Five Favorite Films with Guillermo del Toro
The Hellboy II director tells us his most beloved films of all time.
With a reputation for excellence in the realms of fantasy and horror, filmmaker Guillermo del Toro brought a visionary touch to such critically-acclaimed films as Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone, Cronos, and last year's The Orphanage, which he produced. When del Toro turned his attentions to Dark Horse Comics' Hellboy franchise in 2004 -- infusing the big, horned anti-hero with a distinct sense of style and wit -- fans and critics were summarily delighted, and the reins came loose for a bigger and more fantastical sequel. Hellboy II: The Golden Army surpassed the critical and box office performances of its predecessor and is Certified Fresh at 88 percent on the Tomatometer.
Rotten Tomatoes caught up with del Toro at the Hellboy II: The Golden Army DVD/Blu-ray Launch Party, where, in signature self-deprecating fashion, he guided those in attendance through the immersive Hellboy II Blu-ray experience. More importantly, del Toro announced plans to join fans in a ground-breaking BD-Live chat event (November 23rd at 6pm PST), where Blu-ray owners can log in and ask him their most burning questions. Except for, say, his favorite movies of all time; we've got that covered below.
Read on for Guillermo del Toro's Five Favorite Films (click for the Five Favorite Films of Hellboy II star Doug Jones and Hellboy comics creator Mike Mignola, who shared at least one top movie with del Toro himself)...
Bride of Frankenstein (1935, 100% Tomatometer)
Bride of Frankenstein is absolutely perfect. It has the innocence and beauty of a fairy tale, but has the darkness of a gothic horror tale. So the combination is irresistible. [On hearing that Hellboy comics creator Mike Mignola also named Bride of Frankenstein among his favorite films, del Toro said with a smile, "Well, we are alike in some aspects."]
Blade Runner (1982, 91% Tomatometer)
Blade Runner is simply one of those cinematic drugs, that when I first saw it, I never saw the world the same way again. The Forgotten Ones (Los Olvidados) (1950, 93% Tomatometer)
The third film, Los Olvidados -- Bunuel's movie -- which I think is one of the best depictions of childhood ever made. The Road Warrior (1981, 100% Tomatometer)
The Gold Rush (1925, 100%) / City Lights (1931, 100% Tomatometer)
And [lastly] probably The Gold Rush, or City Lights, by Chaplin, because they are absolute pinnacles of filmmaking. You have precision comedy, precision filmmaking, and one of the best directors ever. He and Buster Keaton were fantastic, and they were two of my idols.
Click for images from Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II production diary!
For more on Hellboy II: The Golden Army, click here.
Related Items
| Movie: | Cronos |
| Mimic | |
| The Devil's Backbone | |
| Blade 2 | |
| Hellboy | |
| Pan's Labyrinth | |
| The Orphanage | |
| Celeb: | Guillermo Del Toro |
(1-20 of 36 posts) | Reply
on Nov 14 2008 04:20 PM I would have thought "Raging Bull" would be on here. Or maybe "Bull Durham"... (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 04:24 PM I think he said he like the original cut of BLADE RUNNER the most in this documentry on BLADE RUNNER, he said he loved the narration. Road Warrior is an awesome movie, though I still think I like MAD MAX more. Cool list though, now GO DO HB III! (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 04:58 PM One of my favorite directors. Not what I expected, but its pretty good. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 05:08 PM I loved the Road Warrior as well, hated Hellboy...what are you going to do. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 05:37 PM Gotta respect the love for The Road Warrior (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 05:59 PM In reply to this comment (#2129405) Yeah, Hellboy didn't turn my crank either. But the Orphanage... excellent, excellent film, and not just for the elitists. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 14 2008 06:34 PM In reply to this comment (#2129436) Orphanage wasn't directed by Del Toro. He produced it. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 06:37 PM What? (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 06:47 PM I didn't care much for Hellboy, but it isn't a bad movie by any stretch. Gotta love Del Toro's directional style, though. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 07:38 PM Blade Runner and The Road Warrior are two of my favorite movies of all time. I'm glad I have at least a little in common with this great director. I've seen all of his movies, except Cronos, which is frustrating. Anyone got any feedback on it? (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 14 2008 08:32 PM Good choices. A good mix of contemporary and all-time classics. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 14 2008 11:40 PM Interesting choices. I can't cheer the choice of Blade Runner, but Bride of Frankenstein is a classic by any measure. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 15 2008 07:12 AM Road Warrior, Blade Runner,good picks...B of Frankenstein probably influences his filming the most (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 15 2008 08:42 AM This is an excellent list. It's nice to see some love for Bunuel, and anyone who can't decide between several Chaplin movies is alright with me. It's easy to see where such a talented director has adpated his styles from. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 15 2008 08:42 AM This is an excellent list. It's nice to see some love for Bunuel, and anyone who can't decide between several Chaplin movies is alright with me. It's easy to see where such a talented director has adpated his styles from. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 15 2008 08:25 PM His writing could use some work, but probably one of the top 5 directors in art direction in the world right now. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 16 2008 12:24 AM In reply to this comment (#2129542) Cronos was a solid movie. You'll probably be a bit disappointed but it is a good solid movie. But its tough when you don't go into with an open mind. With the incredible resume Del Toro has (Pan, Devils Backbone, Hellboy, etc.) your expectations (like mine) will be way too high. BUT it is a good, very creepy movie that has occasional problems. If you are a fan of Del Toro's style....you'll like it. I DID, but my expectations were astronomical & way too high. The Road Warrior was a great movie. Just think...it was made in 1981 & was supposed to be an idea of what the future might be (yet it brings us backward to our most primeval instincts of survival). Doesnt seem so crazy now that there will be a big shortage of oil & gas in the near future. What makes it so great is even after its over...IT MAKES YOU THINK!!! I ran through dozens of my own apocolyptoic stories & views on what the world would look like. When a movie can make you think like that & create your own little stories...its an A (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 16 2008 12:45 AM absolutely love del toro..met him before..awesome guy and hardcore proud mexican...great love for BUNUEL'S LOS OLVIDADOS.....if anybody has the chance to see this masterpiece look out for it...i believe it's out of print...criterion MUST get the rights and do the film justice like they did with VIRIDIANA...it has those surreal awesome dream sequences..definately ahead of it's time...and i believe to have read somewhere that it inspired alejandro jodorowsky...another amazing filmaker...great job gordo! (Reply to this) |
on Nov 16 2008 06:42 AM Interesting choices. The Road Warrior is one of my favorite films. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 16 2008 08:34 AM Saw Cronos years ago when it opened and absolutely hated it. I suppose it would be interesting to revisit it now and see if opinion has changed. Actually, that's not true. The early parts were really creepy, and really cool. Then about a half hour in, it stopped being scary and got really dumb (at least that's how I remember it). A second viewing is in order. (Reply to this) |
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