Ron Perlman Movies
Ron Perlman grew up in the Washington Heights section of New York City, where his father was a radio/TV repairman and his mother an employee with the city's Department of Health. A profoundly unhandsome youth, Perlman was nonetheless very active in high school theater by virtue of his height (6-foot-2) and his deep, rolling voice. He continued studying drama at Lehman College and later at the University of Minnesota, where he graduated with a master's degree in theater arts. He went to work with New York's Classic Stage Company, an organization specializing in Elizabethan and Restoration plays. Perlman starred in several Manhattan and touring productions staged by Tom O'Horgan of Hair fame before accepting his first film role as a Neanderthal man in 1981's Quest for Fire. Emotionally drained, Perlman backed off from acting after finishing the movie, but was soon back in the groove, essaying such attention-getting roles as the hunchbacked Salvatore in The Name of the Rose (1986). Most often cast as brooding, inarticulate, villainous characters in films (such as Pap in 1993's The Adventures of Huck Finn), Perlman became best known for his performance as the beneficent, albeit hideously ugly, sewer-dwelling Vincent in the late-'80s TV series Beauty and the Beast. Though this remained the actor's defining role for years after the show's run had drawn to a close, he was busier than ever through the '90s.Appearing in everything from obscure arthouse hits (Cronos [1993] and The City of Lost Children [1995]) to voice-over work for television (Aladdin) and video games (Fallout, A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game) to overblown Hollywood blockbusters (Alien Resurrection), Perlman left few stones unturned in terms of flexibility and experimentation in new media. He continued this trend into the early 2000s, alternating between various arenas with remarkable ease and refusing to be pigeonholed, appearing in such high-profile releases as Titan A.E. (2000), Enemy at the Gates (2001), and Blade II (2002). Though his recognition factor seemed higher than ever, few could foresee the opportunity just ahead when Blade II and Cronos director Guillermo del Toro announced that Perlman would star in the film adaptation of Mike Mignola's popular comic book Hellboy, although it seemed highly unlikely that studios would invest the millions of dollars needed to bring the comic to life with an actor of such minimal "marquee value." They wanted Vin Diesel for the role, but del Toro, with the blessing and encouragement of character originator Mignola, eventually won out to have Perlman play the Nazi-creation-turned-superhero in the 2004 fantasy-action film. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
The direct-to-video sequel Tarzan II continues the story started by Disney in the 1999 animated feature Tarzan. This story involves Tarzan deciding to get away from his family out of concern that harm may come to them simply because of all the interest in him. Thanks to a series of adventures with his animal friends, Tarzan learns the true value of family. The film contains new songs by Phil Collins, who was awarded an Oscar for his work on the original 1999 film. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
A reclusive Vietnam veteran finds his quiet life thrown into chaos upon receiving an unexpected visitor in this tale of friendship and healing starring Danny Glover, Linda Hamilton, and Ron Perlman. Though 35 years have passed since Jake (Glover) returned to American soil after fighting in the Vietnam war, the horrors of the battlefield still linger vividly in his mind. Instead of returning to the hustle and bustle of the city, Jake has chosen to seek solitude in the serene forests of the Pacific Northwest -- cutting all ties to modern society save for the occasional trip into town for supplies. When a terminally ill army buddy appears on Jake's doorstep pleading with his old friend to take care of his young daughter, the gruff veteran reluctantly accepts. As the bond between Jake and his new charge strengthens, the seeds of their growing friendship sets into motion a healing process that will reach beyond Jake to affect an entire community of forgotten war veterans. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Danny Glover, Linda Hamilton, (more)
A brilliant German Jewish scientist developing a weapon of incalculable power is courted by intelligence services from England, Germany, and Russia in this World War II-era thriller starring Craig Sheffer, Todd Field, and Ron Perlman. Nicky Raus is a scientist who may hold the key to winning a world war, and when German agents attempt to abduct Raus, American agent Frank Hossom is assigned the task of bringing the scientist back dead or alive. Hossom forges an unexpected romantic bond with Raus' lover, Olga Ryabina -- an actress forced to assume the role of secret operative for the KGB -- and the dangerous love triangle that forms sparks international intrigue while simultaneously threatening to consume all involved. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Craig Sheffer, Todd Field, (more)
