soundtracks where the engineers have resisted going over the top. You won’t find over-emphasized bass or handguns that sound like super weapons. The "size" of each sonic event is presented accurately from small to huge. The surround effect is always excellent, giving the cues needed to place the viewer in the middle of the action. Dialogue is outstanding, with proper location, tone and detail. All channels, including the LFE, are used to great effect.

The special features lineup is extensive. Many appear to be lifted from Hellboy DVDs and all are presented in standard definition. The packaging doesn’t provide a run-time estimate for the special features, but it must be at least three hours not including the commentary track. Guillermo Del Toro’s new commentary track is very informative; the scope of his knowledge of comics and pulp fiction clearly made Del Toro the ideal writer and director for this project. Other features include a six-part documentary on the origins of the comic and the movie; three deleted scenes which are not deleted (they all appear in this 14-minute-longer Director’s Cut); a three-parter on selected visual effects; make-up and lighting tests with Del Toro commentary; a "Quick Guide to Understanding Comics" with Scott McCloud; and a trailer for Ghost Rider, which stars Nicolas Cage.

Hot news for fans: Hellboy 2 is in production now for a planned 2008 release.

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