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Hellboy: The Crooked Man is a low(er)-budget, return-to-basics romp that perfectly captures the character, even if the movie itself is a slowish slog at times.

Hellboy, of all the associated comic book characters that have made a cinematic plunge, is one of the few that does not need a save-the-world-from-an-extinction-level-threat story nor the accompanying budget. In fact, creator-artist Mike Mignola has a crypt full of concise, focused stories where Hellboy simply falls into a chaotic, and oftentimes demonic, situation where all that is needed are fists, bullets, and maybe a one-liner or two to save the day. Hellboy: The Crooked Man was such a comic. And the movie is a brave, faithful adaptation.

Mike Mignola himself has taken the Beast of the Apocalypse by the horns and penned the screenplay himself. He is joined by horror writer and Hellboy fanatic Christopher Golden. Whereas Mignola and Golden bring street cred to the movie franchise, director Brian Taylor brings grit and twisty action. Regardless of the fan service behind the movie, the uneven pacing, as well as some sloppy, murky action sequences, are unfortunate and detrimental deciders in an otherwise top-notch adaptation. Taylor stages scenes that are perfect panel reproductions, but the flow between such are either wide-shot walking pieces or undecipherable dark incidents.

Hellboy: The Crooked Man proves that smaller, tighter Hellboy movies should - and can - work. Taylor has a stylish vision that complements the action-horror genre. Additionally, Kesy deserves another shot at wearing the Right Hand of Doom. Hellboy: The Crooked Man is a fan-made movie specifically for fans. Pacing issues aside, this is a movie that should be seen and celebrated.

Cellar Door, the latest from Vaughn Stein, is like an unexpected gift - one that deserves to be unwrapped - as it is both entertaining and surprising. Part of that surprise is that Cellar Door has a secret. Like all good secrets, this one has a tale to tell. A beautiful mix of untrust and deception wrapped in a murderous thriller with gorgeous visuals, Cellar Door is an enjoyable story with relatable characters that overcomes its slightly-preposterous fairy tale theme.

Cellar Door is a surprisingly entertaining movie that sneaks up on you like a high school reunion. Realism might be cast away at times but this visit to a land of make-believe is worth the 97 minutes.

Utilizing all of his nostalgic wonder, Kevin Smith establishes The 4:30 Movie as a true 80s teen movie. The 4:30 Movie is a charming, delightful movie that might possess the DNA of his raunchy Jay and Silent Bob outings but has a stronger genealogy to the films of John Hughes, Amy Heckerling, and Savage Steve Holland.

The 4:30 Movie is a coming of age story filled with teenage fantasies, awkward adult encounters, and the realization of one's passions.

Similar to how Smith crafted his love letter to fans with Clerks III, The 4:30 Movie represents a stronger, smoother style of storytelling. The jokes remain ever-constant, as do the wacky situations, but Smith has matured. He still maintains a fantasy version of his corner of Jersey but has filled it with more than just stoned-out losers and Gen X-ers that really do not want to be in the retail business. With 4:30, Smith has proven his thesis that movies help you deal with life. And with a little cinematic magic, life in Leonardo, New Jersey, regardless of the decade, is not all that bad.