Mike Mignola's acclaimed comic book series about a creature from Hades who joins the battle against evil arrives on the screen in vivid form in this adaptation directed by distinctive horror filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. During World War II, the Third Reich has joined forces with the evil Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden), who has used his occult powers to summon up a young demon from the depth of Hell to be used as the ultimate Axis weapon. However, the demonic creature is captured by American forces, and put in the care of Professor Broom (John Hurt), the founder of a top-secret organization called the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense. Under Broom's tutelage, the creature develops empathy and a desire to do good while his physical powers and paranormal talents are honed to a fine point. Sixty years later, the demon, now known as Hellboy (Ron Perlman), is part of an elite secret defense team alongside Liz Sherman (Selma Blair), a beautiful young woman who can create fire with her mind, and Abe Sapian (Doug Jones), an aquatic humanoid with the power of telepathy. Despite his many years of fighting for right, Hellboy finds himself facing his greatest challenge when the powerful Rasputin returns, determined to bring the demon back to the forces of darkness so that evil may finally rule the world. Hellboy's supporting cast also includes Jeffrey Tambor, Rupert Evans, and Brian Steele. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Perlman, John Hurt, (more)
One by bloody one, the women of a crowded metropolis are falling prey to a merciless serial killer who shows no signs of slowing in his murderous rampage. Though Detective Perry (Ron Perlman) believes he is edging ever closer to catching the killer; he still lacks one crucial piece of evidence that will reveal the true identity of the fiend and bring the wave of unending horror to a close. As Detective Perry struggles to beat the clock, a formerly loving father and husband (Corbin Bernsen) seems to be drifting ever further from his family -- raising their suspicions that he may in fact be the killer and that their lives may be in great danger. When his wife falls prey to a mysterious stalker, the stakes are raised, and Detective Perry must act fast if he is to pry the city streets from the grip of a madman. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- 2004
From Fairly OddParents creator Butch Hartman, the half-hour animated series Danny Phantom was all about Danny Fenton, a shy, geekish freshman who attended Casper High. Thanks to an accident in the laboratory of his paranormal-expert father Jack, Danny was transformed into a half-human, half-phantom, endowed with ghostly superpowers. As "Danny Phantom", our hero periodically skipped out of school to save the world from a vast array of evil (and sidesplittingly funny) ghosts, spooks and phantoms. Meanwhile, Casper High's vice-principal and English teacher Mr. Lancer, in the anal-retentive tradition of all animated adult authority figures, imposed harsh punishments on Danny for his frequent absences--or at least, he tried to. Other characters included Danny's level-headed mom Maddie, his ultra-perfectionist sister Jazz, and his best friends, talkative techno-nerd Tucker Foley (whose various inventions were designed for maximum efficiency in the Ghost World where Danny spent of his time), and freewheeling Goth Girl and vegetarian Samantha "Sam" Manson. The bane of Danny's existence was bullying high school football star Dash Baxter, who often as not ended up embarrassed or humiliated thanks to Danny's spectral skills. Danny Phantom joined the Nickelodeon lineup on April 3, 2004, and later was seen as part of the weekend-morning schedule of Nickelodeon's sister network CBS. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Starring:
- David Kaufman, Rob Paulsen, (more)
In a land where cartoon characters and flesh-and-blood people work side by side, one little black duck lands in a big pot of trouble in this comedy, which brings the beloved Looney Tunes characters into the real world. Daffy Duck (voice of Joe Alaskey) has grown tired of his status as Warner Bros.' leading avian second fiddle and demands that if he can't be given equal billing with his rival Bugs Bunny (also voiced by Alaskey), he wants to be released from his contract. Kate Houghton (Jenna Elfman), Warners' vice president in charge of comedy, is way ahead of Daffy and orders studio stuntman D.J. Drake (Brendan Fraser) to kick the duck off the studio lot. D.J. soon discovers getting rid of Daffy is no easy task, and the duck is in tow when Drake makes a startling discovery -- his father Damien Drake (Timothy Dalton), a movie star best know for playing ultra-suave secret agents, really is a secret agent, and he's been kidnapped by Mr. Chairman (Steve Martin), the evil leader of the monolithic Acme Corporation. Damien knows the secret hiding place of the priceless Blue Monkey Diamond and Mr. Chairman will stop at nothing to get it, so D.J. and Daffy set out to rescue Damien and save the diamond, one step behind Acme's musclemen and one step ahead of Kate and Bugs, who now realize how important Daffy is to the Looney Tunes franchise. Looney Tunes: Back in Action also stars Heather Locklear as a lounge singer working for Yosemite Sam (voice of Steve Babiar), Joan Cusack, John Cleese, Stan Freberg, and Roger Corman. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, (more)
