Hellboy 1 &2

What can I say about a movie with the title "HellBoy"?

My Ratings: 1 = 3 stars 2= 1star

My Angle: First movie ends on a very interesting note - even a Hellboy needs Jesus! Unfortunately the second movie falls into a mismash of pluralism that reminds me that comic books will use anything to be interesting.

Kid Appropriate? NO

Spiritual Issues: Why is it that without understanding the Spiritual Warfare of Christianity we find the spirituality of all other religions so interesting? If we made a movie about Christian views on these matters it would be pretty exciting. Think of the books by Perittee "This Present Darkness", and "Piercing the Darkness"

I am a sucker for comic book movies. The Hellboy series offers "it" (action, interesting cultural and philosophical commentary, etc.) However, most comics turned into movies are just too graphic and crude for kids. Spiritually these particular movies are a mish mash. They are both without any good rooting in the real theology of Spiritual Warfare, therefore, they will confuse kids and adults.

The first movie uses Egyptian mythology beside the Christian theology of Demons, and Hell with some Christian faith playing an important role. The Second movie not only mixes traditional elements of heaven and hell and the Apocalypse. Then it tries to cram in Celtic mythology, and a critique of modern, industrialized, human society.

The last bit is a play to the teen angst of "being different than everyone else" - although a real emotion (alienation) and an important part of individuation the hyping of it by comics and movies often work to prevent youth from moving past their alienation issues back towards integration with society.

The second movie seems to imply that humanity deserves to be destroyed because of what it has done to harm the elves (and all other outsiders). The movie forgets that 1) even in celtic myth the Elves are very capricious and even cruel, and 2) the earth, and humanity will be redeemed and out of the apocalypse will come a New Heaven and a New Earth, and 3) that society and social order most often works to push back evil.

A good healthy older teen would likely have fun watching this movie but should do so with their parents. An unhealthy person will likely focus on the nihilism and the cool special effects.

You may be catching a theme here - engage the world with your kids as part of your responsibility to raise them In Christ!

Bill Crawford - The Bayou Christian