^I've given the movie a second watch. I think the problem is that the Kate plot and the Abe/Liz plot aren't engaging at all. Upon closer inspection I've found several of Hellboy's encounters in the mythic Japanese world very well done, with nice direction and animation (for TV, I have to keep in mind this is a TV movie and not theatrical). It's like everytime we starts having a lot of fun with Hellboy, the plot grinds to a screeching halt and we go to another plot.
I think the story would have worked better as a Clone Wars type thing. Hellboy dissappears, then a series of five minuite segments with Hellboy vs. Japanese Myths, shown over the corse of a couple of weeks.
I have to say though, I've bought the DVD and it's a great buy. Part one in a series of "How Mike Mignola Created Hellboy" is a big highlight, and there are many other cool extras including a special 30 page comic that comes in the case. I bought my copy at FYE and got a digest reprint of Seed of Destruction with a new Mignola cover! There are other store specials; at Best Buy you can get the DVD with three little Hellboy figures, and at Wal*Mart they're packaging the DVD with a copy of the 80 page Hellboy Animated comic that came out a few weeks ago.