- 2003
In the conclusion of Justice League's second-season opener, the Justice League has been imprisoned on a giant artificial moon, built in the shape of Superman's old Krypton foe Brainiac. It turns out that the Leaguers are mere pawns in a pact between the sinister Brainiac and the mercurial Darkseid, which involves exchanging Superman's DNA for the safety of the planet Apokolips. Before the final showdown between Superman and Darkseid, the other League Members have forged a self-protective alliance with the members of the New Genesis. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Ironside, Corey Burton, (more)
Ron Perlman, Mia Sara, and Robert Vaughn star in this period comedy concerning a neglectful gangster father and the troubled ten-year-old son who strives to botch dad's dealings with a dangerous gangster. 1930s-era gangster Charlie (Perlman) was never too big on father/son bonding, and as a result his ten-year-old son, Archie (Myles Jeffrey), has grown to become more than a little unruly. Unfortunately for Charlie, the day he sets out to clear a debt with Benny (Vaughn) is also the day he's left to care for the mischievous Archie. A feared Mafia kingpin whose notorious lack of patience has resulted in him sending more than a few small-time hoodlums to sleep with the fishes, Benny is a no-nonsense businessman who doesn't take kindly to childish games. When Archie gets in the way of Charlie's desperate efforts to clear his name with the dreaded gangster, the wrath of Benny sends both father and son running for their lives. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ron Perlman, Mia Sara, (more)
- 2003
Season two of the animated Justice League begins with a two-part story set in space and features two of Superman's longtime nemeses, the enigmatic Darkseid and the wholly villainous Krypton refugee Brainiac. While Darkseid endeavors to break a longstanding extraterrestrial treaty between the New Gods and New Genesis, Brainiac foments chaos on the planet Apokolips. Superman's fellow Justice League members combine their talents to find a common solution for both problems, but their efforts are complicated by the questionable motives of Darkseid and the resourcefully sinister Brainiac. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Michael Dorn, Corey Burton, (more)
- 2003
In the first episode of a two-part story, simian villain Gorilla Grodd hopes to take advantage of dissension and disagreement within the ranks of the Justice League. Grodd organizes his own team of villains, including such nasties as Giganta, Sinestro, and Killer Frost. Inasmuch as Grodd's team gets along with one another a lot better than the members of the Justice Leage, it looks as though villainy will triumph over virtue this time around! ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Powers Boothe, Stephen McHattie, (more)
- 2003
In the conclusion of a two-part story, simian villain Gorilla Grodd has organized the Secret Society, a tightly-knit team of fellow baddies. With the members of the Justice League falling prey to petty squabbles and ego tripping, it looks as if the Secret Sociey will be able to take over the world with the greatest of ease. It is up to The Green Lantern to set things aright -- but without the cooperation of his fellow Leaguers, he may well fail in his mission. ~ Rovi
- Starring:
- Powers Boothe, Stephen McHattie, (more)
Storyboard artist David Barto directs the sci-fi action thriller Absolon, released straight-to-video following a very brief television premiere. In the near future, a virus has killed billions of people. The remaining humans rely on a drug called "Absolon" in order to survive. Norman Scott (Christopher Lambert) is a police detective investigating the death of a doctor who may have found the cure. Inevitably, Norman discovers an evil conspiracy. Ron Perlman plays the evil villain leader Murchison, Lou Diamond Phillips plays the evil thug Walters, and Kelly Brook plays the pretty girl Claire. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
- Starring:
- Christopher Lambert, Lou Diamond Phillips, (more)
Four years after scoring a box-office touchdown with Blade (1998), actor Wesley Snipes returns to portray the Marvel Comics character again in this sequel that teams him with Mexican horror director Guillermo del Toro. A half-vampire, half-human hybrid, Blade (Snipes) is a merciless vampire hunter bent on destroying the bloodsuckers that feed on humanity. The keys to Blade's success are a serum that allows him to resist the urge for blood and an array of inventive, deadly weapons, both of which were once supplied by his mentor, Whistler (Kris Kristofferson). Since Whistler's death, Blade has relocated to Prague and recruited the pot-smoking slacker Scud (Norman Reedus) to take the place of his father figure, but then he discovers that Whistler's not dead after all: He's been infected with the vampire virus. Reunited with Whistler, Blade is dealt an even bigger surprise: His greatest enemy, vampire leader Damaskinos (Thomas Kretschmann), wants to make peace with him. It seems that the vampires are facing a greater threat than Blade and hope to persuade him to fight the Reapers, a mutated super-race of vampires on a rampage of murder, indiscriminately killing both humans and their fellow bloodsuckers while sucking their victims dry. Blade agrees to a truce and joins the Bloodpack, an elite squad of commandos originally formed to fight Blade himself. Soon, the vampire soldiers discover that the virus responsible for creating their enemies is spreading rapidly and can be traced back to a mysterious "Patient Zero." Blade 2 (2002) co-stars Ron Perlman, Leonor Varela, Donnie Yen, and Matt Schulze. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, (more)
The tenth film in Paramount's highly lucrative sci-fi franchise is also positioned as the last for the entire original Next Generation crew. En route to the honeymoon of William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) to Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) on her home planet of Betazed, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise receive energy readings identical to those uniquely emitted by the positronic brain of android crew member Data (Brent Spiner). Upon investigation, they discover the disassembled parts of an identical android named B4, an early prototype of Data himself, now scattered on the surface of a remote world. As they reassemble B4, the crew receives word from Starfleet that a coup has resulted in the installation of a new Romulan political leader, Shinzon (Tom Hardy), who claims to seek détente with the human-backed United Federation of Planets. As commander of the closest starship to Romulus, Picard is ordered there to negotiate with Shinzon. Once in enemy territory, the captain and his crew make a startling discovery: Shinzon is human, a slave from the Romulan sister planet of Remus (the residents of which are vampire-like creatures that dwell on the perpetually dark side of their home world), and has a secret, shocking relationship to Picard himself. It soon becomes clear that Shinzon has lured the Enterprise to Romulus using B4 as bait and that his sinister ulterior motives include the destruction of Earth. A vicious battle between the Enterprise and Shinzon's powerful warship ensues, resulting in heartbreaking heroics and a devastating casualty. Star Trek: Nemesis was written by long-time Trek fan and Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Logan. Regular cast members Michael Dorn, LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, and Whoopi Goldberg co-star with Ron Perlman, Dina Meyer, and Steven Culp. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Starring:
- Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, (more)
Brian Katkin, the director behind such video-store fare as If I Die Before I Wake and Hard as Nails, delivers this action thriller starring Ron Perlman and Erika Eleniak. Released straight-to-video in 2002, Shakedown centers on a terroristic religious cult, led by Perlman, with plans to infecting the world with a deadly biological weapon. After an earthquake, Perlman finds himself trapped in an office building with the weapon he covets and an undercover agent (Wolf Larson) bent on stopping him. Hunter's Fred Dryer co-stars. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
At the Millennium Building in NYC, the elevators have a problem... they just can't stop killing people! Pregnant women, skater dudes -- they're all on the menu for these possessed motorized beasts. As elevator repairman Mark Newman (James Marshal) delves deeper into the mystery, everyone from his boss to the building manager stand in his way. His only help comes from Jennifer Naomi Watts, a nosy reporter that smells a cover-up when she sees it. As the "accidents" pile up, the President and FBI get involved as the heroic couple come face to face with technology gone horribly, horribly wrong. Down is a direct remake (shot for shot at times) of director Dick Maas' early 80's cult flick The Lift. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi
- Starring:
- James Marshall, Naomi Watts, (more)
A turning point in 20th century war history is the focus of this fact-based account of the 1942-1943 battle of Stalingrad, in which the Germans were finally defeated by Russian influence -- one of the bloodiest battles in World War II history. The film stars Jude Law as Vassili, a marksman from the Urals who is transported to Stalingrad in 1942, and a master German sniper, Major Koenig (Ed Harris). Koenig, an expert German sniper, is determined to eliminate his formidable opponent by any means necessary; meanwhile, Vassili has joined forces with Danilov (Joseph Fiennes), a young Russian political adversary, who is impressed by Vassili's skills and raises his profile in the Soviet Union. Both Vassili and Danilov become involved with Tanya (Rachel Weisz), whose Jewish parents have been captured by the Germans and have forced her to take up with the men on a sniper expedition. Koenig and Vassili begin to develop traps for each other, until fate inevitably must bring the two sharpshooters together. This large-scale production, financed mostly by Teuton companies, also features Bob Hoskins as Nikita Krushchev and Ron Perlman as an aging Russian sniper. ~ Jason Clark, Rovi
- Starring:
- Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, (more)
The rats have taken over the lab in this tale of rodent terror that's sure to give even the most stringent animal lover nightmares. The Brookside Institute has long been known as the place the wealthy go to dry out and get it together, but deep within the walls of the pricey rehab center lurks a dark secret. Years ago, the scientists who worked in the institution conducted a series of gruesome experiments on countless lab rats, and though the scientists are long gone, the genetically mutated rats have multiplied, turning the pricey institute into their own personal breeding ground. With the patients in lockdown and the rats gaining an insatiable appetite for human flesh, it appears as if rehabilitation is about to take a back seat to survival for the patients of Brookside. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
In the 1950s, a young boy, Charlie Burden Jr. (Bobby Edner), and his Golden Retriever known as Drum, share adventures in their rural town, many of which require the dog to save the boy's life: they have a boating accident and the dog pulls him from the lake; they encounter a pack of wild dogs and the dog slays them, but is gravely wounded. Then they run head-long into a grumpy old neighbor (John Schuck), who is convinced Drum has been killing his sheep. Like Dorothy's Toto, Drum is hauled away to be executed, but Charlie's dad (Ron Perlman) hires gilded tongue attorney George Graham Vest (Scott Bakula) to defend the canine before a jury and a judge. Vest's climactic closing argument had better be good, or they'll be playing "Taps" for Drum. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Bobby Edner, Scott Bakula, (more)
In medieval times, dashing Captain Reynolds (Trevor St. John), the commander of the king's elite guardsmen, is ordered by the queen (Lesley-Anne Down) to go undercover to protect Princess Gwendolyn (Ashley Jones) who is traveling through territory made dangerous by irate renegade subjects. It's not long before Reynolds and the princess' entourage are chased into hiding in an abandoned ruin, where the small band of guardsmen plan their escape. Meanwhile, a growing army of renegades surrounds the ruin and prepares to attack at the command of Augustus Talbert (Eric Roberts), a vengeful fallen nobleman snubbed by the princess. Meanwhile, the feisty Gwendolyn has met her romantic match in Reynolds, which only infuriates Talbert all the more. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric Roberts, Ron Perlman, (more)
Titan A.E. combines cel and CG imagery in this science fiction saga. In 3028, after the Earth is destroyed by an invading alien race, a tiny number of surviving humans roam the universe in ragtag spaceships, trying to find each other and maintain some sense of community. Shortly before the final destruction of the planet, Cale (voice of Matt Damon) was given a map that would guide him to a space station called Titan, secretly constructed as a last hope in the event of alien Armageddon. Cale sets out in search of Titan and the fabled Ice Planet with the help of his friend Korso (voice of Bill Pullman), the beautiful Akima (voice of Drew Barrymore), and a crew of friendly aliens. Titan A.E. was directed by noted animators Don Bluth and Gary Goldman and scripted by Ben Edlund, creator of the comic book series The Tick. Other members of the voice cast include Nathan Lane, Janeane Garofalo, John Leguizamo, and Tone Loc. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, (more)
Jimmy Smits returned to the big screen after a career-reviving stint on the TV series NYPD Blue with this emotional drama about the difficult relationship between a father and his sons. Smits plays Arturo Ortega, a man with lifelong dreams of being a contender in professional boxing. While Arturo had the knowledge, drive, and ambition to be a champ, his career proved short-lived, and, after a brief fling with success, he's a forgotten man. However, Arturo has instilled his passion for boxing in his three sons, who grow up learning the fine art of prizefighting. All three boys begin competing in the ring, with Arturo as their manager and coach, but Johnny (Jon Seda) quickly shows so much promise that other managers and promoters want to take over his contract and put him on the fast track to the championship. Arturo feels betrayed when Johnny wants to work with another manager, while his other two sons resent Johnny for turning his back on his father and wish Arturo had the same belief in their talents in the ring. The debut feature from director Carlos Avila and screenwriter Phil Berger, Price of Glory also features Maria Del Mar, Ron Perlman, Paul Rodriguez, and Clifton Collins Jr.. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Jimmy Smits, Jon Seda, (more)
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